Fan Clubs: Bleeding Us Dry?

This topic has been on my mind for awhile now: fan clubs. Nearly every band/artist has one. Most are official. Some are truly run by die-hard music loves like you and me. Most are usually part of an LLC, earning money for the band's bottom line.

I want to know when it became a rule that you have to pay...to be a fan?

Fan club memberships these days are way too expensive. The only time I buy a fan club membership is for better concert tickets. We'll address that injustice in a moment. 

The going rate for most clubs I investigated is around $40.

Seriously. Forty bucks. For what? For nothing really. The chance to talk on an exclusive forum. Maybe a crappy T-shirt. The option to buy better concert tickets.

In 2008, I joined three fan clubs, all in hopes of getting better tickets. I do not like going to shows and watching from the back. So, I figure I'll pony up the cash for my chance at the front row. This is good - in theory.

I belong to the Motley Crue, George Michael and AC/DC fanclubs. Motley Crue and AC/DC promised me a T-shirt. I never saw the Motley one and I'm not holding my breath on AC/DC either. In all three instances, I did garner better seats than I would have without the membership - but come on. Whatever happened to ticket equity?  For Motley, I was close enough to touch the stage. This is an example o fan club ticketing truly working. For AC/DC, I'm not nearly as close. For George Michael I was close, but all the floor seats went to fan club members that upgrade to special VIP packages.

What the hell is up with that? In some cases, those exclusive packages cost $500 a person... and there is no guarantee of meeting the artist! There is no way I would EVER shell out that kind of money for such a package. I just can't do it - plus, it's not fair.

I think fan clubs are a case of "what have you done for me lately." I'm sure membership drops off when a band isn't touring, but that's to be expected. If such pay-for-fandom clubs offered a true value-add for customers - and yes, please believe we are mere customers to these clubs - then maybe more of us would join in off touring years.

I remember joining Aero Force One when I was in high school. I loved Aerosmith so much then - and I really wanted to be a part of that club. For whatever reason, I thought belonging to the club made me a little special. After all, I'd plunked down some very hard earned cash and pledged allegiance to my band. The only problem was - I never got anything in return for that membership. I think I had a card or something. When I was in high school the Internet was not as it is today. There were no forums to speak of - so I can't even imagine all the "perks" I received. I know I had to pay extra for my T-shirt. I didn't use the fan club passcode for tickets, either. I don't get it.

Forty bucks is just too much for the "hope" of a better concert ticket. I think I've had it with such clubs and I'm drawing the line. No more, no more.

What do you think of pay-to-join fanclubs?

The Economy Sucks So I'm Giving Away More Free Music

Ok, so everyday I watch the news and hear how the economy is either a) in crisis or b) just fine. Anyone with any modicum of common sense knows the world economy is on shaky ground right now, but that doesn't mean people can stop living. It just means we have to be a little smarter with our money.

I love music. It's a weakness. I spend lots of money on shows and new CDs. Now, I'm giving away two copies of Megadeth's Anthology: Set The World Afire. The double-disc set was released Tuesday. This is Megadeth's first new CD since releasing the Warchest box set. The two CD set features 35 songs, including past hits like “Peace Sells” and some previously hard-to-find live recordings. All songs are digitally remastered. Anthology: Set The World Afire also features “High Speed Dirt,” previously unreleased in the U.S.

Now, you're probably wondering where the contest comes into play. I've got two copies of Anthology: Set The World Afire to give away. If you want a copy, write me and explain how 80s Megadeth influenced modern Glam bands. Yes kids, many modern Glam bands cite both Metallica and Megadeth as musical influences. Remember: our definition of Glam has evolved over time. I think Black Tide are plenty Glam. Back in the day, they would have been considered "heavy." Email your responses to allyson@bringbackglam.com. Please put Megadeth in the subject line. Send me those responses by 5pm EST on Saturday, October 4, 2008. Good luck.

Click to hear a live version of "Symphony of Destruction."

Magnificently Macabre

The new Alice Cooper video (mini-movie) for "Vengeance is Mine," "In Touch With Your Feminine Side" and "Killed By Love" is perfectly awesome. There's not much else I can say or do other than beg you to watch the clip. The video is ten minutes long - and worth every second. Creepy as hell and so worth the wait.

It's Been 20 Years...

I cannot believe Bon Jovi's New Jersey was released 20 years ago. On this date 20 years ago, the album was number one on the American charts. New Jersey features some of Bon Jovi's biggest hits - and my favorite - "Bad Medicine." I played that 45 over and over again when I was kid. That's what happens when you don't have a lot of records: the ones you do have you tend to spin quite a lot.

Some great Bon Jovi live moments:

"Bad Medicine" back in 1989

"Lay Your Hands on Me" from 1993

"I'll Be There for You" from 1996

Ah, how I long for the days of classic Bon Jovi.

Nice SIXX: AM Giveaway

If you don't already own a copy of either The Heroin Diaries or the accompanying soundtrack, I can help. The Heroin Diaries is now released in paperback. That means you can save a couple bucks if you want to pick up a copy for yourself or a friend. Anyway, to celebrate the paperback reissue of The Heroin Diaries, I'm giving away a copy of the book...and the CD.

One reader will win a copy of the book. Another will win the CD. I wanted to combine the items for a bigger prize, but Motley Crue's publicity team said no.

Do you want either the book or the CD? To win, send me an email. Tell me who you think would make a better U.S. president: Nikki Sixx or Mick Mars. You must explain your answer. Feel free to use words like "socialist," "conservative," "terrorism," "bank crisis," "9/11," "whig" and "strippers." The most amusing answer wins. Since the publicity group is doing prize fulfillment this time, the contest is only open to US residents - and no PO boxes, either. Please submit your responses to allyson@bringbackglam.com by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, October 3, 2008. I can't wait to read these responses!

One of my favorite SIXX: AM songs - "Tomorrow"