Steve Jobs Is Dead, Time To Get Our Name In The Press

Death is a funny thing. Not funny in the "haha you're dead," sense, but funny in the ways people deal with it. I understand that people want to comment on the loss of life and pay respect, but a big part of me thinks a lot of people that do comment do so to get their name in the press. The entertainment business is cutthroat and it is very hard to stay in the media's eye. What better way than someones death to get a mention in the press?

In the fifteen years that I have been running The Gauntlet, I have been contacted on numerous occasions following the demise with a statement asking me to "please consider including" words from some metaller. Sometimes they take the classy way out and have their publicist ask "will you be running a column on ?????? deaths? I have some quotes from the following people."

With the tragic loss of Steve Jobs yesterday, it was no different. The same people who cling to any chance to matter took to social media in hopes of getting quoted on the nightly news. Sure, some say they knew Steve Jobs personally and some were truly saddened by the loss of a great visionary, but you have to wonder; are they doing this to pay respects?

Many of metals elite have died over the years. It is always a sad time for both fans and artists. But it never seizes to amaze me the amount of people that ask who I hope will be there or do you think so and so will show up? A funeral is not a supposed to be a social gathering or a place to get autographs.

So without further a due, below are some tweets and posts from your favorite metal bands. See if you can pick out the fake sentiments, they are usually from the same people that are on every reality show or VH1 special. Sure, they are nice words, but is the sentiment there?

Guns N' Roses: "When people say it's not about the possessions but how you're remembered - they are talking about people like Steve Jobs. RIP."

Lamb of God: "RIP Steve Jobs."

Dee Snider (Twisted Sister): "Thank you, Steve Jobs. You rocked our world... and you never played a note."

Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe): "RIP Mr. Jobs! Excuse me... Mr. Incredible!"

Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe): "RIP Steve Jobs. Steve was of his era what Thomas Edison was to the beginning of the 20th century. You made all our lives a better place."

Sebastian Bach: "RIP, Steve Jobs. Thanks for allowing me to put my whole CD collection in my pocket. You have made air travel a lot more fun, among other things."

Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit): "RIP Steve Jobs! True visionary."

Godsmack: RIP Steve Jobs... you sure did make your mark on this earth, and a brilliant one indeed!