I realise that threatening the Kings of Leon with exile from my CD collection claims no moral high ground [TBB 6.15]. No more at least than the KOL publicity team does by cajoling their charges into trumped up self-aggrandisement. Being a celebrity sucks, when you look at it like this. I mean we’d probably all have the money, right, but the hands on our time, the pressure to perform one function or another to satisfy all these other people, it would drive you nuts after a while. And there’s probably more of this ‘other’ stuff to do than creating product, to use the vernacular.
This raises an interesting dilemma, from a business perspective, what if the creative requirement could be downgraded, or even eliminated, as far as the band, or brand was concerned? Inspiration is so messy and unpredictable anyway, what the entertainment industry needs is people who prefer and are most able to do all the ‘other’ stuff. A project team can slot in some backroom creatives to prop the whole thing up, and front it with the right look. If the star has any talent at all, well, hey, it’s a bonus. Just as long as they don’t think that gives them the right to do their own thing.
It’s not a pretty picture and I don’t include the likes of, say, Sigur Ros in this but celebrity, like all cults, has definitely grown into a bit of a crazy monster. I can understand kids thinking, ‘if I were a star, I could have my girl/boyfriend of choice, everybody would respect me and I’d never have to do homework again’, but adults should know better.
As usual, it’s a Pot Noodle analysis, just add boiling water, but I feel vindicated in having a bit of a stir, celebrity culture, beyond Cbeebies, seems kind of cruel and unnecessary. Unless you actually like living in a dreamworld that is. Forget about the millions the industry pays in taxes each year, and the thousands of jobs it supports, this kind of post-rationalisation is just a ruse that gets brought out and spun around everytime a big old duff idea finds itself under the scope. People love to spend money and I can't believe a lack of form without substance will stop them.
I’m trying not to live in a dreamworld and have bought some spares to take along to Le Mans. The front brake cable is new and the valve lifter and advance/retard lever cables are not essential to the running of the bike. So, in a spirit of economy, I’ve ordered clutch and throttle cables, points, bulbs, and a couple of other minor pieces. Damn carb still leaks a little but everybody who has ever said anything about old British bikes to me agrees that they stain the garage floor.
Got a lot of field testing on this week, so off to bed with you.
