Who are the true fans? The people who are upset that with a band because they know that the band could do better, or the people who support the band unconditionally.
You're leaving out a lot of options which make these choices seem very narrow-minded. You could say that the "true fans" are the fans who look more than just behind the name "Linkin Park". People that appreciate good music no matter what the band has done previously. True fans will not stop liking a band because they've moved onto a different genre, because then they can only be labeled fans of THAT specific music of the past and not the band itself. Those who follow the band unconditionally are tools. They're sheep that let a name, in this case "Linkin Park" be their sheperd. If I like something I like it and if I don't I don't. If Linkin Park made something I absolutely hated, no problem, I won't be a fan of it. IE. Meteora. I am not a fan of that album at all yet did I say it was not Linkin Park? It was. It was bad, but it was still them.
Good question. In my opinion the answer to that question has to be the first option. In the same respect though, those fans have to be willing to encourage the band to experiment and try new things, and not try to pigeon hole the band into the same rotten/stale sound from 10 years ago. Those who encourage a band to not change, at the risk of declining album sales and public ridicule aren't the real fans in my opinions. And yes that was a slight towards a very small percentage of LP fans.
a true fan should encourage a band to do what they want to. it doesn't matter if that means change or not. if a band is happy with what they are doing they should continue that. edit: a true fan is not a better fan than someone who supports the band in a different way. as long as you buy their albums or go to their shows you can consider yourself a fan in a way.
@Derek: word. Those who support the band unconditionally but keepin it real. No: - People who cant stop talking about Linkin Park and actually can't have a normal social life because that person alienates everyone by just talking about LP - Wearing every day a Linkin Park shirt for years. This is too obsessive - Screaming chester's name in other fans ears just to get his attention...no he won't hear but I will and you kill my ears - Fangirling. You're not being a true fan by just going on concerts for one of the guys. sure they are cool and etc. but what should matter is a) the music and show b) the people you go with to a concert and the other LP fans....you can have a great time with people you actually met on the internet c) fangirls are annoying. oh sure there are fanboys too but their screaming voice is by far nicer than those screaming girls. - Fans stalking the bandmates or spamming on chats don't count. Especially those who spam on LPN and Ustream. - you dont have to be a LPUmember Yes: - You support the band even if you hate a single/album in every possible way - You are friendly to other fans = ( no jealousy, no offending because somebody said something against you or your favourite band) - Signed up at aleast one Linkin park fansite forum and etc. It doesnt matter to many since how many years you are a fan, but I recently saw a post here on the board that someone never bought a LP album before and just downloaded it from the internet...I would say a true fan should have atleast all albums. edit: to some of you it might be funny because they think im a fangirl, but its not true at all. Get to know me and I'll show you that I'm not a fangirl at all. Jeez I can't even imagine to fangirl about dave that is just weird and stupid. The I <3 PHX is only to show dave that Im supporting him on the shows, since everyone wants chester, mike and brad..and I know from him that he's happy about that and he even told me it motivates him.
Here's what a true fan is: Someone who likes more than just a couple of songs. I hate people who say "I love Linkin Park" and all they have on their ipod is In the End and Numb. True fan's are definitely allowed to not like a particular song/album. I have hundreds of LP songs on my ipod and I can only think of 3-4 that I don't like. That does not mean I'm more of a true fan than someone who likes less of their songs than me. As long as your reason for not liking a song/album is reasonable and you still respect the band, I would consider that being a true fan. All the people who dislike Minutes to Midnight and The Catalyst because they sound nothing like Hybrid Theory and Meteora AND they are mad at LP for it are definitely not true fans in my book.