ADAM LIVERSAGE - Universal Records
'It's not a myth, as many bands do indulge in depraved activity.
Sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll is a potent image and one that will forever
make great copy. Record buyers are less impressed with musicians
behaving badly - especially with the sex'n'drugs bit which has lost much
of its ability to shock. Coldplay have demonstrated that what matters is
whether bands have good songs.
When I met Eminem during his London shows, I found him to be charming,
polite and funny - not like his myth suggests. I am reliably informed
that he stayed up very late but was still in shape to do an endless
stream of interviews and promotional activity - a true
professional.'
IAN JOHNSON - LWT
'If it is a promotional myth then it's certainly one that's worked. If
Steps can assume the garb of a strung-out groupie, then the alternative
is mainstream and rock'n'roll excess is as easily achieved as any other
Top Shop look. Thirty years ago the rock elite blew their fortunes on
week-long parties, coke-fuelled orgies and leather trousers. Now they
have realised that serious money is to be had getting up at 4am for a
kids TV show - which leaves little time for driving Rolls Royces into
swimming pools. But teenagers buy the image wholesale. To see
rock'n'roll excess in its splendour, don't go to the Brits, go to a
Midlands nightclub.
While the fans are living the dream, the stars are in bed preserving
their energy for that all-important appearance on a Dutch gameshow.'
PAUL SIMPSON - Radio 1
'The idea that you can construct a wild lifestyle just to court coverage
is a complete myth. It never sticks or leads to enduring audience appeal
- just ask Gail Porter. But there are still plenty of music and showbiz
players who continue to have it large and live the life, and get the
respect they are due. Perhaps the number of hotel rooms being trashed
has declined, but that's probably because real celebs are more likely
than not out 'tearin' it up' without a helping hand from their corporate
PROs. The difference is today's genuine stars don't need to offer photo
rights to their nights out or appoint a PRO to spin tales of their
excesses to sell their next new release. They are for real - and that's
exactly how it should be. If you've read it in the papers, more likely
than not, it's just a promotional stunt to shift some albums!'
JAMES POWELL - Hall or Nothing
'It's a myth that bands like to live the rock'n'roll lifestyle - if you
go to an aftershow party you'll see that it's media types who are doing
all the wild living, and they perpetuate the image so they can continue
to live that way. Some of the footage of Rolling Stones tours is
appalling, but now it's a case of 'been there, done that' and the new
thing is to be a competent musician. Bands like The Monkees didn't get
up to anything: it wasn't one of their selling points.
With popstars, the PR and press people have always tried to hide their
bad sides, even wives and kids. With someone like Liam Gallagher, he
doesn't do half the stuff that's printed about him, but we like to see
people who are silly rich making mistakes and having to apologise.'
