The answer isn't always straightforward.
The attitude here seems to be that you can detach the music from the author. A lot of the time that's true but many musicians/writers put a lot of themselves into their music, so it may say something about themselves.

How angry was Carly Simon when she wrote "You're So Vain' and in what dark place was Ian Curtis when he wrote 'The Eternal'? So when I hear some of the darker metal music, I wonder a little.

And then there is the casual misogyny or homophobia of some Gangsta Rap in that it might be seen as advocating hate at times. Sometimes it's about telling a story and sometimes it's advocating a course of action. There are Pro-Nazi bands around and some of the Extreme Metal bands only seem to create music to shock and disgust.
(see The Aesthetics of Hate Music)
And it's not always easy to discern what is the attitude of the writer(s) from the music they have created.

For example, I liked the early Gary Glitter music , even bought some of the singles and I saw him on the Uni Circuit. When I listen now to 'Do you Want to Touch?' though I wonder?

Loads of people liked the Glitter music. How many number ones did he have? What annoys me is people's attempts to pretend he didn't exist by boycotting the music (I saw a documentary on Glam Rock a few years ago and he wasn't even mentioned - despite being one of the major chart figures for a few years).

I wouldn't because it doesn't make them a bad singer or it doesn't make the songs you like of theirs automatically bad. I like 2 or 3 chris brown songs [hate him of course] and my sister was horrified when she caught me listening to With You but regardless of what he did to Rihanna I still openly love that song even though I don't like him as a person

slightly off topic but... surely there is a reason why Ian Watkins from Steps changed his name to 'H' and yet some don't seem to understand it

Don't make any humorous reference to H from Steps on here in relation to the guy from the Lostprophets. You'll be labelled SCUM. Just some friendly advice.

Why would you want to make "humorous references" to H from Steps in relation to Ian Watkins from Lostprophets anyway ?

I have quite a few of my best teenage memories attached to their music, especially 'Last Train Home' and 'Last Summer', we used to drunkenly sing along to them a lot... They're (relatively) local boys.

Its a pity, as they're good songs, but I haven't been able to listen to any of their music since the arrest and I highly doubt I ever will again. I don't think I can separate hearing their songs and what will inevitably come to my mind

I feel immeasurably sorry for his bandmates, as they've had their career ended and eternally tainted through no fault of their own, and that's unfair.

I'm assuming...
http://metro.co.uk/2013/11/28/ian-h-...under-4206351/

That's horrible. Poor H...

I was shocked when I found out [only this year!!!] that he's a convicted murderer!!! I loved him when he did Fort Boyard and thought the toughness was just an act!! Does anyone know what he is like in real life???

I think it's ok to still listen to the music, it's not as if the singer is singing about their crimes in the songs they perform, they are entirely different topics with different messages.

To be honest, if people never made humour (Not malicious) , whilst putting forward a point...from serious subjects, we would have no satire, no Chris Morris etc. And indeed, a serious point from this post is the use by some media outlets of 'H's photo instead of the correct one.

WalnutTreeClosF was doing just that by noting the unfortunate situation H finds himself in by sharing the same name with a hate figure - hence attracting the unwanted attention of the real SCUM - the morons who can't tell the difference between someone who is a paedophile and someone who just has the same name.

Chris Morris was precisely who I was thinking of when you made your comment on the other thread. An absolute genius, and someone who of course was pretty much hounded off the telly because he was so far ahead of everyone else. And one of the few people who wasn't afraid to allude to the truth of Jimmy Savile when everyone else was lionising him and the government was giving him a knighthood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRFlcXCkoc

That's a very sensible position to take. Unfortunately, it's not the position most people take.

He spends quite a bit of time on web cams.

http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/arti...at-2178951.jpg

The song isn't directly autobiographical, though:


~ Bernard Sumner

It doesn't have to be directly autobiographical to reflect the darkness. For me that song describes an emotion, a sense of loss. The real story is just a starting point. But it is good to know.

Obviously not according to HMV http://www.nme.com/news/lostprophets/74110

Although they seem to have no problem still selling Gary Glitter

I was in a shop several years ago and they were playing a Christmas cd when suddenly Gary Glitter's Another Rock 'n' Roll Christmas came on. So I complained about it because I am angry to think he stills lives off the royalties.

I just looked at the lyrics to this song and got even angrier!

not really. have a think about the case involving one of the bands mentioned on this thread.

as for drugs being a victimless crime, many would disagree about that too. but research that one yourself as that's going offtopic, but the treatment of those involved in the supply chain can be very brutal and involve murders

there's a difference between selling the music and listening to it. selling it contributes more money back to those involved. whilst listening to music you already have doesn't.

roman polanksi did some dodgy stuff in his past and people still watch his movies and he keeps on making them and getting critical acclaim and hmv etc keeps selling his movies. give it time and the albums removed from the shelves will be back on them if there is a demand. shops are there to make money. things are different in the states where lots of church groups own shares in major retailers so the stores play it very safe as to what they stock and sell, and even some cinemas avoid R rated movies for the same reasons

They are still selling cover versions of LP songs, so surely that money goes back to the writers of which he was one. If their aim was to deprive him of any royalties they have failed, if their aim was a cheap publicity stunt to look good then they have also failed imo

Interesting. It seems HMV have decided that one crime is less serious than the other.