No more "beautiful loser" mythos?

[twicks1]

I got into the band relatively late (1989) but got pretty deep into the subculture and definitely met fans who had adopted the boozy "beautiful loser" sadsack/screwup persona that the Mats glorified, for lack of a better term.

Since the Trouble Boys book came out a few years ago, it seems like that element of the band's mythos has been severely downplayed or even "replaced" by a narrative of physical abuse, trauma, fear of success and even mental disorders. it's an interesting switcheroo and clearly rooted in well-researched fact by Bob Mehr.

Was musing on the Mats last night and wondered if anyone else had noticed this?

[anarkissed]

Among fans in general, or in press commentary about the band?

[con]

Nov 2, 2022 9:12:34 GMT -5 twicks1 said:

I got into the band relatively late (1989) but got pretty deep into the subculture and definitely met fans who had adopted the boozy "beautiful loser" sadsack/screwup persona that the Mats glorified, for lack of a better term.

Since the Trouble Boys book came out a few years ago, it seems like that element of the band's mythos has been severely downplayed or even "replaced" by a narrative of physical abuse, trauma, fear of success and even mental disorders. it's an interesting switcheroo and clearly rooted in well-researched fact by Bob Mehr.

Was musing on the Mats last night and wondered if anyone else had noticed this?

Mental disorders? Who, Bob? I can see their fear of success as a primary trait of the beautiful loser schtick. Our culture is definitely obsessed nowadays with “trauma” and “resilience,” as if suffering is somehow abnormal. Maybe that’s colored the narrative a bit? But no, I haven’t noticed this. What’s the saying? “History is written by the winners.” Feel like Mats history is best written by losers. (No offense, Mr. Mehr.)