“The whole music industry has completely and totally changed from how it was. It's very, very different. When we started, there were loads of record company people throwing money at musicians, and that did give people a long term career.” PeopleGivingLongDifferentTermChangedMusicianLong TermMusic Industry Author:Susan Ann Sulley
“My own experience with that brief moment where I had videos on MTV was that nothing was ever good enough. When you hear people say, "I was unhappy the whole time," that sounds ridiculous. I think this is a theme among people who seek fame, not just musicians. There are a lot of bitter, disappointed people.” PeopleThinkingEnoughMomentsFameMusicianRidiculousUnhappyBitterGood EnoughDisappointed Author:Mike Doughty
“You should form your own opinions, and I think that's why social media is good because it's an alternative source of information that can help you form your opinion, that might not be your parents, and might not be what the media is trying to force down your throat. So that's why it's important for artists and musicians to speak up, because for those people who have an inkling that their parents' views aren't right or that their parents don't have any views or whatever, that's an alternative source of information that can help them form their own opinion.” PeopleThinkingTryingImportantHelpingArtistSpeakParentOpinionMusicianSocial Media Author:Ellie Rowsell
“Everybody has their own approach to songwriting. When you're an electronic musician, the whole writing process just depends. Some people have a very live way of writing electronic music, very improvisational. They set up a lot of gear and do live takes. I'm concerned with having a specific kind of sound. There's not one second that I haven't put thought into. I put almost as much time into my live shows as I do into writing music, but they're two completely different processes. Some people think the way I perform live is how I write songs, which isn't true at all.” PeopleThinkingWritingKindDifferentSongMusicianConcernedSongwritingWriting ProcessElectronic Music Author:Travis Stewart
“Luther Vandross and I met in Roberta Flack's band. He was singing background, I was playing bass, and Roberta was beautiful. She's like the mom to all these young musicians in New York. At that time that I met Luther, I was a musician snob. For me, the singers were just the people out in the front to keep the audience entertained. While the musicians did the real work.” PeopleRealBeautifulAudienceMomMusicianSingingLutherSnob Author:Marcus Miller
“By that point, I was about 12, 13 years old. I was this young black kid into rock music, which was kind of strange. People would always assume I'd be into like more modern R&B, which is a stereotype, but that was kind of what was expected. And I had all these guitar magazines of all these musicians that didn't look like me. So I assumed Jimmi Hendrix was one of those.” PeopleKindKidsBlackModernStrangeMusicianAssumingStereotypeRock MusicHendrix Author:Michael Kiwanuka
“Ironically, I must admit that I have an easier time (myself) playing games that are really simple and non-realistic - like the games I grew up with in the 80's - I tend to get lost and confused when the games get too complex! But I enjoy watching people who are good at playing games. I really enjoy playing games like Guitar Hero, where you feel like you're a great musician even if you're not.” PeopleEnjoySimpleLike YouHeroMusicianConfusedGreat Music Author:Mark Walton
“I think I was meant to be a musician who speaks his mind about social justice issues. And I grew up in a lower middle class family, but a family that had enough money to buy a $50 guitar and a $50 amplifier, and had a basement to rehearse in. What I think the global human cost of this horrific poverty is how many Mozarts or curers of cancer are slaving away in the Maquiladoras along the Tijuana border, or in the Indonesian sweat shops? There are billions of people who will never become the people they could be, or the people they were meant to be, due to crushing poverty.” PeopleThinkingMindEnoughSpeakJusticePovertyMusicianSocial JusticeCancerCrushMiddle ClassMeant To BeHorrific Author:Tom Morello
“I can't remember who it was - maybe Brian Eno - but some important musician guy said he recorded ambient noise from a city street and after he listened to these field recordings for the millionth time, it was like, "Oh yeah, at 1:23, that's where the car horn comes in." So when you're doing stuff like this, and you've been working on it for a year, you're like, "Oh yeah man, that makes perfect sense!" And then you forget when you give it to people, they're bewildered.” PeopleMenGivingImportantRememberGuyPerfectForgetCarMusician Author:Josh Jones
“Artists have been used over and over again since the early 1980s as the legitimizers of a neighborhood in New York. And entrepreneurial artists, meaning people who themselves start out as painters, musicians, dancers, and who open a café, a bar, a restaurant, or even a co-op art gallery - they unintentionally develop the kinds of attractions that bring the middle class with some kind of cultural ambition.” PeopleKindArtArtistAmbitionMusicianAttractionPainterDancerMiddle ClassNeighborhoodEntrepreneurial Author:Sharon Zukin
“I don't believe that the Democratic party has anything to do with the Left. We have two political parties in the US: a right wing party and a right centrist party. That's the Democrats. I laugh when people describe Barack Obama as a socialist president. As a socialist musician, I'll tell you when we have a socialist president. We don't have one now, not even close.” PeopleBelievePoliticalPresidentPartyLaughingMusicianDemocraticDemocratBarackSocialistPolitical PartiesDemocratic PartyRight Wing Author:Tom Morello
“I think most people who decide to become a musician have to be prepared for some degree of struggle. It makes the art better if you go through some struggles. To be an artist, in any form, you have to develop some sense of compassion and empathy - it's an important quality for everyone to have, on a human level. But I think, as part of our job, you have to be able to do that, so suffering, tends - if you allow it - to let you look on the bright side. It will help with those senses.” PeopleThinkingArtImportantHelpingArtistSufferingQualityCompassionStruggleMusicianEmpathyArt IsBe PreparedBright Side Author:Reeve Carney
“I hate having my photograph taken and I try to keep that in mind when I'm photographing other people. But the best photos that I've taken are the ones when people have forgotten that I'm there. If I'm in a recording studio with a musician, for example, maybe I'm not photographing them in the middle of a take but I can just get that stolen moment of them resting and they glance over to me.” PeopleTryingMindMomentsHateTakenMusicianI HatePhotographForgotten Author:Devendra Banhart
“Punk, and rock in general, is often very myopic. When people sing about "the world," they're generally focused almost entirely on the west and Europe. Sometimes South America. Sometimes Asia. But rarely Africa. The Ex, famously, is one of the few rock acts to travel and perform in Africa which, may be home to more musicians than just about anywhere else in the world.” PeopleWorldSometimesHomeMusicianFocusedPunk Author:G.W. Sok
“I'm not as religious as some people about "the album." To be honest, that was a product of a format. You had vinyl, and you could fit five songs on each side, and that's 45 minutes. You had A-side songs and B-side songs; I always loved the first song on side B. And there's nothing wrong with that. Prog albums of the 70s adapted to that format very much. But not all musicians want to create 45 minutes of music that has to be listened to in chronological order.” PeopleSongReligiousHonestFitMusicianBeing HonestVinyl Author:Bjork
“I think there's a difference between the type of folk music that people put into the box of "folk music" and then there's the kind of folk music that I aspire to and am in awe of, and that is the kind of folk music where it's very limited tools - in most cases a guitar, in a self-taught style that is idiosyncratic and particular to that musician.” PeopleThinkingKindStyleMusicianAweFolk Music Author:Christopher Paul Stelling
“I think that the current climate enables a lot of musicians to do relatively well. Twenty-five years ago, you could be a bass player in a folk-rock band and do pretty well - that sort of means that you're going to have to go get a day job. But a lot of my friends have learned how to write classical music for movies and produce other people and do remixes, and DJ and go on tour, and do all these different things. The more diverse their approach, the better their chances of actually having a career.” PeopleThinkingWritingMeanDifferentChancePlayerMusicianDiverseClassical Music Author:Moby
“Up until the rise of electronic music, if you were a musician in Portugal or Germany or Italy or Japan, and you didn't sing in English, you really were limited: You could be successful in the country where people understood your language. The world of electronic music is completely international. You have DJs from Finland making huge records for people in New Zealand, DJs in South Korea making huge records for people in France. By the fact that it doesn't cost anything to make, and that it transcends language, nation it accidentally accomplishes a lot of really remarkable things.” PeopleWorldCountryLanguageSuccessfulMusicianMusic IsAccomplishBeing SuccessfulRemarkableElectronic Music Author:Moby
“In general, the musicians we met that made the most sense just said to do what feels right and try not worry about what other people think. I know that sounds stupid and simple. I feel like Neil Young has done that and he's still making albums. He's one of the people I really look up to as someone who has kind of stuck to their guns their whole career. Just making music for music.” PeopleThinkingTryingKindDoneSimpleWorryStupidMusicianGunStuckLook Up Author:Andrew VanWyngarden
“I put my name on that Occupy Musicians list because someone wrote to me and said, "Would you do this?" I said, "Yeah sure, I support this." What artist wouldn't support that? What's the big deal? But then people wrote to me, "Wow! You're on that list!" And I'm like, "Who isn't on that list?" That would be more shocking.” PeopleArtistSupportMusician Author:Ian MacKaye
“Hearing Oscar Peterson was something that resonated within me. There are so many musicians I've been fortunate to play with. The people that inspire me are the people I play with.” PeopleInspireMusician Author:Eldar Djangirov
“Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it.” PeopleThinkingLoveLifeHappinessMusicMusicianMusic IsPossessionComposerRock And RollPublishersMusic LoveHarmony In MusicRock N Roll MusicRock And Roll Music Author:John Lennon
“I was raised around a lot of artists, musicians, photographers, painters and people that were in theater. Just having the art-communal hippie experience as a child, there wasn't a clear line that was drawn. We celebrated creative experience and creative expression. We didn't try and curtail it and stunt any of that kind of growth.” PeopleTryingKindChildrenArtArtistGrowthLinesCreativeClearExpressionMusicianTheaterRaisedPhotographerPainterHippieCreative Expression Author:Jared Leto
“A lot of people think that punk rock musicians don't know what they're doing.” PeopleThinkingKnowsRocksMusicianPunkPunk RockRock Musicians Author:Travis Barker
“These people are artists. These people are musicians. They're taking it out and trying to express it that way.” PeopleWayTryingArtistMusician Author:Marilyn Manson
“Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.” PeopleLoveLifeInspirationalTruthSufferingHurtMusicRelationshipHuman NatureTruth IsSadMusicianAtheistRidiculousInteractionEncouragingOne LoveSinger SongwritersHurt FeelingsInteractingWords Of EncouragementReggaeSad LoveBeing HurtSocial InteractionNot WorthyBeen HurtLove HurtMake You CryGetting HurtInteracting With OthersReggae MusicWorld SufferingGot HurtHurting YouSad Heart BreakJamaican MusicHurting SomeoneLove And SadI Was HurtHurting YourselfHeart HurtsMy Heart HurtsI Hurt YouHurting HimI Am HurtBroken Images Author:Bob Marley
“I'm just lucky to have the type of friends and musicians and people dedicated to my music that I do.” PeopleTypeLuckyMusicianDedicated Author:Wynton Marsalis
“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.” PeopleFeelsBookFunnyMusicMorningDrinkMusicianHumorousWake UpWineDrinkingSorryAlcoholDrunkBeerIronicDrankWhiskeyLiquorDrunkennessCocktailsDrinking AlcoholDrinkersBoozeFunny DrinkingBeer DrinkingDrinking BeerGreat DrinkingFunny AlcoholAlcohol DrinkingDrinking FunnyDrinking WineBrewingFunny BeerBrewing BeerGood WineAlcohol And LifeDrinking WhiskeyFunny Beer DrinkingGetting DrunkWaking Up In The MorningGreat BeerWhiskey DrinkingBeer DrinkersCraft BeerBars DrinkingLiquor FunnyWaking Up Every MorningCocktail DrinksBrewersDon't Drink AlcoholIrish BeerDay DrinkingAlcoholic DrinksGood BeerDrinking CheersDrunk ManFunny BarGood DrinkingDrunk PeopleDon't Drink And Drive Author:Jack Lemmon
“People want to see musicians sing things that come from their own mind and own heart in real time, responding to the moment for them.” PeopleWantMindHeartRealMomentsMusicianRock N RollResponding Author:John Mayer
“I won't complain about touring, because I really do believe that a public-figure musician complaining about being a public-figure musician is just absurd. Like, 'Boo hoo hoo! I have to stand on stage and people pay attention to me!'” PeopleBelievePayAttentionStageFiguresMusicianComplainingAbsurdPay AttentionTouringPublic Figures Author:Moby
“It's much easier to have a diversified career as an electronic musician than it is as a drummer. Nothing against drummers. If you're a drummer, you just wait around for people to ask you to play drums. But if you have your own studio and can make music, you have the ability to approach music a lot differently.” PeopleIfsPlayAsksWaitingAbilityCareersEasierApproachMusicianStudiosDrummerPlaying Drums Author:Moby
“Of course, it does depend on the people, but sometimes I'm invited places to kind of brighten up a dinner table like a musician who'll play the piano after dinner, and I know you're not really invited for yourself. You're just an ornament.” PeopleKnowsKindDoeSometimesPlayCoursesInspiringDependsMusicianTablesDinnerPianoInvitedOrnamentsDinner Table Author:Marilyn Monroe
“The anti-nuke movement has important and far-reaching implications for grassroots organizing. It can unite kids and musicians, everybody, whether they're leftist or rightist, or radical, or Republican, because energy is energy. But in fact, it is a real political struggle - it shows people that it's big business against the people.” PeopleImportantRealFactsShowsBigsKidsPoliticalEnergyStruggleMovementRepublicanMusicianRadicalReachingImplicationsBig BusinessLeftistsGrassrootsNukesPolitical Struggle Author:Bonnie Raitt
“I know a lot of people who are struggling musicians; it's a hard life, and I've risked being that. The rewards are tremendous now that I've made it, I thank God every day. But I put it all on the line for it.” PeopleKnowsMadeHardLinesStruggleMusicianRewardsMade ItThank GodRock N RollHard Life Author:Kid Rock
“As a musician, you want the music in as many hands as you can get it into. More importantly, I want people to get the music for the fairest price, and in the most convenient way. And that's really turned into iTunes when you're talking about selling albums.” PeopleWayWantHandsTalkingMusicianAlbumsSellingConvenientItunesMany Hands Author:Kid Rock
“Athletes and musicians make astronomical amounts of money. People get paid $100 million to throw a baseball! Shouldn't we all take less and pass some of that money onto others? Think about firefighters, teachers and policemen. We should celebrate people that are intellectually smart and trying to make this world a better place.” PeopleThinkingWorldShouldTryingMillionsTeacherThis WorldAmountMusicianSmartBaseballPaidAthleteCelebrateRock N RollBetter PlacePolicemenFirefighter Author:Kid Rock
“I'm in awe of people like Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard; they're great musicians and people. But I'm most starstruck by people in the small town where I live. Especially single dads, like me, who are working five times as hard to raise their kids.” PeopleLittlesHardKidsFiveDadMusicianTownsRaisesLike MeAweSmall TownJerryGreat MusicianSingle Dad Author:Kid Rock
“Most people are prisoners, thinking only about the future or living in the past. They are not in the present, and the present is where everything begins.” PeopleThinkingPastMusicianPrisonPrisonerLiving In The Past Author:Carlos Santana
“I'm glad about what's happening to the music business. This last crop of people we had in the 90s, who are going away now, they didn't like music. They didn't trust musicians. They wanted something else from it.” PeopleWantedLastsMusicianHappeningsGladGoing AwayCropsMusic Business Author:James Taylor
“I knew nothing of the life of a real musician, of course, but somehow I seemed to see myself standing in front of great crowds of people, playing my accordion.” PeopleRealFrontsMusicianStandingCrowdsReal LifeBeing RealStanding AloneAccordions Author:Lawrence Welk
“I went through a phase when I was 13 where I would only fall in love with people over the age of 19 or 20. I never had a real relationship with any of these people, but it was definitely the guy I wanted to hang out with and wanted to go on trips with. I would be like, 'But, Daddy, he's a musician!'.” PeopleRealWould BeAgeWantedGuyFallGoes OnMusicianFalling In LoveHanging OutPhasesDaddyReal Relationship Author:Olivia Wilde
“Music can change the world because it can change people.” PeopleWorldInspirationalChangeMusicMusicianMusicalChanging The WorldGreat MusicInspirational MusicPower Of MusicArt And MusicMusic SoulArt MusicMusic LifeWorld MusicMusic And LifeFamous MusicianMusic EducationMusic LoverPowerful MusicGreatest MusicFun MusicPassion For MusicGreatest Musician Author:Bono
“As a musician and a songwriter it is an act of the ego to believe that other people might be interested in your point of view. But it is usually an empathetic nature that gets you going in the first place. Music keeps the heart porous in many ways.” PeopleWayFirstsBelieveHeartMightViewsEgoMusicianPoint Of ViewSongwritersEmpathetic Author:Bono
“I play music a lot but on my own mostly, so it was nice to be around other people. There was a certain sense a relief in the physical act of just playing and being with other musicians.” PeoplePlayCertainMy OwnNiceMusicianReliefBeing Nice Author:Robert Wyatt
“Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read.” PeopleWritingHumorFunnyRocksMusicianComplainingJournalismRock And RollRock StarRock MusicColossalWriting MusicFunny MusicRock Musicians Author:Frank Zappa
“Many of the greatest composers and musicians do their best work in extreme confinement but we are seeing it in other fields - uses of technology to link people together in networks to solve problems and almost certainly we'll get better ideas than we would from them just doing it on their own.” PeopleIdeasUseProblemTogetherTechnologySeeingFieldsMusicianExtremesSolveGet BetterLinksComposerBest WorkConfinementUse Of Technology Author:Geoff Mulgan
“Artists use frauds to make human beings seem more wonderful than they really are. Dancers show us human beings who move much more gracefully than human beings really move. Films and books and plays show us people talking much more entertainingly than people really talk, make paltry human enterprises seem important. Singers and musicians show us human beings making sounds far more lovely than human beings really make. Architects give us temples in which something marvelous is obviously going on. Actually, practically nothing is going on.” PeopleGivingHumansImportantBookPlayUseShowsSeemsFilmMovingArtistReligionSoundHuman BeingsTalkingWonderfulAtheismMusicianSingersLovelyDancerEnterpriseTemplesFraudArchitectMarvelousPeople TalkingTalking Much Author:Kurt Vonnegut
“And there are people that will stand in your corner and convince you to stand up for another round no matter what.” PeopleInspirationalMatterAttitudeSupportGiving UpMusicianNo Matter WhatPerseveranceRoundsCornersLoyaltyMoving ForwardPersistenceMoving OnFaithfulPositive AttitudeConvinceNot Giving UpConvincingFidelityPeople In Your LifeStand UpWinning AttitudeGiving Up Is Not An OptionNever Surrender Author:Pete Wentz
“Once a musician has enough ability to get into a top music school, the thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. That's it. And what's more, the people at the very top don't work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder.” PeopleHardEnoughSchoolSuccessAbilityMusicMusicianHarderPerformersOutliers Author:Malcolm Gladwell
“There are many, many types of books in the world, which makes good sense, because there are many, many types of people, and everybody wants to read something different.” PeopleWorldWantBookDifferentLiteratureTypeMusicianNovelistsReading BooksGood Sense Author:Daniel Handler