Amanda Palmer Goes Solo
The Dresden Dolls Songwriter Blogs about Avril Lavigne, Fights Label
Dec 16, 2008
Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione never achieved popstardom as The Dresden Dolls, but they did carve out a sizeable niche in the music market that has progressively grown larger and more loyal since The Dresden Dolls’ debut EP in 2001.
Palmer once made comments that sounded like she wanted The Dresden Dolls to achieve mainstream popularity; however, she never compromised her artistic integrity in pursuit of celebrity.
Amanda Palmer Happy She’s Not Avril Lavigne
Palmer’s frequent and incredibly introspective blogs greatly influence why her fans are so loyal. Fans connect to her on a deeper and more personal level through this medium. After meeting Avril Lavigne in 2004, Palmer wrote a blog pondering what her life and career would have been like if she made it big in the music industry when she was young.
“I wanted, at [Lavigne’s] age, to be in her position so bady...making records, being seen and heard, the focus of everyone's attention,” Palmer blogged.
As Palmer reflects and digs deeper in this blog, she determines she is better off having taken the path she ultimately did.
“Thank God I didn't get my wish, I think nowadays...if I had been in her position when I was 19 I'd be f****d right now. I wouldn't have learned anything about anything. I wouldn't have had a chance to live life, have "normal" relationships, scrape together rent, and generally…figure it all out.”
Roadrunner Causes Amanda Palmer Belly Protest by Fans
Palmer’s music and image may not be as marketable as Lavigne’s, but her connection to fans eclipses even the most obsessive Lavigne fanatics.
When Roadrunner (Palmer’s label) told Palmer to cut shots from her “Leeds United” music video in which her belly is exposed because they thought she looked fat, Palmer’s fans began sending photos of their own bellies to Roadrunner in protest. Shortly thereafter, fans created a website (therebellyon.com) increasing Roadrunner’s self-inflicted PR disaster.
Amanda Palmer Hopes Roadrunner Drops Her from Label
Amanda Palmer has come a long way from wanting to be “the focus of everyone’s attention,” and she would never give up creative freedom for a platinum record.
In a December, 2008 blog, Palmer revealed that the owner of her label called a meeting with her and said it was a shame she could not make a commercial record that would be lucrative for all involved. According to Palmer, the owner went as far as to say that someday she will understand what he is talking about and make “better songs.”
The tragedy of businessmen controlling the entertainment industry can bring media scholars and art lovers to tears—one can only imagine how frustrating and painful it is for an artist such as Palmer to listen to condescending, absurdly disgusting comments such as those.
Palmer has officially released three of her four contractually obligated albums for Roadrunner. She cannot leave the label by her own accord, but Roadrunner does have the option to drop her.
Palmer requested to be released by the label due to creative differences, and Roadrunner has until June, 2009 to keep or drop her.
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