Bad Music

Moral panics over music have been around since the '60s, with people claiming that certain music (particularly anything connected to the rock genre) is a bad influence on impressionable teenage fans. Some musicians embrace this bad image with pride and unashamedly engage in smoking, alcohol, drugs, vandalism (with hotel-rooms being a common target), promiscuity, violence to name just a few aspects of their bad behaviour.

However, to some they are modern folk heroes. I think that one of the things that people like is the anti-establishment attitude, the rejection of society's constraints and the exciting lifestyle of going on tour, doing a job you really like and making enough money to be able to act as mischievously as you want without there being many serious consequences. In the world of rock'n'roll, an arrest is like a badge of honour.

There are stereotypes of different genres of music being responsible for inciting particular bad behaviours in young people: punk is associated with anarchy and nihilism, metal with Satanism, for instance. Despite the controversy however, there is no evidence to suggest that such things would have any impact unless that person had serious problems to begin with (http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2005/11/23/cradle_of_filth_this_world_feature.shtml). For the majority, it could be argued that listening to such music can be a healthy and natural way to channel teenage rebellion.

Whether bad behaviour amongst musicians is all part of the act or a genuine political statement, some people are extremely disappointed when musicians and bands start to appeal to the mainstream, whatever form this takes, and the label "sell-out" often pops up (http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/sex-pistols-sell-out/2006/03/10/1141701665565.html). Stories about musicians' bad behaviour often become modern legends and for many, the more outrageous the story, the more interesting it becomes
(http://www.nme.com/news/the-rolling-stones/30130nme.com/news/the-rolling-stones/30130).

Perhaps what attracts people to this sort of thing is the fact that it makes them feel as though they are rebelling but for most of the time it is in a harmless way. The behaviour discussed here is bad but generally in the mischievous sense rather than setting out to cause real harm. Some may be attracted to bands that make political statements, such as punk bands, others may just like the theatrical show of excess that comes with rock'n'roll.

An article about controversy surrounding Marilyn Manson: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/325957.stm