Are you the "true" fan?

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before but I've been meaning to talk about this "issue" for awhile now.

I've been getting into the Arctic Monkeys lately and as I search the Internet for information about them (Wikipedia, Tumblr, Youtube, other blogs/forums), I always see people who constantly argue about who the real fans are and who are not. From what I've gathered, a real fan is someone who has been a fan of a band/artist since the beginning of their career and who enjoys listening to their old songs the most.

I also noticed that people would say, "People only started to like [insert band name here] when [insert their current popular song here] came out!"

For example, I recently watched Arctic Monkey's music video for their song "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" and most people argue that that was the only song new fans knew. Now from my perspective, I don't see anything wrong with that. I don't understand why some people are so uptight about their favorite bands and don't want any new fans to join in their little circle. How else would your favorite band get famous, make more records, have more shows, and get recognized by the music industry in order to win awards? Whether you're a new fan or not, I think all that matters is that you all listen to the same band/artist. I think that itself is cool enough.

I wasn't even 13 when their album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, came out. I wasn't even into indie rock, let alone any type of rock, at the time. I was probably watching High School Musical and thought that was the greatest type of music out there. Do I consider myself an Arctic Monkeys fan? Of course. I genuinely love all their songs and believe that anything they do from here on out will be amazing. I think what makes a true fan is someone who just sticks with that band from the moment they hear about them; whether it was years and years ago or just yesterday.

Do you think that listening to a band/artist's older songs makes you the true fan? Or do you think that simply enjoying any music the band/artist releases is fan worthy enough?

Something sort of similar has been happening with Paramore ever since Josh and Zac left the band. The people who call themselves "true fans" have been calling them sellouts for making music that makes them happy and for basically not remaking "Riot" over and over again, and they're bitter towards the new fans that Paramore has gotten in that time. It's ridiculous.

I think if you consider yourself a fan, then you're a fan. A "true fan" isn't any more special than a fan who only discovers them after they reach the radio, since music is special and unique for each person.

I don't think so, honestly. I don't think there's a such thing as "true fan" because someone that's been there from the start isn't any more special than someone that discovered the band because they heard their most popular song on the radio or in an episode of a popular show. I am positive that the bands are appreciative of their fans and of the ones that supported them before they made it big, but I don't think anything is going to be accomplished by arguing for this pointless title. There is nothing accomplished by arguing with someone over whether or not they/you are a true fan of the band, depending on when and how you discovered them.

I've been with Kopek since day one practically, way before Sin City played in an episode of Degrassi and never once have I declared myself a "true fan" over the ones that discovered them through an episode of a relatively popular show because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how you found the band or if you were with them before or after they got big. If you're a fan, you're a fan. I don't think there's a such thing as a "true fan" and I don't think people should be arguing so aggressively over it because it doesn't matter.

@ hawker!
I feel like bands such as Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! at the Disco have been criticized by their "die hard" fans because of how different their new albums sound. I, on the other hand, think all their new albums are great. I completely agree with your statement, "if you consider yourself a fan, then you're a fan." I think some people just don't understand that sometimes. I feel like they're afraid that if their favorite band gets too "mainstream," that they'll completely sellout. But even if that's the case, it doesn't matter because if you can still sing and dance to their song, why should selling out even be an issue?

@ pallid
I totally understand where you're coming from. I personally don't care whether or not a person has been there from the start of anyone's career. Again, I do agree that if you're a fan, you're a fan. I just thought maybe I'd get some opinions about this topic since some people do get aggressive when it comes to defending their "title" as a person's #1 fan.

@ therealdealneal
I understand; I didn't think you were applying the title to anyone or anything. It just frustrates me because I've had aggressive fans come at me claiming that I wasn't a true fan. I didn't get into Arctic Monkeys until they got popular. I don't think that makes me less of a fan. I think simply enjoying any music the band/artist releases is enough to be considered a fan and that's it.

@ pallid
I agree. I think some people just blow things out of proportion sometimes when it comes to their favorite band/artist.

Too me a "true fan" is anyone who legitimately likes their music. It doesn't really have to be anything more than that, in my opinion. There will always be bigger fans or people who have been fans of the band longer, but that doesn't make anyone less of a fan really, if the definition of a "fan" for a band is someone who enjoys their music.

I always saw 'true fan' as like, a loyalty thing more than a 'when'd you join' thing. Especially since for some bands that's not really even an option for a lot of people. So for me 'true fan' (although I don't usually use this term) would be someone that regularly listens to and enjoys a band, and is willing to grow with the band.

I do, however, think that there is a bit of truth to the kind of one song thing. My favorite band is Green Day, and I've heard people call themselves fans of Green Day, yet really only know American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up When September Ends, Know Your Enemy and 21 Guns. If someone listens to less than an album's worth of that artist's music, especially once it gets down to you just liking a single's worth of music, then you're not a fan. I'm sorry, but you're not. You like those songs, but you're not a fan. I like two or three OneRepublic songs, but I'm not a fan of OneRepublic.

Another aspect of it is dedication to that band, which sounds weird, but I think is important. There are some bands I like a lot of their stuff, but I'm not really interested in seeing them perform live and for artists that do perform live, I think wanting to see them and support them in lots of different ways is also key to it.

So yeah, I don't really give a shit when you started listening to things. Well, as long as no one pulls that obnoxious 'I'm going to tell you about this band like you've never heard about them, even though you've known about them for years' kind of thing my brother would do. That's the only time I care when you became a fan.