The Nuge - What a swell guy...

I'm sure I've told this story around here before, but just in case....

I met Ace Frehley a year or two before the KISS reunion and he was a total douche. It was at a rock n roll/sci fi collectibles convention and the whole time he was signing stuff, he didn't say hi to anyone, didn't shake hands, didn't even LOOK UP at the people who were lined up to meet him, he just sat there with his head down, signing whatever was put in front of him, and once he signed whatever you brought, you were sent on your way.

By contrast, Adam "Batman" West was at the next table, and he was TOTALLY nice. Great guy, signed a bunch of my stuff, answered a couple of fanboy questions, and was utterly approachable.

(My brother even asked him, "So have you met Ace Frehley? What do you think?" and he responded -- in that totally cool Batman voice -- "I don't know. Is he OK? I mean...is he all right in the head?" )

At one point a guy on Ace's line got irate because he'd brought a guitar for Ace to sign and Ace's manager told him he wouldn't sign it. There was a big to-do and eventually the guy brought the guitar to Adam West's table and had HIM sign it. Then he held it up and yelled "HEY ACE -- WHO NEEDS YOU? I GOT BATMAN ON THIS THING!"

I'm still an Ace fan, and I was glad to get his autograph (I now have them from all 4 original KISS members), but Batman totally owned him that day.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'm not sure why fans think they can demand the bands' time. It's not like they are the only fan.

If you are in a less popular group you might be able to take time for everybody. When you reach KISS's level, it's just not possible.

Sometimes it seems that fans think the band belongs to them. They forget about the other million+ fans that the band would also have an obligation to if that was true.

I've had some of my favorite musicians be a jerk to me too but I couldn't care less as long as they continue to put on good shows and release good albums. I don't blame them for getting annoyed with the fans sometimes. Let's face it: fanboys can be annoying to deal with sometimes.

In Nikki's case, he still loves KISS...he'll still go see them and still buy stuff...he thinks its funny more than anything.

And, as for KISS (and Bon Jovi and anyone else charging $1000 for a VIP ticket), they make time for fans who pay enough.

Gene's implication (presumed) was: A- you didn't buy a $1000 VIP ticket so we're not signing that and B- we're not signing that so you can go sell it on Ebay and make money off of us.

I wasn't specifically referring to Nikki's situation, just in general.

But I can understand Gene's POV. That's what those $1000 VIP packages are for anyway ... those uber-fans.

manny wrote:

There are tons of actors, musicians, etc who's viewpoints I do not agree with, including Terrible Ted, but that does not stop me from liking their music, movies etc.

For the most part, that's how I am. However, there are just certain behaviors and comments made by some people that put me off them. I know I can be pretty iconsistent with whom I choose to ignore, but that's just how I am sometimes. It depends how much I can ignor the behaviour of those people. The ones I tend to do this with are the ones who don't wow me as much to begin with.

Dokken was doing an instore signing at a local record store called ACE's when they released 'Dysfunctional' , Don Dokken, Jeff Pilson, and Mick Brown where all very friendly, George Lynch on the other hand looked like he would have rather had root canal, he was not very pleasant, but I am still a fan.

Alice Cooper on the other hand was very friendly and engaged his fans, spoke to them, asked questions signed everything that was thrown at him.

DallasBlack wrote:

manny wrote:

There are tons of actors, musicians, etc who's viewpoints I do not agree with, including Terrible Ted, but that does not stop me from liking their music, movies etc.

For the most part, that's how I am. However, there are just certain behaviors and comments made by some people that put me off them. I know I can be pretty iconsistent with whom I choose to ignore, but that's just how I am sometimes. It depends how much I can ignor the behaviour of those people. The ones I tend to do this with are the ones who don't wow me as much to begin with.

I am mostly able to separate behavior from art in most cases but I agree - some people just take it to the Nth degree that I just dont want to buy or hear anything from them..

Yet you still put the King jammies on every night.

TheNazgul wrote:

Yet you still put the King jammies on every night.

but I like TheKing (plus they are very attractive)

Temple of Blood wrote:

I wasn't specifically referring to Nikki's situation, just in general.

But I can understand Gene's POV. That's what those $1000 VIP packages are for anyway ... those uber-fans.

As much as Gene gets under my skin, he's got the right. When Howard Stern put him on the spot and asked if felt like it was ripping off the fans to charge so much for these VIP packages, Gene replied "If the fans wouldn't pay for it, we wouldn't do it". Can't argue with that logic. Much like that other topic going on right now about prices on Amazon (and others like it).

Who is the bigger fool? The man charging the outrageous amount or the guy paying it?

Yup...things are only worth what people will pay for them...

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Yup...things are only worth what people will pay for them...

I agree. I personally dont think most cds from Frontiers are worth $18. I may like the band but that price for a cd is beyond me - in most cases. Ill wait for a sale or a place that it cheaper.

Similar to the christian metal and politics thread, I think artists have a right to charge what they think is the going rate and fans have the choice to pay or not.

I think alot of artists, actors etc are not especially keen to sign autographs because of things like ebay etc, they are not sure if your are a fan or some autograph hound out to sell their signatures.

manny wrote:

I think alot of artists, actors etc are not especially keen to sign autographs because of things like ebay etc, they are not sure if your are a fan or some autograph hound out to sell their signatures.

its a shame people have become jaded - I think its cool to have a signed cd.