Greg Dulli: LB Would Be in Jail Today

[michelej1]

This is a Spinner interview with Greg Dulli.

http://www.spinner.com/2008/08/29/greg-dulli-comes-full-circle-with-gutter-twins-return-to-sub-po/

I was talking with Lindsey Buckingham and Don Henley, who come from an era right before yours, about success in the Internet age. I'd be curious to get your thoughts on what artists today face.

I'll tell you this first of all: If Don Henley and Lindsey Buckingham would've come up in the f---ing Internet age, they'd both be in jail right now. That is a fact and they both know what I'm talking about. As far as what's going on now, the persistence of paparazzi and media people, if I was a big celebrity I would walk around with a can of mace and a can of spray paint in either hand, and if you didn't get one you'd get the other or you'd get both. Mother f---ers up in my s---, taking my picture, following me around, taking pictures of my family -- that's insane.

Care to elaborate on the Henley and Buckingham comment?

You know what I mean. Everybody knows what I mean. Google "Don Henley," dude, and go past the first five pages. Lindsey Buckingham, watch the f---ing Fleetwood Mac 'Behind the Music.' It's fantastic. Let it be known that I love Fleetwood Mac.

I wasn't a big Eagles fan, but Henley is actually a cool guy at this point.

I'm sure John Mayer's a nice guy, and I'm not a fan of his.

[Moz]

I was talking with Lindsey Buckingham and Don Henley, who come from an era right before yours, about success in the Internet age. I'd be curious to get your thoughts on what artists today face.

I'll tell you this first of all: If Don Henley and Lindsey Buckingham would've come up in the f---ing Internet age, they'd both be in jail right now. That is a fact and they both know what I'm talking about.

Care to elaborate on the Henley and Buckingham comment?

You know what I mean. Everybody knows what I mean. Google "Don Henley," dude, and go past the first five pages. Lindsey Buckingham, watch the f---ing Fleetwood Mac 'Behind the Music.'


....What? Is he talking about the time that Lindsey supposedly strangled Stevie during the TITN era?

[trackaghost]

Omg, I love Greg Dulli. His version of What Makes You Think I'm The One is still my favourite Fleetwood Mac cover. Oh and the very, very awesome live Mac "cocaine trilogy" of Rhiannon/Sara/Gypsy he did.

As for what he's talking about, I'm not sure. Drugs maybe? Other than Stevie Nicks, that's the only thing they have in common as far as I know.

[michelej1]

I was confused by it.

But I think he's saying that if the media was in Lindsey's face the way they are in Justin Timberlake's that Lindsey would have attacked someone and been in jail by now. Although, I don't know if that's true, because Lindsey wasn't out on the street as much as other rockers and the media wouldn't get a chance to be in his face that much. Not unless the paparazzi staked out his rain room.

Michele

[LukeA]

If Rumours was released in 2006, Lindsey would have served time in jail for attacking the paparazzi by now, considering his penchant for violent/aggressive outbursts to counter challenges/frustrations. That's a no-brainer.

That said, at least Lindsey seemingly has had the good sense to quit coke (hello felony possession charge), which is is more than can be said about the other guy......

[vivfox]

I don't buy this theory that if someone became a star 25 years ago they wouldn't receive the nasty treatment that celebrities get today. In 1977 Farrah was the biggest star in the world. I'm sure she was hounded. Her photo was in every publication imaginable. Ask Madonna what the paparazzi was like to her in 1984 and she'll tell you it was the same as they do to Britney today. Or ask Elizabeth Taylor if she could go grocery shopping by herself in 1956. Ask Paul McCartney if he could go ANYWHERE in public in 1963without being chased by a bunch of screaming girls and photographers. I could go on and on back through time. The only thing that's changed is with the internet everything is now instantly accessible. As an example you can have a performer do a live show and the next day you can hear the bootleg. Before the web you could hear a bootleg, but it was usually from a show that occurred a few years before.

[trackaghost]

That said, at least Lindsey seemingly has had the good sense to quit coke (hello felony possession charge), which is is more than can be said about the other guy......

Are you talking about Henley or Dulli? I know Dulli doesn't drink or do drugs anymore and it's pretty evident in his shows. As for Henley I don't know much about the man.

And I disagree that the paparazzi is as bad today as it ever was. It is far worse. Just the nature of the internet means anyone can track where you are much more easily. Plus the press is more likely to print a picture of Hohan sans underwear and then for it to be emailed to everyone and their uncle.

[michelej1]

I don't think the press oppression was as DAILY then as it is now. I mean, I remember for Sean Penn and Madonna's wedding, there was mayhem, but that was a big event. I don't know if they followed them from dusk until dawn every single day so that TMZ could have "up to the minute" reporting, the way they do now.

Michele

[Nico]

We live in a society that glorifies, for better or worse, the "celebrity." It seems there are more and more celebrity-based "reality" shows and a larger variety of tabloids that feed these images to the public. The media is constantly fixated on weight gain/weight loss/plastic surgery/illicit affairs and every other random thing related to these people. There are people out there famous for doing nothing other than shopping, clubbing, and wearing designer labels. There are designers that are famous because they outfit some of these idiots whose credibility is based on having no talent but looking good. It's a circus, and it's very sickening.

And even myself, whose apt to flip through the occasional tabloid, can see how things have changed in just a few years. I really think Princess Diana's death- and even her life, for the most part- is a very strong indication of how sad the paparazzi and media have gotten. And so is the existence of Paris Hilton and any other ilk of young females who embody the "air headed, super-plastic" ideal that seems to be a focus.

My concern isn't about how sensationalized it's all become...my concern is WHERE HAS THE TALENT GONE? and why isn't the emphasis on that, as opposed to, say, the latest chick John Mayer is dating.:(

[DavidMn]

We live in a society that glorifies, for better or worse, the "celebrity." It seems there are more and more celebrity-based "reality" shows and a larger variety of tabloids that feed these images to the public. The media is constantly fixated on weight gain/weight loss/plastic surgery/illicit affairs and every other random thing related to these people. There are people out there famous for doing nothing other than shopping, clubbing, and wearing designer labels. There are designers that are famous because they outfit some of these idiots whose credibility is based on having no talent but looking good. It's a circus, and it's very sickening.

And even myself, whose apt to flip through the occasional tabloid, can see how things have changed in just a few years. I really think Princess Diana's death- and even her life, for the most part- is a very strong indication of how sad the paparazzi and media have gotten. And so is the existence of Paris Hilton and any other ilk of young females who embody the "air headed, super-plastic" ideal that seems to be a focus.

My concern isn't about how sensationalized it's all become...my concern is WHERE HAS THE TALENT GONE? and why isn't the emphasis on that, as opposed to, say, the latest chick John Mayer is dating.:(Thats a very good point. I work at a grocery store and I have to look at the tabloids everyday describing Brangelina and their kids EVERY MOVE. Pardon me for sounding crude, but I just dont give a **** about that. I mean eally, these celebrities are never going to know who I am, and there really is no redeeming value in my obsessing over their lives.

[LukeA]

Are you talking about Henley or Dulli? I know Dulli doesn't drink or do drugs anymore and it's pretty evident in his shows. As for Henley I don't know much about the man.


I was referring to Henley.

[HenleyFan]

FWIW, Henley is clean and sober these days.


I was referring to Henley.

[LukeA]

FWIW, Henley is clean and sober these days.

Henley is one of a handful of 70's-80's stars who are still around/successful (touring/recording/etc) and overall decent citizens yet still regularly use illicit drugs.

Its not a huge deal (believe me, if one was to go after Henley, there are many more objectionable actions/behaviors to cite than a daily toot or two), but they're out there. This is widely known about Henley- Dulli was surely referring to this when he said "go past the first 5 pages"

As I said, no big deal.

[HenleyFan]

So Henley is still using drugs today? And you know this how? I wonder how he has the time between his three kids, his charity work, his Eagles committments, his solo work, and taking care of his wife who has MS.

I would guess that Mr. Dulli was referring to Henley's 1980 arrest for drug possession and contributing to the deliquency of a minor (underage prostitutes).


Henley is one of a handful of 70's-80's stars who are still around/successful (touring/recording/etc) and overall decent citizens yet still regularly use illicit drugs.

Its not a huge deal (believe me, if one was to go after Henley, there are many more objectionable actions/behaviors to cite than a daily toot or two), but they're out there. This is widely known about Henley- Dulli was surely referring to this when he said "go past the first 5 pages"

As I said, no big deal.

[LngPrmsdRd]

^^^
Whoa...really? I never knew his wife had MS. I loved the man before, but that just gives me a whole new respect for him as well. My grandmother died before I was born of MS. I've heard how it was to care for her...he deserves as much credit as I can possibly give him. Wow.

As for LB being in jail, wasn't it him who said at some point in some article, that if he wasn't a musician he'd be a criminal??? LOL. I can't recall for sure, and I have no idea the source, but he was asked what he'd be doing nowadays (I believe it was Dance-era) if not for his musical success...?? (Meanwhile, I could be way off and it could be some other band. But I do believe it was Mr Liddy Buck!) I'd say above all, it's probably referring to his temper. I can't see LB reacting kindly to the type of hounding famous people get these days. I'm sure there was hounding back then, too, as others have said...but it couldn't possibly be on this level. Everybody has a camera on their phone, and everybody can post that scandalous-if-out-of-context photo or video on YouTube, and then TMZ or Perez Hilton can get a hold of it, and suddenly it's news everywhere...meanwhile it was some schmoe who took a picture when the person was sneezing, so they look all crazy and drunk at 1pm. LOL. And that's to say nothing of the paparazzi.

[BombaySapphire3]

If Rumours was released in 2006, Lindsey would have served time in jail for attacking the paparazzi by now, considering his penchant for violent/aggressive outbursts to counter challenges/frustrations. That's a no-brainer.
.

If Rumours was released in 2006 LB wouldn't have to worry about being hounded by paparazzi for as great and timeless as that album is it would be lucky to even reach platinum status by then ..In fact no album in years has done anything close to Rumours wild 31 week run at the top or 19 million + sales. The age of that kind of album seems to be gone...sadly.:(

[LukeA]

If Rumours was released in 2006 LB wouldn't have to worry about being hounded by paparazzi for as great and timeless as that album is it would be lucky to even reach platinum status by then ..

I thought it was implied that when I said that, I meant a 2006 equivalent- not an exact facsimile of everything that happened in 1977-78.

[BombaySapphire3]

I thought it was implied that when I said that, I meant a 2006 equivalent- not an exact facsimile of everything that happened in 1977-78.

Yeah I guess I just wanted to vent about how out of touch I feel with the music industry these days and how the age of the album seems to be coming to a close.

[SuzeQuze]

^^^
Whoa...really? I never knew his wife had MS. I loved the man before, but that just gives me a whole new respect for him as well. My grandmother died before I was born of MS. I've heard how it was to care for her...he deserves as much credit as I can possibly give him. Wow.

As for LB being in jail, wasn't it him who said at some point in some article, that if he wasn't a musician he'd be a criminal??? LOL. I can't recall for sure, and I have no idea the source, but he was asked what he'd be doing nowadays (I believe it was Dance-era) if not for his musical success...?? (Meanwhile, I could be way off and it could be some other band. But I do believe it was Mr Liddy Buck!) I'd say above all, it's probably referring to his temper. I can't see LB reacting kindly to the type of hounding famous people get these days. I'm sure there was hounding back then, too, as others have said...but it couldn't possibly be on this level. Everybody has a camera on their phone, and everybody can post that scandalous-if-out-of-context photo or video on YouTube, and then TMZ or Perez Hilton can get a hold of it, and suddenly it's news everywhere...meanwhile it was some schmoe who took a picture when the person was sneezing, so they look all crazy and drunk at 1pm. LOL. And that's to say nothing of the paparazzi.

Steven Tyler said that he would be in jail if not for being a rock star. "I went from ex-con to icon."

[michelej1]

If Rumours was released in 2006 LB wouldn't have to worry about being hounded by paparazzi for as great and timeless as that album is it would be lucky to even reach platinum status by then ..In fact no album in years has done anything close to Rumours wild 31 week run at the top or 19 million + sales. The age of that kind of album seems to be gone...sadly.:(

Although, in this day and age, you don't have to do anything noteworthy for the paparazzi to hound you and decide that you are a "star." Michele

[sodascouts]

As for LB being in jail, wasn't it him who said at some point in some article, that if he wasn't a musician he'd be a criminal??? LOL. I can't recall for sure, and I have no idea the source, but he was asked what he'd be doing nowadays (I believe it was Dance-era) if not for his musical success...?? (Meanwhile, I could be way off and it could be some other band. But I do believe it was Mr Liddy Buck!)

That was Lindsey alright (although others have said it, too). He was asked what he'd do if it weren't for music, and he said he'd probably be in jail. I forget exactly when he said it too, although I think it was more recent than The Dance. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread title. At the time, I thought it was an exaggeration. Lindsey's exploits seemed pretty tame compared to some other 70s icons, and by the 80s he'd pretty much cleaned up his act.

But if the paparazzi had been anything like it is nowadays back in the 70s, we'd have tons of photos of Stevie with her celebrity dates! How many old photos are there of her and Henley from the good old days readily available? You can count them on one hand. There is only one photo of her with Joe Walsh from back in the day that I'm aware of currently circulating. Back to Lindsey... if things had been as bad as the past, we'd have a lot more stories about the drunken New Zealand debacle of 1980, and probably hear about a few more drunken episodes as well. Yep, they should be very, very glad there was no TMZ back then. Of course, now, the paparazzi have no desire to hound them, lol.

I believe Henley was prosecuted for his "corruption of a minor" and drug possession in the early 80s, so it's not as if he got away with it back then... unless the argument is that nowadays, there would be more pressure to give him a harsher punishment. But that's certainly not a given. Let's just say I don't think too many politicians would have wanted Henley's name tied with theirs in 1981 after the "incident," whereas now he does benefits for 'em all the time! My, how things change.

If he does indeed use drugs still - I certainly don't know what he does in private - that doesn't seem to fit the opinion that stars get rougher treatment today... if so, wouldn't he be in jail now as well based on current activities? Wouldn't there be photos of him staggering around high, according to Dulli's theory? I'd like to believe he's clean now, so I'll continue to do so until that happens. Luke, I know your job puts you in a nice position to hear such things, but perhaps your info is out of date.

[LngPrmsdRd]

That was Lindsey alright (although others have said it, too). He was asked what he'd do if it weren't for music, and he said he'd probably be in jail. I forget exactly when he said it too, although I think it was more recent than The Dance. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread title.

Woohoo, I'm not crazy! ;) You know what, now that you mention it I think it was more recent too. That's the exact question/answer I was talking about. It was also the first thing I thought of when I saw the title as well, lol!

Also this, from the Penguin bio of Lindsey: "To make ends meet, Stevie waitressed and cleaned houses while Lindsey "hustled ads over the phone for a non-existent business products directory," and also toured with Don Everly's back-up band, singing Phil's parts." Go fraudulant business transactions!