We’re not cool? Imagine Dragons lead singer refuses to listen to the haters
- Grammy-winning singer Dan Reynolds called out bands such as Slipknot, the 1975 and Foster the People on Instagram for criticising his group’s music
- He went on to express his respect for show business personality Oprah Winfrey
The Grammy-winning rock singer posted a lengthy note on Instagram calling out bands such as Slipknot, the 1975 and Foster the People for taking shots at Imagine Dragons, a band that have dominated the rock and pop charts since they emerged on the mainstream music scene in 2012.
“I just feel like as artists we have so much. We’re incredibly lucky to be doing what we’re doing. We have a finite amount of time while we’re here to create change and to do great things, to do big things. It’s just, to me, counterproductive to all of us as artists to engage in menial, self-indulgent conversation, even for myself, even responding to it, which is not something I’ve ever done before,” Reynolds said in an interview after the post.
“I said my piece – that’s what I had to say about it. I really don’t have anything else to say on it because I feel like it’s a disservice to myself and a disservice to my time here on earth.”
In his Instagram post Reynolds wrote: “How could it possibly make a kid feel ‘not cool’ listening to Imagine Dragons. I hate that thought. Wondering if my kids will be made fun of as they grow older because someone thinks my band isn’t cool.”
He also wrote the negative vibes his band has been hit with has “added to the depression I’ve dealt with since youth”.
But what’s provided solace for Reynolds? In a way, Oprah Winfrey. “I just sat at this seminar here in Utah listening to Oprah speak about how she got where she is, and it’s all about intention,” he said in the interview.
“Her main point was intention about how [and] where do you spend your time and how do you spend your words? And here’s our finite amount of time on earth and what are you doing with it? So, it’s just so menial even posting that. I’m bummed that I even had to post something like that, but I said my piece and that’s it. So, I’m on to things that are important.”
He said one of those important things he is focusing on is his Loveloud festival, the LGBTQ-supported event he launched in 2017. The third annual festival – to take place on June 29 in West Valley City, Utah – will include performances by Reynolds, Kesha, Martin Garrix, Tegan & Sara and more.
As for music, Reynolds said Imagine Dragons, whose hits include Thunder and Radioactive, are taking time to recharge. Their most recent album, “Origins”, was released last November.
“We’re all looking now to wrap up the cycle and take some serious time off. I don’t know how long that will be, but probably the longest amount of time that we’ve [taken off]. Everybody’s ready for a break.”
