Dan Whitley is a friend of mine, a Facebook friend, but still a friend. So when he mentioned his niece Trixie's upcoming was one of the best of the year, I listened to some of her earlier material (it hasn't been released yet), and went to Rockwood to review her. She was really good, but still, the question arises as to whether my appreciation was tainted. The truth is, if I hadn't liked Trixie, I wouldn't have reviewed.
But I have ethics.
Back when I was in my 20s, I went out of my way to provoke every rock star I met (give or take). Nade for some good copy, I mean you try calling Banarama groupies to their face. But it was also a question of not being beholding to people I didn't want to be beholding to. I didn't want my opinion to be bought for friendship -it is all I have.
So when I read about writer Austin Scaggs going out on benders with Kings Of Leon and then interviewing, whenever Rolling Stone review McCartney or Bruce Springsteen or U2, the complete dissolution of Chruch and State is more than apparent. In Creem's early years they took the crown of coolness away from the people they were reviewing but a couple of things happened.
For instance, rock critic Lester Bangs couldn't help himself. He was the world's greatest and most beloved rock critic, and he still formed a nothing that hot rock band. he didn't need it. Lester was better than who he wrote about, but it is hard to go to the fair without wanting to get on the rides.
Also, the New York scene was so insulated that froendships were kinda inevitable. The only reason I didn't make friends is because I was an asshole.
A better example is Ira Kaplan who went from writing about the Kinks in New York Rocker to forming one of the best indie bands of all time, Yo La Tengo. How can you go on tour with a band you are writing about? As equals?
Anyway, when I dealt myself back in the game on 2009, the game had changed, and I found it harder to keep rock stars at arms distance. Though I don't pal around with any one, so my anti-social nature helps, still, Social Networking connects the person you are writing with them to them and their fanbase much easier. You feel as though the people you are writing about is looking over your shoulder. Which is not cool.
My rule of thumb is never pick on people smaller than you are and NEVER write to please any one at all, and NEVER EVER EVER get too friendly with your subject matter.