Knievel

[Bunny]

Yes he was bad in his other actions as you point out.

I always find it interesting how people tend to judge other people based on what someone else said or wrote. Especially if they never even met that person. I mean, come on, we are not talking about a mass murderer here.

Out of curiousity what were his other misdemeanours? Im aware of the Saltman incident and can even remember reading it at the time and the reasons for it. His criminal activity in his youth which you cant condone, you could argue was counterbalanced with the positives of his showjump career. It strikes me the two are at either end of his career.
I think he was a greedy showman with a special skill who set out to make a lot of money. And with money and fame comes its own problems. The little I do know or have read, personally I think he was a very unpleasant man who also did some good deeds and his skills were used in a positive way. I cant say he meant a lot to me at the time though.

[Tony S]

The chorus "Do they come to see a man fall, or to see him fly?" is such a strong and very prophetic question on all the high octane motor sports. Let's be honest, Formula 1, Superbikes, Motorcross, Stock Cars, Rallying... What ever sport it is, the corners are where the stands are most full. The straights are full of corporate guests 90% of the time, those people are the passing interest folks. The punters who pay their own money, regularly will be on the corners, "where the action is!"... Or "where there is crashes...", that's a well known fact........

To me, THIS is the only thing the song is about, and not about glorifying Evel. It is simply about the spectator in us that really wants to see a crash and not to see someone achieve. Many (most?) people in those stands are ONLY there for the crashes. This, on a deeper level, can applied to many areas of life, no?

I really must take exception to some of these comments. Rather than being a well known fact, I think it's a common misconception that motor racing / motorsport fans just want to see crashes. Having been to countless motor racing meetings over the years ranging from club level events to F1, and some bike meetings, and also spectated at rallies, I think I can speak from experience, and say that the majority of people who go regularly to these events, i.e. genuine motorsport enthusiasts, are either following a particular driver or team, or enjoy a particular series, and go to as many rounds as they can, or just enjoy watching racing. Primarily, the action that most want to see is great racing, with brilliant overtaking moves, and seeing someone winning. Crashes, when they happen, undeniably get the pulse racing I won't deny, but the primary response when that happens in front of you is shock, and concern that the driver, or rider is ok. I can definitely say there is NO enjoyment in seeing a crash for most genuine followers. There may be a few who want to see this no doubt, but to my mind they are not real motorsport enthusiasts. To say that "many (most ?)" are ONLY there for crashes is just plain wrong.

I do think the fall or fly (failure or success) lyrics apply far more to the kind of stunts that Evel used to perform. These were marketed as being dangerous challenges for one man - will he or won't he do it? More like a motorised circus performer such as a trapeze artist or tightrope walker. With these sort of stunts / jumps, it's far more likely that what people want to see is someone risking all for the glory, as that was what they were all about.

Having said all that, I for one love this song for it's atmospheric sound, and Justin's singing, and whatever Evel did in his time that was bad is irrelevant to the song. As people have said, it doesn't seek to glorify him in any way.

[KN]

That's why I said "many" (and "most?" because I am only making an assumption). Of course this is not the attitude of the true fans/enthusiasts of the sport, but isn't the speed and danger itself a big part of the attraction with this type of thing? I mean, if the cars only went 40mph, who'd watch it? Not that people want to see anyone get hurt or killed, but there is always real danger and everyone watching is aware of that.

The same goes for the man in the high-wire in the circus. No one wants him to fall and die, but if he was only two feet off the ground doing the exact same thing, who'd watch?

How many people watch hockey for the game and how many for the fights? How many for both? All my friends are hockey fans and DO like the sport, but when there are no fights they all seem to complain, haha.

[Tony S]

The speed is certainly part of the excitement I agree, and the noise, but I'd much rather see a car dancing right on the edge of adhesion round a corner, but with the driver controlling it and making it round, than running wide and hitting the barriers. It's seeing someone controlling and mastering the speed / danger that's most impressive.

Ironically, you often get the best actual 'racing' with slower cars. Whenever you have very fast single seater racing cars going round somewhere like Brands Hatch, such as F3 or above they tend to just get strung out, and you don't see much close racing. Some of the best races I've seen with lead changes every lap and jockeying for position at most corners have been with things like Minis, or Caterhams that have the aerodynamics of a brick !

[KN]

Well, you cerainly know your racing.   

[Simon73]

Form what I heard so far of the new album the quote of Justin (that one which underlined that it was nit the typical rock band in  a room or something like that) perfectly fits. The songs and lyrics are beautiful and somehow more "   
thoughtful". The use of drums is very different they are very much present through most of the songs in a more marrtial and tribal way at the same time. Guitar much less.

[Tony S]

Well, you cerainly know your racing.   

'tis my favourite sport !