[NewMusic] Integrity...

[Chris Broderick]

It's funny.  I've been reading Plato's Republic, which
is IMHO, a really weird book, thanks to it's literal
idealism.  Plato writes that in the perfect society,
every person should only be good at one thing. 
Soldiers should not rap.  Clerks should not write
weird stories about people turning into cockroaches. 
Charles Ives should've corked his pen.  And, of
course, musicians should not put family before music. 
It may be the cornerstone of philosophy, but almost
from the gate it seems detached from existence.  And
at it's heart, I think it's what so much of the
discontent about the musician with "integrity" is
about.

Every one of us makes a compromise between what the
world is and what we want it to be.  As a musician,
that can mean a compromise between "I am a musician,"
and "I am a (bartender, father, snake handler,
theoretical physicist, moron, etc.)"  

Then again, we all tell ourselves things about
ourselves in order to sleep at night.  As they say in
the Church of the SubGenius, "Relax in the safety of
your own delusion."  Or as Lily Tomlin said, "We're
all in this together, by ourselves."  Integrity is
something that is so intensely personal that I don't
think that musicianship really enters into it at all. 
One can be a great musician and the mother of 16 kids
(OK, that might be a little tough, more in the
childbearing sense than the musical one)  as much as
one can be a shitty musician who spends every waking
hour obsessing about it.  As much as one can be a
great musician and an asshole as much as one can be a
crappy musician & a sweetheart.  Like Plato's
dialogue, it's the discussion of ideals that don't
really exist in the outside world.  (I mean, he
banishes poets from his ideal state, poor bastard.)

Why do I care?  Because I'm a diabetic.  I would
gladly & freely commit myself to a life of poverty if
it weren't that I needed health insurance to begin to
afford to live.  If I were Swedish, I wouldn't care,
but I was born in Iowa.  Does that attitude mean I
lack integrity?

-Chris


--- Brady Sharp <bradysharp at gmail.com> wrote:

> Damon sed:
> > -I think fugazi made some good money with their
> strategies. It was a
> > kick ass band who did things right, they deserved
> it. Ian McKaye is an
> > example of a very successful artist, not a
> starving one.
> 
> I think you are correct, and I'm not bashing him.  I
> have a lot of
> respect for him.  Does his music have more
> "integrity" than, say,
> Alvin Fielder, who is now a pharmacist in Jackson,
> MS?  I don't think
> so, but that's my opinion.  Alvin still plays great!
>  Does he have
> less integrity now that it isn't his primary source
> of income?  I
> don't think so.
> 
> As far as naming names in general, that enters in
> the abyss of the
> subjective.  I'm not going to do it, as it's not the
> point I'm trying
> to make.  The point I AM trying to make is that
> putting music first
> before everything else in your life doesn't
> NECESSARILY give you more
> integrity, as a musician, or as a person.  It
> certainly can and does
> for a lot of people, but not everyone.
> 
> Weasel sed:
> >those are your memories, not mine or Damon's.
> you're right - they don't
> reflect on us at all.
> 
> Fuckin' DUUHHH back to ya!  I said it didn't apply
> to you or Damon and
> anyone and I meant it.  I hope you don't think I'm
> attacking you or
> the choices you've made.  I have a lot of respect
> for both of you,
> from the few times I've seen Damon and heard
> recordings of you.  The
> fact that both of you have chosen to make music a
> full time gig is
> admirable, and I respect you for it.
> 
> I'm a husband and father of two, and I've taking my
> first SALES job,
> flogging gear to the "evil" radio station
> conglomerates of the world.
> Money is king for me right now.  Music is something
> fun I can do when
> I have time, and I'm happy with that.  Some may not
> be.  I don't think
> that has anything to do with "integrity" though.
> 
> I wish you the best of luck, Weasel.  I personally
> can't relate
> anymore to the "if I can't make it in the end, it
> was all for nothing"
> mentality that you say you have, because my
> perspective has changed,
> but if that works for you, then that's great.  I've
> got mouths to
> feed!  Did I "sell out" (another derisive term of
> discussion of early
> punk bands... keeping track of who still has
> "integrity" and who "sold
> out" this week...)?  Maybe I did.  Was it all for
> nothing?  Absolutely
> not.
> 
> Maybe you just need more money, and I just need more
> time to devote to
> my music and everything would be solved!
> 
> ...can we hug now?
> 
> 
> Brady
> _______________________________________________
> Bay Area New Music Discussion Group
> NewMusic at music.mills.edu
> http://music.mills.edu/mailman/listinfo/newmusic
> 


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