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When rock legends sell out

Throughout history, people's interpretation of the phrase to "sell out" changes with the social climate and while to many, this may mean commercializing the art of music, it isn't hard to see that perhaps there are rock legends that make millions who could be considered as having sold out, though let's take a look into history and see how the theory holds up.

Going back to the sixties, Bob Dylan, for example, played to audiences in the UK and was booed off stage. People felt that the image he produced was a sell out. They had heard his records and wanted more of what they considered to be his classic style, though were at a space in time when they didn't understand what Dylan was doing or the change in his approach to music. Instead of a sell out, what the musician was doing was being true to what he felt, and learning to find that element of music with which he was comfortable. History shows that what he eventually produced was not only cleverly crafted, but that the man was a rock legend in his own right, and by sticking to his guns had actually come through the sell out period to produce works that will last the test of time, and lyrics that certainly make the singer stand out as a poet of our times.

At a similar time, Lennon was seen to sell out because of love. Suddenly one of the most popular bands on earth was falling apart at the seams while Lennon enjoyed the indulgence of protesting and of throwing concerts with Yoko that almost belittled the talent of the man. It was as if his alter ego was more important than the music he produced and which had torn the very heart out of the successful Beatles band. Of course, it does no good to speak ill of the dead, but imagine the heights that the Beatles may have reached in the history of pop music had he stayed and strengthened the alliance by writing quality material that would have taken the Beatles concept into another direction, though a stronger one.

If you look at what is considered as a sell out, it goes further than just financial reward. People criticize those who sell out to advertising for vast sums of money, and as I write this, I am listening to an advertisement made to the music of Phil Collins. It adds ambiance and if the guy got paid for it, good luck to him, since it hasn't affected his passion for music at all. Here is a star that has made it to the top and doesn't have to prove anything. His work is not commercialized in an attempt to prostitute his trade. It suits

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