"Selling out" used to be a 4-letter word. In the early 90s, it was one of the worst things you could call someone (or a band). Looking back on it, it all seems so silly! Like, what a weird lens we viewed everything through. But I think a lot of that was driven by the idea that college radio/alternative music was an antidote to everything…
"Selling out" used to be a 4-letter word. In the early 90s, it was one of the worst things you could call someone (or a band). Looking back on it, it all seems so silly! Like, what a weird lens we viewed everything through. But I think a lot of that was driven by the idea that college radio/alternative music was an antidote to everything else--and everyone else--around us. It was for us, by us. And the idea that the same person shoving you into a locker could suddenly like Green Day, Nirvana, or (gasp!) Jawbreaker? Well, F that.
I loved Jawbreaker; why /wouldn't/ I want them to be successful and keep making music that I loved? But their signing to a major felt offensive, like a betrayal. It took years for me to come around to their 'Dear You' record (which, btw, while still not my favorite is a solid release). Again, with the benefit of hindsight, it seems so inane, but here we are...
"Selling out" used to be a 4-letter word. In the early 90s, it was one of the worst things you could call someone (or a band). Looking back on it, it all seems so silly! Like, what a weird lens we viewed everything through. But I think a lot of that was driven by the idea that college radio/alternative music was an antidote to everything else--and everyone else--around us. It was for us, by us. And the idea that the same person shoving you into a locker could suddenly like Green Day, Nirvana, or (gasp!) Jawbreaker? Well, F that.
I loved Jawbreaker; why /wouldn't/ I want them to be successful and keep making music that I loved? But their signing to a major felt offensive, like a betrayal. It took years for me to come around to their 'Dear You' record (which, btw, while still not my favorite is a solid release). Again, with the benefit of hindsight, it seems so inane, but here we are...
If you hadn't read that book that I mentioned (Sellout by Dan Ozzie) you'd probably really enjoy it