Shimrod makes a good point....the culture of Celebrity is what makes todays heroes, for the unwashed masses. They are important, because they are FAMOUS, whether there be any talent involved at all (I mean talent is not necessary, simply because they are KNOWN is what makes them seem important in those shallow peoples eyes).

Football players (or replace with whatever other sporting 'heroes' best fit) are lauded regardless, & not in the same way they always have been.... The likes of Don Bradman, or Babe Ruth, Tom Finney, etc, etc, were held in such high esteem because of their skills, not because they were a 'bigger name' than anyone else you might compare them to.

Ok, it got a little silly with the hysterical adulation (or so it seemed) of Rudolf Valentino, or someone like that...perhaps Chaplin would be a better example from vaguely that same era. They had a hold on the popular consciousness because they were known by many millions because they were successful at entertaining millions.

These days however, we get the likes of Michael Jackson not getting an even-handed trial because of media bloody hype! His fans not wanting to believe him capable of wrongdoing (or whats worse, maybe being so 'enamoured' of his fame & status that they feel he should be considered above the law). Then the other side of people who werent fans, wanting him to be brought down because he didnt deserve to be so famous & successful... thats how it seemed to me anyway - seemed to have very little to do whether he was guilty or not, & to what degree.

Much the same was seen with OJ Simpson too, I felt.

In Hull, its not unusual to see TV Presenters from the BBC Local studios....& its laughable to see the people gasping, pointing, seemingly in bloody AWE of somebody who is so wonderful as to be seen on the shiny magic box in the corner....or as if they didnt really 'tread the earth' like mortals.

I HAVE seen it occasionally at Festivals...people gazing in awe at Martin Carthy (it most have been these gawkers 1st Festival, I think...) & on another occasion, just some curious locals 'nebbing' round the Craft Fair/Trade Stands, mouths agape at Mike Harding.

Yeah, its bloody laughable, but where will it all end? If FAME is the only criteria, how would Adolf Hitler fare these days?