George - a difficult one.

I do remember a work colleague who wouldn't even listen to a certain artist because the man was gay. It was my opinion that he lost out on a lot of good music as a result. I do like some of Oasis's music and the offstage behaviour wouldn't put me off going to a concert, much though I might dislike that behaviour.

Nowadays, with the net and the media, performer's lives are much more open to scrutiny than has been the case in the past. Think of all the big stars in music and on the screen whose performances we have enjoyed in the past. At the time who knew that some of those people were vicious drunks, spouse beaters or drug addicts in their private lives? I know of one very well known comedian whose ex wife said that she could tell if she was in for another session of violence by the way his car came up the gravel drive - this is a man who is well loved by the general public.

Much though we might regret it I do think that if we judged all performers by what they do in private as well as on stage there would be very few left who could make a living. Maybe their private behaviour is part of the price that is paid for their talent, maybe it is that private behaviour that makes them what they are on stage, who knows?