I’ve always found anti-establishment music on commercial labels interesting. I think a lot of the time the musicians are putting on an act. They’re doing what sells, and sometimes that’s singing anti-establishment songs, even if they don’t feel that message in their hearts.
Then there are bands like Chumbawamba and Rage Against the Machine where I think the artists actually do have anti-establishment views. When they have commercial success it’s interesting. The band is sometimes happy that they’re able to spread their message more widely. But, sometimes they’re conflicted because they’re feeding the very machine against which they rage. Meanwhile, the record company realizes that the band’s success is due to their anti-establishment message. So, somehow they need to milk the commercially successful act to generate as much profit as possible without pissing off the band too much, and without getting the band labelled as a sell-out.
I’ve always found anti-establishment music on commercial labels interesting. I think a lot of the time the musicians are putting on an act. They’re doing what sells, and sometimes that’s singing anti-establishment songs, even if they don’t feel that message in their hearts.
Then there are bands like Chumbawamba and Rage Against the Machine where I think the artists actually do have anti-establishment views. When they have commercial success it’s interesting. The band is sometimes happy that they’re able to spread their message more widely. But, sometimes they’re conflicted because they’re feeding the very machine against which they rage. Meanwhile, the record company realizes that the band’s success is due to their anti-establishment message. So, somehow they need to milk the commercially successful act to generate as much profit as possible without pissing off the band too much, and without getting the band labelled as a sell-out.