When Pop Stars Attack

There's a point in seemingly every artist interview where he or she explains - with a Buddhist's patience - that they don't read published reviews or listen to negative criticism, because to do so would be a pointless and foolhardy endeavor. After all, they're artists, they create for a living. What can they learn from some pasty-faced computer jockey with an axe-grinding fetish? Unfortunately, these people are liars. Illuminating this truth is Steven Wells, who in his Guardian UK blog, covers the recent history of musical artist-on-critic attacks, from their 70's punk heyday to hip-hop meelee's of today.

As part of the notoriously acidic British press, Wells recounts his own experiences with "hack attacks," having been personally threatened with personal injury and death by the likes of Henry Rollins and distraught Morrissey fans. The litany of artist attacks is long and includes names both unsurprising: Liam Gallagher, Axl Rose, Richard Ashcroft and not: Boy George, Nick Cave. The uncensored blogosphere has only further fueled critical vitriol, which in turn should up the ante of personal critic beatdowns. One can easily imagine perhaps "the most attacked music critic of all time," Nick Kent of New Music Express, becoming more and more commonplace. For after receiving a chain-whipping from Sid Vicious in 1977, Kent became a target on ongoing punk attacks, which often involved knives and him being repeatedly stabbed in darkened alleys. When it comes to music, people are less likely to behave in accordance with the rational side of their brain. With the internet, critics are everywhere and none safe from overzealous fans or artists eager to slip a shiv between their ribs. Watch out.