Very good point Ben. Like you almost have to put on a shell. It's like to become a great guitarist, it takes hours and hours of alone time - then you go on tour and everyone wants to talk to you, and for some people, that attention could be hard to deal with. In that case some people may come across as assholes, but they're really just shy.
My friend got to see Stone Sour when they played locally and he said James Root went straight to the tour bus and didn't say anything to anybody, while the other guitarist was very personable and stayed outside. It doesn't make JR a jerk, anything could have been going on.
Another person that comes to mind, and is the furthest thing from a narcissists imaginable is Neil Peart. He is just a quiet introverted guy. I am the same way. It takes me getting some alcohol into my system before I can talk to crowds or even feel comfortable on stage. My hands would always shake uncontrollably during a sound check, before I had taken a few shots. I hate to admit that, but it's true. I may not come across as an introvert, because I am not shy when it comes to typing behind a screen, but when it comes to performing or even mingling in public, I would prefer to sit in a corner with a couple of friends discussing some deep mystery as opposed to small talk.
But, I have witnessed the attitude before. It seems more prevalent now in younger bands, guys in their teens and twenties. The guys I know which are still playing on any circuits are all very humble, but there was a time when they fit right in with that "my band is great and everyone else's band sucks" mentality.
Which is another thing I've noticed. Many times a guitarist would come across as anyone he believes himself to be better than, sucks, and anyone he believes he is not as good as, is awesome. There is no middle ground.
It's just people on fragile ego trips. It's really a testament to just how insecure people really are, it's like, they have to let you know how great they are or else you just might not understand. And hearing themselves say it somehow makes it true in their mind - regardless of if the listener is simply agreeing to get them to shut up because their arrogance sends the cringe meter through the roof.
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This post has been edited by Spock: Jun 8 2014, 03:32 PM