Matthews’ arrogant attitude hurts his fans

by Emily Ward

Imagine a successful and extremely affluent rock ‘n’ roll band arriving in Dallas for the last concert of its summer tour. It’s about 8 p.m. at Texas Stadium as the lead singer steps up to the microphone to sing the opening number. His voice echoes around the arena as he realizes the place is completely empty.

Does this sound just a little strange? How about another scenario.

The same band has just produced its fourth studio album, and the day has arrived for music store employees everywhere to clear the shelf and make room for the upcoming compact disc. Despite critics who claim the album is the group’s best to date, nobody shows up to cough up the dough for the CD.

Is this starting to seem rather confusing? Good.

The point is a band is nothing without its fans. When a group’s followers are subtracted from the concert picture, the band falls apart. When fans stop buying that group’s new CDs, the band ceases to be the thing for which it was once revered. When any group upcoming or already present on the music scene thinks it can triumph without its devotees, that group is sorely mistaken.

I thought this idea seemed at first glance something quite obvious and simplistic, but it seems I was wrong.

This week, the Dave Matthews Band released its fourth album “Everyday” with a considerable amount of bitterness from its normally long-lived fans. I am not writing this to complain about the album itself, because this is in no way a music review. Matthews’ most recent and shocking attitude, however, should be addressed.

It was in the March issue of Rolling Stone where I read about how Matthews decided late last year to make a rather surprising turn in his music style. The fact that he has started to change his music is one thing — saying he does not care what his fans think about this modification is quite another.

“I’m going this way, and anybody who wants to come is absolutely welcome. But I am going there, with or without you,” were Matthews’ final words in the article. It shouldn’t matter whether or not Matthews decided to alter his music style. After all, it is his own music he is modifying.

But on the other hand, isn’t he performing for others as well as for himself? Aren’t his fans the ones who helped him become what he is today?

The answer is yes. When hundreds of thousands of people buy your albums, concert tickets, posters, T-shirts, hats, etc., you owe a lot of your success to their loyalty.

Perhaps I am just a bitter Dave Matthews Band fan, and maybe I am just mad at the feeling that Matthews could care less what fans think of his work. But isn’t this true for all people who have a favorite band?

Take a look back at some old tapes of Grammy award acceptance speeches. One of the things you hear the most in those orations is how the performer couldn’t be where he or she was without the fans. That familiar saying is nothing new to anybody who has listened to a band’s “thank you” to its crowd.

So why does Matthews seem to care less about his fans? What makes him think he could be where he is today if it were not for the many admirers of his group’s music? What is going on inside his head?

These are the questions Rolling Stone left unanswered in its article. The magazine has never been exactly partial to the band’s music, but not asking Matthews why he doesn’t care about the opinions of his fans is unacceptable.

So for fans of the Dave Matthews Band, ask yourself the question of whether or not you care that Matthews is unmindful of your opinion.

And for those who have a favorite band in general, ask yourself if you would care when the performer of your choice said your sentiment is just dust in the wind. For the sake of band followers around the world, I hope Matthews’ perspective is not the same as that of others in his industry.

Emily E. Ward is a junior math and news-editorial major from Springtown.
She can be reached (e.e.ward@student.tcu.edu).

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