Spread Rumors

It would have been incredible if Justin Vernon and Bon Iver would’ve played the Grammys.

We had heard they’d been asked, but turned it down. Now, we know why:

They had gotten the offer, and of course to play the Grammys would be a big deal. The problem was that the Grammys only wanted them if they collaborated with someone else. And because they didn’t want to compromise their music, they declined.

Here’s what Vernon said:

“We wanted to play our music, but we were told that we couldn’t play. We had to do a collaboration with someone else. And we just felt like it was such a large stage. We’re getting nominated for this record that we made, me and Brian Joseph and a bunch of our f***ing friends, and we were given accolades for it. And all of a sudden we were being asked to play music that had nothing to do with that. We kind of said ‘f*** you’ a little bit and they sort of acted like they wanted us to play, but I don’t think they wanted us to play.”

And it wasn’t even the people they wanted them to play with, as they were “awesome people” and “people that he would love to play a song with.” It was this:

“F***in’ rock n’ roll should not be decided by people that have that job. Rock n’ roll should be the f***ing people with guitars around their backs. And their friends. And their managers.”

And here’s how he feels about the Grammys ad spot:

“There’s a big misunderstanding– I don’t want to sell music. But if people are going to be selling music, and they want to sell our music without disturbing the medium of what it actually is, we want to f***ing do that. I want people to hear the music that we make. I don’t want to do it in any shitty way.”

We can understand all of this. There are a lot of people out there who are making decisions that shouldn’t be making decisions who are just thinking about the show and not the music. There is always a need to stand up for the integrity of something you’ve pained yourself in creating, we get that.

But we do feel like it’s coming off as a little pretentious. Just decline and have your reasons, just don’t make it sound like a tirade! (Also, you really don’t want to sell your music? Come on.)

The album was hands down one of the year’s best, though, so we have to give them that. And having that gives them the right to be protective of it!

So, are U guys fans? How do U feel he comes off??

Image via WENN.

Perez Hilton