My friend Greg recently caught an episode of The O’Reilly Factor, which I’ve Pinged before, involving the Insane Clown Posse. O’Reilly’s apparently having a "hate music" theme week in which he invites popular artists such as the ICP and Marilyn Manson for a debate. You can check the transcript of the ICP interview.
Although I’ve agreed with O’Reilly on many points, this is one where I’m very much on the other side of the fence. It’s clear that the big goal of ICP is selling records. They admit this in the interview, and admit that it’s all the record company wants, too. The problem is that kids are flocking to their music, and their parents or guardians aren’t telling them that this is all a show. ICP’s taking full advantage of that by, frankly, messing with their heads. Do I think it’s right? Personally, it’s questionable. But I find a far, far greater fault with the parents in this case. I think it’s silly to think that ICP – or music in general – could cause a person to do something. A kid needs a parental guidance on this one, if the parent lets the kid listen at all. If that guidance isn’t there, O’Reilly is under the impression that it’s the artist’s responsibility. It’s not.
The artist’s responsibility is to two people/things: 1) the artist, and 2) the record company. That’s it. The audience is often involved, but not always, and doesn’t have to be. O’Reilly’s going after all of the acts that the media, interestingly, has dubbed as "violent", but he’s not looking at the bigger issue of censorship. Acts like this have existed since the start of rock, (remember "Knights in Satan’s Service"?) and they aren’t going away. Geez, we coped fine. Lots of kids did. Why is it that now, people are saying that the artists are all bad and awful and other adjectives? Because the parents are out of the loop.
O’Reilly, in this case, seems to be too smitten with himself. Now, then, I’ll take a real issue with ICP in a couple of possible scenarios. One, they act like they aren’t doing it for the money (like Limp Bizkit and all of the other "pop thrash" acts). Two, they decide to donate to a cause or charity that’s a polar opposite to their lyrics – such as a Christian organization.
But if a kid is listening to this stuff, and a parent isn’t aware of it or doesn’t care, I don’t think ICP is to blame. -pm
Posted in Miscellaneous
MIKE December 3, 2007, 7:09 pm
KNIGHTS IN SATANS SERVICE. WHAT A FUCKING JOKE THE BAND KISS IS NAMED AFTER A BAND PETER CRISS WAS IN CALLED LIPS. GET YOUR SHIT STRAIGHT. FUCK OUTA HERE IF YOU AINT DOWN WITH THE CLOWN