Brian Eno on musical identity

[Witmer]

I was reading an interview with Brian Eno (a bit gushy, but decent) and one of his quotes made me stop and think.

 

It's happened a lot that someone will post a clip of a musician (or just mention the name of one in particular) and there is an outpouring of opinions about whether we like or dislike the clip, punctuated by those who insist "If you can't do it, and don't make your living playing, shut the F#^& up!"

 

I often refrain from commenting, but I feel the same compulsion to either applaud or reject what's been offered. Eno's comment here kind of explains for me this tendency. What do you think?

 

 

On Frank Zappa

 

"Zappa was important to me because I realised I didn't have to make music like he did. I might have made a lot of music like he did if he had not done it first and made me realise that I did not want to go there. I did not like his music but I am grateful that he did it. Sometimes you learn as much from the things you don't like as from the things you do like. The rejection side is as important as the endorsement part. You define who you are and where you are by the things that you know you are not. Sometimes that's all the information you have to go on: "I'm not that kind of person". You don't quite know where you are but you find yourself in the space left behind by the things you've rejected."

 

(full interview: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/17/brian-eno-interview-paul-morley)