Yesterday I saw an article on AltPress that described a back and fourth had between Current Bad Religion and former Minor Threat guitarist,Brian Baker and Bring Me The Horizion’s Oliver Sykes and Matt Nicholas. The exchange was over the fact that the band had posted a sign at a festival both bands were playing saying quote:
“These People are not to be stopped ever
They can escort who they want where they want with or with out a pass”
In response to that Baker said that he would tell the band they sucked every time he saw them that day. Though he did not follow through with said action BMTH caught wind of the instagram post and responded viciously. They went on to mention how old he is and that he’s still playing under them and how he didn’t say shit to them the handful of times they saw him that day. Baker addressed their comments with a well written response noting that the real issue is the band’s sense of entitlement. Which is the part I take major issue with.
The blanket genres of punk and hardcore were (in my estimation) built on a platform against things like entitlement, bigotry, conforming to way of life that doesn't fit who you are, amongst other things. Now hearing that Bring Me the Horizon, a band that claims to be “hardcore” and has worked so hard playing shithole bars, traveling in a cramped van, playing to half empty venues at times couldn’t just relishes in their successes gracefully. I get that if you get to be a headliner you get “privileges” and that’s cool, you got to that point for some reason or another and now you’re being rewarded for it. But to act like you cant be bother to have a messily pass on you or don’t want to deal with by the security (who for the most part, are their to make sure that the only people getting access to certain areas are ones that belong there and aren't out to harm anyone). God forbid you actually have to have a human interaction with someone who doesn't worship the ground you walk on.
Now on to my next point, why in the world would you ever try to make someone feel inadequate on their spot on a show? I mean really, do I even really have to explain the legacy of Bad Religion right now? They have been a staple in the punk community for almost three decades now, and that fact can help and hurt they're ticket sales. The reason Bring Me The Horizon can sell out theaters now is cause they have gotten major exposure over the past few years and a majority of their fans are between the ages of 15-25, a very young vibrate audience seeking good times whenever they come, Now Bad Religion had that same audience... 20 years ago. As you get older going to punk shows seem like more of a chore then they do in your teens, being bashed around by a bunch sweaty teenagers as people are being tossed around above can get exhausting. You wanna give it energetic reaction you did in your youth bu you just don’t wanna have a sore back for the next three days.
I'm not even saying that as a “diss” to people over 25, I am 25 and i have that reaction now. I can only imagine 10 years from now if my option for an evening is a punk show and a night in with good friends and cold beers, there’s a good shot I might go for the night in for the most part, I know it sounds lame but its the truth, and when you take that harsh truth into consideration its understandable why Bad Religion aren't selling out giant concert halls,
But even beyond the defense of Bad Religion, the point i think that needs to be driven home is that the only thing worse then a “shitty band” is a band with a shitty attitude. Take for instance Sleeping With Sirens, I personally do not enjoy their music at all, if you’re a fan of them I won’t knock ya for it but you’ll just never get me to go to one of their shows with you. But I’ve always heard that their lead singer, Kelin Quinn is a super sweet guy and at a very young age (like 19, 20, not totally sure when) he married his girlfriend and adopted her child and has conceived more children with her not only giving this kid a father but siblings too. If that’s the case then ya know what, I might not be a fan but someone is and I hope you make just enough money to live comfortably and put your kids through college. Good people get nothing but respect from me, simple as that.
But then you have a band like a Attila, who thrive on being “bold and unfiltered” because they “don’t give a fuck,” and I can respect that attitude on a lot of levels but when someone hits you with any kind of criticism and not once ever can you just give a polite intelligent defensive response,. No rather they’d say something like “FUCK YOU FAGGOT”, real poets those guys. In a scene and frankly, market (let’s face it money keeps the lights on) built on youth when you stand for under the umbrella of punk or hardcore there is to me an expectation of how to carry yourself. Granted you’re not gonna be a “good ole boy” or a blue chipper” but you should carry yourself with dignity and humility and be an example to these kids how you can be yourself and still thrive in our cruel world. Rather than being an example of how to be human garbage.
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