BS: Hero Worship

Subject: Hero Worship
From: Fortunato
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 11:02 AM

I recently chatted with a person who managed a STAR, a household name. And as he related to me the many Nashville names with which they associated I recoiled from what seemed to me to be name-dropping. But when the conversation turned to my oldest friend, an almost-star that burned out/flamed out and is now in tragic circumstances, I was shocked to see this person had and still idolized my old friend, and so his apparent name-dropping was quite probably idolatry.

The point: Don't idolize musicians of any caliber, don't rush to fall at their feet, fawning and groveling. Revere their music. Pay the fare and praise their talent. But don't worship them. No is enobled by this.

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 11:38 AM

I guess its the old "Feet of Clay" thing in a way. I've never really been much into the typical "Hero" worship, probably because I'm such an egotistical bastard. I have admiration for the massive accomplishments of a lot of people in different fields, but I don't think I ever really have gone for the hero business.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Mudjack
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 01:12 PM

Good advise Fortunato..I once fell into the trap of thinking some of my heros were perfect. Sure enough, they have short comings like any of the rest of us. Some even had inner demons that cost them their careers or lives.
I'm not convinced that I was "idolizing", but never the less they were heros and I held them high and mighty with admiration for their skills as songwriters and performers.I have to agree with your posting, a fair amount of adoration is OK, but watch out for the "Idol" imaging.
Mudjack

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: MMario
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 01:29 PM

'Spaw - whatcha doin' with "feet of Cleigh"? Huh? I mean, jeez, man, you not only blow up his butt now you gotta diddle around with his toes? Get Help!

MMario

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 05:09 PM

And that explains why June Tabor gets away with being 45 mins late starting concerts and being rude to her audience.....

I've never been a shrinking violet when it comes to saying what I feel, she never got booked at that festival again and I've never paid to see her perform since. If performers want to keep performing, then the people not to alienate are those that pay to see them perform, you can only go so far on the record sales....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 05:13 PM

fame is proof people are gullible

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Bert
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 05:27 PM

Well I dunno, sometimes it's nice to have someone who you can look up to and respect.

I had always liked Tom Paxton's stuff and held him in high regard. And having been to one of his workshops I'm going to say I was not at all disappointed and my respect for him has increased. He will go down in history, not as a songwriter, not as a singer, but as one of the kindest men who ever lived.

Bert.

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From:
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 05:31 PM

Heros where it counts is what matters. Who's ever been perfect. Those who don't count are the ones that play the 'blemish' game, not that the PR doesn't distort things a lot the other way. It takes little to tip that scale that blind Justice has if there's nothing previously in either pan, but with a lot on the plus side it also takes a lot on the minus side to tip to scale to the minus side.

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 08:43 PM

One of my favorite personal stories: I used to moonlight in a wonderful childrens book store on Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Lincoln Ave. being what it was, we stayed open late.

One night John Hartford came in after (before?) playing at Holstein's across the street. He asked, "Do you have the book, *Steamboat in a Cornfield*?" Imagine my delight at being able to say, "You mean the one you wrote??" heh heh

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 10:33 PM

I find that I have had many heros in my life. Both the realistic kind and the fantasy kind. The only real heros that I ever had that never let me down was my late lamented father and my dog Schooner. Schooner was Body of Iron and brains of oatmeal but true blue and dependable. Dad was the best friend and font of wisdom any boy need and ignore till it was almost too late and then realize what a true jewel a Dad could be.

Musically my idols were Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Gordon Bok, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Malvina Reynolds, Roy Orbison, John Sebastian. many I have meet and not been disappointed. Some I've meet and found them lacking. Some I've never meet and still hold what I know of them in high regard.

I think we need heros but it may be best if we don't meet them.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Marknmass
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 05:50 PM

Last posting makes me want to go back and listen to Roy and Gene. It's been sooo long since I've heard them.

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Chet W.
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 06:11 PM

Your teachers, whether in school or not, are your real heroes. Idolize them, celebrate them, sing their praises!

Chet

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 06:59 PM

My hero died on a cross and I will continue to worship him

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Micca
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 08:33 PM

In the 60's I used to go to a lot of the folk clubs in London and frequent performers at one of these was a banjo player called Pete Stanley he played with a guitarist called Wizz Jones and He was dynamite and a nice guy too.Well In the Early 90s I was responsible for the music Technology dept. of acollege here in London That did Musical instrument making courses, Guitar wood wind bagpipes Harpsichords and Pianos. On the Guitar making course I found Pete Stanley who had come to make banjos. one Friday, after I had told him about seeing him play many times all those years ago. He had just strung the first banjo he had made on the course( a beautiful solid maple backed instrument) and was tuning it when I passed through the workshop. I stopped to admire his work and casuallly said "Do you remember that medley of flatt and Scruggs tunes you used to play at the end of a set to sign off" and he said " You mean this" and launched into the most spectacular exhibition of virtuoso banjo picking you've ever heard.Everyone came out of the adjoining workshops to see this exhibition of technique. and he was genuinely taken aback when they applauded.Modest, kind, and a gentleman

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: Frank Hamilton
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 08:52 PM

You are what you eat. You are who you worship.

Rather than heroes, I prefer mentors. I don't have to even know them or like everything that they do but they somehow change my life. I have many mentors and sometimes they don't even know it. Sometimes I prefer to not meet them personally. That would distract from my appreciating the things they give that change my life.

Heroes are in movies for me. Mentors contribute by inspiring me and others.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: Hero Worship
From: bbc
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 11:35 AM

We need to be more discerning in who we idolize. A good teacher, a good parent, someone who strives to do a job well--these are the folks we should value & emulate. To idolize persons because they are a performers, a sports figures, etc. is just asking to be disillusioned. Each of us has opportunities each day to be a hero for someone else. The old saw--bloom where you're planted--ain't half-bad.

bbc