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What does it mean to be a fan?
There are a lot of bands that I like-Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Muse, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, DJ Shadow, Portishead. The list goes on and on. However, I am a fan of only one band right now: AFI. To me, being a fan means that I not only enjoy the music the band produces, but I also give them my loyalty, which can be ( Read more... )
To me being a fan is liking the band for their music, not their looks or their merch. To have street cred or to follow the newest trend.
It's support, whether that be in the way of getting their name out there to people who might have never heard of them or not backing down when other's share their distaste in your interest.
It's knowledge. Trying to find that deeper meaning whether it be looking for the reasoning behind the music and the lyrics or searching out for what they mean to you.
It's commitment. It means you're in it for the long haul, good or bad.
When I think about it, I've only been a true fan of one other band and that was my first real musical awakening with Guns N Roses in the 5th grade. I've deeply loved many bands since them but never to that extent. Nirvana, Bush and Stabbing Westward have come close but never to the same level as with these two now.
I can't think of anyone else right now that I'd constantly go on the road to see live, anyone else who's merch I own right now. There's no other band that I have represented with ink in my flesh right now. No other band I've waited hours outside of a venue for or put so much of my time into.
I think you've hit it on the head when you compare it to a relationship. There's trust and loyalty, love and respect. With AFI it's hard to not become a fan for all that they do to reach out and have that connection with the people and that's another big reason why I am such a fan of theirs.
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...I'm suddenly picturing fandom as one big AFI-tastic orgy.
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