Is it time we gave “preachy” rock stars a break?
Why is it that, whenever any high-profile rock bod tries to use their position to make a positive contribution to this sorry-ass world of ours, everyone immediately turns on them and starts chucking around terms like “preachy”, “pompous” and “self-righteous”?
I’ll tell you why: It’s because, in our primitive Neolithic brains, these “do-gooders” are assumed to be betraying some ridiculous romantic notion of what a rock star “should” be – i.e. a self-centred, nihilistic pr*ck whose only concerns are getting wasted, getting high and getting laid. Oh, and if they’re really cool, starting the odd ruckus outside a nightclub.
I don’t know where this infantilist ideal comes from, but I’d guess it’s the same bit of evolutionary hard-wiring that makes so many animals fight it out to become the dominant male of the pack, combined with a wistful touch of vicarious living by proxy on the part of Walter the Softie-style rock fans and critics who prefer their sex, drugs and violence kept at a suitably safe remove.
But if we just took a step back and really thought about it, wouldn’t we see how ridiculous it is that we heap such opprobrium on people trying to use their celebrity currency to buy a better deal for Africa, or promote fair trade, or save the rainforest or whatever, while retaining a sneaking admiration for people whose main extra-curricular interest is getting themselves arrested?
Look at it this way: If a rock star is approached by an organisation like Oxfam, they have two choices. They can either say “Okay, I’ll step up and get involved and do the right thing, even though I know I’m going to take a load of flak for it, and it may well leave my rock credibility in tatters”. Or they can say: “Sorry mate, I’ve got a reputation to protect. People expect to see me brawling in the street at 3am, and I can’t risk damaging that hard-won brand for something as trivial as world poverty.”
Who, in this scenario, is the bigger man? Who is the braver, and most deserving of our respect? And, above all, why do we continue to put our faith in the other guy?
I know all our primal, atavistic instincts scream out to us that Keith Richards is cooler than Bono. And in our narrow, defiantly adolescent interpretation of the word cool, he undoubtedly is. But, music aside (cos, luckily for Mr Vox, that’s not what’s on trial on here) which one really deserves our respect, and which our ridicule? The one who tries to strongarm world leaders into doing something about the scar on our conscience that is Africa, or the one who’s getting whacked and falling out of trees a good 45 years after he really should have put that sort of thing behind him? At the end of the day who, ladies and gents, has the biggest cojones?
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One can't help but feel
that having a stage name taken from a hearing aid labels you as a prime twat no matter what you get up to. And I don't agree with your theory one bit. If you want to get involved, get involved. If you don't, don't. Same applies to a 'rock star' as it does to my principles with street chuggers.
How do you know if any stars don't already discreetly donate money to good causes without making themselves a little more famous into the bargain? Doesn't make them worse citizens or lacking in balls.
I doubt Keith would take you to court if you were to keep one of his 'iconic' hats.
I'm with Paul.
I'd forgive Bonio if he weren't seemingly so agloat with "Look what a good and learned and generous fella am I". Jayzus, I even like much more of his music than is fashionably wise, even down to his Clannad duet, it is when he speaks I reach for the sick bag. And my missus would not settle for me making a bloody daft video if I forgot her birthday, I can tell you.
There are indeed many an anonymous famous benefactor to many a good cause: I am aware of several house hold names in areas completely unexpected and entirely untrumpeted, some who could even handle a bit of good publicity for a change, and that it would highly likely give them. But have elected not to advertise the fact. (and I'm not going to name 'em, either.)
Keep talking Bono
I'd happily sit and listen to Bono whinging on for hours about the starving Africans if it meant he didn't play any of his execrable music.
Whoah.....!
Let's not go nuts here...
A 3 minute blast of "Out of Control" or Bono calling President Clinton whilst ordering pizza?
Eeyore
This really isn't fair on him. I'll bet a cut from each sale of one of these items from his hotel goes to a good cause.
http://www.theclarence.ie/shop/?page=6
It's not what they do...
It's the way that they do it.
If I choose to give to charity or take up a cause, that's my business. I don't want some bloated rock star telling me I'm a bad person if I don't.
And I don't feel the need to show off about what I do for charity, so why do they?
If they're crippled with guilt for having too much money, then that's their problem. Don't make it ours.
I loathe 'preachy' rock stars, whoever they are.
But it's as much about awareness as money
If, for example, Chris Martin's most valid contribution to the fair trade campaign is raising awareness, and encouraging The Kids to get on board, he can hardly do it anonymously and on the quiet can he?
Keef Cooler Than Bono!
Two of the warmest 'cool' people I can think of. Both not cool for different reasons. And Bono isn't warm because of the charity stuff - it's because he believes his own PR (and perhaps worse acts like he does). Mind you that applies to Keef as well.
In my humble, there are very few cool rock stars.
Tax dodger
Also Bono is not so generous when it comes to paying taxes like the rest of us. U2 are technically a Dutch band since they moved their corporate base to Holland to avoid paying Irish taxes. The Irish PM at the time commented that he was looking forward to the next time Bono hectoring him about the Government not doing more to support aid etc. Clearly his concerns amount mainly to poncing about giving it the big "I am" on the World stage for ego reasons in between touring, making records and counting his money.