[JSteff]

Gosh Huck, what brillant insight and commentary.

Just one thing, how was the public unwitting? Did they pay for their records before hearing them and then were denied a refund? Did they buy their concert tickets before knowing it was a hard rock band? Were they tricked into a room and then kept there by force to listen to the music?

Ratt had some good songs, but I bought none of the albums nor went to a concert. I just thought in our society if you are doing something legal and someone else will pay you for it that is called capitalism. Isn't that good? I mean, isn't making money the legal way, even if you in particular don't like it, good?

Since the public laid out the cash they were hardly unwitting and it is sad that someone else died because of drug use.

[Huck]

Just one thing, how was the public unwitting?

In the 80s, RATT, Quiet Riot, Def Leppard, and Motley Crue were some of the "bands" one could not avoid even with great effort.

[plain talk]

I just thought in our society if you are doing something legal and someone else will pay you for it that is called capitalism. Isn't that good? I mean, isn't making money the legal way, even if you in particular don't like it, good?

uh, no. When I think of bands that really made it and made lots of money, somehow Ratt and the Ramones just don't come to mind. So that's the money angle. As for the artist angle, well ... their music doesn't strike me as something that is much remembered now much less 20 years from now. I doubt 1% of the public could even identify just one of their songs. More like throw away slop from the 70's and 80's. HOWEVER, I will confess ... to actually liking the Ramones' "Glad to see you Go" song for some crazy reason.