Been done to death this now mate but I'll dip my toe in; contrary to all the claims that John Lydon was a pretentious, moronic, insipid musician following the demise of the Pistols Hara Kiri fashion, Lydon surrounded himself with talented musicians and formed the highly entertaining Public Image Limited and had a modicum of success.
He was himself the same man with the same reactionary views and anti everything mindset, a little maturer by now it has to be said.
To revert to my original statement U2 and Bono and found a winning formulae and sank into a sea of complacency.
Some people see these things in concrete terms some view them as more abstract. It probably just depends on how deep you delve.
I see questions like this as fundamental. It may be a band views success as sell out concerts and mega fame. I think an artist would see success as a legacy beyond this or indeed wouldn't even bother themselves with the question of success.
Do Juggernauts that use money to achieve greater success , which in these terms is obviously consumer response which thanks to the modern media garnishes critical acclaim, really obtain success?
Is it better, in fact crucial to burn out? It is in necessary that you must burn out or disappear or quit? Like you say the settle for mediocrity or once the hype dies down is that all there really ever was.
To me the real greats - evoke a powerful response and they still evoke this response throughout your life and their art is always on another level whenever you listen to it just sounds great.
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