Music Assholes

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Who do you think is the biggest assholes in the music business, but you still respect them.

My Top 3:
LOU REED
Phil Spector
Anton Newcombe

― MichaelCostello1 (Aerodynamic), Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Kylie
J-Lo

― @, Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Ricky Martin
Freddie Mercury
Lil Kim

― Community Cornerstone (deangulberry), Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:35 (twenty-one years ago)

dean wins

― j blount (papa la bas), Sunday, 29 May 2005 07:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I met Lou Reed on the street once, he couldn't have been nicer. Looked over my new CD purchases and told a couple of jokes and made small talk for about ten minutes before saying goodbye. I've never read an interview where comes off very friendly, but it just goes to show that you never can tell. David Thomas has been an asshole to everyone I know who's met him in a professional capacity (throwing opening bands off bills because he thought they sounded "too Satanic" and crap like that), but nearly everyone who's met him as a fan found him very open and funny.

― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Sunday, 29 May 2005 08:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Luke Sick

― John Keim, Sunday, 29 May 2005 08:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Gene Simmons.....though it gets harder to respect him with each passing day
Jaz Coleman - brilliant, but capable of being an implausible dick.
Bowie - Love the man, but from Mick Ronson through Klaus Nomi, he uses people left and right then shamelessly abandons them.

I'd say Lou Reed, but he hasn't put out anything worth listening to in a bajillion years.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Was Freddie Mercury an asshole? I've never seen anything to suggest as much. Flamboyant and over-the-top, maybe, but not an asshole.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Lou is only unpleasant to journalists and underlings.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, "underlings" gets right to the crux of it, doesn't it? Being nice to fans is only sensible - they have your livelihood in your hands. If you treat people like shit whenever you can get away with it, most especially if you're their employer or in some other way have power over them, you're pretty much worthless as a human being.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Van Morrison allegedly

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex re: Freddy - I think you missed the, um, intent of dean's post...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

and Stephen Merrit can be a grade-A asshole when he wants to be...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

ILM

― stelfox, Sunday, 29 May 2005 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Shut up, asshole!

― Ian Riese-Moraine's Plateau Rouge! (Eastern Mantra), Sunday, 29 May 2005 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I've heard some horror stories about Beck, particularly during his tour with the Flaming Lips.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Sunday, 29 May 2005 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Funny thing happened last fall when I had an appointment with a dermatologist. I looked at the sheet to sign in when I saw "Phil Spector" above my name. I asked the receptionist if it was "THE Phil Spector" but she did't know what I was talking about. The actual dermatologist (who's an old friend of my mom) said it was the famous one but she didn't know what he was famous for. I then went on to give a five minute speech about his work. I could only imagine what would've transpired should I have met him.

And I've heard that that Bright Eyes guy (Conor Oberst?) is a total jerk from about five separate people.

― Cunga (Cunga), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Only five? Do you not read internet?

― Community Cornerstone (deangulberry), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:32 (twenty-one years ago)

isaac brock was drunk, telling jokes and talking trash to the crowd on two separate occasions when i saw modest mouse

― Robin Samples, Sunday, 29 May 2005 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Did he rape any of them during the set?

― Cool Hand Luuke (ex machina), Sunday, 29 May 2005 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Everyone in the biz knows that no other breathing beings can hold a candle to the assholes par excellence. Respectively:

1. Paul Simon

2. David Crosby

All pretenders to the throne don't come within eight light years.

― Mitch Miller, Sunday, 29 May 2005 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Simon and David Crosby - they escaped my thoughts, but you're absolutely right.

― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Monday, 30 May 2005 00:03 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry luuke no raping occurred

― Robin Samples, Monday, 30 May 2005 03:53 (twenty-one years ago)

might have been backstage, where you couldn't see, Robin.

― Amon (eman), Monday, 30 May 2005 04:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I. Brock said he'd call me back right away, and he didn't.
Charlie Pride was kind of an asshole when I talked to him, but in such a way that he was actually being really friendly about it. He, as a man and as a singer, is wonderful mystery.

― Huk-L, Monday, 30 May 2005 04:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Dunno, but George Michael, David Bowie, Jimmy Sommerville, Andy Bell, Tom Robinson, Jacques Morali, Michael Stipe, Boy George and Marc Almond all use their assholes more than most people. Does that count?

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 30 May 2005 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Geir, I would slap your bald little head if I could.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 30 May 2005 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Oooh my crumpets!

― Benny Hill's strumpet (Andrew Thames), Monday, 30 May 2005 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Everyone who writes for the Village Voice and Village Voice-owned publications. Oh wait, I don't respect them either.

And David Lee Roth.

― kaw, Monday, 30 May 2005 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Wagner was a bit of a cock, they say.

― moley, Monday, 30 May 2005 11:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm absolutely no fan of his music but interviewing Paul Simon in 1990 was one of my best encounters, hands down. Unlike 95% of professional musicians he treated me with genuine RESPECT, gave thoughtful answers, was generous w/his time and didn't bristle when I pressed him about paying the South African musicians on Graceland.

Lou Reed, Don Henley and David Lee Roth are total assholes.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 30 May 2005 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

David Lowery is a sour little prick.

― shookout (shookout), Monday, 30 May 2005 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Skip James

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Monday, 30 May 2005 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I've met him, he was nice, it was a while ago tho (xpost)

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Monday, 30 May 2005 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

David Thomas & Stephin Merritt have been quite amiable on any dealings I've had with them.

Ray Manzarek. end of story.

― Brian Turner (btwfmu), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 01:47 (twenty-one years ago)

David Lee Roth doesn't count, because he's turned being an asshole into a performance art form. Gene Simmons, on the other hand, named his solo album "Asshole" because he really is an asshole. My respect still goes to DLR.

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 03:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Varg Vikernes.

― latebloomer: B Minus Time Traveler (latebloomer), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Morris Morris or whatever his name is from The Time!, van morrison, j-lo (big time), phil spector, gillian welch just cause i hate her, paul simon, james brown, whitney houston, will oldham, rick james. its hard to respect any of them, not that i don't like the music

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 04:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Morris Day. He just plays an asshole (w/ incredible style).

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Varg Vikernes more OTM than most...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Asshole geniuses: Prince and Miles Davis.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Frank Black.

― Eppy (Eppy), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

We've done this thread to death. I'm surprised no one has linked to the several similar threads already.

I'll just repeat waht i said last time - if you don't know them PERSONALLY, or have had actual face to face dealings with them, you can't really say someone's an asshole or not.

Sorry to spoil the stupid fun

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

roger adultery

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Lou Reed is my favourite by far. Victor Bockris' Lou Reed biography is my favourite rockin' read ever. There are plenty of other people who come across badly, but not in a funny way like Lou Reed does.

Fair enough point about not having met him, but he has his moments if this book is to be believed. It doesn't really matter anyway; I suppose one could rephrase the question to refer to their public persona if that helps.

I love his story about how a kid came up to him and tells him that he loves the lyrics to "Bangin' on my Drum" and Lou Reed goes "But there are no lyrics".

― KeefW (kmw), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Morris Morris or whatever his name is from The Time!

i wish that his name WAS Morris Morris.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Luke Haines, of course.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Is Ted Nugent an asshole or a douchebag? I forget.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Agree with Alex.. Freddie Mercury was never made out to be an asshole by really anyone- from the critics, to fans, to peers. An egomaniac? hmmm..

― ZionTrain (ZionTrain), Tuesday, 31 May 2005 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Simon once shut down some friendly studio banter (amongst the likes of Richard Tee, Steve Gadd, etc.) by announcing that "that's no way to talk to somebody who's won as many GRAMMY awards as I have."

― Billy Budapest, Wednesday, 1 June 2005 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Agree with Alex.. Freddie Mercury was never made out to be an asshole by really anyone- from the critics, to fans, to peers. An egomaniac? hmmm..

After I posted that, Geir made the same joke in a more blatant form and you still don't get it?

― Community Cornerstone (deangulberry), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Wagner was a bit of a cock, they say.

Uhuh, they sure do. And he sure seems to've been.
Also, a few centuries before Richard W, they write, Carlo Gesualdo was a bit of a cock(killer). Before he got all pious on everyone, i.e.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Nick Cave, although I do like his music.

― Ian Riese-Moraine's all but an ark-lark! (Eastern Mantra), Wednesday, 1 June 2005 23:40 (twenty-one years ago)

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