Why is it that the older fans tend to be much more elitist?
Is it somehow our fault that we were born after you?
If it was my choice i would have been born in the early 80's, but its not so, so i cant choice it. If anything its a testament to the band that they can have just as loyal fans in people that werent a fan while they were an active band. It makes me realy sad when the older fans are critical of me and other new fans simply for being younger, we share the same connection to the band that you do.

Good thread... Personally, I think that it is just about the music. It doesn't matter how old a fan is as long as they truly are a fan. Personally I would have liked to have been born in 1979. That way I would miss the 70's but still be born in time to be caught up in the rise of 90's rock.

I think the reason people get angry is not because someone younger like the music but because of their attitude. Its when they think they no everything abouth this band that they've just found yet you've loved them for ages, and then they think there're more in touch with them just because their more youthy.

However, with the pumpkins; they're quite a mature band (at least after SD) and perhaps some older people dont think the younger people can really understand or appreciate the music, such as billys complex and often cryptic lyrics. They might think that they're only into them bcause they like big guitars and cool solos and so cant treat them as proper fans...

Well there's a couple of argument sides for you.

I'm fourteen and I was one of the first people at this site in '06, and I seem to be generally accepted. And I'm not one of the new fans either. I've always listened to Pumpkins. So it's not like:
*Turns 13*
Hmmm...who's a band I can say I like?
Oh yeah
Rat in a cage!

What do you mean by "older fans"?

Because there's older, as in age, and older as in having been a fan for longer.

I'm young (22), but have been a fan since MCIS. To some, this still isn't long enough, but I can kinda see where they're coming from. I mean, when I see people who got into the pumpkins with machina, and that is their favourite album - I mean that's fine, each to their own - but I can't help but think they're missing something...like, there's something they don't really get.

I realise this will annoy some people...I don't mean offence, it's just interesting to think about, is all.

Shame link=topic=1487.msg24288#msg24288 date=1180476713]

However, with the pumpkins; they're quite a mature band (at least after SD) and perhaps some older people dont think the younger people can really understand or appreciate the music, such as billys complex and often cryptic lyrics. They might think that they're only into them bcause they like big guitars and cool solos and so cant treat them as proper fans...


I submit that Billy's lyrics are far too personal for even older fans to appreciate fully, at least in the same context as Billy himself appreciates them. The beauty of an SP song, lyrically, is it's ability to be interpreted by many different people in many different ways - but to always arrive at the same conclusion: love triumphs over all.

Esoterica aside, though, I understand the point you're trying to make. Songs like BWBW and XYU can make Pumpkinheads out of alot of people with their heavy guitars and abrasive mood while hidden gems like Stumbeline and We Only Come Out At Night go unnoticed. To each their own, I say. There are many things to love about the Smashing Pumpkins, right?

I'm 17, and I suppose you could say I've been a fan since Siamese Dream...though, like Yourmom, I didn't always know what I was listening to until I took the initiative to research the group in middle school. The first SP album I owned was actually Machina.

Age doesnt matter its how passionate you are that counts!

Oh dear, am I the oldest one hanging around here? I am 33 years old and I have been a fan since 1991, after a friend played 'Rhinoceros' to me. So I guess your little discussion here is about people like me.
I can understand why people like me find themselves on the slightly ridiculous track that they are the 'real' fans. It is natural in a way, because you have been listening, collecting, reading and piling stuff in your closet for so many years.
Nevertheless this attitude of course is absurd. This is not a secret philosophy we are talking about but just music.
As far as I am concerned, the more younger fans they have the better. Because this tells me that I - at least to some degree - have stayed young at heart. And that's what you want, don't you?
Another thing is that there are so many things for youngsters like you to discover, e.g. your first Pumpkins concert, and how thrilling is that? I really envy that. So do not waste your time thinking about elitists. They are not worth it.

dougydarkangel link=topic=1487.msg24198#msg24198 date=1180417428]
Why is it that the older fans tend to be much more elitist?
Is it somehow our fault that we were born after you?
If it was my choice i would have been born in the early 80's, but its not so, so i cant choice it. If anything its a testament to the band that they can have just as loyal fans in people that werent a fan while they were an active band. It makes me realy sad when the older fans are critical of me and other new fans simply for being younger, we share the same connection to the band that you do.


I wouldnt say im an 'old fan' but i know a lot more than most people, not because i'm trying to get one over on others, it's because i've taken my time to learn about the band, the history, the background, the present situation.

I don't have a go at people younger than me, i don't lambast new fans, i try and teach and help others learn more and to pass on knowledge i have learnt.

There's a fine line in some things, i have 'been listening, collecting, reading and piling stuff in your closet for so many years.', that doesn't make me elitist, it means i've dedicated a lot of my time to doing it.

Who cares about age and elitism? Aslong as they are a fan.

And don't you think that people who have been listening and collecting for 10+ years deserve a little respect for their commitment? Apart from those who take it upon themselves to be an asshole about it.

To a degree, im a young fan, im only 24, ive only been into SP since they split. In some ways im an 'elitist' because i've taken my time to learn about the band, and find out anything and everything i can, i've spent countless hours collecting shows, collecting studio and demo tracks.

But also the fact that i'm spending what little free time i have trying to create a website to share my knowledge and files with everyone else.

What does that make me? A young elitist? An elite youngster?

I know more than most of you, i own more than most of you, but at least i admit it, and at least i'm slowly trying to share it.

You speak to the wrong people, i know people who are older, i know people who saw SP live at the Gish tour and they are friendly as the people who saw them during Machina and people who have never seen them at all.

I'm not an old fan, but in 5 years ive accumalated more than many in 15. Does that make me elitist?

It doesn't really matter to me, I was born in 1990, and I first heard SP when I was four years old. If someone thinks I'm less of a fan cause I'm 17, then screw them, I have a Strat, a Big Muff, and MCIS.

PumpkinPieces link=topic=1487.msg24404#msg24404 date=1180566503]
I have a Strat, a Big Muff, and MCIS.


I have a strat, a Crybaby, distortion, and Gish.

I don't like the argument that the young fans wont understand the mature aspect of the Pumpkins. This imply's either the lack of maturity or intelectualism on our behalf. This isn't true because now-a-days, teens and young adults are almost on the same playing feild as older adults due to the greater rescources of information we grew up with. My big sister is 28 and I'm 17. She's been to three Pumpkins concerts and I'm way more into the Pumpkins then she'll ever be! She only has MCIS and SD ffs!

I'll admit to being an elitist, and theres nothing wrong with that. Theres nothing wrong with being a newly converted fan either. We all had to start somewhere.

I think long time listeners have a different connection with the music, simply because we lived through that time. Theres something about an era that makes the music of that time unique and much more personal to us. Not only with the Pumpkins but other bands of that time as well. When you take the music out of that context and put it into todays world, it loses some of its meaning and purpose. For those of you who can't understand that, I don't know any other way of putting it.

Our parents had Zeppelin, we had the Pumpkins, you have MCR. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2fJzcNd7Rw

saying that our parents had led zeppelin, you had the pumpkins and we have MCR is unfair, i hate MCR, and most people i know do

i think i am as big of a fan as most people on this site. Just because i was not around to witness the pumpkins doesnt mean i cant like them or dont understand them

disarm link=topic=1487.msg24405#msg24405 date=1180566928]
PumpkinPieces link=topic=1487.msg24404#msg24404 date=1180566503]
I have a Strat, a Big Muff, and MCIS.


I have a strat, a Crybaby, distortion, and Gish.


All we need are fender blenders!