"Go away"

Philosophy hour here at Music Zombie.  Is it really possible to separate the music from the musician?  Are you endorsing an artist's off-stage, down-time activities and opinions just by listening to their music or buying their CDs? (or is it downloading MP3s now?  I'm afraid I might be a bit behind the times.)

Take Richard Wagner.  I really enjoy his music, but he was a bit of a jerk (to say the least).  Before I was made aware of his personal traits, I didn't really give it much thought.  I just enjoyed listening to the "Tannhauser" or "Lohengrin."  I still enjoy his music, incidentally, even after learning about his discretions.  You like what you like.

Similarly, the allegations against Michael Jackson put those who like and appreciate his musical contributions into a delicate spot.  Am I endorsing his wacky-ness just by dancing like a zombie everytime I hear "Thriller"?  I don't think so.  I think it is possible to separate the producer from the product.  I guess the litmus test would be: If you knew nothing about the artist in question, would you still listen to their music?  And do you still honestly enjoy the music even after you learn something about that artist?

For my current research project I've been reading a lot about Artie Shaw (including his unusual, highly philosophical autobiography, The Trouble With Cinderella: An Outline of Identity,) which is why I started thinking  about this to begin with.  Shaw was, self-admittedly, difficult.

When he was in his 90s, Shaw declared his epitaph (at the request of editors at Who's Who in America) to be: "He did the best he could with the material at hand."  Later, at a college campus lecture to music students, he is reported to have said that he had shortened the epitaph down to two words: "Go away."

Not exactly warm and fuzzy.  But he sure could swing.