Rock stars and their personas

manicguitarist

So...who is as they appear? Who is a fake?

e.g. 

I was a huge Bon Jovi fan in the 80s...but then he became a judgemental blow hard...fake. 

Bono...he has always been a judgemental hypocritical blowhard-but he never pretends to be otherwise. So not fake 

Dio...one of the nicest guys you’d ever wish to meet, genuinely caring....but had an image of “EVIL!” - inverse fake?

Bruce Dickinson-just as he appears. A very intense, intelligent, caring bloke. Doesn’t like being beaten in fencing competitions. Not fake. 

monquixote

Not sure what you mean about Bon Jovi.

Livin on a prayer is basically a glam metal Bruce Springsteen song and politically he's basically aligned the same way.

Phil Collins would seem to be a real example of a fake. Making money by singing about the plight of the homeless while living as a tax exile.

manicguitarist

monquixote said:

Not sure what you mean about Bon Jovi.

Livin on a prayer is basically a glam metal Bruce Springsteen song and politically he's basically aligned the same way.

I guess cos in the 80s he was the epitome of party hard, good time, party hard. But yeah -reading the song now you’re right. I just wasn’t expecting being lectured on how to live my life by him.

Dominic

What about Tantric sexing,yoga practicing ,ex-teachers from the North East of England ?

jonnyburgo

I think Sting took himself incredibly seriously in his younger days, seems quite willing to take the piss out himself now though. I was watching some backstage footage of Live Aid and all the celebs are smoking and pissing it up the wall and Sting is walking around very po-faced doing vocal exercises, the big turkey.

Freebird

Keith Richards has to be real after everything he has put himself through! Would love to have a beer with him as he seems like a genuine sort of bloke 

Oh yeah, Mick Jones looks a top geezer too, whenever I've seen him interacting with the plebs.

Philly_Q

How can we know enough about what rock stars (or anyone else) are really like to be able to decide if they're "fake"?

Of course there are people I like or dislike, but that's based on impressions formed from maybe one or two things they've said or done.  It's nothing like knowing them personally.

manicguitarist

Philly_Q said:

How can we know enough about what rock stars (or anyone else) are really like to be able to decide if they're "fake"?

Of course there are people I like or dislike, but that's based on impressions formed from maybe one or two things they've said or done.  It's nothing like knowing them personally.

Fair comment. I’ve spent a few days with Bruce. 

viz

I think when people are friends it becomes less relevant to see them in terms of a grouping as loose as rock stars. All the ‘famous’ people I’m close to are so different from one another - in fact the more you know them the more individual they are, naturally. 

The one thing all my close friends have in common, famous or not, is that they’re all extremely patient and considerate!

Edit - but on reflection, I think those who really seek the limelight above other things probably all share the same traits of ambition, drive, hunger, commitment, and probably a lot of self belief if not always self confidence.

Rob1742

I spent a day with K.K Downing about two years ago. A lovely fella, very genuine and decent human being. 

There wasn’t anything rock star in there, just a very decent guy where the conversation was certainly not centred around him. 

Had a briefer meeting with Martin Fry from ABC a few years earlier, I booked them to perform for my missus 50th birthday. Lovely fella too and in the afternoon when he arrived he asked if my missus would want to join them on stage for a song. It’s her favourite band and to see that happen later was just the most incredible experience ever. So he was decent too, genuinely wanted to make the event special, which it was.

Sassafras

Don't get me started on Gary Glitter.
I've never felt so let down by another human being.

Caffeine_Vampire

Sassafras said:

Don't get me started on Gary Glitter.
I've never felt so let down by another human being.

You didn't know he was bald?

axisus

I don't really buy the whole 'fake' concept. Rock stars generally need a degree of contrived image, 'fake' as a word just sounds too damning to me. 

I also don't go for the whole Fred Bloggs from band x is a total cnut cos he snubbed me once. People living in a totally 'me' centric world.

LastMantra

Most of the "real" ones are dead.

Sassafras

I don't particularly like people with huge egos whether they're in the public eye or not.

monquixote

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

Axe_meister

Angus Young, Complete confident Rock god on stage, a very quietly spoken meek guy off stage

EricTheWeary

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

monquixote

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

EricTheWeary

monquixote said:

EricTheWeary said:

monquixote said:

The closest I can think of someone who seems to inhabit his rock star persona at all times is Gene Simmons who consequently comes across as a total bell end most of the time.

I’m trying to think of his name but one of the latter guitarists in Kiss launched a sig amp a few years ago. Profits went to a charity. Gene launched a sig bass guitar around the same time, profits went to Gene. Presumably the stand in guitarist is much less of a multi millionaire than Gene is. He doesn’t seem to be able to do anything without reinforcing his Bell endishness. I guess some people like that about him. 

That would be Tommy Thayer.

Gene Simmons kind of reminds me of Donald Trump. I expect he would be pleased at that description.

Yes, Tommy Thayer. 

I almost wrote ‘I guess some people like that about him, probably the same people who voted for Trump.’ That self made man therefore I can do what I want thing which is an interpretation of the American dream. 

jonnyburgo

Ted Nugent, absolute dickhead and doessnt care who knows it.