Do you turn away from a band/artist as soon as they become commercially successful?

Let's face it, we all like to have bands that only we know, but are they still good to you when everyone is suddenly listening to them? After they drop a good single perhaps? If so, why? I understand the need to feel unique in this way, but I want my favorite artists to become successful.

I just want to know.

I have no problem if a band becomes a commercial success. Unless said band changed their style of music to become a commercial success. *cough* Metallica *cough*

Originally Posted by Unorthodoxt

I have no problem if a band becomes a commercial success. Unless said band changed their style of music to become a commercial success. *cough* Metallica *cough*

I'll agree with this...if a band I know and like suddenly changes their style or music to become popular and I'm not liking it then I'll be pissed.

Beyond that I'm happy when an obscure band I like ends up hitting it big all of a sudden.

For instance I'm still eagerly awaiting the rise of my hometown band August Burns Red. I've been listening to them nearly since they formed up and put out their very first demo album. In just a few years they've gone from strictly hometown material to then touring around the US with bands like As I Lay Dying and Demon Hunter, now they're about to put out their third full length album and over the last year or so have been headlining tours in Europe - they're in Eastern Europe right now I think.

If they became popular and well known it would certainly be a point of pride for me - seeing them and being a fan of them through their rise to stardom, for some reason that would mean something to me.

Now, you bet me to the punch...
I never understood what so special people found in them.

I guess it's a matter of taste to be honest...I wouldn't say though that they've NEVER put out a good album...Ashes of the Wake was actually quite good.

WHY!? Seems stupid to me. I don't romanticize. I dont' consider it "selling out." I just enjoy their success as they have more need to produce music. Though their concerts get more expensive- BUT MORE AWESOME!

I find that bands that are not huge commercial successes tend to produce more albums. They are spending less time doing needlessly long worldwide tours and doing cameos in movies and tv shows and a lot less time talking with David Letterman.

Originally Posted by Unorthodoxt

I have no problem if a band becomes a commercial success. Unless said band changed their style of music to become a commercial success. *cough* Metallica *cough*

Originally Posted by Unorthodoxt

I find that bands that are not huge commercial successes tend to produce more albums. They are spending less time doing needlessly long worldwide tours and doing cameos in movies and tv shows and a lot less time talking with David Letterman.

Two good points, especially the first one. Being successful is not a bad thing in itself, but to change dramatically in order to appeal to the mainstream is a slap in the face to their original fans.

Still, at least Metallica have at least partially come back to their senses with their latest album. Still, it's no Kill 'Em All.

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb .
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.

I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip ,
And you bought one.

Hear ye the words of Tool

But seriously I wouldnt stop listening to a band just because they became successful. Thats strikes me as being extremely "poserish" (I can make words up if I like!). But yes, if a band changed its sound significantly to become successful then I may stop listening to them purely because I dont like the new direction. On the other hand I might like the new direction, and continue to like them.

Originally Posted by Garrigan

Hear ye the words of Tool

beat me to the punch

and no, I wouldn't stop listening simply because they made it big. I can't stand those kids who go around touting "oh, I won't listen to them anymore since they started playing their songs on MTV/the radio."

That makes me want to take a TV and/or radio to their head.

Plus when a band gets popular, you begin to see other people hopping on the band wagon with you, and sometimes you start questioning if youre on the right wagon.

For instance, when I used to listen to Green Day back when they only had out Kerplunk and their other album (iirc) and then they got really popular with dookie, and suddenly i was on the band wagon with a buncha green-haired 13 year old girls, well, I sorta sidled unobtrusively off the band wagon unnoticed.

Well, barely any of the bands I like are popular where I'm from, but if they do, I don't have any problems with it if they don't change their sound because of their popularity.

As long as they make good music, I don't really give a

Originally Posted by Pallantides

As long as they make good music, I don't really give a

QFT.

if their music stays the same,then it's ok,but if their music gets commercial then hell yes!

How else am i suppose to keep my indie cred up?

I stop listening to a bands music once they start sucking.

Originally Posted by Paladin Kamos

I stop listening to a bands music once they start sucking.

QFT.

People who do that don't really like the band. They are posers, people who listen to a band because they can say it to other people. " who do you listen to" ? " listern to ....."

One thing that pisses me off are people who buy an album and only listen to the songs that were released as singles.

Another thing that pisses me off are people who try hard to be different and unique by only listening to the ing songs that were never released as singles.

Originally Posted by Unorthodoxt

I have no problem if a band becomes a commercial success. Unless said band changed their style of music to become a commercial success. *cough* Metallica *cough*

We should close the thread here.

Originally Posted by Garrigan

Hear ye the words of Tool

I concur. I used to hear from people how much they didn't like Tool until Lateralus came out.

Originally Posted by il padrino

if their music stays the same,then it's ok,but if their music gets commercial then hell yes!

It depends on what do you mean by "commercial". If their music sells their albums, fine with me. But if it's the music to sell their albums, I'm with you.
I do disagree on "the same" though. An example would be Devin Townsend.

Originally Posted by Eire_Emerald

People who do that don't really like the band. They are posers, people who listen to a band because they can say it to other people. " who do you listen to" ? " listern to ....."

One thing that pisses me off are people who buy an album and only listen to the songs that were released as singles.

Another thing that pisses me off are people who try hard to be different and unique by only listening to the ing songs that were never released as singles.

There's a certain pleasure in talking about music that few people know about, a secret language that few can share. But there's an even greater pleasure in liking a promising band, then seeing them blossom into a bigger commercial success, opening their music to a wider audience. I've watched bands in their early days, playing to a small audience in dingy rooms, then progress to headlining at Glastonbury. Same songs.

Quite the contrary. I wish more people listened to the same trance DJ's that I do. As it stands it seems like I'm the only one and that sucks when trying to get people to come to a good concert with me.