serious question, and if it has been discussed before, well, im sure someone will enlighten me... but i was just wondering...

how do some of you people love pearl jam and hate their politics?... im just wondering... for example, when i heard appetite for destruction by gnr, i thought "oh my god, what a kick ass album"... but then i got to know things about the band and their attitudes (especially axl) and realized that i hated everything they stood/stand for... so, it was impossible for me to love the band or even to want to invest in another album of theirs (of course, they never put out much after that, so i didnt miss much)... but i just wonder how some people love pearl jam and hate their politics, as they (politics) play such a role in their music?... if i loved bush, then i know that pearl jam would disgust me, no doubt, and i wouldnt be able to listen to (or spend a dime) on them... how do you do it?... can you really look past the fact that they completely disagree with your beliefs and still rock with them?

ive always been one that must like the people behind the scenes as opposed to just their music... maybe that is my own problem... any of you that hate pearl jam's politics care to chime in?... or any of you that understand where i am coming from?... like, if ben harper came out and supported bush or something, it would be very difficult for me to spend a dime on him, even though i think his music rocks... any thoughts?

hope it was okay to put this in news&debate... seems like it fits

Most all of my friends back home are Republicans, but I'm not a Republican. Should I not like my friends because of their political stance??

its very simple to do so.

its called seperating the bands political thoughts from the music.

i personally dont like nirvana, particularly kurt and kris, but i do like come as you are, in bloom and all appologies (and heart shaped box for that matter)

using your example, if someone didnt think exactly like you, why be friends with them, and that is absurd

This discussion has come up many times on the past board. We might as well keep it here--there are threads that could go in more than one forum at times.

I bet there would likely be some portion of PJ's politics that I agree with, and some I disagree with. But for me, the bottom line is their music. If they make music I enjoy, I'll listen to it. That goes for every band.

If you feel that supporting someone's music that has disagreeing politics with you is tautamount to supporting their politics, then you have that right to feel that way. I do not.

The real paradox that happened was on the latest tour, where some of the ticket proceeds went directly to political organizations. People had to made tradeoffs in that regard.

Another paradox would be the Ramones. Joey and Johnny had different political views. How would you reconcile that?

many of my friends are Republicans... but friends and music are a bit different... my friends dont sing about their beliefs or push them on me... they dont have me come over for a party, charge $3 a cup, and then tell me it's going to the Bush Fund, for example... and if they did, well, i have enough friends that i could find something different to do with my $3 and my evening.... just like there are enough bands out there that i would find one that understands me... i dont know... i guess im just fortunate to find a band that sees the world the way i do (for the most part)

I really don't see Pearl Jam as "pushing" anything. Yes, they're very vocal about how they feel, but that's about it. A person doesn't have to listen to every song is there is one that they don't particularly care for, whatever the reason.

If my friends had a Bush party, I'd still go because it was my friends. My firends mean more to me than any political person or idea.

P.S. My friends love PJ.

Its still confusing to me that so many PJ fans are also Bush fans. They are the minority, but still, I don't get it. I don't question their love for the band, but I feel like the way they appreciate the band is different than how I appreciate them.

Maybe it's just that, for me, politics and music, are very intertwined.

I remember when I learned that Ed supported Ralph Nader. This was about a month or two after I began to support Nader. And I remember thinking how great it was that my favorite singer supports the same guy I do. The universe made sense for once.

*separating, apologies (dont usually play the grammar police, but you like to, so i thought i would have at it)

anyway... i do try and have friends that are like me... isnt that the point?... if i want some different views, well, then i go to my dad or someone that thinks differently in that area... im all for hearing different views, but if im not much like someone, then i wont be calling them to do shit... for example, WE would never hang out cause we wouldnt get along... no offense, though im sure you'd agree

just like music... if i think youre an idiot (which if you follow bush, then you must think ed's a little off his rocker), then im not going to spend money on your records or causes... and most bands just want money, but pearl jam is about so much more... which is what really makes them great in my opinion

youre kidding right?... reminds me of the line in white men cant jump about listening and hearing... oh well

yeah.. in addition it just makes me realize that music must be losing its meaning... where have the 60s gone?

No, I'm not. They're vocal about their views, but pushing? Religious people that go door to door are pushing things onto people. There is a difference.

Comma overkilll... man, I hate, when I do, that.

Only you know why your friends are your friends, and it's obviously not about politics. People here may think less of me when I say this, but I have lost friends over politics. This fall, my wife and I learned that a couple we were friends with (not long-time friends, but people we spent a decent amount of time with) were active vocal supporters of that other candidate for president. It's something that we have had a very difficult time getting past. I'm sure we could continue to have a good time with them at a party, but I don't think we'll be able to hang out with them alone anymore.

Of my closest friends, our politics differ in degrees, but the most conservative of us is a New York Republican who is a big fan of people like Rudy Guiliani and John McCain, but has in four presidential elections never voted for the Republican candidate. I respect his opinions, and perhaps I tolerate him more because he is my oldest friend, we go back nearly 20 years now. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd continue to have respect for him if he leaned much more to the right, that's what happened with that couple I mentioned before. I guess if you have a lot more in common with someone, you can be friends over and above your politics, but for someone like me, politics is very much how I define myself, and because that is so primary, it is important in my relationships as well.

As for the main question about music, when I find out a band has strong political opinions that differ from mine, I shun them. It has been very rare that I have actually had to do this however, as the music I listen to has generally been written and performed by people who think more or less like I do. This is because I consider politics to be an important element of art of all kinds, and music that is not political is lower in my estimation. Also, artists in general tend to be more to the liberal side, the reason that I beleive this could take up another whole thread, so I won't derail.

Anyway, personally, I could not be passionate about a band with different political beliefs from my own, but I think that is more about the fact that I am a very political person. It does baffle me though when I meet someone here or anywhere else who has strong conservative beliefs but is just as passionate about the same bands I am. I suppose with so little really good conservative music out there, you have to find a way to do it if you like good music.

--PunkDavid

I burned all my Ted Nugent and Kid Rock records after I found out they supported Bush.

I guess you didn't see the interview with Bob Dylan last night on 60 minutes then?

I guess I should say that my fiance leans towards the right, but again I can respect my fiance's political opinion without it interfering into the relationship. We have had a few fights over political differences but we still debate and still love and respect each other.

PD, get off MY nuts....

very good point, and i see where you are going with this

change few, to just about all the time we discuss politics, and this sums up me and my papa