One of the defining characteristics of a sub-culture is that it looks really bizarre to you, because you’re not a part of it. Trekkies? Hopeless nerds who still live in their parents’ basement and spend their spare time learning to speak Klingon.
Deadheads? Unwashed stoners who travel exclusively in VW microbuses and spend their post-Grateful Dead years designing stuff made out of hemp. And the Juggalos … wait, who?
Even in the strange world of musical subcultures, the superfans of the horrorcore rap duo Insane Clown Posse occupy a dark corner of the basement closet. ICP have always performed in black-and-white face paint, employed violent imagery, and reveled in their status as outsiders. Critics generally hate them. Mainstream folks generally don’t know the first thing about them. But now the Juggalos, ICP’s core fans, are all being painted with a single brush as a group of sexist, abusive jerks in the wake of the violent reception given to reality TV star Tila Tequila at this year’s recent Gathering Of The Juggalos. And it raises the question: how much is a band to blame for the reactions it provokes in its biggest fans?
It’s a big issue because it’s essentially the same question we face when we learn that a murderer was listening to disturbing music, or watching explicit movies, or playing violent video games. ICP lyrics and videos are NOT family friendly. They are violent, and abusive. But are they a knowing, over-the-top act, or the expression of someone dealing with some deep anger issues? Yes, some of their fans seem to view the music as a kind of license to act out on their own aggressions. But for most of their fans, it seems that – for whatever reason – they find a sense of community in the music and the annual gatherings. I find that a little scary myself, but asking the artists to take some responsibility for how their audience is likely to respond to their work is not only preposterous, it’s also unenforceable. Does anyone really believe the Manson Family killings wouldn’t have happened if the Beatles hadn’t recorded “Helter Skelter,” or that John, Paul, George, and Ringo were somehow to blame?
Do you blame the band for the actions of their most rabid fans? Leave a comment.
John Schaefer has hosted Soundcheck since the show’s inception in 2002. He has also hosted and produced WNYC’s radio series New Sounds since 1982 (“The No. 1 radio show for the Global Village” – Billboard) and the New Sounds Live concert series since 1986.
