Pixie - // My personal view- is it depends a lot on on association. Historical figures, I seem to be less bothered by- because they are either well before my lifetime and now dead... or quite likely- I don't honestly know what they were personally like, so I am unaware. There are perhaps loads of current people just as bad- but I am just not aware.
When I am though- it does fully affect me- because, I think, like most people- I listen to music from an emotional point of view.
I did actually like the Lostprophets at one point... but ended up throwing their CDs out, when I realised that while i might listen to music that makes me sad even... I was never going to look for feeling disgusted, nauseous.... etc and that is now what I associate them with.
The music is irrelevant now- I am just never ever going to be able to play them- without feeling physically sick. Not a feeling I ever look for with "entertainment'. //
As you say at the opening of your post, this is entirely a matter of personal choice, and again I absolutely respect your right to feel as you do, as I do for everyone who has posted.
Interestingly, another poster suggests that paedophilia places Glitter in a higher place on the revulsion scale than Caravaggio, who merely murdered someone, but as andres pointed out, it is not the difference in crimes that makes the difference, it is the timescale involved.
Glitter's crimes are utterly fresh in the minds of everyone, and resonate far more strongly for that reason.
But time alters perceptions, and I think andres is quite right, behaviour that is seen as inextricably linked to an artist in his or her lifetime, may well have less significance in terms of how their art is viewed when a large amount of time has passed.
We cannot know, obviously, but it seems a valid supposition in my view.
For now, those who are unable to separate art from the artist will opt to avoid the art in question, those who are not will continue to experience it.
And interestingly, although I have single-handedly fielded the flack for my viewpoint, lankeela, who raised the issue in the first place, has similarly advised an enjoyment of Glitter's music.
She has also gone further than I would, in confirming that she would attend a live show were one to be forthcoming.
Referring back to zac's nonsensical argument that enjoying music 'supports' the artist's career, which is ludicrous, I am happy to confirm that I would not pay to see Glitter perform, because that actually would be supporting his career, and is something I would not be willing to do.
I am not for a minute inviting the angry brigade to turn their guns on Lankeela, but it is interesting that her view, more 'supportive' than mine, has not attracted one single comment, hostile or otherwise.
Interesting ...