I agree with this. We have a magazine here put out by Melbourne's Kiss FM (unaffiliated with UK one) which is very good - they give the writers a lot of freedom. However, the designers don't like using images as it encroaches on their work! This infuriated me as I don't think that people read interviews without a picture, it draws them in! This time they made sure they used a picture - for my feature anyway! I guess they thought they were flipping the script by putting design above big pictures.
Mike Banks obviously has an incredible amount of charisma - he doesn't need to talk to glossy magazines to exert his presence in the underground and for people to have an idea of where he is coming from and his values and passions. I have read a couple of interviews and found them incredibly inspiring and illuminating. He has a gift for language. Techno is often considered to be anonymous but one of the most remarkable things about Detroit techno was the personalities - individualism - of its auteurs that comes through regardless of how they handle the media. >I'll open the can of worms! Perhaps, and just perhaps, some >people realize that there is/has been a graphic revolution especially in >America. >Many people now desire a picture, photograph, music video >etc....to associate with an artist. Perhaps, and I make direct reference >to Mr. Banks, he saying---who gives a flyin fluck what the h*ll I look like, >if the music is tight then ___________(fill in the blank). > >Ultimately, it all points, and YES this is just my .0000005 cents worth of >an opinion, back to the fact that many of us are just about the "image". > > >>And does anyone have any >points to make on the effect of such a policy? > >It causes a subtle change in the way people are acustomed to things, >it goes against the grains of this "graphic revolution", it serves as a basis >for change. > >The mask issue deserves no comment. > >End of Transmission > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Tom Robbins >Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 6:00 AM >To: 313 mailing list >Subject: [313] faceless techno b******s > > >So recently I was mulling over the way UR and Maurizio/Basic Channel refuse >to be photographed and rarely ever give interviews, and how this >facelessness projects to music consumers and how it adds to the general air >of mystique surrounding the artist. Can anyone point to other bands or >musicians who have employed this tactic, whether they be from the realms of >techno and/or dance music or any other genres? And does anyone have any >points to make on the effect of such a policy? > >As a starter for ten, did you know that David Soul (in his pre-Starsky & >Hutch days) used to eke out a living as a singer songwriter called The >Masked Man? He would take to the stage in a mask and cloak because he said >he wanted people to concentrate on the music, although he admits he soon >became better-known for the gimmick rather than his songs. > >- Tom > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<br >clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a >href="http://explorer.msn.com";>http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p> >
