A phenomena occuring in the music industry, in which an aspect of a band member's (usually the frontman/woman's) personality, actions, etc. becomes subject to quite a lot of debate among both fans and haters of the band. This would be perfectly alright, except for what inevitably happens is that the debate becomes so overblown that people begin to forget about the music of the band, and all they really know is the trivial feud over the aspect of the frontman/frontwoman. Named after Freddie Mercury, the frontman of the British classic rock band Queen, and Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the early '90s grunge band Nirvana.
Mercury/Cobain Effect:
Nirvana Fan 1: Courtney killed Kurt Cobain!
Nirvana Fan 2: Kurt killed himself!
Nirvana Fan 3: You're both wrong, Kurt is alive and well and hiding out in Winchestertonfieldville even as we speak!
Nirvana Fans 1 and 2: How dare you have an opinion that differs from mine, never mind the fact that it's a free country and everyone has the right to believe whatever they choose!
Nirvana fan with a brain: Guys, can't we just talk about the MUSIC instead of whether or not Kurt killed himself...?
Everyone in room but Nirvana fan with a brain: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH MY GOD THAT'S SO FRICKIN' FUNNY, YOU SHOULD BECOME A PROFESSIONAL COMEDIAN!!!!
Nirvana fan with a brain: *sigh*
* * *
Queen fan 1: Freddie Mercury was GAY!!!
Queen fan 2: No, he was bisexual!
Queen fan 3: He had a girlfriend and therefore was straight, so both of you shut up!
Queen fan 3: No, he was straight in the 1970s, but in the '80s, for some strange reason unknown to everyone on the planet, became gay!
Queen fan with a brain: Why does Freddie Mercury's orientation matter so much to you guys? He and his band made a lot of great music, and music is the whole reason we listen to Queen in the first place, so can't we just talk about the songs? You know, the whole REASON we all like Queen?
{insert awkward silence here}
Weirdo: Forget that, I think he was TRISEXUAL!!!
Queen fan with a brain: Just...just forget I said anything...*runs off and pounds head against the nearest wall in frustration*
Nirvana Fan 1: Courtney killed Kurt Cobain!
Nirvana Fan 2: Kurt killed himself!
Nirvana Fan 3: You're both wrong, Kurt is alive and well and hiding out in Winchestertonfieldville even as we speak!
Nirvana Fans 1 and 2: How dare you have an opinion that differs from mine, never mind the fact that it's a free country and everyone has the right to believe whatever they choose!
Nirvana fan with a brain: Guys, can't we just talk about the MUSIC instead of whether or not Kurt killed himself...?
Everyone in room but Nirvana fan with a brain: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH MY GOD THAT'S SO FRICKIN' FUNNY, YOU SHOULD BECOME A PROFESSIONAL COMEDIAN!!!!
Nirvana fan with a brain: *sigh*
* * *
Queen fan 1: Freddie Mercury was GAY!!!
Queen fan 2: No, he was bisexual!
Queen fan 3: He had a girlfriend and therefore was straight, so both of you shut up!
Queen fan 3: No, he was straight in the 1970s, but in the '80s, for some strange reason unknown to everyone on the planet, became gay!
Queen fan with a brain: Why does Freddie Mercury's orientation matter so much to you guys? He and his band made a lot of great music, and music is the whole reason we listen to Queen in the first place, so can't we just talk about the songs? You know, the whole REASON we all like Queen?
{insert awkward silence here}
Weirdo: Forget that, I think he was TRISEXUAL!!!
Queen fan with a brain: Just...just forget I said anything...*runs off and pounds head against the nearest wall in frustration*
by lollylollylollyPOP!!! August 7, 2007