I'm drawing the line between acting it and living it. I have no trouble with Cannibal Corpse because I know those guys have a sense of humor. If I found out one of them was literally into raping young girls with a butchering knife, that would be an immediate turn-off. Music should be entertainment. Lyrics should play with scenarios, whatever they might be. Explore the language, the psyche, the imagination, everything goes. But do it for the purpose of mental exercise, and JUST for that. How do I fell about the issue? Why does that gross me out? Why do I find that funny? Can anyone take this seriously? And stuff like that. But when someone crosses the line and thinks he isn't tr00 if he doesn't actually do some of that shit he writes about, that's retarded. I can't identify with that, the music itself retroactively becomes stained. Even if I enjoyed it previously, the sole knowledge of the author's idiotism will turn me away immediately. If it wouldn't, that would mean there's something in my unconscious psyche that can relate to that. I wouldn't deny it with stating that I can discern pure music from the evil author, I know enough to know it just doesn't work that way.

QFT.

I don't have much problems with violent lyrics as long as they're legitimated by a message of the artist/artwork. I need to know the artist is poetic, clever or smart, and that he uses violence as a way and not as a goal.

I'm trying to be careful of what the artist expresses (or attempts to), since art can be perverted into propaganda so easily...

[Keeker]

I always like to think that the two are pretty much seperate..largely, because I'm 90% certain that I would not like most of my favourite musicians as people.

Having said that, I've not really had any major issues to deal with in that department (as far as I'm aware, none of my favourite musicians have any majorly objectionable views) ...but having said that, I can imagine situations where I would prefer not to fund certain views/actions.

It's always a tough one, and I think it's really a personal choice.

I think I'm with you on most of this. It is a tough one. I can only really think of one artist I liked from long ago that turned out to be a nasty chap, but since I already have the music I guess it might not stop me from listening to it again sometime. Whether, while listening, I'd be able to put aside entirely thoughts of his actions remains to be seen. Would I still be able to enjoy the tunes? Probably. But I haven't tested it.

Hey......as long as it kicks ass I don't care. Though I cannot lie.........sometimes I wander what I 'm doing listening to some of what I do cuz most is quite the opposite of what I think it's just that I have been listening to metal for years and my favorite happens to be mainly grind and death metal.....I love this shit. The sound the feeling, nothin better than to have some therapy also. And people need to remember that not all bands take it to an overwhelming serious side....some just sing or talk about things that do exist or what ever the case may be......and i think sometimes the listener takes it to serious.

It depends on what the artist has done. If an artist has done something really crazy, like take part in a child pornography ring, rape someone, murder someone, or something really messed up like that, it actually somewhat changes the feel I actually get from their music, knowing the mindset that it came from, and in many cases just makes the music emotionally meaningless. As far as murder goes though, that's a little easier to deal with in metal, in some ways, but then again, that's just where I have no moral objection to flat out stealing the music.

There are those bands of course no matter what someone says to me they are good, I don't listen to em at all! Like Burzum for instance.....no thank you. I would rather put on Donnie and Marrie albums than listen to this guy. But for most parts I listen to a lot of stuff that is conflicting, but at the same time its only music lets not take it so serious.

KingJon you stated it clear man that is how I think of the situation of musician and the music.