Tonight, he's lost his distribution and endorsements.
The super fans are having a meltdown, and the upcoming tour will probably be cancelled.
Once upon a time we expected our rock stars to be wild. The stuff they did you'd be arrested for now.
As for teenage girls, there would never have been any rock stars with out them, and their devotion. They've had a traditional roll to play in annointing, blessing the chosen favorites. I guess that's super-illegal now.
He's definitely not the only man in music who has behaved badly. Is he going to be crucified for the sins of all the rockstars before him ? Or is this only the beginning ? What will rock n roll be like in an era of rabid #metoo?
I've been waiting years for you to write about him.
I can't believe this is what it took.
He's one of the most creative out there. For the sake of the music, I hope he decides to grow up.
Stella D'Maris
Lanesville, MA.
_____________________________________
Yea, where would Page and Bowie be if there had been cameras? Likely in jail as 14 year olds were still out of bounds even then. And didn't every teen band do the teen fans? Think they did.
Peter Burnside
_____________________________________
great piece, thank you-
Seth Crothers
Rockville, MD
_____________________________________
When you're an adult hitting on 14 yr. old girls, that's pretty sick. That's junior high school. Sorry, that's arguably worse than Harvey. The continued erosion of moral fiber in this country is startling.
Stuart K. Marvin
_____________________________________
Nailed it. The thing that makes us good at art is also the thing that makes us the most vulnerable. Not an excuse, just a fact. Loneliness, self destruction, addiction, ect.. I struggle with it ALL. It's been going on for centuries and there's very little coaching / support along the way.. we want to color outside the lines but then we take it too far. Music is an electric sword.. it can cut to the heart.. but we can cut ourselves and others in the process... may all us artists find a path of health....Thanks Bob for always exploring our reality... or lack thereof - even when it lands YOU outside the lines.
Casey
_____________________________________
It's not a free pass, but Ryan Adams has real issues. He implodes every so often and is constantly in the reassurances of 12step programs and therapies. No excuse for scummy things that happen, but the guy is an damaged work in progress by admission. His road to the light has too many twists and turns to keep track of and he may never get there. A guy like this is a curious and different angle to the exposition of the times as opposed to the classics who put on a smile and prey on women in the dark.
Matt O'Donnell
_____________________________________
Girls were underage. That's the real problem. You seem to have missed that Bob.
Joshua Oren
ill Merchandise, LLC
_____________________________________
Fantastically measured and insightful Bob. Great piece.
Stephen Curran
_____________________________________
For years many people have been confused between Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams. I expect they won't anymore.
Clint Young
_____________________________________
You cut it to the quick. What IS the appropriate price indeed? How do you quanitify the abuse of power and damage inflicted by assholes like Weinstein, who is nothing more than the reincarnation of Louis B. Mayer? The casting couch is a high risk game in which you make a deal with the devil. The public will decide what the right punishment is, maybe they buy into the tortured artist effect disclaimer or maybe you never work again. How many artists did you like before the truth ruined their creations for you? Pedophilia though is unambiguous from every angle, a hanging offense, period. Brian Singer and R. Kelly are predators of the worst kind and no better than any of the thousands of priests who got a pass for slightly different reasons. Mere oblivion is not a sufficient consequence for them, they must pay a far greater price.
John Brodey
_____________________________________
Perhaps the worst part of the New York Times story on Ryan Adams was his
sexting with a 16-year old girl. But further to your point that it was
always thus, who can forget the original Blind Faith cover that featured a
naked 11-year old girl?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Faith_(Blind_Faith_album)#Album_cover_controversy This wasn?t just some secret, furtive thing - it was the
bloody album cover! The things that happened in private are almost
unimaginable today. (Some stories are actually legendary. I write this in
Seattle, home of the infamous Led Zeppelin mud shark incident).
Cheers
Russ Daggatt
_____________________________________
You have become a bore...only send out letters re youth old people, Spotify, Net. None of which you understand.
Now you have become a shrink...figuring out everybodies issues expect maybe yours.
I have been your biggest fan since you started but if you don't have something new and interesting to post don't force it.
Mike Murphy
_____________________________________
Agree with all except "he should pay for it." Why is that the world's business? He didn't sexually assault anyone. He was a bad, emotionally abusive boyfriend. He didn't know "how you get the girl" - his loss, mostly. But boy, does he know how to sing that song.
Nika Klinghofer
_____________________________________
"How do we inject sunlight into behavior that takes place in darkness?
Great line!!!
I went and saw Louis CK at the San Jose Improv a couple of weeks ago. From my understanding, it was his first "real show" back. He got 2 standing ovations before he said a word to the audience. You could see how shaken he was. Lost weight. Took about 10-15 minutes for him to really "click" before he delivered some of his best material ever. But remember, he jacked off in front of a couple of women... Motley Crue would of been appalled.... Next!
I don't know what to make of this Ryan Adams thing. Don't know the guy, don't listen to his music. He definitely has never been shone in the best light to my understanding, but fucking-A.... People forgave John Mayer for being a douche in Playboy... Took him years to recover, and a house in Montana, but now he's bigger than ever!!!
As Joe Rogan keeps saying, "Strange Times" are upon us.
If Ryan Adams was texting underage girls and everything the NY Times reported is true, then he is just one more "rock star" I would not be envious of being. Don't care how successful.... Gross and shitty use of obvious power. Let's see how this one plays out. Keep em' coming Bob!
Michael Johnston
_____________________________________
Fuck Bob
Really? Ryan Adams is a scum bag? The me too movement where men should be held responsible for the sex, drugs and rock n roll behaviours. The poor women that had to suck Their cocks. So he never even met this girl and she is telling this story why exactly? He sent her some sex charged text messages which she replied too and Ryan Adams asked her continuously if she is over 18. I am struggling here Bob. You really think this will make Ryan Adams disappear from the business. This is a fkn joke and he should come out firing in my opinion. What guy has never sent some fkn texts to a girl that were sexy in nature. Oh and they have found seven other women - $$$$$$$$
Don't jump on this band wagon Bob it's pure bullshit.
Gordon Burke
P.S. One other thing Bob?
How did the young lady go with setting up the band that Adams suggested? Did she write a couple songs and send them to him for consideration? That's what she wanted right? The opportunity to become famous. So did she send him some songs?
_____________________________________
Just read your article here, about Ryan Adams..
I'm an independent artist.. I will say I feel like sharks of the music biz prey on artists like me. It's not always sexual. Although there seems to always be that underlying theme. I must have a fucking target on my back. Being seduced by promises, connections, opportunities has happened to now 5 times.
Who do you turn to? Nobody has the time, and everyone wants money.
Most recently for me, I was taken for quite a bit of money from John Mellencamps nephew Eric Mellancamp.
Legit name, right? Legit person, why would he need to prey on me? Surely he doesn't need my $1500 as a quick scam?! But he did...
In October he took $1500 from me to produce 2 of my new songs..
I got no production, no produced songs. Haven't heard from him since. He stiffed the band I paid for with that $1500 that was upfront.
He promised to push my career. Lots of connections, and promises. Earned my trust at first. Afterall, we are both professionals in the biz, right?!
If Ryan Adam's really wanted to help artists, because he likes their art, that's great. Never the case though.. always strings attached. This leaves Indie artists like me on the bridge of temptation. We know we should run, it isn't right.
But this person is different, right? He wouldn't do that! Would he?!
Thanks for listening, if you do get to read! I'm sure you'll get lots back on this one!!
Jamie Nichole music.
_____________________________________
Whew!!
It's no secret that this often brilliant and stunningly prolific artist has had lots of person problems. Most surfaced with substance abuse.
Bob. As a fan I am floored by this story, and I AM a fan of his music. Will it stop my love for his brilliant records, no way. It does however make one take pause to say the very least.
All humans are flawed and many have unimaginable deep dark sides. I did not however see the accusations in this story coming.
Good reporting...sad story.
Lavon Pagan
_____________________________________
Something that crossed my mind yesterday - are we ready to vilify Mick Jagger et al? Has it come to that yet? Are we going to figuratively sponsor another Stones tour if we accept what we know to be certainly true?
Also - would object to Ryan being as big as Jackson. He's certainly got the following to allow that argument to be objective. I don't have an opinion one way or the other on that - but many would take a stand.
Daryl Faulkner
_____________________________________
You mentioned Connie in Little Rock, she became so famous that she passed out day glow stickers that said something like "In Little Rock call Connie with her phone number. Passing a guy in an airport that had that on his briefcase would draw a knowing smile. So one night found myself behind the barricades at the Arena in that town with the opening act of I think an Alice tour. I was hanging out with the guy at the back door that had really great stories when there was a knock on the door and he admitted a middle-aged man in a jacket and gimme cap. The doorman said "Hello Mr, —— Connie's still busy," and the man replied that was fine, he was early. I was introduced to him with the intro, "Don, this is Connie's daddy." We made some small talk about the weather, and as the father of a teenage daughter I blurted out..."How can you enable your daughter to do this." He looked at me and said, "Well Sir, Connie's mother and I figure that a girl like her would never get to ride on those private jets, stay in beautiful hotels or eat in great restaurants otherwise."
Don Sundeen
_____________________________________
Remember when Rob Lowe videotaped himself with an underage girl? He actually used a video camera with actual videotape, not a phone that could live periscope.
David Rygalski
_____________________________________
He was Skyping with a 14 year old. There is no "tortured artist" escape from that reality. He's a scumbag who will be abandoned by his fans and rightfully so.
Keith Walker
_____________________________________
It's the "Me Too: movement today.
Back then it was the "What About Me?" movement..,
Michael Fremer
_____________________________________
Men. From bricklayers to bankers, roofers to rock stars and athletes, athletes, athlete. All of us, without any check, sexually abuse women. It's sad. And it's always filling a deep emotional wound, artists do not have a monopoly on that.
Neil Donahue
_____________________________________
Transgressions is the new growth industry...plenty of farmers
Andrew Bleke
Atlanta, GA
_____________________________________
"But we have the case of Louis C.K., who admitted his behavior and is now working and being excoriated by some while he does good business.
Same deal with Aziz Ansari. And none of their behavior equals the offenses of Harvey Weinstein."
Agree. How's Cosmo Kramer doing?
Best,
C Darryl Mattison
_____________________________________
OK. Who is Ryan Adams?
Robert Udell
_____________________________________
Fuck Ryan Adams, he's always been a creep!
Josh Hough
_____________________________________
Just a musician, me, but this much I've learned about the entertainment business; many relationships are transactional, whether they involve love, money, fame, power, attention or sex. I admit I've no clue how we fix that; female artists sleeping with their producers are such a cliche, we hardly remark on it. People on the outside can barely comprehend the hours that go into those few moments under the lights, so much time consumed with travel and all the ancillary activities associated with publicity, is it any wonder some take shortcuts? There's a reason we have a rep for dating waitresses and strippers, cuz who else is awake when we get off work? Romantic and work relationships can commingle, it happens by necessity; it can be done with integrity, but there are always gonna be some folks who miss that mark.
Mojo Bone
_____________________________________
I think the kid stuff is a big deal, personally.
Wendi Jensen
_____________________________________
Oh dear, hear we go again.
What exactly constitutes "sexual misconduct" again ? Is it a defined legal term even ? Other than in the court of public opinion ?
I haven't even figured out from the allegations if there was any actual "sexual" contact at all. It seems it boils down to him having tried
the old casting couch routine but it didn't work. If an alligation of having abused someone emotionally is already enough to end someone's
career - is that the definition of "perfect world" we wanna live in ?
There's a reason why courts exist.
There's a reason for "innocent til proven guilty".
It's to avoid public opinion substituting actual justice.
These condemnations of people that haven't even had the chance yet to defend themselves (at least in a real court) have a very striking
resemblance to the actual, very real witch hunts of medevial times.
Innocent til proven guilty applies for everyone, not only the ones you sympathize with by default.
At least it used to be.
Best,
Frank Baach
_____________________________________
Good article
Craig Silverman
_____________________________________
Whenever I've met an artist, whose music I like, back stage or after a show and they've been rude, I've often stopped listening to their music. Now when things like this come about people, like Ryan Adams, I get the same feeling and even though I'm a massive fan of Ryan Adams, I don't feel like listening to his music anymore. In the beginning of #metoo I found it annoying and difficult to stop enjoying pieces of art from people who have behaved in a terrible way, but it's actually getting easier and easier - there are so many fantastic films and records out there made by people who don't abuse women.
Simon Tagestam
_____________________________________
Oh Bob.
It sounds like Ryan screwed up. And maybe he is as bad as this story suggests he is. Maybe he did everything he's accused of.
But...do we have evidence that he ACTUALLY used all this bait and switch to get what he wanted? No.
Is there evidence that he knew the girl online was underage? Nope. In fact the girl admits he asked her several times if she was 18. (And they never got physical). If he exposed himself, this was a lewd act, especially since, by the looks of it, I imagine he suspected she was underage. It doesn't look good.
I'm not saying he doesn't have questions to answer, but it seems like nobody waits for people to answer accusations anymore.
I heard what used to be a reputable broadcaster in my country yesterday devote 20 mins to interviewing the author of this piece and when her asked her about his "psychological abuse" of Mandy Moore, her big gun was "he used to tell her she wasn't a real musician because she didn't play an instrument". Maybe he was awful to her, but this is the best she could come up with?
You're online, with a tonne of followers calling him a "scumbag".
The problem is the New York Times, and most other news outlets, and sadly, you...you all know that this kind of story is low hanging fruit.
I am not defending Ryan Adams. I'm defending due process. Remember that?
If he did all those things he should get what he deserves (which he already is)
Gareth Ebbs
_____________________________________
Great piece, Bob.
Martin O. Screech
_____________________________________
Funny, as I was reading I thought that this story was kind of the musical equivalent of Louis CK, then you said it. I love both; and just as I didn't stop listening to Louis, I won't stop listening to Ryan. John Lennon was supposedly a right prick to his wife, Frank Zappa too. I can separate art from the artist; I'm an adult.
Jeff G.
_____________________________________
Hi Bob. Great post about Ryan Adams.
The only thing that bothers me is the Aziz Ansari part. It upsets me that he had to take a hit in all this #metoo mess.
This guy was put in the barrel over a bad date. It's madness. I'm not saying he's some choir boy, but the particular incident he was blasted for was simply ridiculous.
Anyway, it's just upsetting b/c I feel bad for the guy.
Have a great weekend.
Duke Stillman
_____________________________________
I'm a long time Ryan Adams fan going back to the Whiskeytown days. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.
Awhile back Mandy Moore was on Howard Stern and she didn't get too much into her marriage with Adams however she made a passing comment of "he's obsessed with himself." Maybe I shouldn't be surprised by any of this since everyday there's been someone new. What is the solution for all of this? Men could stop being assholes, that's a good place to start.
Lou Verile, Jr.
_____________________________________
If you're listening to musicians because of the morals of their personal lives you are probably missing out on a lot of great music. I'm in a family restaurant now and Zeppelin is playing, does anyone remember some of the shit they did?
Can't believe they pulled his new album.
Andre Vandiver
_____________________________________
I've always been up and down with you and your view but this is the real word where we all have our own wrinkles, our own riffs... and that's how it is and how it should be. Adams has been my own private last-Success-for-me dude for years now. I still follow new players but none with the scarred intensity of Adams. And so these last two days have been harsh. What do I do with this massive amount of output from an artist I truly venerate.
Your words here set me straight. I listen to him. I loathe what he did. I weep for his fate. He truly is a heartbreaker.
Thank you.
James Spina
_____________________________________
I don't know much about Ryan Adams but I can tell you this. Most guests we have backstage are a little crestfallen when they get a VIP pass to our greenroom, which looks like a cross between a healthfood store and as quiet as a library. They want to see a Roman orgy! Instead of booze and broads like the days of old, we are more concerned about the WiFi connection and what kind of wine the promoter provided on the rider!
As far as the hang after the show goes, we eliminated those shenanigans by implementing "the runner" whereby we immediately come off stage on the encore and RUN to get in the tour bus and blast off to the next town. Same thing that happened at the Greek when you and I missed each other (yet again) a year ago. We were gone!
Kenny Lee Lewis
_____________________________________
Hi Bob — You ask what is the penalty for Ryan Adams behavior?
The answer is you writing articles like this about him. And the world knowing what a dick he is.
And if any of the women have cases they can take him to court. But being called out in the media seems to be it, making the journalists the judges and we the jurors.
David Hershkovits
_____________________________________
Just for the record on Jackson Browne...his true fans never for a second believed the Hannah accusations. Not for one second.
Love your letters! Have a great weekend!
Annie Bell
Kenyon Diamond Co.
_____________________________________
Really? You're going to pull Jackson Browne into the Ryan Adams / Harvey Weinstein mix. Jesus. If you want to know why people didn't buy "I'm Alive", listen to his previous 3 records.
Mark Paulsen
_____________________________________
It's time to make the record companies, the managers and the agents ASHAMED to cover-up, turn a blind eye and rep sexual predators - no matter how talented. Out those enablers who profit. Let's hear more about them. Every executive and every member of their boards. Maybe this will force predator artists to get the therapy they need.
Audrey Fix Schaefer
_____________________________________
I hate his guy. I have from day one, and I'm not alone. I very much hope that he self destructs. I wish it happened 20 years ago. What a prick.
Arthur Schupbach
_____________________________________
More evidence from the Ryan Adams mess on why I subscribe to the D.H. Lawrence axiom "Never trust the teller, trust the tale" which has been reworked in the modern day "Trust the art, not the artist".
Rarely have I met an artist who lives up to their work. Often it's just disappointment with an occasional exception.
Jim McKeon
_____________________________________
Bob, this could be the best article ever written on the subject. And from both sides. As a lifelong musician I've met my share of small time crooks, hookers, con men, etc. and they always had a saying " Every con or scheme depends on the greed of the mark."
Frank Dean
_____________________________________
Man - you're gonna get some furious mail with this fucker!
HugoB
_____________________________________
Lefsetz,
You are a dinosaur in more ways than one but this is the final straw.
Get with the times or die by your own sword.
Once upon a time it was deemed ok for your generation to get away with this and much more; racism etc.
You're all dead in the water.
And good fucking riddance.
Unsubscribed hereby.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Jim
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