The Curse Of Fame

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I read a (rather poorly-written) comment piece about Amy Winehouse's Mercury Awards appearance yesterday. Apparently her performance was 'electric' and it was generally agreed that somehow over the last year, Amy had transformed from a talented soul singer from Camden into an International Megastar Icon!!1!1.

"Every generation needs its Kurt Cobain!" wailed the writer, gnashing his teeth and already writing the poor lass off for lost.

Well, does it? Do we need self-destructive pop icons like Cobain/Hendrix/Sid Vicious? If Amy is the latest victim of rock'n'roll, then who will be next?

Comments

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I think Amy's the simplest case currently in the press and also the least fame-related; she's just a woman in love with a man she doesn't believe could love her back and she'll do anything to keep him. If she really is on crack and heroin then I would predict it will kill her very soon and it will be a sad waste.

On the one hand, I don't think that living a long time is a virtue in itself but on the other I think "rock'n'roll" deaths are usually far from that (possible expection of Jeff Buckley) and that usually they are deeply pathetic. I have 0 sympathy for Sid Vicious, little more for Kurt Cobain and slightly more for Tupac and Sir Notorious of BIG. I actually quite like Richey Manic, which may or may not be a generational thing (and also god knows I am so grateful when it is MANICS not PHONICS on the jukebox -so help me Wales, if I could change but one facet of your loveliness, etc.) but I find his employment of 'BUT AM I?!?!?!?!' tactics cinematically pleasing.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I actually quite like Richey Manic, which may or may not be a generational thing

I'd go with not, considering you were eight when he disappeared :)

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Oh I know but I can remember people going on about it on the news and things; I found it quite interesting/worrying at the time cus I wasn't old enough to realise this was just rockstar behaviour, whereas definitely can't remember any of the others at all.