i think that stems from the modern attitude that only people who are both creators and performers are legitimate artists. if all you do is one side of that coin then you're some sort of fraud.

weezer are probably one of the only bands i'd actually call sell outs.
it's probably just because of how much i love pinkterton and blue, but i honestly don't understand how a band that made this can go on to make this.

I'd consider Rivers Cuomo one of two things -- He's either a sell-out who purposely makes such terrible music now to appeal to twelve-year olds, or he's simply gone through some sort of mental deprivation that makes him think what he's doing is still good. Sell-out or idiot, your choice!

And that's really good. I envy everybody who makes real money doing what they feel compelled to do naturally, especially in the arts. If you think about it, that could be more satisfying than making ridiculous amounts of money just because you get noticed by the gallery crowd or whatever. But I do think a lot of creative people get crushed a bit by the realization that they must produce things they have little to no interest in to make a living

y'know I thought about Rembrandt and his school as I was typing what I said. I don't think that his students were not making 'pure' art (don't believe in the concept of purity in general) and I don't romanticize art all that much. Still, I bet a lot of Rembrandts' student wanted to paint something really cool and imaginitive instead of what they had to paint just to make enough money to subsist.

I wonder if cave paintings were made for profit by cavemen who really wanted to paint something different that we have never seen or even imagined

I'm willing to bet they at least didn't have to do the hunting or gathering that day. Maybe that was payment enough. :)

And maybe the ones who got creative are the reason for all those mythological creatures from throughout history.

This is better:


Also, new Weezer isn't that bad. The Red Album especially was just as good as their old stuff.

Haha I agree. I actually did love and still love the first Weezer album (although people made fun of me for that even in 1994)

I always wondered what exactly motivates that guy. He's definitely got a knack for making rock songs - but why does he do it that way?

gonna have to strongly disagree with you there, although Red is waaaay better then Make Believe or Raditude.

So people also consider Green Day sellouts? I'm not a big fan of them but from what people tell me American Idiot is pretty highly regarded among Green Day fans. Why are people upset that they are more popular if the quality is still high?

I don't think I've ever called any band/artist a sell out. I usually just think of it as a term for an artist or band that's left a fan embittered by their new style or popularity.

I think I used to call bands sellouts back when I was about 14. Now I just say they suck if I think they suck.