University of Virginia Library

Idiots

Why do so many students with
so little interest in the performers
or the music bother to attend the
concerts? Why not stay back at the
house and listen to records of the
musicians' "greatest hits"? That's
what they want to hear, isn't it?

And how much longer must
contemporary artists' performances
be ruined by the actions of
intolerable idiots?

I used to think Frank Zappa was
too harsh in his appraisal of such
rock audiences. But he is so right:
For the most part, the fans are
unsophisticated and do not know
how to listen or respond to a
performer in a mature manner to
indicate their pleasure or
displeasure. It is doubtful that 50
per cent of these rockers would
know a good performance if they
saw or heard one, even when they
have been exposed to the music all
their lives.