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Andrew Boyle ENG 200 Ms. Christine Olding 26 November 2013 Stardom: The Ups & Downs Just about every band has a memorable story behind the word stardom. It touches each band with the motivation to get their message and opinion out to listener all across the world. Stardom can allow a band to discover their identity and use it to further unify the band, or it can add power to the pain and struggles conveyed in the songs of a band. At the same time, it can impact a band in both ways. When you are under the center spotlight of the entire music scene, a band can change in many ways, for better or for worse. Here, two bands will be closely examined and analyzed during the Counterculture Revolution of the 1960s and the sudden rise of Grunge Rock in the 1990s. The Rolling Stones quickly became music icons in the U.K. and the U.S. at the peak of the Counterculture Rev. with their catchy sound which transited to a psychedelic sound and then to rock. They successfully used the spotlight to explore themselves and have a powerful influence in music. Nirvana rose from Seattle, a city that was essentially isolated from the national music scene, and made the city the landmark of Grunge Rock. In a short period of time they became the center of attention through the pain and frustration Kurt Cobain expressed in their music and instantly reached the emotional side of their listeners. Stardom has impacted just about every band in music, but the Rolling Stones show how a band can use stardom to their own benefit and control it, while Nirvana shows how reaching the spotlight can also create internal issues and even emphasize existing ones and cause a band to

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spiral out of control. Regardless, both bands have a very memorable backdrop to general story of stardom. While the U.K. was essentially the birthplace of Counterculture, the Rolling Stones became one of the major influences that gave this movement so much power and control over teenagers of this era. Interestingly enough, all the remaining band members today say their memory of the whole experience is quite selective.(Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) The band formed originally in 1962, consisting of Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. With the help of their agent, their popularity quickly gave them an anti-Beatles identity. Much of their early music either had a sexual implication or a psychedelic appeal, and both styles strongly fueled the Counterculture Revolution. Initially their music had a very strong influence over teenage girls and later younger males with songs like Paint it Black. According to Wyman, much of the band first met through chess clubs.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) Jagger claims that their popularity came through their antiBeatles reputation their was a chemical reaction with the fans.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) Once they became popular, and later ran into tax problems in the U.K., had no choice but to go to the U.S., where they still had many fans waiting for them. The country provided even more fame for them and allowed them become stronger as a band. To this day, the band still tours across the world. When the band first started, they used their rebellious perspectives on life and strong sexual feelings towards women to create a catchy and popular sound in their music. Like the Beatles, they wrote short pop rock songs expressing their feelings about women. With songs like Lets Spend the Night Together, many girls soon became fans of the band. While media put nightmares of daughters dating band members in the heads of parents, the band used the rejection

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as fuel to power their rebellious way of life. Once they signed their new agent, Andrew Oldham, he suggested creating a very strong anti-Beatles part of the bands personality. According to Jagger and Richard, he wanted to make the band the villains or bad guys of the U.K. music scene. While both parents and children accepted the Beatles, the Stones only appealed to teenagers or youth. This style of music created a strong emotional excitement in their fans and also an obsession, deep obsession. Richards said that at one point in the early 60s, they didnt complete a concert for 2 or 3 years.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) He also said the band member even took bets on how long their concerts would last during this phase.(Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) With Jaggers charisma and sexual style in live performances of songs like I Just Want to Make Love to You created an extremely strong attraction to women, which even made them rush on to stage and cut multiple concerts short. The rise to fame really became a battle against the popular culture ideals and the generation that created those ideals. In this early of the band, they also showed in their fashion style and also the way they acted off the stage to emphasize their rebellious attitude and perspective. They all stopped wearing ties in performances, and very common and somewhat expected fashion accessory to wear night and day. At the same time, they all styled long hair which was a commonly rejected hairstyle for males in this time period. Also, their fashion coincided with the personalities of the band members. In the HBO film Crossfire Hurricane, Jagger refers to their lifestyle during the movement as being about not growing up and behaving badly.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) Even Kieth Richards says that at this time, the Beatles wore the white hat, being the good guys, and the only hat left for the Stones was the black hat, sported by the bad guys.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) So, their objective was NOT to abide by any rules and feed

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off their rejection by media and popular culture, while the strong acceptance by the youth gave them a lot of power. In the near future, the band really began to emphasize their bad side. To touch more on their musical style, the band had initially been playing covers of songs and hadnt really reflected on their originality. Songs like I Cant Get(No Satisfaction) shows the bands frustration with how they feel their being controlled by the accepted view of popular culture and need to show their disapproval of it. While the music of the early Stones did create a strong love for them by their female listeners, many of their songs create rage and aggression inside of the male listeners, causing many of their live performances also ended with riots between fans and the police, as compared to females rushing on stage with the desire of hugging and kissing and to an extent molesting the band members on stage. Paint it Black is most likely the best example of their rebellious anthems, which reached the rebellious and disapproving emotional stress stirred up strong anger and aggression in male fans. Unlike the slower and more pop-related instrumentation of songs like Its All Over Now, Paint it Black provide much faster-paced heavier style instrumentation that reached the rebellious fans. Using both song styles, however, they combined them with arising rebellions of youth in the U.K. to only gain more acceptance from their fans and make the fan-base bigger. The band consistently changed its onstage character to appeal to the trends of counterculture media and youth assist their constant popularity. All of the band members embraced the general Counterculture movement, participating in the rise of drugs and sexual experimentation and fashion trends. This participation showed when the band ran into a little trouble with the law. After a long day of tripping acid and smoking marijuana, Mick Jagger and Keith Richard were arrested by police and put on trial for drug possession. Fearing each one could face up to 10 years in jail, they feared this would be the

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end of the band. But, somehow, with lack of evidence, both were discharged and the Stones really viewed this as a major victory with the law. The song Jumpin Jack Flash displays the bands full evolution into being the villains of their generation and how they became icons because of it. Even the first line, I was born in a crossfire hurricane, shows how they feel they matured through a whirlwind of social unrest and disapproval, and through music reached listeners and really stirred up a crossfire hurricane of their own.(The Rolling Stones, Jumpin Jack Flash) Much of the bands music also contributed to the rising drug culture. Using the drugs themselves, the band shows psychedelic appeal in both their instrumentation and their lyrics. One song that very well portrays this essence of their music is Mothers Little Helper. It discusses the use and effect of the drug Valium, which Jagger refers to throughout the song as mothers little helper and a little yellow pill. Second, the drugs influence is shown through part of the chorus, She goes running for the shelter of her mothers little helper, and it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day. The band is showing the negative impact too much drug use can have through increasing dependence and overdose. Furthermore, the song Under My Thumb can show how songs that arent even related to drugs even have a psychedelic. While Jagger is singing about a story of sexual exploration, the band show that with their soft instrumentation with an acoustic guitar and incorporation of new instrumentations, the band had psychedelic appeal without mentioning it lyrically. According to band members, much of that style sound in this era can be credited to Brian Jones. He provided less of a Rock n Roll persona and gave the band a softer and more humble side. He only influenced them in their instrumentation, not so much lyrically.

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While the vast majority of the band members dealt with their image at the center of the musical spotlight in a positive way and embraced it, the Stones also dealt with issues that stardom created within them impacted them negatively. The most significant is example is cofounding band member Brian Jones. The rest of the member were consistently involved in the presentation of their music and their style while the times changed, but with popularity, Jones became increasingly involved in drug use and started to lack musical benefit because of it. According to Jagger, Keith and I took drugs, but Brian took too many drugs.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) It decreased his contribution to their music and his own creativity. Richards said about Jones, we didnt expect him to turn up. And if he did, wed find something for him to do.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) Jones allowed stardom to take control of him and really forget who he is as a person. As weeks passed, and this was around 1969, the issue of Brains contributions grew. Even Jagger claims that they rarely expected him to show up, most likely on drug, and also what he could add to their music in that predicament. (Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) Eventually, the band realized Jones was in a sad way holding them back and lacking contribution in their newer music, and kicked him out of the band. Even though he was a founding member, the rest of the members throroughly understood the band was the bottom-line in their lives. While the rest of the developed through popularity, Jones developed a lack of interest in the band and couldnt control the spotlight, so he often resorted to drugs. Sadly this growing drug habit eventually became too much. Brian Jones passed away in 1969, drowning in a pool from a drug overdose. It happened only 3 week after leaving the band. When Richards reflected on this tragic event, he said, Its almost like it was bound to happen, one way or another.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane)

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Its nearly impossible to say that the band was strongly hurt by his passing, but it cant be said that the event destroyed the band. In the period leading up to his passing, around 1 or 2 years, the band avoided touring to focus on their musical content and quality. What could really allow the band to become stronger and further unify it would be to reconnect with their fans. The band was scheduled to perform a concert at Hyde Park and because of Jones death the fans viewed the concert as a tribute to him, which was only two days after the funeral. While the band had been having internal issues with him, the concert presented a strong emotional chemistry between the band and the fans, allowing the relationships between the band members and the relationship with the fans only became stronger and more powerful. Doing a live performance after a somewhat extensive hiatus not only re-instilled their popularity, but allowed the band to move on and keep touring. At this time a John Lennon was being thrown around about the Rolling Stones breaking up over Brian Jones dead body. In an interview, Mick Taylor responded by emphasizing that the bands decision to tour was what unified them and stabilize them emotionally.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) He also mentioned they were essentially resurrected as a new band. Now, the band had achieved a new level of stardom and embraced a Rock n Roll style persona. After touring following the Hyde Park concert, the band went on a 6 week tour in the U.S. The band began to incorporate blues into their music, while maintaining the rock influence in their music. They were selling out stadiums across the country and gaining more and more listeners. Even though the influences on rebellion and unrest in their music was decreasing and their reputation was becoming increasingly accepted, one major concert strongly re-invoked their villainous reputation. While touring in the U.S., the Stones decided to do a free concert to increase their fan-base and because it was a growing trend among popular bands at the time.

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However, the concert had a very bad result. First because it was in the middle of nowhere and no control over the fans and second because of all people the biker gang Hells Angels provided security for the concert. After the concert had been consistently interrupted by crazy fans and small fights, the band had no choice but to leave after one fight ended in the death of a fan. Furthermore, the media only emphasized the bad that came out of it. Not only did this heavily hurt the Stones reputation but resurrected the battle between them and popular culture for broad acceptance. The band was again viewed as dangerous. Even though they tried so hard to stray from that rep, they were back in a mess they wanted to avoid. Following this tragedy, the band took a much needed hiatus in France also due to tax trouble in the U.K. Isolating itself from the rest of the world, the band worked day and night writing music, using drugs as fuel. They went from spending hours making songs to multiple days to perfect their sound. This break also refreshed the band and them to jump back onto the music scene. After its hiatus, the band went back to tour in the U.S. to once again reconnect with their fans. At this stage in their career, the Stones wanted to express that they won the battle for worldwide acceptance and that their music was now motivated by the fun in performing and the concept of having a good time, and incorporating lots of color into it. They evolved from rebellion and now expressed the joy in life through their music. Also, the addition of Ronnie Wood bridged the gap between Richards Jesse James persona and Jaggers softer personality. The Stones feeded off their victory and the enjoyment in their music really connected with fans. Songs like Its Only Rock N Roll(but I like it) display the bands fun side and the enjoyment in their new song connected with the positive emotions that the songs created.

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In this amazing documentary, Mick Jagger discusses a very important aspect of developing as a musician and the significance of creating the balance between that and your real identity. One thing he puts strong emphasis on that a musician must be able to set their on stage persona aside when not on the stage; he says I dont want to be my extravert character all the time.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) Without finding a balance a musician can become overly involved in the lifestyle they portray through their music and not only lose who they are as a person, but also lose their musical creativity and lack influence in the bands music. One must not be overly influenced also by the what the media wants to know, so you can protect your inner self. Richards also touched on the subject, suddenly this fame thing comes in and everybody has to handle that in your own way.( Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane) To them, the idea was to create an on stage character and be able to set it aside off stage to avoid losing your inner self. While many bands can successfully control in the spotlight and use it to their own benefit, other bands struggle to overcome the power of the media and being at the center of the spotlight. Nirvana is based out of Seattle and created by Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic in 1987. The band first gained popularity in the slowly rising Grunge music scene. After releasing 4 albums and only gaining moderate popularity, the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became an overnight sensation by connecting with the pain and depression of being outcast or being different. Even though the band was becoming more and more popular in such a short period of time, the lead singer Cobain was quickly booming overwhelmed by the attention he got and could really only resort to heroin and the pain he expressed in his music. He didn't want popularity or to be over-analyzed by the media, just to convey his message. Eventually, overcoming this struggle became too much for Cobain and in April of 1994 Cobain committed

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suicide, leaving an extremely controversial suicide note. After being at the center of the music scene for only 3 years, the overwhelmingly fast road to fame and media influence became too much for even the lead singer. While the other band member eventually moved on from the tragedy, the fame they gained single-handedly made the band collapse internally. A lot about the band is left up for interpretation, but one thing we know is the consequences fame had on them destroyed them. Even though the Stones had a rather quick rise to fame, almost no band became the center of attention in their era faster than Nirvana. After releasing multiple albums, the band became accustomed to and adapted to underground culture and I feel accepted having moderate fame. Even Cobain discussed in an MTV interview that he would rather avoid being the center of attention.(Brett Morgen, Nirvana: Teen Spirit Interviews (2007)) All of a sudden, Nirvana was adored by fans all across the country and Cobain instantly became the icon at the forefront of a revolution the he didn't even realize he created. After numerous years of making music about frustration with feeling rejected by popular culture through stereotypes, millions of fans instantly adore them because of the strong emotional connection with the music. Their biggest single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", where Cobain portrays his pride in being different, caused them to quickly be accepted by even the popular culture that fueled the frustration in their songs. The image they created through rejection rapidly became a popular trend in social culture. In the documentary "Teen Spirit Interviews", a journalist explains how Kurt Cobain the issues and problems he had with his life, but in a way that listeners he was talking about their lives, creating a strong emotional connection with fans. More importanty, Nirvana was the first band to rise from a subculture to achieve commercial success.(Brett Morgen, Nirvana: Teen Spirit Interviews (2007)) Their music was derived from being outside of the major music scene

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and quickly put them at the center of that loop. The most significant aspect of the band that was hurt by their rise to fame was their musical appeal. Unlike Mick Jagger, who was a charismatic, hyper masculine performer, put that aside offstage and he's a normal person from the U.K. Kurt Cobain, however, was the same frustrated person he was on stage. Jagger used his rebellion and unrest to create an onstage character, while Cobain applied his real life frustrations to his music and let that depict who he was as a person. The onstage character that Cobain wanted to create was the real him. The song "Rape Me" discusses honest feelings that Cobain has about feeling like he's been literally "raped" by the media's desire to control his image and personality. The vocals and instrumentation only emphasize the meaning behind the song. Cobain failed to vent his frustrations through an onstage persona and create the balance Jagger put so much emphasis on. Both musicians are great examples of the significance of that balance and the consequences lacking one can have. Essentially, once Cobain became the "poster-boy" of Grunge rock, he took on the role to seriously which prevented him from escaping from his drug-enduced lifestyle and frustrated, depressed image. The bands music, going back to "Smells Like Teen Spirit", emphasizes the anger the band shows from feeling isolated from social groups. Cobain essentially fed off the listeners' desire to have a vent for their angers and frustrations of growing up and upon becoming popular let those emotions control him. While the bands', really Cobains', primary and really only objective was to get their point across in the style they see fit, but not to become rockstars through their music. More importantly, Cobain didn't want to create a rebellious movement with it. Like the Rolling Stones, Cobain and the other band members created fashion trends with their long hair, flannel shirts, and beat up jeans. Second, the music fueled the movement even though Cobain despised

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the movement. He was a very humble man, peaceful, and the last thing he wanted was to be the power behind an aggressive social movement. Referring back to "Rape Me", he felt like the media used him by creating his "poster-boy" image and making him the "leader" of the Generation X movement. In the documentary, an interview is shown where Cobain says this to an interviewer. "Did you hear what I said when you asked me if I wanted to do it? I said fuck no, I mean heck no."( Brett Morgen, Nirvana: Teen Spirit Interviews (2007)) He despised attention, it was the last thing he wanted. However, the frustration he further emphasized about this in Nirvana's music only made him more popular. He went from being completely unnoticed to being stormed by a crowd of fans every time he shows his face in public. Cobain continued to show his frustration with his image and predicament in songs and more so in live performances. In 1993, the band got invited to do a live performance on MTV's Unplugged. According to the documentary, Cobain volunteered to build the stage setting.(Nirvana, The Man Who Sold the World) Oddly, he created a stage setting that basically resembled a funeral. There were lots of flowers on stage, and also dim blue and purple lights that reflected flowers. Honestly it's a very depressing stage setting. Also, the band performed at the MTV Music Awards. Also, they sang an acoustic version of "Man Who Sold the World", which many think they did to convey Cobain and his Grunge image. Second, at the 1992 MTV Music Awards, Nirvana sang the song "Rape Me", which is essentially directed MTV and the media. Cobain became continually frustrated with the way his image was being controlled by everyone except for him. Much evidence of Cobains life-threatening struggles with depression and drugs can be found in the suicide note he left behind. Throughout the letter, he almost seemed ready for the decision he was about to make. Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton This

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note should be pretty easy to understand.(Kurt Cobain, Suicide Note) Later he explain his growing loss in interest with music and how he felt it became a job or something that was expected of him. Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage.( Kurt Cobain, Suicide Note) Following this quote, he mentions a lot of things he is thankful for in life, such as his wife his daughter, and his fans. In the end, Cobain couldnt find the drive. I dont have the passion anymore, and so remember, its better to burn out than to fade away.( Kurt Cobain, Suicide Note) In conclusion, both bands were permanently affected by the influences of stardom, in both negative and positive ways. Each one created a movement that heavily influenced the music scene and even impacted many social norms. The Rolling Stones were able to embrace to spotlight and even come together to get over the loss of a band member, while still making music and discovering their musical identity. Nirvana, who shows the bad side of stardom, only wrote about real life frustrations. However, they instantly became famous with their unique but very aggressive rock sound and deeply emotional lyrics that created a strong emotional connection with the fans. Sadly, the popularity and movement that the band generated led to the death of the leader singer, who was frustrated with the stir they were creating. Another point to conclude is musical appeals that both bands got popular through. The Stones wrote music that had a heavy influence both large groups of teenage boys and girls; it had a more anthem or communal essence. Songs like Paint it Black and I Just Want to Make Love to You focused on rebellion and sexual exploration in way that went against popular culture but influenced the entire youth, wanting them to follow these rebellious way. Most importantly, they did it in groups or through the feeling of representing rebellion as a community. Nirvana, on the other hand, created the popularity by expressing their frustration in

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being a rejected individual; feeling isolated from the social norms of the 90s. The band members, especially Kurt Cobain, thrived on connecting with the individual struggles of its listeners. Without Nirvanas full-fledged effort, aggressive songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit created a revolution supported by fans who took pride in being an individual and being isolated from popular culture. The final point to conclude is the influence of balancing the on and off stage personas of the musicians; Mick Jagger and Kurt Cobain are both great examples. Mick Jagger understood that on stage he explore a self-created character and control his public image. Off stage, he was able to maintain who he was as a person and not let the crossfire hurricane of social change and media control him. Second, he was able to limit his drug use to a social extent and only be emphasized through his onstage character. Kurt Cobain, however, let the powerful spotlight control his inner self and cause him to lose who he was as a person. Upon becoming popular by the expression of real-life frustration, Cobain didnt create an on stage character to help vent his issues and balance his lifestyle. Cobains life struggles resorted him to heroin and couldnt control it off stage.

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Bibliography Nirvana. The Man Who Sold the World Youtube. Youtube. December 2009. Web. 27 November 2013. Nirvana. Rape Me and Lithium(MTV Video Music Awards 1992) Youtube. Youtube. 23 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 November 2013 Nirvana: Teen Spirit Interviews (2007). Dir. Brett Morgen. Perf. Nirvana. November 2007 Crossfire Hurricane. Dir. Brett Morgen. Perf. The Rolling Stones. HBO, October 2012 This is the actual contents of Kurt Cobains suicide not.kurtcobainssuicidenote.com, 27 November 2013 The Rolling Stones. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 27 November 2013. Web. 27 November 2013. Nirvana(band). Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 27 November 2013. Web. 27 November 2013 The Rolling Stones, Jumpin Jack Flask (Lyrical). Youtube. Youtube. December 2011. Web. 27 November 2013.