Blog & Roll (Part 2)

How far is too far?

At what point do we as cosumers of art and music cut the cord and stop supporting certain pieces of art solely because of the artist behind it? It's been debated, most likely, since the first primordial inceptions of art itself. From Salvador Dali rolling around in his own filth to John Lennon espousing that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, folks have never taken lightly to an artist's own proclivities circumventing his art. Yet, who doesn't love listening to The White Album while pondering Dream of Venus?

Dali's art is still dismissed quite quickly merely for his scatological samplings, and I'm sure some Americans still steamroll any Beatles LP's they can get their evangelical hands upon. Yet, those censures are based on activities that neither harmed nor, in honesty, hurt anyone (other than maybe the artists themselves). However, another case has arisen (sadly multiple times) that really begs how far we are willing to support an individual whose unacceptability is universally accepted.

Gary Glitter was a 1970's glam rock face most remembered (somewhat) for "Rock & Roll (Part 2)," the "hey" song most often heard at any sporting event. Without seeing Herr Glitter's checkbook, it's safe to assume that this wag has been able to subsist post 1976 sherely on the royalties that the NFL, NBA, etc. have laid in his lap, but it's Gary's other lap exploits that prompt this entry.

Gare-bear has been in trouble numerous times for incidences of child pornography and committing obscene acts with underage females in Southeast Asia. Fleeing the UK after serving time for the pornography charges, Gary set up shop in Vietnam and Thailand. Thank goodness he was able to steer free of any location known as the Graceland for pedophiles.

Without having met his Glitterness, I still feel no shame in asserting that Gary is not healthy for society at large. At the very least, he's a ridiculous scar on human hairlines. I also feel a strong faith in the Vietnamese judicial system in its ability to bring Glitter once more to justice. (No truth to the rumor that the Vietnamese Department of Justice's motto is Latin for "Hey, we're no Laos.") Either way, it's a matter of time before Gary ends up in whatever replaced the Hanoi Hilton.

Yet, I would venture a guess that if I were to head toward any NBA, NFL, or NHL outlet I might still hear the public performance of "Rock & Roll (Part 2)." Why is this? We continue to support this scab so that the Brewers and the Lakers can treat fans to a rhythmic choral escapade. Can't we pull the plug on just one piece of hackneyed schlock rock to appease the multitudes of exploited children in the world.

I don't know why this has gotten me so. The song is catchy; try to get anyone to deny that. The world, however, deserves better than cutting royalty checks to this guy.

I just hope that I might be at an NFL game next season cheering to some worthy pariah. What's that outcast, Pat Boone, up to?