An established artist can be around for decades, in their heydays sell multi platinum albums and go on world tour promotion tours. Over a period of around ten years or so, they will eventually reach their peak and make way for the emerging artists of the time. They will dubbed musical veterans of the scene or dinosaurs with dwindling interest in them, even with the die hard fans. Release after release, the group/solo artist will be looking for validation for their efforts. In an attempt to stay relevant in some ways to not only the young commercial target audience, but their long time loyal fanbase.
Tensions will arise, usually concerning ownership over material, or royalties for the songs. Solo artists will find themselves resorting to bringing on board new producers to inject some life into their otherwise torrid and diminishing repertoire. Other succesful artists may join them in the mighty infamous "Duets".
Record labels will drop them, they will enter rehab for drug and/or alcohol abuse. They will have to wipe the slate clean once again, and think about their comeback plan.
Touring schedules will be shortened to less and less dates. Booking agents will have them starting to perform at civic centres in rural areas, usually named on the bill just above the chicken parmigana (see Spinal Tap).
After years of trying to reignite the passion they once had for music, everything will die down and they will fade into obscurity, like countless others in the industry have done.
Renewed interest in their back catalogue will enjoy a short lived boom upon their uneventful passing. People will recognise what the artist represented in their music, and will savour the sounds they brought to our ears.
Sounds bleak, doesn't it? Well the road less travel may mean you could become a legend by the age of 27 if you wanted to.
Kurt Cobain, beloved singer songwriter of Nirvana (1967-1994). Led the powerhouse to multi-platinum sales of their second album Nevermind (Geffen 1991). Becomes an icon, speaks out to the generation x kids, enjoys wealth and chart success for 3 years and committs suicide at the age of 27.
His death was a glorification for the masses, which indicated that it was alright to committ suicide. Because after all, Kurt did it and he was cool. The mindset of a lot of people was that it was a waste, and a shame for popular music as he was so influential to a lot of people and got people through rough times with his music.
A lot of emphasis was put on his relationship with Courtney Love, and his psychological state leading up to the point in which he ended his own life. Claims from people who saw him the night before he died, said that they wouldn't of been able to pick that he was suicidal at all.
Drugs may have presumbly played a part in his taking his own life, they wouldn't of helped to his state of rashionalising, so it may of contributed to it. Although many things did contribute to his suicide.
The media exposure he was receiving was overwhelming for him, and would for be anyone. He had been hailed as the next musical icon, the next Hendrix, the next Elvis up in those ranks. People put him up on a pedestal for everyone to see, he had become public property.
Now, had things been different today, Nirvana may have gone on to make more successful records, and may even still be around today. However, the nature of Cobain's songwriting was so volatile, that at any given time it was destined to self destruct. He could of either kept going, under sufferance or retreated to another country or retired on his earnings. The latter might have been an option. His career may have gone on, but he would have deteriorated in time, and his songwriting would of suffered for it. With each move he made he would of been scrutinised. When another album failed to live up to people's expectations, he would be scrutinised for it. Sooner rather than later, people will question his ability to write hooks like he did when he was in his prime, and eventually he and Nirvana would be written off as a joke.
Nirvana would of been viewed as a forgotten relic. People would of said, "Cobain used to be a song writing genius, but he's a has been now". No one knows whether Kurt could of predicted this could occur, but the question is would you rather take yourself out of the limelight and live a normal life? Or end it ensuring you become even more famous than when you were alive?
Some artists have taken over decades to be recognised for their music, without a mere mention from anyone, once someone committs suicide then that's when the attention starts to revolve around them. You could go down in history for taking your own life. It takes a lot of courage to committ an act so painfully honest, for the public to recognise the angst and frustration you must of felt when you were walking the earth! Wrong, note that i was being sarcastic and all i would ask for is that i don't hear about how brave Kurt Cobain was for killing himself. After all he was a drug addict, he was just a weathy one at that.
Artists deserve more recognition when they're alive, but continuing on they must understand that they won't be on top forever. If you're of the indie persuasion, then you'll be content with reaching a niche market for which you will be appreciated by your fans. If you are looking at breaking it big, the industry is hopelessly fickle and one day you're the biggest shit out, and the next your cd's start appearing in cash converters bargain bins or end up as landfill.
If you've died of natural causes then you have more of a chance of being ignored, but still honoured in some way.
Jimi Hendrix, he was put on a pedestal- Drug Overdose
Janis Joplin, put on a high pedestal (OVERRATED)- alcoholic
Charlie Parker, jazz legend highly respected-drugs
John Coltrane, heart problems-former drug user though.
Bud Powell-drugs
Sid Vicious-drug overdose
Elvis Presley-the king couldn't be told to stop- his dead body temporarily resided over a toliet bowl reportedly when he was found dead.
All these guys, put up on a pedestal only to find themselves a hollow and empty shell of a person, succumbing to their own self decadence, and ultimately death.
It's a harsh way to send off our beloved idols, although that's the way it often is in the industry.
Upon signing up to any major label, it should be a pre-requisite for any record company to offer either a burial or cremation service upon signing, i think that's what is has come to.
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