The above is an interview conducted on CBC by Jian Ghomeshi with Billy Bob Thornton and his band. I'm not listing the band name here. In it Billy Bob acts completely distant and glib before becoming prickish and confrontational with the host. The reason for this is that Ghomeshi's introduction included mentions of Thornton's Hollywood career and Thornton wanted no mention of that. Apparently Thornton believes that his musical career should speak for itself.
What did BBT expect the host to do? Introduce him like any member of the band and have his audience wondering if it was that Billy Bob Thornton?
During the beginning of the interview BBT is just distant and nonresponsive. Instead of immediately bringing up a minor issue he avoids questions and talks about a monster magazine he read when he was a kid. It is important to note that all of the interviewer's questions were about music and the band and never focused on Billy Bob's other career.
It's when BBT actually decides to confront the issue that he genuinely looks like a d-bag. Some choice quotes from BBT follow (with commentary!!)
Would you say that to Tom Petty?
BBT just likened himself to Tom Petty. A few things: first, BBT is nowhere near as talented as Tom Petty in any capacity. Second, Tom Petty should be pissed right now. And third, if Tom Petty started acting it would be appropriate to say he has always been passionate about film (if that were true). The reason it's relavent would be because he is a great musician who is being interviewed in the context of his acting career. Like how BBT is a crappy actor being interviewed about his band.
Ghomeshi then points out that in the introduction he was just giving context for who BBT is and the band's trajectory.
Well there's plenty of context for that.
I can't imagine what that would be since Ghomeshi also mentioned the band's activity in the last year (three albums) and their current tour. Ghomeshi then rightfully brings up the fact that this is a relatively new band (two years) that is getting to tour with/open for Willie Nelson and that the reason the band is getting that opportunity is because BBT is famous. BBT never addresses this completly valid point, because it is accurate and contrary to his delusional beliefs about his own talent, except to say:
We aren't a new band. I've made 8 albums.
I checked and BBT is counting the ones he made with the band. BBT's five solo albums date all the way back to 2001. His film career took off in 1996 after the release of Sling Blade yet he doesn't realize that the opportunity to make these albums probably had something to do with his acting career.
You were also instructed to not mention anything about how this is my "first love." You wouldn't say that to Tom Petty. My first love was a chick named Lisa Cone.
This is idiotic. I'm sure no one thought Ghomeshi was implying that BBT ever wanted to screw music. They then call a truce and Ghomeshi asks about musical influences on the band's record. BBT manages to answer like a prick who doesn't know the definition of the word truce.
It's a mixture of the British Invasion and Hillbilly music, something that I know more about than a band that's say 20 years old. But you wouldn't say that to uh...I grew up as pretty much a music historian so...
This is a classic coward dodge: referring to a phantom expertise with no ability to legitimize it. He wanted to say Tom Petty again too. I don't know if he realized how ridiculous it was or just got lost in a different train of thought. Ghomeshi then asks if there are any bands that are doing what they are doing.
Not lately. Not in the last 30 years.
I haven't heard the record, but I am sure that this isn't true. Every band sounds different but the idea that there are no similar bands in the last 30 years would seem doubtful at any point, but the rest of the interview almost ensures that this statement is purely ego driven. BBT then takes a shot at Canadians saying that audiences in Canada are reserved and calls them:
...mashed potatoes with no gravy.
BBT has obviously never been to a hockey game. Canadian music fans, regardless of how they react in concert, are supporting the bands they see including BBT's. He chooses to lash out at them instead of being grateful.
I never like BBT as an actor/director/writer. He always seemed like a jerk and I'm glad to be proven right. He completely derailed this interview and it became about him instead of the band anyway. The band members were silent during the confrontation and I'm sure felt awkward for most of it. BBT's prickishness however means I am not supporting his career at all which is why I am not even mentioning the band's name here.
Big ups on Ghomeshi for his professionalism and also his demeanor in refusing to back down when BBT confronted him. Big ups on the Canadian fans who reportedly booed the hell out of BBT at the show. Too bad they didn't get the chance to keep doing it since the band pulled out of the remaining shows in Canada because of the flu.
What did BBT expect the host to do? Introduce him like any member of the band and have his audience wondering if it was that Billy Bob Thornton?
During the beginning of the interview BBT is just distant and nonresponsive. Instead of immediately bringing up a minor issue he avoids questions and talks about a monster magazine he read when he was a kid. It is important to note that all of the interviewer's questions were about music and the band and never focused on Billy Bob's other career.
It's when BBT actually decides to confront the issue that he genuinely looks like a d-bag. Some choice quotes from BBT follow (with commentary!!)
Would you say that to Tom Petty?
BBT just likened himself to Tom Petty. A few things: first, BBT is nowhere near as talented as Tom Petty in any capacity. Second, Tom Petty should be pissed right now. And third, if Tom Petty started acting it would be appropriate to say he has always been passionate about film (if that were true). The reason it's relavent would be because he is a great musician who is being interviewed in the context of his acting career. Like how BBT is a crappy actor being interviewed about his band.
Ghomeshi then points out that in the introduction he was just giving context for who BBT is and the band's trajectory.
Well there's plenty of context for that.
I can't imagine what that would be since Ghomeshi also mentioned the band's activity in the last year (three albums) and their current tour. Ghomeshi then rightfully brings up the fact that this is a relatively new band (two years) that is getting to tour with/open for Willie Nelson and that the reason the band is getting that opportunity is because BBT is famous. BBT never addresses this completly valid point, because it is accurate and contrary to his delusional beliefs about his own talent, except to say:
We aren't a new band. I've made 8 albums.
I checked and BBT is counting the ones he made with the band. BBT's five solo albums date all the way back to 2001. His film career took off in 1996 after the release of Sling Blade yet he doesn't realize that the opportunity to make these albums probably had something to do with his acting career.
You were also instructed to not mention anything about how this is my "first love." You wouldn't say that to Tom Petty. My first love was a chick named Lisa Cone.
This is idiotic. I'm sure no one thought Ghomeshi was implying that BBT ever wanted to screw music. They then call a truce and Ghomeshi asks about musical influences on the band's record. BBT manages to answer like a prick who doesn't know the definition of the word truce.
It's a mixture of the British Invasion and Hillbilly music, something that I know more about than a band that's say 20 years old. But you wouldn't say that to uh...I grew up as pretty much a music historian so...
This is a classic coward dodge: referring to a phantom expertise with no ability to legitimize it. He wanted to say Tom Petty again too. I don't know if he realized how ridiculous it was or just got lost in a different train of thought. Ghomeshi then asks if there are any bands that are doing what they are doing.
Not lately. Not in the last 30 years.
I haven't heard the record, but I am sure that this isn't true. Every band sounds different but the idea that there are no similar bands in the last 30 years would seem doubtful at any point, but the rest of the interview almost ensures that this statement is purely ego driven. BBT then takes a shot at Canadians saying that audiences in Canada are reserved and calls them:
...mashed potatoes with no gravy.
BBT has obviously never been to a hockey game. Canadian music fans, regardless of how they react in concert, are supporting the bands they see including BBT's. He chooses to lash out at them instead of being grateful.
I never like BBT as an actor/director/writer. He always seemed like a jerk and I'm glad to be proven right. He completely derailed this interview and it became about him instead of the band anyway. The band members were silent during the confrontation and I'm sure felt awkward for most of it. BBT's prickishness however means I am not supporting his career at all which is why I am not even mentioning the band's name here.
Big ups on Ghomeshi for his professionalism and also his demeanor in refusing to back down when BBT confronted him. Big ups on the Canadian fans who reportedly booed the hell out of BBT at the show. Too bad they didn't get the chance to keep doing it since the band pulled out of the remaining shows in Canada because of the flu.
1 comment:
The funniest thing about his acting career being mentioned is how unimpressive it actually is. Sure he's been in some good movies (Ice Harvest, A Simple Plan), but he's never ever had a role that wowed me and convinced me that no one else could've done it. Which actually makes his mashed potatoes comment nice and ironic.
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