--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to…" description: "\"Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something bea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/lester-bangs-9750_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-r_345893.jpg" --- # Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands… ![“Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.” quote by Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/lester-bangs-9750_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-r_345893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/lester-bangs-9750_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-r_345893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/lester-bangs-9750_ask-me_don-t-ask-me-why-i-obsessively-look-to-r_345893.jpg) > “Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.” [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obsession with cultural icons can mask a deeper search for meaning and hope. **In simple terms:** Seeking models in music reflects a yearning for better society. Key Takeaway Reflect on why you idolize certain art forms. Themes culture search for meaning idolization Mood nostalgic reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - music criticism - personal identity formation - creative inspiration Key Concepts prophecy aesthetic experience social critique Questions to Reflect On - What does the music you admire say about your values? - Can a single moment truly guide life choices? A Different Perspective Idolizing can lead to disillusionment when reality falls short. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Prophecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophecy/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Something beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-beautiful/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“... in Asian gardens you could look at rock and imagine water, you could gaze at a still pool and believe it had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/in-asian-gardens-you-could-look-at-rock-and-imagine-water-you-could/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [If you look at the Rock's crossover, Stone Cold, my dad too, in his era, I want to do that. I want to mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/if-you-look-at-the-rock-s-crossover-stone-cold-my-dad-too-in-his-era/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [We based the look on rock 'n roll right from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/we-based-the-look-on-rock-n-roll-right-from-the-beginning/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [There are so many bands that I'm kind of aware of through media about them, and it ends up filtering my experience of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/there-are-so-many-bands-that-i-m-kind-of-aware-of-through-media-about/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [Good bands you can kind of lose, then come back and realize they're still good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/good-bands-you-can-kind-of-lose-then-come-back-and-realize-they-re/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [Venues are all the same, all feel the same, these generic blank spaces. I like artists like Lightning Bolt-bands that go in and kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/venues-are-all-the-same-all-feel-the-same-these-generic-blank-spaces/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [ We did something that bands are kind of afraid of, or at least used to be, \[which\] is the YouTube scene. They don't want… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-costanza/we-did-something-that-bands-are-kind-of-afraid-of-or-at-least-used-to/) [Chrissy Costanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-costanza/) > [I think I've done a lot in this business, whether through screwball methods or not I don't know, that has helped other bands. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-goodman/i-think-i-ve-done-a-lot-in-this-business-whether-through-screwball/) [Benny Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-goodman/) > [When we started, our style of music wasn't on MTV. It wasn't cool, and it wasn't popular. The only bands who were even kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-gilbert/when-we-started-our-style-of-music-wasn-t-on-mtv-it-wasn-t-cool-and/) [Chad Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-gilbert/) > [Old-school rock bands, and blues bands, too, are kind of a dying breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/old-school-rock-bands-and-blues-bands-too-are-kind-of-a-dying-breed/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [Tribute bands have kind of taken over the market, and I don't want to come across as being that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-laine/tribute-bands-have-kind-of-taken-over-the-market-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Denny Laine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-laine/) > [Even as a kid, if I would come across something cool in the record store, that would be how I found out about bands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ian/even-as-a-kid-if-i-would-come-across-something-cool-in-the-record/) [Scott Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ian/) > [Every girl has something beautiful in her soul. It doesn't matter if she's fat or thin. That has nothing to do with her personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ville-valo/every-girl-has-something-beautiful-in-her-soul-it-doesn-t-matter-if/) [Ville Valo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ville-valo/) > [I feel that when I shoot anything, and I have something beautiful, I just move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/i-feel-that-when-i-shoot-anything-and-i-have-something-beautiful-i/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## More by Lester Bangs > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I can guarantee you one thing, we will never agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-can-guarantee-you-one-thing-we-will-never-agree-on-anything-as-we/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [ “Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, \[Trout Mask Replica\] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded-work-trout-mask-replica-was/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Here we are in the 70's when everything really is horrible and it really stinks. The mass media, everything on television everything everywhere is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/here-we-are-in-the-70-s-when-everything-really-is-horrible-and-it/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The ultimate sin of any performer is contempt for the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-ultimate-sin-of-any-performer-is-contempt-for-the-audience/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I don't see that there are any particular changes in popular music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-don-t-see-that-there-are-any-particular-changes-in-popular-music/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“Look at it this way: there are many here among us for whom the life force is best represented by the livid twitching of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/look-at-it-this-way-there-are-many-here-among-us-for-whom-the-life/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“Art", "Bop" and "rock and roll" and whatever is all just a joke and a mistake, just a hunka foolishness so stop treating it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/art-bop-and-rock-and-roll-and-whatever-is-all-just-a-joke-and-a/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [No, I see it as meaning very little at the moment because none of the groups are about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/no-i-see-it-as-meaning-very-little-at-the-moment-because-none-of-the/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [A young woman is dead. I don’t care. You probably don’t care. The police don’t care. The papers don’t care. The punks for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/a-young-woman-is-dead-i-don-t-care-you-probably-don-t-care-the-police/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [Sexual chaos reigns currently, but out of chaos may flow true understanding and harmony, and either way Elvis almost singlehandedly opened the floodgates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/sexual-chaos-reigns-currently-but-out-of-chaos-may-flow-true/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [When kids can't afford to see it anymore maybe we'll have a whole resurgence of garage bands all over America and this New Wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/when-kids-can-t-afford-to-see-it-anymore-maybe-we-ll-have-a-whole/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock 'n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-mekons-are-the-most-revolutionary-group-in-the-history-of-rock-n/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“But since death is inevitable we don’t have to deal with it (it’ll deal with us when it decides to). What we do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/but-since-death-is-inevitable-we-don-t-have-to-deal-with-it-it-ll/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I've always believed the New Left is rank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-ve-always-believed-the-new-left-is-rank/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) [Explore all 70 Lester Bangs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) ## More Ask me quotes > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Space Jam is my favorite movie. Don't ask me why, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/space-jam-is-my-favorite-movie-don-t-ask-me-why-it-just-is/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [If I had lost a leg, I would tell them, instead of a boy, no one would ever ask me if I was 'over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/if-i-had-lost-a-leg-i-would-tell-them-instead-of-a-boy-no-one-would/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) Browse all 1,282 Ask me quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. 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