This question about Pete Wentz that rocket queen posted has got me thinking...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
Whether I like it or not (and I'm definitely in the "not" category) Pete Wentz is a role model. Musicians are role models (again, like it or not). So if today's youth were to be inspired by a musician, and were to pattern their own lives and behavior after them, who would be a good example for them to follow? Good examples would be Chris Martin, Thom Yorke, and Steven Wilson. All are vegans, and dont do drugs and ruin their lives and such.
The first 2 are also big activists with the Make Trade Fair and that Planting Trees thing.
sarah c - thank you =]
edit- also I think Serj T. and Tom Morrello are great role models. Relient K is a awesome and inspiring band to the youth and to me. Well Radiohead isn't that bad.... that's the closest that I can think of. All of them graduated college (cept Jonny Greenwood, but he went to Oxford, woooo) and you don't hear of any drug driven madness from them. And of course they encourage self thought and hate ignorance.
EDIT: conie: Good call on Steven Wilson.... :0 ) Yes, they do. Maybe not the ones that are in the media everyday, but I do believe there are some. I have met a few bands that have played at warped tour, and most of them are down to earth and tell you to work hard and stuff like that. A lot of local bands I've talked to are just happy to be making music and to have a chance to play it in front of people. It humbles me.
I think Mike Hranica, vocalist of The Devil Wears Prada, is a great role model. He doesn't go out partying and he stands up for his belief in God. Plus he has his own t-shirt company that makes positive feeling shirts rather than shirts that display suicide and death. Sadly, I think the ones that are actually role models are ones that shouldn't be *cough*Pete*cough* only because his fan base is 12-18 year old girls who think he is cute (ugh.)
Rivers Cuomo would be a good role model. After all, he went to Harvard and graduated as one of the top. He could help inspire some kids to go off to college rather than just wear massive amounts of eyeliner.
Also, while I am not a huge fan of Bono and U2, Bono's humanitarian work deserves some credit. Maybe if some people looked up to Bono, this world could be just a bit better.
EDIT: I can't believe I didn't even think of Greg Graffin. Look no further than Greg Graffin. The man has a PhD, teaches at UCLA, isn't a drunken moron, and perhaps the most important thing of all....he has never sold out musically. What better example could you want your own kids to follow? You could make the argument that Bad Religion's earlier material was better but I think his recent output is still excellent. This is in contrast to several other bands from the 90's that released new albums this year.
One other thing, Graffin would never say something as stupid as Pete Wentz did. He's probably in the top five smartest rock stars in business right now.
Mothers, don't let your babies grow up to be Pete Wentz.
Dan C - I didn't want to mention it, but the fact that he's an atheist makes him even more of a role model. It's all about individuality and sticking up for what you believe in, not what the world forces upon you. I don't feel that should penalize his "wholesomeness" factor. I agree with Fall Out Boy. Like 3 out of 4 of them are straight-edge. They are pretty good role models.
U2 is an obvious one yes.
My fave band GOO GOO DOLLS I think are pretty good role models. They are very down to earth guys, they dont act like rockstars at all. But I guess they do swear and drink so IDK. I guess it depends on what you mean by good role model I guess. To me, they are pretty good when u compare them to like Motley Crue, Guns N Roses and ppl of that nature ya know? Depends on how you define rock? There are a lot of great role models from the Jam scene in rock music. Al Schneir and Rod Derhak from the band moe. are involved in great causes like Headcount and also environmental groups for the health of the planet and care about the health of their country. Keller Williams is also very charitable and involved in making the world a better place. Any one of these guys would be fine as role models for my children. And they are also some great musicians. Yonder Mountain String Band is also a great group of guys. And Bob Marley would be a great role model for anyone for the rest of time. yes Steven Wilson <someone here mentioned here>
Tarja Turuunen<i don't know if I spelled correctly> Well whoever is "cool" is who the role model will be, and the good guy is hardly ever cool.
I think Jonathan Richman's work with the early Modern Lovers sets a pretty good example, with some songs about having moral fiber. "I'm Straight" is a a great one about a girl he's in love with who hangs out with a bunch of stoners and how he's proudly "straight". "I've watched you, walk around here, I've watched you meet, these boyfriends, I know, and you tell me how they're deep, look but, I think if these guys, if they're really so great, tell me why can't they, at least take this place and, take it straight? Why always stoned?". It's one of my favorite songs by anybody, equal parts love song and declaration of being drug free and all original and great music. Then "Someone I Care About" is about wanting someone you actually love not just a useless sextoy, and the whole first album has generally a positive attitude and besides that is one of the most unique and best music I've ever heard.
And there are other positive role models scattered throughout rock history, but to be blunt, the ones whoe aren't necesarily wholesome are often more interesting and "cooler". I mean I'd rather meet Iggy Pop than Mr. Rogers.
Edit: I completely agree with and almost wrote about Greg Graffin. Although for the more "wholesome" and traditional individuals you might have a hard time convincing them that the atheist lead singer of the band Bad Religion is a good role model. As an atheist myself though I might force feed my children Bad Religion to get them to be more like him. Ladytron's Mira Aroyo has a Ph.D. in genetics (from Oxford University) - Greg Graffin eat your heart out ;-P
Aman - good point. Anyone from the straight edge camp would be a good influence.
To answer your question Sookie - Yes, I think they do :) Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat, Embrace, and Fugazi lead an anti drug and alcohol and anti-sex before marriage life. i think they would be a fine model to follow, provided they weren't in jail or drug addicts. musicians are talented people who followed their dreams and succeeded, i don't see a problem here.
EDIT: wait, i didn't read your question very well, so, to give you a real answer i think any musician who isn't involved in any of the bad things that are often asscosiated with the stereotypical musician (drugs, alchohol, crime, parties) would make a fine role model Although I don't really like the guy, or his music, I'd have to say that Bono is a pretty good role model, that is if he is in fact anybody's role model. He may be pretentious and insufferably annoying, but he uses his fame to promote good causes and effect positive change, so I guess he qualifies.
And Damien Rice, although not a "rock star" in the truest sense of the term, is more or less the antithesis of the stereotypical over-the-top, self-indulgent musician. Despite his success, he's still a very unassuming and humble person, who does a fair bit of charity work and champions and number of political causes and what not. Aaron Gillespie, who is the drummer for Underoath is my role model. He's pretty cool from what I can tell and he is an amazing drummer. I think there is no better musical role model to have ever lived than John Lennon.
Bono is of course another one.
Aimee Mann is a good one too, I heard her being a guest DJ on the radio last year at Christmas, and she seemed really cool. I'd say Geddy Lee or Neil Peart of Rush.
Both are HIGHLY articulate & have managed to be in rock band w/o getting into trouble w/ the law. They constantly strive to better themselves as musicians. That can only be seen as good & healthy.
Yeah. Them. I really think it's difficult for any musician to be a role model. Because if they are one, it doesn't mean they're a great one or anything. A lot of them make stupid mistakes, have oodles of DUIs and other random crimes, then try to speak against what they do and get involved in good causes or be a spokesperson for the serious commercials on TV. Like Lindsey Lohan talking about drunk driving. Another example is this from a so-called musician.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14396326/
It's pretty sad that I can't even think of anyone. I'm sorry! Yes, many do, actually. It's all a matter of looking for the right people and listening to the right bands. For example, bands such as Wishforwings, Casey Jones, xAFBx promote a "straight edge" lifestyle; no drugs, no promiscuality, no alchohol, and many are vegans/vegetarians. If that's not a good role model, then I don't know what is.
Other bands, too, such as Amity Affliction, Behind Crimson Eyes, etc. have hard-working members, who always talk to their crowds about dealing with life's problems, anti-suicide campaigns etc.
I think a lot of mainstream bands just get caught up in the glitze and glamour of the business. yeah of course there are
But you have to think of what level your talking about
to some people a role modles could be someone that they look up too for being a good musican, for example Jimi Hendrix was an amazing guitarist but god knows how many drugs he did. Bono i think all musicians are good role models in a sense. not always for the same reasons but like they all make music and music is one of the only common bonds that brings everyone in the world together, and it really is one of the only things that we all have in common on this planet. so it is kinda important. just imagine what the world would be like without music....
scary. Candice Night and Ritchie Blackmore of 'Blackmore's Night'.
Ian Anderson
Natacha Atlas
Nick Drake {RIP}
Karen Matherson
Robert Palmer {RIP}
Christine McVie {if you ignore the 1970's cocaine bit!}
This must be about the 6th time today I've mentioned 'them'!
np: 'Gone With the Wind' ~ Blackmore's Night Yeah, in my opinion, there are plenty.
Drugs and booze aside, Dave Grohl fits into that category for me, He's married and has a daughter, cleaned up his act as he got older, but still makes great music.
Same thing with Slash. He still drinks quite often, but is married with two sons, and still plays some awesome guitar.
, and is even moving forward in his career, like by his little Guitar Hero deal thingy.
Neither of them have ever ODed on anything, either.
Interesting Q, Sookie.
**EDIT: wow, so many answers on here are better than mine lol Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Ian Curtis, Morrissey | 