I really want fans not to copy the ideologies of these musicians and just find their way of thinking. It’s a shame but probably fans will copy him or others no matter what.
I remember reading Hunter Davies Beatles biography when I was around 16/17 and being disappointed to find that they didn’t offer much by way of political advice.
Instead the message that was repeated by all of the fab four was that you must think for yourself.
Back then that was a disappointment because I didn’t know what to think, and I wasn’t comfortable with uncertainty either. I was just ready and eager to jump on any bandwagon my heroes suggested.
Grown up politics made no sense at all.
Wars made no sense as the gains were disproportionate to the losses I reckoned.
The economic system was totally unfathomable at 16, and school hadn’t taught me anything that would help.
It was almost as if the teachers themselves didn’t know.
Anyway, with the passing of time, that advice has proved itself to be correct.
Absolutely correct.
The young can be very impressionable and musicians should bear that in mind. It’s probably not such a big deal in Waters’ case as I imagine his audience would be mature enough not to be swayed so easily.
In her time Joan Baez spent a lot of energy campaigning for her beliefs. Ultimately it’s doubtful whether it did them any good, but they certainly impacted badly on her music.