Michelle Branch shuts down her website and tells off fans

muchlove · December 10th, 2005, 12:27 AM

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Fans of American singer/songwriter Michelle Branch who hang out on her message board were treated to a surprise when Michelle Branch vocally payed out fans for their constant negativity on her new band The Wreckers’ message board before shutting it down.

Her statement, as posted on the message board, reads:

Alright, I don't even know why I am still awake seeing as I have to be up in a few hours to feed Owen.

What I am most frustrated at, I suppose is...I pay money to keep this website up so all of you "fans" can talk about our music. Why would I want to spend the money so the majority of you can sit around and b1tch about us?

I understand that you are frustrated with the fact that there isn't any music for you to listen to. Don't you think Jessica and I are frustrated too?? We finished this record over a year ago and were sent on a lame ass tour we didn't want to be on. It was a horrible idea to headline a show playing music that nobody had ever heard. Maverick wanted to make a quick buck, and unfortunately, we were obligated by contract to do so. I was 5 months pregnant when we started that tour and believe me...it was the last place I wanted to be. Then I got pushed into doing a Santana song I didn't want to do (I didn't write it either, Shanks wanted me to sing it so bad, that was a bargaining tool), Maverick wouldn't let me do it unless Jess was on it so they would get "free" promotion for a record they didn't even understand or believe in for the most part. The record wasn't released because Maverick didn't want me promoting an album pregnant. They thought it would look bad to my young fans...bull.

As far as "biting the hand that feeds you"...

I would give nothing more than to play music in a shitty bar and fold clothes at The Gap for a living. My "being famous" has done nothing but ruin my relationship with my parents, mostly my Father and it has made me hate doing what I used to love more than life itself...playing music. I have been pushed around and now most of you see me as someone who I never really was, and most of you can't accept the plain fact that people change and grow up and I'm not the little girl you think I am. I have a family of my own now, a baby...the last thing I could imagine doing is making music. I'm fine financially (although I don't make millions contrary to popular belief.) and being a famous musician has brought nothing to my life besides strife. (Okay, I met my wonderful husband and bandmate because of it.) I have maybe written two songs in the past year. That's ridiculous. This isn't fun for me anymore. I'm sick of sucking dicks to get my music heard, putting on a fake smile, and saying things that are acceptable.

On the contrary, The Wreckers album makes me very proud and excited again. It's almost like my first day at a new school. It’s a fresh start. I'm finally excited to tour (although I need to find a nanny!) and I am looking forward to seeing what fans think.

You know, I CAN take the criticism. I just don't understand why I should pay for an arena for you to do it. If you are a "fan" why do you speak about Jessica and I in that way?

I never wanted to be put on a pedestal... I just wanted to make music. And believe me, many times I have thought I was going to quit. It's too much energy to pretend it's fun. You can call me a baby if you'd like, but life is too short to spend it being miserable.

This board is going to be shut down tonight. I think we all need a break. When the Wreckers album finally comes out, we'll see the ones who decided to stick around. As for the rest of you, I meant it when I said "f-off"

M

The forums at www.thewreckers.com are currently down with no sign of being put up again. Reading through them it seems like most people were relatively nice, except for a small few who attacked her when she expressed her concerns.

She lashed out at someone who calls themselves “taleether” on the boards who questioned her motives for selling her baby photos and attacked her from all sides.

“Now I get to ask a question taleether... Why are you such an asshole? Do you really think The Veronicas are a good band?? Do you have a life, because I don't understand why anyone would waste so much time over analyzing and talking shit about someone they don't really like?”

Branch’s next album will be with The Wreckers, a country-tinged project she started with her backup singer Jessica Harp. The album is ready to be released, but is still sitting on a record company shelf.

undercover.au

calendargurl · December 10th, 2005, 12:40 AM

pacific breeze · December 10th, 2005, 12:43 AM

^^That's profound.

SVZ · December 10th, 2005, 12:45 AM

i like her.

muchlove · December 10th, 2005, 12:50 AM

I think it's awesome that she said all that. You tell 'em, girlfriend! She just gained like 50,000 points.

calendargurl · December 10th, 2005, 02:32 AM

i would've liked her whole rant except she said she didn't want to do that second Santana song. this makes her look like a liar b/c i just saw her on tv a few days ago singing that song WITH Santana and she was all smiles and gushing how excited she was to be able to work with him again and how great it was.

**MaryJane** · December 10th, 2005, 02:55 AM

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Originally Posted by calendargurl

i would've liked her whole rant except she said she didn't want to do that second Santana song. this makes her look like a liar b/c i just saw her on tv a few days ago singing that song WITH Santana and she was all smiles and gushing how excited she was to be able to work with him again and how great it was.

And it was a very good song anyway, I'm surprised too she hated it so much!

muchlove · December 10th, 2005, 02:58 AM

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Originally Posted by calendargurl

i would've liked her whole rant except she said she didn't want to do that second Santana song. this makes her look like a liar b/c i just saw her on tv a few days ago singing that song WITH Santana and she was all smiles and gushing how excited she was to be able to work with him again and how great it was.

But that was part of her rant, too... about being tired of being made to smile and act like she's having fun when she's not. I don't doubt that most or all pop stars and bands on major labels are pretty much just puppets... kinda sad. But at the same time... no one forced her to be in that position in the first place, either.

jetis · December 10th, 2005, 03:13 AM

Well said Michelle. Although I did think she lived like in a huge mansion with her 20 million dollars. Guess not.

Cuz_I_Can · December 10th, 2005, 04:23 AM

she seems cool, but her music sucks ass.

ourmaninBusan · December 10th, 2005, 07:18 AM

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I would give nothing more than to play music in a shitty bar
and fold clothes at The Gap for a living.

Crap.

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My "being famous" has done nothing but ruin my relationship
with my parents, mostly my Father and it has made me hate doing
what I used to love more than life itself...playing music.
...[b]eing a famous musician has brought nothing to my life besides strife...

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I have maybe written two songs in the past year. That's ridiculous.
This isn't fun for me anymore. I'm sick of sucking dicks to get my
music heard, putting on a fake smile, and saying things that are acceptable.

Rocklin'! I love a genuine rant.

slurikaine · December 10th, 2005, 10:34 AM

You can call me a baby if you'd like, but life is too short to spend it being miserable.

Amen to that sister!!!!

alcohol the honey · December 10th, 2005, 12:44 PM

Cry baby. Why would she visit her forum? That's like an unwritten rule for musicians.

FierceKiten · December 10th, 2005, 01:55 PM

I still luv her and her music

muchlove · December 10th, 2005, 03:48 PM

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Originally Posted by alcohol the honey

Cry baby. Why would she visit her forum? That's like an unwritten rule for musicians.

She owns and runs the forum. It's her website. I know some musicians visit their message boards... Tori Amos used to go and post on one many years ago, but no one believed it was her. Robert Smith posts and reads on his all the time, and was the admin of it until recently. I don't see anything wrong with it, but they shouldn't be surprised when they see people complaining about them.

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Originally Posted by ourmaninBusan

Quote:

I would give nothing more than to play music in a shitty bar
and fold clothes at The Gap for a living.

Crap.

I know a lot of musicians who say that and really mean it. They don't all want to be famous. Some people really are about making music for fun and having a day job. They get angry at bands like Modest Mouse for selling out. But no one made her sell out, so it's her own fault... you don't have to accept the recording contract.