Charming Narcissism
Nov. 8th, 2006 11:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lydamorehouseTrue confessions time, I’m a fan of the hair-metal band KISS (yeah, that’s right, present tense. Wanna make something of it?) I’ve seen KISS perform in concert more times than any other band. I’d be embarrassed, but what can I say? I like the theatrics and the music is fun and danceable. I could blame my fondness for them on growing up in a smallish town where my choices were heavy metal or country western.
The truth is I have crappy taste in music. I always have.
However, the point of this little confession is to explain how it happened that I ended up watching “Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels.” Gene is the bass guitarist, sometimes front man of KISS, and he’s doing his own version of the Osbourne’s for A&E or some cable channel like that. I’m sure this show will flop because, while I found them charming (more on that in a moment), they aren’t nearly as… well, mock-worthy as Ozzy’s brood.
Yet I ended up finding Gene Simmons’ complete self-absorption utterly charming. There was a moment in one of the shows (they ran two of them in a row) where Gene was trying to convince the guards at some studio or other that he was, in point of fact, someone famous. When asked to show two forms of ID, he pointed out that he had a driver’s license and a US postal stamp bearing his likeness. The guards thought he was a complete nut-job (as did his kids.) Throughout the whole narcissistic event, however, Gene managed to come off not so much as arrogant, but as kind of pathetic in a sympathetic sort of way. I mean, it was fairly clear that he was crushed not to be recognized.
Frankly, I can relate.
Okay, I have never performed in front of crowds of millions, hundreds of thousands, or even, well, hundreds, (though, yes, I have thrilled dozens) but there are times when it would be supremely cool to have someone say “Lyda Morehouse> You’re THE Lyda Morehouse?”
Who doesn’t long to be one of the cool and important people?
Gene Simmons made me realize that no matter how famous you think you are (or wish you were, in my case), there are still a large percentage of the world who doesn’t know you from Adam. And, no matter where you are in the food chain, when you get that whole “and you are?” thing thrown in your face, you still feel like the uncool kid who didn’t get invited to the party.
Dude, I’m with ya.
Anyway, it’s probably a good thing that I don’t have cable or I’d probably put this show on my “to watch” list.
The truth is I have crappy taste in music. I always have.
However, the point of this little confession is to explain how it happened that I ended up watching “Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels.” Gene is the bass guitarist, sometimes front man of KISS, and he’s doing his own version of the Osbourne’s for A&E or some cable channel like that. I’m sure this show will flop because, while I found them charming (more on that in a moment), they aren’t nearly as… well, mock-worthy as Ozzy’s brood.
Yet I ended up finding Gene Simmons’ complete self-absorption utterly charming. There was a moment in one of the shows (they ran two of them in a row) where Gene was trying to convince the guards at some studio or other that he was, in point of fact, someone famous. When asked to show two forms of ID, he pointed out that he had a driver’s license and a US postal stamp bearing his likeness. The guards thought he was a complete nut-job (as did his kids.) Throughout the whole narcissistic event, however, Gene managed to come off not so much as arrogant, but as kind of pathetic in a sympathetic sort of way. I mean, it was fairly clear that he was crushed not to be recognized.
Frankly, I can relate.
Okay, I have never performed in front of crowds of millions, hundreds of thousands, or even, well, hundreds, (though, yes, I have thrilled dozens) but there are times when it would be supremely cool to have someone say “Lyda Morehouse> You’re THE Lyda Morehouse?”
Who doesn’t long to be one of the cool and important people?
Gene Simmons made me realize that no matter how famous you think you are (or wish you were, in my case), there are still a large percentage of the world who doesn’t know you from Adam. And, no matter where you are in the food chain, when you get that whole “and you are?” thing thrown in your face, you still feel like the uncool kid who didn’t get invited to the party.
Dude, I’m with ya.
Anyway, it’s probably a good thing that I don’t have cable or I’d probably put this show on my “to watch” list.
How pathetic is that?
Date: 2006-11-09 06:04 pm (UTC)So, I'm fairly sure (but too lazy to google to be absolutely sure) that the only way you can get on an official US stamp is to be dead. Oh, and to have significant accomplishments. So Gene Simmons doesn't qualify twice as he is only dead from the neck up and while accomplished, those accomplishments aren't significant. So he has not appeared on a US postage stamp.
I did a little googling and he did appear on a stamp issued by a company that used it for a fundraiser for the Humane Society (A good cause! Good on you, Gene!). Of course the company is one of those places like a vanity press--you can design your own T-shirt there and they will sell it.
So, how pathetic is it that he was at the door showing the bouncer his driver's license and the equivalent of a vanity press book. "Look at this, pal! I'm a published author!"
And I don't think you are like Gene in this regard. He's afraid that unless he's a big shot, he will simply cease to be. You don't need fame in the same way he does since you get your props from the people in life you KNOW are important. Call Mason in the room and ask him if you are cool if you don't believe me. And then ask yourself how important it really is that the bouncer at some club knows who you are.
jpj
Re: How pathetic is that?
Date: 2006-11-10 01:38 am (UTC)Anyway, Gene Simmons is a really smart guy. Not at all the kind of person you'd expect from his stage act. But he's a very interesting guy in interviews.