Yes I Have To Say I Like My "Priv-a-see"

I was watching an interview with Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree fame)* and was a bit surprised to hear him say "I don't talk about my personal life" when the interviewer asked a question he perceived to be a little too personal. He wasn't a dick about it, he just politely but firmly drew a line. In this day and age of over-sharing (yes I'm looking at you, Ozzy Osborne) it was actually kind of refreshing.

It also started me thinking about how different things are now between an artist and their fans.

"Back in the day..." it used to be that artists were on a pedestal, locked away from all but the most determined fans and groupies. I suppose their mangers found it easier to maintain the mystique and control the image they desired to project. Somehow, I guess that reverence and awe was beneficial to the bottom line.

Now, with artists Facebooking, Twittering and blogging, a lot of barriers have been removed between "stars" and their adoring public. For the most part, this is a very positive development, perhaps somewhat necessitated by the changing business model of the music industry.

As a music fan, I really enjoy seeing an artist more as a whole person, rather than a cardboard cutout, like the fake people in the fake Rock Ridge in Blazing Saddles. I first became aware of this listening to the old "Rockline" radio show. It was refreshing and interesting to hear an artist interact, in real time, with fans. (I distinctly remember hearing Greg Allman and thinking "Damn this guy is a complete burnout..." and then being blown away as he did an acoustic cover of "Jessica"). Now, I don't know how knowing that Matthew Good enjoys riding horses in his "spare time" makes me appreciate his music more, but it I suppose it deepens the connection - and that's what I listen to music for, in the first place. I think maybe it helps fill in some of the gaps in the dialog, which is inherently one-sided.

As an artist, I would imagine it's better as well. There are far too many songs that reference the "bird in a gilded cage" metaphor. Having had the very disturbing feeling of feeling alone in a city crowded with people, I can understand what the latter part of "The Wall" was about - feeling completely alone on stage, in a packed arena. Electronic media lets you stay in touch and interact with your fans, without being overwhelmed. Back in the day, at best, there was the old standby "record store appearance", but even there, fans shuffled through the line, thrust out their album cover to be autographed and moved on.

No, I don't care what brand of toilet paper an artist uses, but somehow, I think the more modern model of the artist/listener relationship is more fulfilling for both.

*hence the lyric from PT's "Deadwing" -complete with faux English pronunciation- in the post title....