by (shamustwin) » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:21 pm
I think in Astrid's book she mentions being in a hotel room with the fabs, and they just being themselves. Till someone (press) enters, then they'd all quickly brush their hair down onto their foreheads, and start acting Beatley.
So in one way, by being very good students of Brian, they did have a "manufactured" image to uphold, at least early on. And it worked.
But their talent finally allowed them to break from that. Though they maintained their savvy in dealing with the press and the outside world in general.
Bottom line is however, they were talented people who did not come together as someone else's idea of a cash cow. That separated them from the Monkees, and many others, right up to American Idol.