These two guys are The Chainsmokers, Drew Taggart and Alex Pall. Taggart is the younger (26) clean-shaven guy, Pall is the bearded older (31) guy. I have to admit, I jam out to The Chainsmokers at the gym. “Roses” and “Don’t Let Me Down” are great gym songs. Currently, they have a massive hit with “Closer,” featuring vocals by Halsey and Taggart. Their breakthrough success has been mostly in the past year, so it’s no surprise that they ended up on the cover of Billboard. What is a surprise is that these guys are not musical intellectuals. They are flat-out frat-bros with zero media training. They spend all day on social media but they have no idea how to present themselves. Either that, or this is all some sort of bro-tastic performance art, although I doubt it. You can read the full Billboard piece here, and here are some of the worst/grossest/most ridiculous quotes.
Taggart on their parties: “We rage every night. My mom’s going to hate reading that, but she already knows.” Pall agrees: “It’s always ‘work hard, play hard.’ But you’ll never see us getting carried out of a club. We’re way too good at drinking.”
Dong size: “17.34 combined inches,” so it says on their website. Pall clarifies: “Oh, that’s our penises combined… tip to tip.”
Taggart on their successful year: “Only Justin Bieber and Drake can hold a candle to what we’ve done,” says Taggart, naming the two artists who banked more top 10s this year. The Chainsmokers even unseated Calvin Harris as all-time champ of the Hot Dance Songs chart. “Now we’re influencing the industry, putting out songs everyone copies.”
Namedroppers: Pall doesn’t mind sharing that Linkin Park unexpectedly called him while he was on the toilet; Big Sean blew off his management to confirm a session (so did Dua Lipa); and Weezer circled back after refusing a cameo in The Chainsmokers’ 2016 Coachella set. “They were like, ‘Yo! We should do a track together,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, really?’ ” says Pall. “I can’t blame somebody for saying no early on, but it depends on how you said no and how you came back to us. If you own it, like, ‘I didn’t see the vision, but it’s clear now and it’s super sick,’ I get that. It feels good when those people are like…” Taggart finishes the thought: “Thirsty.”
What they sound like: “It’s like if LMFAO just started making…” says Pall, and Taggart finishes: “…the illest sh-t and stopped dressing like idiots.”
They bombed at the VMAs: There was no stage production to speak of, some awkward non-chemistry with Halsey and, as Taggart tells it, “It sounded like sh-t. We were told my voice was going to be mixed well, but there was no reverb and it was way louder than the track for the broadcast. I was set up to fail. Nearly every other person lip-synced it, and we knew because we had them in our ears. So now I know why you lip-sync.” He points out that was only the second time he has sung live but doesn’t realize that’s part of the issue: Who gets to give singing a try on a nationally televised awards show? (Pall saw Kanye West in a hallway but was too shy to introduce himself.) “It’s funny,” says Taggart. “Everyone said congratulations, and my mom was like, ‘Keep up with your singing lessons.’ ” He is, for the record, sticking with the lessons.
They’re unapologetic bros, but even they aren’t Trump supporters: Taggart does every sport that involves a board, and while he won’t vote for Donald Trump, he doesn’t claim to be a Hillary Clinton booster, either: “I’m not saying she’s the best candidate of all time,” he says. “I’m just saying this guy’s a f—ing idiot.”
Why they do this: Both had live-in girlfriends but copped to being “girl crazy.” “Even before success, p-ssy was number one,” says Pall. “Like, ‘Why am I trying to make all this money?’ I wanted to hook up with hotter girls. I had to date a model.”
The bro philosophy: “We’re just frat bro dudes, you know what I mean? Loving ladies and stuff.”
The only thing I genuinely find funny is that these guys are, like, permanently wrecked, high and drunk, they talk about fun “games” involving punching each other in the face, they even commit all of this to the public record by being honest in an interview, and after all of that… like, they aren’t even dumb enough to be Trump supporters. That says something, I guess.
Photos courtesy of Billboard.
Well, they sound just lovely.
We were talking about differences in swearing on each side of the Pond the other day. There are very few sweary/rude/crude words that make me cringe – I am an unabashed fan of swearing – but of all the American ones, p-ssy does make me cringe. I really do not like that word.
God I’m with you there. I hate the C word too, but for some reason when Brits say it it sounds well less repulsive. There’s really no slang word for female genitalia that doesn’t make me cringe.
Cooter? 🙂
Funny how that goes. The c word doesn’t bother me esp., as used by the British but I heard gash used as a euphemism in this British movie (Guy didn’t want to date a fat girl said he wanted ‘a fit gash’ and I just recoiled.
The c-word is up there for me in terms of hatred. The only time I don’t mind the word “p*ssy” is when a woman is using it to refer to her vagina a la Samantha on SATC.
Well, they sound just lovely.
All the feels, right there.
See because c-nt is SO common in the UK and rarely used in a gendered way, I don’t mind it at all. I concur, I Choose Me, that gash is a horrible word. I would never use it and it seems as nasty and misogynistic as p-ssy does.
But I have learned that c-nt is not a swear word to use when in the US because everyone will take it in a gendered, misogynistic way. Gotsta be polite about one’s swearing! (I’m British, so this is not a tautology).
I agree, c-nt isn’t a gendered word to me, coming from a commonwealth country. In fact, I’d say 90% of the time I hear it it’s directed towards a guy and often meant as a term of endearment (such as ‘how are you doing, you c-nt?’ It doesn’t bother me unless it is meant as an insult, and even then I don’t see it as gender-related.
P-ssy makes me cringe really hard for reasons I can’t explain. I also cannot believe I am self-censoring swear words.
Profanity makes talking fun! I think it’s the way the word is used that gives it the ickies. These guys are using “p-ssy” to describe throwaway one night stands, where they won’t even have to learn a woman’s name. That is what makes it awful. I don’t like the c-word either, for the same reason. It’s used almost exclusively in a horribly mysogenistic way over here, with no adequate male equivalent.
Exactly, I think that is the difference. Over here in Britland, c-nt is probably directed at men more than women. And it doesn’t imply “like a woman” in a misogynistic way. So not, say, like the US way of using b-tch or p-ssy to say that a man is less manly. In Britland, it’s a ruder, more emphasised version of arse/ass.
I do understand that people take a dim view of using any swear word involving female genitalia, whatever the intent, however.
Sixer, I love the way Brits use the word c-nt! It’s a sharp little word, like a surgical blade. But, yeah, I rarely use it because I’m American and I respect the fact that most women around me are horrified by it. (I am also a woman, just very lazy about choosing screen names.)
You might like this, Bob, on the historical classism in modern Britisher swearing!
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2015/06/swear-words-etymology-and-the-history-of-english/
@wren: there is a male equivalent – “D*ck”.
Honestly I find their honesty refreshing.
D-ck doesn’t have nearly the same sting, and isn’t used in the equivalent manner. Terms for male genitalia just don’t have the same “you’re worthless and nothing more than an orifice to me” meaning because men are taught to be proud of their sexuality and the accompanying accessories.
The live in girlfriends are basking in the glow of their love right now.
Right? They basically said they f-k around and just look for the hottest girl. Romantic.
Key word is had so hopefully they don’t anymore. Cause ick.
LOLOLOL
Well… At least they’re not Trump supporters. That’s all I got.
I agree with you. I could not find anything else interesting in these nitwits.
good thing I never waste my money on them. Bunch of man hoes.
LOL yes, there is that. I agree, that is not insignificant….
Meh.
At least they own their douchery. It’s not like they are claiming to be anything else.
I mean I wouldn’t let them anywhere near me with their 17.34 inch combined pole, but the honest narcissism and sleazbaggery is refreshing.
I kind of agree with this. Like they’re gross, but this type of confident, self-aware douchery is far less obnoxious than somebody who acts this way but insists they’re “a nice guy”. Those guys are the absolute worst.
Agree. I think way more artists who get a lot of success really fast feel/act this way, but always try to play humble and like they haven’t changed at all.
These guys are unapologetically enjoying the benefits of fame.
Actually I hate both type. I mean you are a d bag and there is nothing to brag about it. Be ashamed. And I have no time for fakers too. both are gross.
In a way, yes. They are who they are and aren’t putting on airs. It’s gross, but I prefer honesty every time over “but I’m such a nice guy!” Honey, if you have to tell me you’re a nice guy, you aren’t.
I wonder if their management will try to rein them in and make them retract some of that stuff. It’ll be interesting to see how long the honesty lasts.
Come on, they get a pass because they own their douchery? They’re revolting. Next.
exactly this. Actually they are worse. They are d bags and also bragging about it.
vomit inducing thirsty assh*oles.
but I like those songs.
Please stop taking dude bros. you are ruining it.
One is kind of cute, so I could see other applications for this phrase too.
I don’t think either of them are good looking.
You are most probably right.
My hormones have very bad taste though.
Haha Detritus I feel the same way about them, songs and potentially handsome/ugly dude and all
lol. ah Lynnie, sometimes I feel like my head needs to have a chat with my bits. I know better.
*hand to head* its a hardship to be this discerning
ahahahahahahahah
It’s like… so on the nose ‘dudebro’ that I kind of have to wonder if it’s an act?
I mean – likely, they’re just that obnoxious. But it’s almost TOO perfectly douchey to be real. It seems like it HAS to be a persona doesn’t it? Where you’re kind of questioning if they’re pulling a Lonely Island kind of thing, or if they’re for real.
I just read a couple of interviews from two years ago – and they seemed relatively reasonable for the most part. I think they’re probably a certain amount of dudebro, but I think they’re playing it up for kicks.
It struck me as a bit of an act, too. Although I do know guys like that so who knows.
You know how some guys get when they all hang out? It seems to distil the dbaggery into it’s most potent form. Like they subconsciously compete to be the biggest idiot. I call this before calling it an persona or act. I don’t think they are introspective enough to do that.
It is stupidly on the nose though. Like I think they hit the dudebro trifecta – talk about banging hot chicks, talk about how big your dick is, and work hard/play hard.
I’d think it was an act too, but I’ve met guys like this. They’ve bought hook, line, and sinker into the dudebro culture and follow it like a religion. Maybe they’re not “really” like that, but it’s how they want to be and believe they should be. Get a group of them together and lord help us all.
Before the annoying selfie song they were all over Hypemachine with some REALLY awesome remixes. They still have a good song here and there, if you’re an EDM fan.
But I always got the vibe that they were dudebros though so no surprises here.
I love EDM, but I think I need to stay away from reading their interviews.
Now I will be jamming and think – these guys measured their dicks to two sig figs.
Me too and one of the things that I love most about EDM is that generally the people making it fly WAAAAY below the radar.
I like my music served with a side of ignorant bliss.
Wrong place
The words “insufferable bores” comes to mind.
I’m going back to sleep.
I laughed way too hard at this comment.
Me too. Pretty much the perfect response to this douchetastic mess.
LOL! After reading this dumbsh*t, I wish I could just go back to yesterday.
I wish I never clicked on this article. Now everytime I will see them I will keep a vomit bucket around me.
I would recommend reading the Jimmy Kimmel post first and watching the video. Then go back to bed.
That song with Halsey is super catchy, but dude sounded awful at the vmas.
If they were 18 maybe that would be sort of funny. But they’re late 20s early 30s. This is just sad.
I also don’t like Halsey, she seems equally try hard.
Ah, but she never talked about how tight she was. Nor did she measure her vaginal depth, add it with her bests friends and then tell a journalist about it.
So I’m giving her points over these two musically gifted penises.
I read that as “breast friends”. I’m done.
Well… They acknowledge Trump is an idiot, which by default puts them at a higher intellectual level than several people. And they are not pretending to be anything they arent. That’s 2 nice things to say.
Other than that…
I would probs hate them in real life. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Wish I could unread that.
Co-sign. Ugh.
me too
I mean look at the younger ones face! How could he not be a dbag?! It’s like resting dbag face. Enjoy it while you can boys… It won’t last.
also what kind of sh*tty pose is this. like standing in a pool with my pants on. And the beggar jeans ugh.
I’m laughing so hard right now, this is fabulous! I suspect half of it is performance and the other half is such pure and unadulterated DUDE that I can’t hate it. At least they’re honest, probably. I would bet my ass that this is how a lot of male musicians (and possibly Leo DiCaprio) really think. I don’t see a problem with what they’re saying, it’s how so many of them act and then it doesn’t matter what they say in interviews.
I agree with this and with the other comments, they’re surely not the only ones that think this way, and this mentality is probably more common than we would like it to be, so at least these two are honest.
I briefly dated a dude who had booked shows in his past. We were reviewing which musicians had made it big, and which hadn’t. “It’s simple,” he said. “The bigger the band, the bigger the band.”
This is why it doesn’t surprise me that Kim K is as nice as she is. I bet Madonna is pretty nice in person — maybe even Mariah, too. But these guys…keep up this behavior, dudes, and this will be the biggest exposure you ever get — unless they were super cool to the reporter and I’m missing something.
But I don’t think I am.
I’ve heard some pretty awful stories about Madonna. Not sure about Mariah though.
I’ve heard some horrible things about Mariah, like her spitting a sandwich on an assistant’s face because he added mayo.
Hmmm now I understand why I find their songs annoying and skip them every time they show in my Spotify.
I love their music, but should never have dug deeper to learn anything about them. Boring dudebro crap.
Between this and Adrien Grenier’s ridiculous interview I think I’ve had my fill of douchebro this week.
Awww Adrien means well and is just a thought hippy. This is a different breed, more akin to the Jersey Shore type. Five years ago they would have been talking about new hair cuts and popped collars.
The part about LMFAO not dressing like idiots anymore made me laugh.
Frat boy dudes at 26 and 31?? Gawd, they need to let it go.
Could they be any more typical all American douches? Yuck…had no idea they were like this…makes me question their music now lol.
Glad the interview brought up how truly HORRENDOUS the VMA performance was. But look at this little douchebag saying he was “set up to fail” by the live mix. SHUT YOUR MOUTH and admit you can’t sing, you aren’t a trained singer, and it was only the second time you’d sung live. This group does some amazing remixes but I’m 100% done with them after that performance and this interview.
http://www.vox.com/2016/9/15/12930352/chainsmokers-vma-bad-performance
The comments here saying “at least they’re refreshingly honest” just show how much we’re still tolerant to men’s crappy behavior. Even the most stupid, obnoxious female pop star can’t hold a candle next to this display of idiocy.
You have a point. But even if personally I would never hang out a guy like that (and he wouldn’t hang out with me either) I still prefer an honest person over any other kind.
My ex was super adorable and nice, but he wasn’t honest, I just never knew if he was being “kind, kind” or just faking it.
Naddie agreed. they are bunch of shameless dogs.
This interview makes me chuckle because a really good ex-friend of mine adored them and now I see why. They have the douche trait in common. I found out she was sleeping with a guy I was seeing for two years behind my back
Wow, dropping some big names there guys. Big Sean? Linkin Park?
Their music isn’t nearly good enough to make up for the attitude. I hope they’re at least pleasant to the people they actually work with.
This whole interview cannot be for real! “17.34 combined inches,” so it says on their website. Pall clarifies: “Oh, that’s our penises combined… tip to tip.” They have GOT to be playing us. It terrifies me to think they could take themselves this seriously.
Lol that part is ridiculous. Do they think you can line them up and give a woman a better – ahem – experience?
So is the “Dude Bro” (as used here) the male equivalent of the female “Slut”
I love how this interview will be on file forever.
After they aren’t famous anymore this article will be available for any girl, any person – to take a good look at what these frat rats are.
Hindsight is 20/20, douchebags.
I especially love the part about their craptastic VMA performance being the fault of absolutely everyone and everything but themselves. As if these guys are so freaking speshul they don’t have to practice any sort of self-reflection. Away with them!
Typical misogynist scum.
yeah… that whole closing line about toupee versus pants-suit support is kind of like saying someone isn’t THAT bad because they’ve only strangled a COUPLE hookers to death, not enough to qualify them being classified as a full-fledged serial killer. hillary vs. trump is a matter of the lesser of two evils is still evil. so might wanna rework that a smidge or something… it’s just a weak close.
This can’t be real!!
The older one is not as much of a douche as he claims to be. He’s I’m almost sure engaged to his long time girlfriend and he seems actually really normal on insta. That said, they’re both friends with Kirill (slutwhisperer) who’s another 30 something loser that is going nowhere in his life besides maybe rehab.