Elaine Bradly Of The Neon Trees On Being A Rock Star And Lds

[Peppermint Patty]

Interesting article on Elaine Bradley, drummer of the Neon Trees. For those of you living on Mars the last couple of years, Neon Trees is a hugely successful and talented rock group whose members all happen to be returned missionaries and active members of the LDS faith.

It seems like more LDS than ever before are becoming mainstream, popular musicians.

Article:

http://www.mormonwom...o-her-own-drum/

Neon Trees video:

[Duncan]

amazing!

[Kenngo1969]

I want to get a haircut like the lead singer dude's!

[Sine Saw Square]

Hey cool! I didn't know they were Mormon. Seems that within the past 10 years there has been a growing cultural maturity (or maybe I should say diversity) among up and coming Mormon artists. Top talented people who strive to live and believe their faith without feeling that they must produce work that targets a particularly LDS audience.

Is this secular success for LDS artists good or bad?

I expect it will (or continue to?) generate areas of tension or conflict between prominent artists and their work, how their faith is represented outside the Church, and how they're art and lifestyles are perceived by Church members.

Some of the prominent LDS artists (using that label broadly) which have gathered secular acclaim within the last 10+ years that immediately come to my mind:

Orson Scott Card (of course he's been around a while)

Low (one of my all-time favorite music groups)

Brandon Sanderson

Stephanie Meyer

James Christiensen

Brandon Flowers (singer for the band "The Killers")

Anyone think of others?

Edited December 17, 2011 by Sine Saw Square

[Sine Saw Square]

I want to get a haircut like the lead singer dude's!

I wish I had the hair to do it!

[Duncan]

My friend is in and has been a variety of bands with miniaml notoriety and he is an an exec. sec in his ward but he travels with his band. great guy all around

[Calm]

In the comments section someone talked about her not "walking the walk" because she was touring with men, singing about "chemicals" and wearing a tank top. I wonder if the same person would have a problem with a woman who worked in an all male company in a more traditional role as a secretary.

And the whole tank top thing....from what I've seen drumming is as much of a physical experience as basketball. Does she have a problem with women in such uniforms? Does she wear swimsuits that are any less revealing the tank top?

There are plenty of men who remove their garments when required by work. If their bishop is okay with it, then it is totally understandable why it should be okay for a woman to do so.

Talk about being so focused on the trees one misses the forest.

Edited December 17, 2011 by calmoriah

[Sine Saw Square]

In the comments section someone talked about her not "walking the walk" because she was touring with men, singing about "chemicals" and wearing a tank top.

My point exactly.

[Kenngo1969]

I wish I had the hair to do it!

You and me both, buddy! You and me both!

[Stargazer]

Hey cool! I didn't know they were Mormon. Seems that within the past 10 years there has been a growing cultural maturity (or maybe I should say diversity) among up and coming Mormon artists. Top talented people who strive to live and believe their faith without feeling that they must produce work that targets a particularly LDS audience.

Is this secular success for LDS artists good or bad?

I expect it will (or continue to?) generate areas of tension or conflict between prominent artists and their work, how their faith is represented outside the Church, and how they're art and lifestyles are perceived by Church members.

Some of the prominent LDS artists (using that label broadly) which have gathered secular acclaim within the last 10+ years that immediately come to my mind:

Orson Scott Card (of course he's been around a while)

Low (one of my all-time favorite music groups)

Brandon Sanderson

Stephanie Meyer

James Christiensen

Brandon Flowers (singer for the band "The Killers")

Anyone think of others?

Kaskade, of course:

Ryan Raddon, RM, served his mission in Japan. One of my favorite musicians. But then, I like electronic music (trance, house, and so on).

Edited December 18, 2011 by Stargazer

[Sine Saw Square]

Kaskade, of course:

Ryan Raddon, RM, served his mission in Japan. One of my favorite musicians. But then, I like electronic music (trance, house, and so on).

No way! Cascade is awesome. Didn't know he was LDS either. I love electronic music too.

Edited December 18, 2011 by Sine Saw Square

[Stargazer]

No way! Cascade is awesome. Didn't know he was LDS either. I love electronic music too.

I just noticed that the statement that he is LDS is no longer included in the Wikipedia article about him, for whatever reason.

[Peppermint Patty]

Anyone think of others?

Several come to mind. One of the most interesting LDS musicians is Arthur "Killer" Kane.

Punk might not be everyone's cup of tea, but Arthur "Killer" Kane converted to the LDS faith. For those of you who do not know who Arthur Kane is, he is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most influential bass players of all time.

He was a founding member of the very influential group The New York Dolls.

There was a very touching and sweet movie made about Arthur Kane a few years ago called "New York Doll". The movie touches on his music career, his baptism into the LDS faith and his temple work (he worked in the L.A. temple). In a very touching and profound moment of the movie, Arthur reunites with his bandmates just prior to his death for a concert in England. Arthur is finally able to make peace, forgive and finally put behind him personal grudges and various issues he had with some of his bandmates.

More info about the movie "New York Doll" (I highly recommend it):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436629/

[altersteve]

New York Doll is amazing. Although, as a bassist myself, I would call him one of the greatest of all time.

[wenglund]

How come nobody has mentioned Tal Bachman?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Stargazer]

How come nobody has mentioned Tal Bachman?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Possibly because he doesn't identify as LDS ?

[wenglund]

Possibly because he doesn't identify as LDS ?

That is one possibility. Could another be that he isn't identified as a "rock star"?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Sine Saw Square]

More info about the movie "New York Doll" (I highly recommend it):

That's a great movie. And unconventionally faith enhancing.

[altersteve]

There's also Donny Osmond, David Archuleta, James Valentine (Maroon 5 guitarist, though he is no longer practicing), Julianne Hough (she's no longer practicing either), Gladys Knight, Ian Fowles (guitarist of the Aquabats), and Christian Jacobs (lead singer of the Aquabats).

[Duncan]

I think to be in the entertainment industry and LDS is a very, very fine line to walk and all the more power to those who do it and are still active

[Rock_N_Roll]

I usually don't wear my garments when I perform with my band, but I put them on shortly thereafter. I consider it the same as wearing shorts and a tank to play a game of basketball or go running etc. I knew Tal Bachman is no longer LDS, but is his dad, Randy Bachman (B.T.O.,The Guess Who)?

[altersteve]

I think to be in the entertainment industry and LDS is a very, very fine line to walk and all the more power to those who do it and are still active

Being in the entertainment industry period is very difficult, but I agree that being LDS makes it even harder. I'm a band myself and hope to work in music, theater, film, art, and literature as a career, so I know it will be hard anyway, but I hope to help build up God's kingdom in some way by being involved in these things.

[LeSellers]

I usually don't wear my garments when I perform with my band, but I put them on shortly thereafter. I consider it the same as wearing shorts and a tank to play a game of basketball or go running etc.

One should wear the Garment whenever the clothing worn could correctly shield the Garment from profane view. There is no required clothing for a rock band that could not provide the necessary protection.

Your situation is up to you, but it seems unlikely that you would be precluded from wearing clothing that would be adequate to the task at hand, and that you would not be able to change to meet the mandate of wearing the Garment as intended.

Unless I am missing something, which is possible, of course.

Lehi

Edited December 19, 2011 by LeSellers

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

No one has mentioned MIck Ronson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Ronson

He was a member and played for David Bowie.

[Sine Saw Square]

I inquiry wasn't specific to LDS rock stars (or musicians) but more generally to secularly successful 'artists' of all sorts. Thanks for the contributions though everyone.

How about my other question- is secular success and recognition for LDS artists (in all arts and entertainment) a good thing?