There have been a lot of new releases in the rock musicverse as of late. So far this summer, we’ve heard newly released singles and album tracks from upcoming records - The Killers, Aerosmith, Muse – as well as new LPs from the likes of Gojira, Fiona Apple, The Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, Periphery, Serj Tankian and Tenacious D. Of course listening to the music is always the main attraction, but it’s also interesting to hear the overall fan response to a band’s new or upcoming release.
Glance over the comment sections of music news articles or visit a band’s social media platform and you’ll often see varying fan responses. Some fans are expectedly enthusiastic about the new material; some nitpick small details; some sing praise while others troll the Interwebz to voice distaste over the band’s recent musical direction. Not only does the fan response say a lot about the quality of a band’s fan base, but it also reveals how many different types of music fans exist.
Going off the wide variety of fan responses to the aforementioned artists, I’ve come up with a list of 10 different music fan types. Granted, these mostly stem from my own observations and experiences, but I’m sure you’ve run into at least one of these fan types over the course of your life.
To set the scene, imagine you’re at a show to see a rock band called Meat Thud. Meat Thud has just released its 4th record, "Carne Assada" and is touring in support of it. So far the record is selling much better than previous efforts, the band is drawing large crowds and attracting more widespread attention. As you wait around for the band to take the stage (maybe you’re getting a drink at the bar or taking a piss), you encounter several Meat Thud fans and they’re eager to chat with you. Here are some characters you may come across...
1) The Casual
The Casual likes a wide variety of music and states that he "likes pretty much anything". He enjoys Meat Thud’s music, but is familiar mostly with the more popular songs and or albums. The Casual has heard a good amount of Meat Thud’s music but doesn’t know much about the individual band members or their history. He’s there for a good time.
2) The Super Fanatic
This guy loves everything Meat Thud has released, even the critically slammed and musically uncharacteristic jazz odyssey EP. He feels a strange love and connection to the individual band members and speaks of them on a first-name basis. He immediately buys the new record and will be hooked no matter what comes through the speakers.
3) The Bandwagon Hopper
You know this guy. Once Meat Thud started to become more popular with a wider audience (especially girls), The Hopper jumps on board and presents himself as a longtime fan. He buys a t-shirt in support of the band and is delighted to talk about the band’s hit songs, which serve as common ground topic with those surrounding him.
4) The Objective Observer
Similar to The Casual, The Objective Observer knows a good deal about music and likes to form his opinions based on the quality of the music, regardless of whether or not he loves a band or not. The Objective Observer finds aspects of the music he likes but will be quick to point out parts he doesn’t like. At the concert, he tells you he enjoys Meat Thud’s new record overall, but criticizes a few songs that he suspects were included more for commerciality’s sake.
5) The Nostalgic Listener
This dude listened to Meat Thud when he was in junior high. He pops them on every now and then for a nostalgic listen and a trip down the alleyway of fond memories. He’s really stoked to hear the band’s older songs during the set.
6) The Scenester
This fan primarily listens to music that pertains to whatever "scene" he’s involved in. When bands release new material that deviates from the accepted standard scene criteria, the Scenester will write them off, either losing interest or expressing extreme disappointment. He stands out of the crowd at this particular concert and you wonder why a hardcore kid even go to a rock show.
7) The Fan From Underground
The Fan from Underground generally prefers smaller bands that haven’t hit the big time. He loves a band’s early releases and selfishly resents the band’s graduation to a higher level of financial success and exposure. Like the Super Fanatic, he feels a personal connection to the band and hates the fact that guys like The Bandwagon Hopper have discovered them. He’s quick to point out, "Yeah, but dude, I’ve been listening to these guys from the beginning." His knowledge of the band runs deep, yet he’ll never be fully pleased as he watches Meat Thud rise.
8) The Oblivious Elitist
This person knows enough about music to throw terms around. Upon first glance he appears knowledgeable and musically educated; however lengthy talks with this person reveals an underlying condescension. He implies that because he understands music on a deeper level than most people, he is better qualified to judge whether or not a band is worth listening to. He is oblivious to the fact that nobody really cares what he thinks. Your mind starts wandering when he criticizes the absence of harmonic counterpoint on "Carne Assada".
9) The Sponge
The Sponge is eager to listen to new and exciting things. He is (for the most part) not prejudice against genres or musical trends. He usually gravitates toward metal, but appreciates the aggression and guitar work of Meat Thud. He looks to other music fans to turn him onto new stuff and also explores new musical territories. When he finds a particular artist that piques his interest, he has a habit of dedicating a considerable amount of time researching the band and explores their discography.
10) The Sh-tter
This guy! The cynical Sh-tter seems to know a lot of details about a band, but you soon realize he only says negative things about the music. Through a conversation in which he argues why Meat Thud should be considered overrated at this point, you wonder why The Sh-tter even bothered to come to the show in the first place. Seriously, why is he there?
After all that, Meat Thud takes the stage and puts on a pretty damn good show. You can’t help but grin when you see the Oblivious Elitist lose his balance in the pit though.
So would you identify yourself as any of these fan types? More than one, perhaps? Can you think of any other types of music fans you’d see at a show like this?
Pick of the Week: "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)
As a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan, I would call myself The Casual. I remember "Californication" was a HUGE record when I was in middle school and nearly everybody was familiar with Chili Peppers tunes.
Lately though, driven by my bass studies, I started learning a bunch of Flea basslines and in turn, have started to appreciate the Chili Peppers in an entirely new way. I’m turning into The Sponge and have started researching the band and really diving into some records. Plus, Flea’s basslines on "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" are intense.
If you’re not already familiar with this extremely popular album from RHCP, here are a few details. This Rick Rubin-produced album was recorded during the early summer of 1991 in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. The band, given the task to record the follow up to 1989’s "Mother's Milk", lived in the mansion, free from the constraints of a recording studio and able to fully concentrate on recording.
In terms of production, each instrument crisply and brightly shines through the mix, giving the guitar, bass and drum presence a punchy, bright quality. In my opinion, the excited vocal performance of Anthony Kiedis, although impressive, takes a backseat John Frusciante’s unique, funky guitar styling and Flea and Chad Smith’s driving, groovy rhythm section. Standout tracks include "Suck My Kiss", "Breaking The Girl", "Blood Sugar Sex Magik", "Sir Psycho Sexy", and "Power Of Equality". Seriously, blast “Suck My Kiss” and appreciate how heavy of a track it is!
Now, if you’re already familiar with the record and want a fresh perspective, check out "Funky Monks", a documentary directed by Flea’s brother-in-law and shot during the "BSSM" recording sessions. When watching the black-and-white documentary, you get a sense of the creative high the band was in at the time and how the physical setting helped them write some of their strongest and mature songs to date.
At one point in the documentary, Frusciante states, "We’re making an amazing, amazing, groundbreaking, revolutionary, beautiful, artistically-heightened, incredible record." Kiedis then echoes the sentiment in a more stylized fashion: "If Baron von Munchausen had ejaculated the four of us being the Red Hot Chili Peppers onto a chessboard, I would have to say that Rick Rubin would be the perfect chess player for that particular board."
On The Next It's The End Of The Week As We Know It:
An announcement is made revealing Travis Barker’s replacement on Blink-182’s upcoming tour; the lucky drummer is none other than Mike Portnoy.
After Queensryche singer, Geoff Tate, files a lawsuit against his former band mates and spits on drummer, Scott Rockenfield, Tate escalates the feud by TP-ing the guitarist’s house and taking a dump on his lawn.
Queensryche retaliates by burning down Geoff Tate’s apartment.
I'd say I'm a mix of 2 (Super fan), 4 (The objective Observer) and 8 (elitist). I wish I could say otherwise, but I can be quite condescending and boring when it comes to discussing music.
Zach, as a fellow "Sponge", I appreciate your consistent efforts to educate and open the minds of us UG readers in real-time with your own experience. You always offer great perspective, and it makes Fridays that much better. Thanks!
P.S: BSSM is an amazing record! I didn't seriously dive into it until recently either (about a year ago, and I'm still sapping its delicious, funky nectar with no end in sight). One of my favorites is "I Could Have Lied"; Kiedis was definitely on his lyrical A-game with that album.
I would have to be The Casual Underground Objective Sponge. Those 4 really embody me as a frequent concert-goer. You really nailed the Top 10 types of people, Zach!
I'm usually a sponge, but sometimes just a casual listener. And of course there are a couple of bands that I'm a super fanatic.
Also, I actually just picked up BSSM a couple of weeks ago and I love it. It's a lot more funky than there more recent stuff.
bssm is amazing but one hot minute is better. if you like I could have lied one hot minute goes in that direction with a darker shade of funk rock that is really incredible to listen to
I dunno I just listen to music I like. If one of my favourite bands releases something I don't like I just try and ignore it instead of complaining about. However, it's a little hard to ignore Lulu...
I'm a sponge. After listening to a band and deciding I like it I learn everything about them and look for all of their albums, even buying ones generally accepted to be bad. It's kind of sad and not healthy for my wallet.
This guy! The cynical Sh-tter seems to know a lot of details about a band, but you soon realize he only says negative things about the music. Through a conversation in which he argues why Meat Thud should be considered overrated at this point, you wonder why The Sh-tter even bothered to come to the show in the first place. Seriously, why is he there?
This everywhere anywhere every time Metallica is mentioned in anything ever
Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a shining example of what great, GREAT songwriting, and doing all of the little things right can do for an album. Almost all of the tracks on the album are completely stripped raw, no overdubs, just great playing. The drums sound great on the album, too.
Maybe that's why producers add so much crap or overdubs, to hide the musics' flaws and simplicity. BSSM isn't very complicated, but the riffs are great and Flea is at his best here.
Also, as great as this article is, I Disagree that John's playing is in the forefront. These songs have way more energy live because of John, but here, John's playing is relatively simple if amazing. It's the driving Rhythms and Vocals that really propelled this album... John didn't start getting recognition for his playing till he came back.
I would say I'm definately the sponge. I like discovering new music and I do have a habit of becoming addicted to certain artists if i think they are really good. And Blood Sugar Sex Magik is my all time favorite record from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Definately a great pick for the week.
I'm a sponge, with some elements of both the elitist and casual thrown in. I know enough about music to be annoying to other people, and if I really like a song I will probably have that band's discography within days, but mostly I just love hearing music and just want to have fun. Sometimes I get upset when people dis music I like. Move on man, don't rain on my parade. There are really only a very few styles of music that I dislike, and even where those are concerned I'm always eager to be proved wrong.
BSSM is really amazing. Almost every song on there is awesome. It's impossible to get sick of hearing that album. I think I'll spin it right now.
Depends on the band but for RHCP I'm a super fan, they are my favorite band, everything they do is usually good, I especially recomend their early stuff with Hilel Slovak and Ine hot minute with Dave Navarro people often overlook those albums they are a little different from the Frusciante stiff but still good
I would have to say that I'm closest to being the Oblivious Elitist. I'm not necessarily oblivious, but I always use my musical knowledge to shoot down artists that I feel are lacking something musically. I tend to listen to music that is a little more complex (I've been very big into Dream Theater lately) but I can listen to simple music like Blink 182 and Sum 41. The only music that I completely shoot down is music that I feel is painfully unmusical, which lately has only been the pop and dance hits on the radio. As for your pick of the week, I absolutely love them and that is one of the best albums I have ever heard. Excellent article as always.
I feel like an objective observer, a sponge, and an oblivious elitist at times. Harmonic counterpoint in a metal song would be killer, I have to admit.
We all have a little bit of each of them in us, but it really depends on what band you are discussing. For example, I know a sickening amount about Green Day. I've been a huge fan since about 1995. Since then, I've researched them, read every scrap of print I could find, and own all of their records in multiple formats.
Puddle Of Mudd, however...not so much. So if you caught me at a POM concert, I probably wouldn't be that enthusiastic. Of course, we won't get to test this theory for a while due to Wes's candy nose...
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I'd say I'm a mix of 2 (Super fan), 4 (The objective Observer) and 8 (elitist). I wish I could say otherwise, but I can be quite condescending and boring when it comes to discussing music.