Genre Fans or Well-Rounded Fans?

[HyeJinx1984]

I was thinking today about people, and Rock music, and people liking rock music... and I just started to wonder which of following kinds of fans are the majority:

1) Someone who likes music, will listen to whatever they feel sounds good, but doesn't consciously really identify as a fan of anything in particular

2) Someone who is into a very specific genre, like someone who is just a Punk or just a Metal Head, or just into Classic Rock, etc...

3) Someone who likes the whole span of Rock and Roll, from Jerry Garcia to Trent Reznor, and owns albums all across all types of genres, goes out of their way to learn all kinds of history and facts about music, etc...

So, what do you think the majorities are? here on the forums, and out in the real world?

[Chief Stubbs]

I think you get a straight mix of those who like what's popular at the time, those who identify with certain genres, and those who are Rock N Roll encyclopedias across the board both here and in the real world. I know I follow a mixture between #2 and #3.

[Hungryfreak]

I'm 3. I retain no specific genre preference, though will listen to every genre and learn more about them to help me figure out which is which. I listen to everything from King Crimson to King Diamond and the occasional King Curtis.

[Jixzer]

Definately a 1 here. I think it's foolish to stick to any particular genre. The more the merrier.

[culturedog]

I'm a combo. I listen to all different genres but I'm a metalhead at heart.

[HyeJinx1984]

It's funny, pre GH1 I was a #1, then after I played more and more of these rhythm games I can say I'm now a #3.

However, deep down my heart does belong equally to Classic Rock and Metal. I just feel like those two genres pretty much the purest forms of "Rock N' Roll"

[JukeBoxHero]

I'm trying to accomplish number three, so far I got some progressive rock/metal, thrash, alternative, industrial, folk, hard rock albums under my belt. I also try to learn from allmusic, metal archives, and the regulars from this sub forum.

I believe the majority of music fans are the number one choice. People like music for the sound, it doesn't matter what is for the most part. Although based on certain stereotypes, a good majority will avoid more technical or extreme music.

Here in this forum(not the History of Rock but the forum as a whole). I think it would be number 2, fans of punk/hardcore will tend to stay in those threads. Metal heads will stick in metal threads. I see more specific fans than go with the flow fans.

[AxlVanHagar]

At heart I'm a metal head. Growing up in the 80's how could I not be That being said I'm a healthy mix of 1 and 3. Even back in the 80's I didn't care what my peers thought. I listened to Prince, Depeche Mode, and DuranDuran along with Maiden, Priest, Ozzy etc.

[Fathoms]

I'm some bastardized configuration of number's 1 and 3. Although I do tend to gravitate towards modern music I still get a pretty big thrill out of stuff like the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus or the Zombies Oddessy and Oracle album, but I can't say I've ever been obsessed with the technical aspects of music or the names of every musician who is in a band I like. There is a certain enviable quality to people who are rooted in number 2 because they seem to have a stronger sense of idenity and community among them, but as a form of conversational currency it helps to be a little versed in every genre.

[guitarguru2112]

I'm a 2 at heart with a mix of 3. I grew up listening to classic rock (even though grunge was popular when I was an infant) and it is about 90% of what I listen to, but I like a little alternative here and there. I try to broaden my horizons when I can. I like learning more about bands instead of just knowing their one hit song. Classic rock is diverse though if you listen to a broad span of it, which is what I like to do. I will never like emo music again, one of my friends tried to get me to like it and it backfired! I liked it a few years ago for about a year during my "punk" phase, but I eventually broke out of it and turned back to the classics. Now I get called a hippie a lot. It's amazing how much music affects your style!