--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I preferred rock when it was in the dark…" description: "\"I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a secret between me and the audience, when it wasn't mainstream.\" — Chrissie Hynde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg" --- # I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a… ![“I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a secret between me and the audience, when it wasn't mainstream.” quote by Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg) > “I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a secret between me and the audience, when it wasn't mainstream.” [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker cherished rock music when it felt intimate, hidden, and authentic—far from commercial exposure and mainstream expectations. **In simple terms:** Authenticity thrives in secrecy, not mass appeal. Key Takeaway True art is personal, not popular. Themes authenticity music subculture artistic integrity Mood nostalgic defiant Type cultural critique personal reflection When to use this quote - Underground concerts - DIY music production - Niche fan communities Key Concepts artist‑audience intimacy commercialization effects Practical Applications - Create private listening sessions - Support local indie venues Questions to Reflect On - What makes a work feel intimate to you? - Can mainstream success ever retain original authenticity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [Humor is the secret into the audience's other ranges of emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-feige/humor-is-the-secret-into-the-audience-s-other-ranges-of-emotions/) [Kevin Feige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-feige/) > [I mean, when we did 'Families At War,' on Saturday night prime time, people said we were mainstream then. But it wasn't in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-reeves/i-mean-when-we-did-families-at-war-on-saturday-night-prime-time/) [Vic Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-reeves/) > [Skating was popular, but it wasn't mainstream. It had this underground following, and you could go on tours, win decent prize money, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hawk/skating-was-popular-but-it-wasn-t-mainstream-it-had-this-underground/) [Tony Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hawk/) > [I got to do the movie, and people who enjoyed 'The Birdcage' came out to see me on stage when I did 'Forum.' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/i-got-to-do-the-movie-and-people-who-enjoyed-the-birdcage-came-out-to/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [I'm very into dark colors. I try to rock the dark against the ghost white skin as much as humanly possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-marano/i-m-very-into-dark-colors-i-try-to-rock-the-dark-against-the-ghost/) [Vanessa Marano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-marano/) > [ Their \[Phoenix\] audience wasn't into us at all. The way most of the venues worked was there was no alcohol on the floor so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/their-phoenix-audience-wasn-t-into-us-at-all-the-way-most-of-the/) [Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/) > [Sincerity is like a black ant on black rock in a very dark night. They exist but are difficult to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danial-hakim/sincerity-is-like-a-black-ant-on-black-rock-in-a-very-dark-night-they/) [Danial Hakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danial-hakim/) > [That is the artist's job: take mineral rock from dark silent earth, transform it into shining light-reflecting form from sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/that-is-the-artist-s-job-take-mineral-rock-from-dark-silent-earth/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Im very into dark colors. I try to rock the dark against the ghost white skin as much as humanly possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-marano/im-very-into-dark-colors-i-try-to-rock-the-dark-against-the-ghost/) [Vanessa Marano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-marano/) > [“We were all actors, just as you are all actors now. But our audience wasn’t as large as yours. And our performances, like those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-were-all-actors-just-as-you-are-all-actors-now-but-our-audience/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > ['Political Animals' was before its time: a little darker, a little edgier. The audience wasn't ready for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/political-animals-was-before-its-time-a-little-darker-a-little-edgier/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Noise has taken the place of punk rock. People who play noise have no real aspirations to being part of the mainstream culture. Punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/noise-has-taken-the-place-of-punk-rock-people-who-play-noise-have-no/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [When the only people in mainstream discourse who care about the working class are Wall Street investors, it really is time to ask where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-only-people-in-mainstream-discourse-who-care-about-the/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [Everything changed after 'Love Shack.' We went 'mainstream.' 'Love Shack' set what people viewed us as, because a lot of people didn't realize we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-schneider/everything-changed-after-love-shack-we-went-mainstream-love-shack-set/) [Fred Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-schneider/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) ## More by Chrissie Hynde > [One person can make all the difference in the world. For the first time in recorded human history, we have the fate of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/one-person-can-make-all-the-difference-in-the-world-for-the-first/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I just want to be as regular, and get by with doing the least amount of publicity, but still look really cool, you know?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-just-want-to-be-as-regular-and-get-by-with-doing-the-least-amount/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [All I can really remember doing was listening to the radio and listening to records when I was at school. I wasn't very academic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/all-i-can-really-remember-doing-was-listening-to-the-radio-and/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [In my experience lust only ever leads to misery. All that suspicion and jealousy and anguish it unleashes. I don't want those things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/in-my-experience-lust-only-ever-leads-to-misery-all-that-suspicion/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [The celebrity thing is such a thing in itself now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/the-celebrity-thing-is-such-a-thing-in-itself-now/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [When I was 16, the pot weeded out the men from the boys, there were the heads and the straights. Now it's almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/when-i-was-16-the-pot-weeded-out-the-men-from-the-boys-there-were-the/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [The thing about Janis is that she just looked so unique, an ugly duckling dressed as a princess, fearlessly so. Seeing her live was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/the-thing-about-janis-is-that-she-just-looked-so-unique-an-ugly/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [When I hear myself singing, I hear Iggy Pop and Jimi Hendrix. There's a conversational thing going on. I suppose it depends on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/when-i-hear-myself-singing-i-hear-iggy-pop-and-jimi-hendrix-there-s-a/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [Music reflects the time that it's being made in, and so certainly, the music that's being made in 1986 by a 14-year-old kid will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/music-reflects-the-time-that-it-s-being-made-in-and-so-certainly-the/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [The so-called feminist writers were disgusted with me. I did my thing, and so I guess by feminist standards I'm a feminist. That suits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/the-so-called-feminist-writers-were-disgusted-with-me-i-did-my-thing/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I'd really rather just be the anonymous Mr. Nobody who I always was up until I first went onstage. I liked that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-d-really-rather-just-be-the-anonymous-mr-nobody-who-i-always-was-up/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I had a very colorless background, and when I left Ohio and moved to England, nobody knew who I was and I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-had-a-very-colorless-background-and-when-i-left-ohio-and-moved-to/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I don't know any guitar player, any of the real greats, who don't rate Joni Mitchell up there with the best of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-don-t-know-any-guitar-player-any-of-the-real-greats-who-don-t-rate/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I've done lots of songs for film soundtracks and things like that - stuff I'm not ashamed of, but that doesn't represent my legacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-ve-done-lots-of-songs-for-film-soundtracks-and-things-like-that/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I don't like to think that I'm on a treadmill of album, tour, promotion and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-don-t-like-to-think-that-i-m-on-a-treadmill-of-album-tour-promotion/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) [Explore all 103 Chrissie Hynde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a secret between me and the audience, when it wasn't mainstream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chrissie Hynde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark-when-it-was-a-secret-between/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Audience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark-when-it-was-a-secret-between/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/chrissie-hynde-5110_audience_i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark_116010.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a secret between me and the audience, when it wasn't…” — Chrissie Hynde", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chrissie Hynde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I preferred rock when it was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark-when-it-was-a-secret-between/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-preferred-rock-when-it-was-in-the-dark-when-it-was-a-secret-between/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```