There’s something about musicians. We treat them
differently. The sins of musicians seem exempt from the scorn and contempt that
is heaped upon every day folk, and especially, politicians.
Consider the case of Jared Fogle, the seemingly wholesome (former)
Subway pitchman. Jared and his boyish face became an advertising fixture with
his claim that he lost gobs of weight eating Subway sandwiches. One day, we
wake up to hear that ol’ Jared has some issues.
Subway has fired him, and some rather serious federal
charges are still pending.
Those charges – including - possession of inappropriate
material involving children – seem to merit his dismissal, but I can’t help
thinking, would it be different if he was a musician?
There seems to be compelling evidence that Michael Jackson
had at least one inappropriate relationship with a child. Yet, we still play
his songs on the radio. Marching bands perform grand choreography while playing
his songs at halftime. Indeed, there is still demand for his tunes in
advertisements. Michael Jackson is revered as one of the greatest of a
generation. Why do we choose not to hold his past against him?
Gary Glitter, same thing. Gary Glitter’s song, “Rock and
Roll Part 2” is alive and well at sporting arenas across the U.S. and Canada . You may know it as the song
where you shout “Hey!” every so often. Bands love to play it, and loudspeakers
blare it to keep the crowds amped up.
Gary Glitter has been convicted and served time for sex
crimes. And there are additional similar charges against him even now. Yet,
even my beloved University
of Georgia
Every problem involving a musician is not pedophilia, of
course. And granted, all crimes are not equal. Paul McCartney was arrested in
1980 for bringing weed into Japan .
He spent eight nights in jail for that. These days, most of us don’t think
marijuana possession should be a crime, so that seems pretty easy to blow off.
George Michael. Arrested for both drugs and “engaging in a
lewd act” (albeit with an adult). The drug was pot, and he claims the other
charge was the result of being lured in by an undercover police sting. Do we
care? Nah. He may not really be our “Father Figure”, but we know all the words
to the song.
James Brown. Arrested several times: theft, drugs, assaulting
a cop, resisting arrest. Spent time in jail at least twice. We have no problem
playing his classic songs. His arrests are viewed now as just part of his
persona.
‘Musicians that have been arrested’ is an interesting Google
search to kill some time. Justin Bieber, Merle Haggard, Rick James, Ozzy Osborne,
David Crosby, Lil’ Kim, Peter Yarrow, Bobby Brown, Kid Rock, Rick James, Phil
Spector… the charges run from peeing in public to murder.
Jim Morrison, front man for The Doors, was arrested five
times. At least one of the charges was for dropping the F-bomb on stage. That
right there is public obscenity, my friends. Or at least that was the charge. I’m
trying to imagine a rock concert now without
the F-bomb.
Dying appears to help your cause. James Brown, yeah, he had
some issues but, man, could he sing. And bust a move! Jim Morrison was a drunk.
In death, he is a rock god.
How about Rick James? Forget the draft dodging, kidnapping, and
crack-piping. He’s the king of punk funk, dude. Somebody put on “Super Freak”
and let’s turn this place out!
So poor ol’ Jared will live in our memories as a guy who
rose to stardom for eating fresh and losing weight, then crashing and burning
in the shame of the charges he now faces. Can’t help but wonder if it would be
different if he had a few hits songs under his belt.