Is nepotism necessarily a bad thing in the music biz?

Question

It's no secret that quite a few musicians got the chance to put out an album or got themselves on a stage because of someone they knew that was well-liked and/or well-established in the business - a parent, child, friend, spouse, former roommate...whatever. It happens all the time, and I think people hardly blink at it any more. In fact, I think we almost expect it.

So what do you think are the most positive and negative examples of this in music? Who do you think has taken their own opportunity and done great things with it, and who has completely struck out at the plate and will probably never be heard from again?

Answer 1

Well, I know the Jakob Dylan example has already been exhausted, so I won't use that one. But I would have to think that there are some obvious positives to being related to a 'legend' or a famous rock musician. With that, I guess there's also a flip-side to this argument -- almost similar to the one I gave with child stars being stigmatized for attempting to try their hand in the rock business. It's virtually the same concept here, only it's more prominent with better-known artists whose parents were famous rock artists. An artist is always going to receive more pressure to live up to the performance standards of his (edit: or her) (famous) relatives if he is making a goal of putting himself out there. In "rock" you see this more. A good contrast example is Nora Jones, the jazz artist. Her father is the legendary Indian musician Ravi Shankar, but nobody really seems to give her crap about it. In fact, most people are oblivious to this fact. No one expects her to live up to the "legendary" expectations of her father. (edit: again, I'm wondering if you see this more in rock). Then you see artists like ...hmm... I don't know - Lisa Marie Presley who bombed their first releases, and get so much bad flack for failing to be the feminine version of the king.

Answer 2

Have you heard Lisa Marie's album? Yikes.

On the flip side, both Hank III and Shooter Jennings are putting out some great work.

Colin Blades (son of Night Ranger's Jack) has had one stellar album (albiet hidden from the masses in the melodic rock community).

Jacob Dylan had his 15 minutes.

I'd bet my left testicle that Nick Simmons will either a) have a contract or b) replace Daddy in Kiss before he hits 21.

God help us all when we start seeing the spawn of Sixx, Lee, and other 80s metal luminaries come of age.

Screwed in the whole deal is Julian Lennon, while Yoko's boy gets all the attention despite having zero in the talent department.






NP: "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" - Waylon Jennings

***True Dave, but I was thinking more along the lines of the band that will be formed by the spawn of Brett Michaels, Taime Downe, Stephen Pearcy, and others of that time. I wonder if Jani Lane's child will grow up to look like a frog, too.

Answer 3

Nepotism of any kind is usually despicable when it involves public figures especially politicians. As far as the music business goes, it all depends on a case by case basis. Hank Williams had talent but so did his son and grandson. Frank Sinatra's children maybe not so much. The Wallflowers were just another boring adult alternative band from the 90's that happened to have the offspring of Bob Dylan. However, the last name can only carry you so far since we haven't really heard much from them since One Headlight, but I'm not complaining. And who can forget Julian Lennon. Even being the son of John wasn't enough for him to sustain a career.

So to sum it up, it's only a bad thing if the person gets popular based only on name as opposed to actual talent, see Ashlee Simpson. Sorry, couldn't resist, let's all boo together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WppRxGKrOhU

Answer 4

I'm a fan of one of the positives....Hank Williams III has a, well basically, legendary pedigree behind him. Yet he skipped out on Country and stuck with a more cow-punk format and is finding success his own way. Would he have the same level of fame he has now without the name? Probably not. But is he talented and deserves his fame? Definitely.

He was even the bassist for Superjoint Ritual with Phil Anselmo.

Answer 5

wishing that we never hear from again would be Ashley Simpson

Jakob Dylan of the wallflowers would be one that has gained some sucsess

Edit to Jmike -- Its already happening with the 80's groups when you have Wolfgang VanHalen on stage, only a matter of time untill he's out on his own

Answer 6

The only good family plan was Ann Wilson incorporating her sister Nancy into Heart........

Most of it is poor

btw....Rockwell was Berry gordy's son not MJ's cousin.

Answer 7

Positives..........

the only one I can really think of is Jakob Dylan.....yes he tried to deny who his father was.....but there's no freaking way that he could hide it.

Shooter Jennings


Negatives.............

Limp Bizkit (enough said)
Unkle Kracker
Piebald (somehow hooked up with Coheed & Cambria.....wish they would fade into oblivion)
Paris Hilton
Lindsey Lohan

Answer 8

It gives precedence to artists based on their relationships - not necessarily based on their talents.

Some examples are:
- Wolf Van Halen playing with Van Halen on this tour (good)
- Yoko Ono releasing any records (baaaad)

And probably the best example was Rockwell's minor 1984 hit "Somebody's Watching Me." Rockwell was a cousin of Michael Jackson, who agreed to sing the chorus because Rockwell was family. The rest of the song TOTALLY sucks!!

Here's a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD21JDMp86c