Every band/singer will have fans that can't make up their mind in what they want, an example of this is Metallica Fans - they wanted a new change in direction of music because they were complaining that every song sounded the same.

Then when Metallica did the change, the fans were still complaining saying why didn't they stay the same.

What are your thoughts on fans that bands can never please

Bands should never pander to the expectations of fans, otherwise they become purely show biz and nothing else. Any band worth anything will always plough their own furrow and win an audience over with the quality of their product.

Just what did the Metallica fans expect from the band - prog? Funk? Trance metal? I can't believe they actually complained that all the songs sounded the same! I'm sure Quo and AC/DC have never had this problem. The Stones also never change their style but never lose their devoted fanbase.

I for one never complained about early Metallica. Their downfall wasn't the similarity of their songs - it was the death of Cliff Burton, who was the musical brain of the band. If you don't believe me, chart their progress:

Kill 'Em All: mostly written before Cliff joined. Fun, very heavy, but basic.

Lightning/Master: Cliff on board, and heavily involved in writing & arranging. Complex speed metal at its best.

Cliff dies.

Justice: has its moments, has some great ideas, but very boring arrangements/song structures. Plus the entire bass guitar seems to disappear.

After that, to all intents & purposes, they're trad metal for the Bon Jovi brigade for the next 15 years. All their original fans get old, and can't really be @rsed with their recent return to form - me included, unfortunately.

Is this a rip off of Deads thread?

Sounds similar.

Interesting thread; I think Metallica critically are in a no win situation BUT as long as the commercial sales are there, they will survive.

Tripmender's comments are pretty much spot on although I don't think for all their sins that they deserve to be lumped in with Bon Jovi. Only thing worse would be to be bracketed in with Def Leppard!!

Bands want to sell their records so it is inevitable that they will bow to pressure for what fans etc want. However in doing so they can become too commercialised and lose their freshness, and the appeal that got them fans in the first place. It is near nigh impossible to find an ideal mean.

The Beatles and Led Zeppelin managed it - is that partly what made them so special, I wonder?

So basically what you are saying is;

Ignoring my favorite for now, bands such as Fleetwood Mac, King Crimson who have had longevity sound very different now from when they started. Much of this is due to personnel changes among other things.

Miles Davis changed in style of music regularly with his change of lineups in the jazz field, which alienated some, but he found other followers.

So, do you like your favorites to get "stuck in a groove", even a comfortable one, or do you consider change (sometimes quite drastic), is the correct route for a serious artist(s) to take?

............hmm? where have I heard this before? No don't tell me! Give me a mo! it'll come