60 replies to this topic

[lolz9989]

Look, John is my favorite musician, I love almost everything he's ever done, and I'm sure he's a great guy, but I can't help but feel a little creeped out when I log onto Last.fm and see people literally comparing him to God, or when I visit Youtube and see a video where John was being taped by a fan while he was trying to enjoy his vacation in Italy last year. I think some of his fans need to take a step back and respect John as a man, rather than obsess over and stalk him. He's a just human being like you and me, and while we should give him the respect he rightfully deserves as a great musician, I think some fans need to mellow out a bit and give John some space. Does anyone else agree?

[SeanM]

That's the way it goes with any artist, really. There's always going to be the crazy-obsessives out there. I don't believe for one second that there's not someone out there comparing... I don't know... Prince, to a God-like entity. That's just how it is. Best not to take those people as the face of the fan base.

[bazadeano]

I think at times some of the fans are overly 'fanatical' and comparing him to got can be a bit much, but at the same time music is like a religion to a lot of people. The video of him in Italy was taken by someone in his company whom he knew as opposed to a fan. I think in terms of being hassled by fans, John has a lot of time to himself compared to other musicians with similar profiles. He's a great musician with a loyal fan base, attention is part of what made him what he is today be it goor or bad.

[888erkan888]

I remember reading here in some thread about a woman who knocked at his door to see him, and his housecleaner opened. John was not home at that time....that is according to me very over the top and doesnt show any respect.
But I thin you can love him all you want, say hi is god or something...its annoying, but as long as it doesnt make you do crazy things to John in person. Like stalking or visiting his home.

And like someone else wrote...does John care much about having a fanbase? Im not sure. Not that he is mean to his fans, he just strike that perhaps hes making the music mostly for himself.

[orangevarld]

I agree with all what is said here.

People comparing other people to god are often boring, but what can we make against that?

888erkan888, on 19 March 2011 - 04:47 PM, said:

And like someone else wrote...does John care much about having a fanbase? Im not sure. Not that he is mean to his fans, he just strike that perhaps hes making the music mostly for himself.

John probably can't support the fans of him. But I'm not sure that he doesn't care about having fans of his music. He makes music only for himself but he also said that he's happy to make people happy with his music.

[anachronism]

It's cool to like his work as much as you want, but it's creepy when you start thinking you have a personal connection with the artist through their work. You don't know the guy, so you're a little off the deep end if you think you know his position on things he hasn't said, and you're unhealthily attached if you try to defend his personal life decisions. (I mean c'mon, the guy did heroin for years, and he's a total fucking whackjob. He's no saint, just appreciate his music and talk about that, willya?)

[888erkan888]

I agree with anacronism. If I would like, for example, spend a longer time with John, Im not sure i would go along too well. I dont want to judge him as a person becouse I have never seen him. Its totally ok to like his music and even think he is a bad person...i dont know anything about how he really is as a person, and im nt trying to have an opinion on him either. Many people, judging from the youtube comments, think his such a great person and a hero for quitting drugs. I dont think that shows that he is a "good person", that just shows he could quit the drugs and change his life.

So many people seem to think its importnant to have an opinion on someones personality, even if they have only seen that person through a screen. But its also totally natural to feel happy about that person. If I would see John somewhere, guess what expression I would have by instinct on my face? A freindly one, a big smile. That is becouse John has given me a chance to feel good when hearing his music. "Given me a chance" meaning it was still me who bought the disc. John gave me the chance by creating it.

But I cant help but to feel that this is actually a little strange...becouse if I would meet a musician whos music I like, and if I imagine seeing that person in an accident with my own eyes, compared to seeing a person that I dont know anything about in an accident with my own eyes, I think I would get more upset and scared seeing the musician I like for example being hit my a car.

So its hard...to draw a line-I got to understand my mind makes me feel like I am a freind to John becouse I like something he has created and HE makes me feel good becouse his CREATIONS makes me feel good...so is it John that makes me feel good or his music, or are they the same thing? Which one of them is it that I feel the love for when the music makes me feel good? I dont know.

[horriblemashup]

www.stadium-arcadium.com/forum

[anachronism]

Yeah, I think we should probably try to discuss this in a way that doesn't risk insulting a large amount of people. Just bear in mind that everyone's just got a different perspective on things, guys.

[Nimi]

I think comparing somebody to god is more about language than anything else – it’s just an expression.

Then about being a fan in the right way... Never seen myself as a fan - maybe the connotation of the word just rings the wrong bells – at least not those tubular bells. But I don’t think there is a definition there anyway. We see things from our own perspective. If for example I would think I get a some sort of a connection with the person listening to his music, then I get that and that’s it. It’s not stalking or doing anyone harm. Or... wasn’t that sign sending some bad vibes to the air causing the air molecules to have a fatal effect on somebody’s guitar... So maybe my thoughts can have such powers too - better be careful from now on and not only cause I have to take care of my fan-status!

A thing that makes sense to somebody and maybe so only in those few seconds on that emotional train – the ride you might regret later on - don’t necessary make sense to anybody else. Talk about John’s pedals for hours, talk to John in your head for hours, or whatever, if it makes you feel better. That doesn’t make you any less or more in my eyes.

And about people wanting to see John... I understand in my own way people wanting to see their favorite artist. Maybe the spell loses it’s magic after, maybe they find out they were actually looking for something else or maybe it really has some importance to them. I don’t know, but aren’t we all desperately wanting sometimes things from life and other people that it or they can’t really offer.

And about imagining things... It’s like adding a bit of your own colour to the book of life. You know you added some extra colour, but just a little bit of it can bring you up or down.

[Paddeh]

As I'm most likely described as one of these mentaloid fans I thought I'd add my two cents.

No, I don't believe that John is God, or Jesus or any other incarnation of a deity however, for me at least, John greatly exceeds the boundaries of just an extremely talented musician. Through all the troubles I have experienced, John's music and his own extreme experiences have let me know that there is something on the other end of all that darkness, and in fact that that darkness isn't necessarily a bad thing and it serves a purpose, as John put it; it allows a transformation (I'm quoting very badly there, sorry!).

Had I not had that, as maybe strange as it sounds, I don't think I'd be on the other side of it in such a good space, or even at all. From a christological point of view (sorry I'm a theology undergraduate) I can actually appreciate the comparisons made there between John and Jesus, at least in my own case.

Fair enough, that might not be accurate for all of his fans, and just to reiterate; I do not believe John is the second coming of christ .

I think there is a fair case to make that people by and large, do overstate what they mean and that it is interpretive language. And also, I'd *love* to meet John just to say thank you, whether he intended it or not, I believe he has genuinely bettered my life; I think anyone who likes his music would agree with that on some level. But yeah, people do need to have respect, turning up at his door uninvited is just a little disrespectful; everyone likes their space.

[brummieapril]

I don't think John's fans are any different to fans of other musicians/artists/actors/sportspeople. They're a mixed bag. John has a fairly large fanbase from both sexes, mixed age groups & backgrounds etc, so you're bound to get a minority who are maybe a little over obsessive whatever. But I think some people get too hung about it. I actually don't believe it is unhealthy to have a little bit of an infatuation with a "celebrity" or whatever you want to call them. I think it's a very normal part of growing up or another form of escapism in our lives, like watching films or reading fiction, we all do it and it's a nice feeling. Most girls I went to school with many, many years ago, were obsessed with Donny Osmond or David Cassidy. The lads were obsessed with particular footballers, depending on the team they supported. It didn't do us any harm. Lol honest! And it's not just young people. How many grown men and women do you know who are obsessed with Wayne Rooney/Ronaldo/Zidane/George Clooney/Mel Gibson/Iron Maiden or whoever? There is nought wrong with it. The problem only arises when the infatuation gets out of hand and fans can no longer distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy. But I don't think this is a very common occurance really and perhaps happens because the fan in question has something missing from their lives maybe?

For some reason though, I've noticed with Frusciante fans that they are often accused of being "fanboys" in very derogatory terms, just because they express their love/appreciation/admiration of him. I noticed this particularly on the official BBS when I used to be a member. You almost couldn't say anything complimentary about him, especially in appreciation of his guitar playing, without someone putting you down about your opinion and concluding that you must be a "Frusciante fascist", (yes, that term really was used). It's a strange phenomenon with John I think? I mean, Youtube comments have been mentioned here but I would say equally as many comments on RHCP vids are about Flea being God/the best bassist ever to have drawn breathe, Anthony being a great frontman/lyricist/singer, maybe more even, but you don't seem to hear their fans being derided as fanboys. Plus, I'm guessing that the average age of people commenting on Youtube is fairly young.

I agree with the person above that calling him God is just a figure of speech. Lots of "celebs" are often called Gods by fans - it doesn't really mean you think they created the world in 7 days. Just that you hold them in high esteem. With John, the comparison to Jesus is an obvious one given his looks and the western perception of what Jesus could have looked like.

Anyway, I think on the whole that John fans are a pretty cool and savvy bunch. I mean, just look at us lot here!

[Iva]

Did you just say that there's nothing wrong about being obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo and Mel Gibson? O_O I happen to think that both are clinical conditions that require treatment.

Will get back to the rest of the topic, from my point of view - and I have seen a lot and read a lot; but I had to say this before I have my meal.

[brummieapril]

^Lol, well you know Iva, each to their own and all that! I couldn't think of other celebs off the top of my head at the time but you get my meaning anyway. And yes, I'll stick to my opinion that there is nothing wrong with a little infatuation - as long as it doesn't get out of hand and take over your life. I've managed to reach the ripe old age of 50 without any serious problems and I've had my share of little obsessions over the decades, as has most people I know if they are honest - male and female. Haha, my first was Mike Nesmith of The Monkees in the 1960s. Hmmm, I've always had a little thing for guitarists it seems . Anyway, as I say, nothing unhealthy about it so long as it isn't the delusional kind lol!

[frufrukurtjimi]

its kind of ironic though that its being brought up on a ofrum dedicated to JF...i mean i know what youre say. as in people revere and follow him and see him as a sort of guitde on how to live their lives and many of the users here just want to talk about his music which is great.

but there is a JF quotes section which is kind of an example of obsessiveness. which i read cos its interesting to hear what he says.

i think its ok to be sort of obsessisve about him...i mean hes a very unique person who has gone through a lot, came out of it and has made loads of cool music. kind of hard not to idolize someone like that.

of course im not going to stalk him...thats too much then.

[anachronism]

Don't obsess over people, famous or not. It's not healthy. If you're too interested in them, do yourself a favor and quit denying it. Wean yourself off 'im.

Seriously, this shouldn't be a problem.

[irondethpepper]

More annoying than creepy. I hate comments like 'John is god', 'best guitarist ever', etc.

[frufrukurtjimi]

well the whole john is god thing is obviously a metaphor...its not actually a religion to like him. its just saying hes good

i dont mean that you have to obsess over an artist but its ok to look up to one, to be inspired by one. after all even john has his idols

[orangevarld]

frufrukurtjimi, on 05 April 2011 - 12:12 PM, said:

after all even john has his idols

Maybe, but is it an argument ? I don't think so except if you consider that John is god etc.

Besides that, I think that John, as many people, if not everybody, is an interesting person and so I agree that it's not a problem if he inspires us.

[Fenix]

irondethpepper, on 05 April 2011 - 12:01 PM, said:

More annoying than creepy. I hate comments like 'John is god', 'best guitarist ever', etc.

But but but... he IS the best guitarist ever! *badum-tsh*