THE BEAST

Radio host Eddie Trunk recently addressed Misfits guitarist Doyle’s rant in which he said he’s forced to do meet-and-greets to make money because “scumbag” fans are stealing music, adding they can “kiss his ass.”

In case you missed it, you can read what Doyle had to say here. Back to the latest update, Trunk said:

“Here’s why I love this – because the man is speaking honestly. What a concept… That is explosive, for an artist to talk freaking honestly, for once, about everything.

“Whether you like what he said or not, he’s being honest. It’s so rare and refreshing when we get unfiltered honesty from anyone as Doyle has just given you in that quote.

“I saw Doyle a couple of weeks ago at NAMM, but here’s why I love this – because when I said exactly what Doyle just said, in some circles, I got killed for it. Like, every single word out of my mouth, it was isolated on YouTube, it was put up on sites, headline: ‘Eddie Trunk Says Artists Don’t Like Meeting Fans.’

“Because it’s true. It’s a shame when the truth is so newsworthy. Exactly what Doyle just said is exactly – if you pull the audio – what I talked about.

“Now, I’m not saying every single artist, but my point in talking about this was – if you were going to charge people for meet-and-greets, you’ve got to be a politician.

“90% of the artists would rather be doing something else than meet and take a photo with a complete stranger, as much as they tell you that they love their fans.

“That’s why they’re charging for it – because it’s a money-making proposition. But if they didn’t have to, they would much rather be doing something else – sleeping, hanging with their friends, sitting backstage quietly, going to a party…

“But it’s they have to do it to make extra money – exactly what he said, what I said. And certain people were, ‘Oh Eddie, that’s not true’. Thank you, Doyle.”

Trunk also pointed out:

“Let me be clear here, I don’t have a problem with bands or anyone charging for meet-and-greets. I don’t have a problem with any of it, but know what it is in advance.

“There are people that buy meet-n-greets and think that it’s going to get them some sort of standing with the band or looking for something more than it is.

“It is a pure business transaction. A lot of it’s driven by the fact that these artists aren’t making money selling music. That’s why concert prices are exorbitant, that’s why you got KISS out there selling you literally air – they’re selling air guitar strings at their meet-and-greets.

“I mean, that’s why you’ve got people charging all these different VIP packages. Some of it is to offset the money they’re not making in other areas, some of it is actually to make money – greed, whatever you want to call it, but you make money, that’s fine.

“Know what it is going into it. And the absolute, like, dream that these guys are doing it because that’s what they’d rather be doing…

“That’s not saying that they hate their fans, but 99% of them would rather be doing something else after a show but they’re doing it because they’re making money – and a lot of it – by doing it.

“If you’re doing it, it is because it is a business transaction, so you go into it knowing that – and you’re cool with that, that’s fine – but this fantasy of, ‘Well, [we’re doing meet-and-greets] because we want to connect and be with our fans and engage and meet them, find out what they have to say’ is utter bullshit with 98% of the people.

“I just love the fact that when I said this a few months ago it became, like, ‘Eddie’s saying these things here,’ because I’m being honest! And I just love that an artist has stepped out and said it like it is.

“It’s calling it what it is – a business deal.” - MetalWani