Spirtiualized Frontman Calls Music Festivals “The Death Of Art”

As Spiritualized, Jason Pierce is perhaps the leading British purveyor of narcotic-washed space rock. Due in the country in a matter of weeks to headline an Australian tour for three special dates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, Pierce may be less enthused about the very event that’s bringing him to Australian audiences, December’s Meredith Music Festival.

The Spiritualized frontman, who last visited our shores for two special performances of his landmark 1997 album Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space at the Sydney Opera House, has revealed in a recent interview that he believes music festivals as “the death of art.”

In comments reminiscent of Jack White labelling music festivals “a necessary evil” earlier this year, Pierce spoke to Drowned In Sound about what he sees as the ‘straightening’ out of popular music events. When asked if he enjoyed playing the summer festival season, Pierce replied candidly, “I think festivals are the death of art, in a weird way. I know everyone has started thinking that’s the way you see bands now, but I’ve always said bands are the least important part of a festival.”“I felt more and more a part of the entertainment industry as it went on. And I’m not part of the entertainment industry. I’m an artist and I want to feel like an artist.”

Pierce also grumbled about how acts “get short time slots and no sound check” which means “everybody is compromised as a result,” then went on to say “Festivals are the death of [art]. And they’ve gotten straighter as the years have gone on too. They’re less about drugs and rock and roll now. They’re more about community.”

He also took the opportunity to criticise bands that glorify themselves over their festival attention. “[Some] bands in their wisdom still soak up the glory, like they’re worth THIS many people. Or worse, when you get those awful sing-a-longs, and a band’s ego kicks in when the crowd sing their words back,” says Pierce. “It’s as if they’re standing on stage thinking ‘this is what we’re worth’.”

Acknowledging the grind of the summer festival season, Pierce says: “I felt more and more a part of the entertainment industry as it went on. And I’m not part of the entertainment industry. I’m an artist and I want to feel like an artist. It’s important that I push where I want to go and the audience goes with that if they want to, or doesn’t if they don’t.”

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