In my previous post, Tzfardeyah Anyone?, I made passing reference to the '80s band Milli Vanilli, a group much vilified for lip-syncing to recordings made by other musicians. It occurred to me that there are a lot of lessons to be learned from what happened to this group, and that it would be worth expanding upon this topic.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Milli Vanilli was the duo of Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus. They formed in the mid-1980s in Germany, and though they were promised a record deal of their own, they ended up being a front band for musicians Charles Shaw, Johnny Davis and Brad Howell. Morvan and Pilatus were chosen because they were good-looking and young, while Shaw, Davis and Howell were unmarketable in the pop scene because they weren't young, good-looking or hip. Their music was fabulous, but they didn't have the looks or the act that it would take to get them to the top.

Unfortunately, Morvan and Pilatus did their jobs as on-tour performers a little too well, and the group's second album, Girl You Know It's True rocketed to the top of the charts. In February of 1990, they won a Grammy for Best New Artist. Morvan and Pilatus knew it was only a matter of time before the ruse was discovered. The following November, the news had broken.

When the news hit, the record company claimed ignorance, fingers were pointed, and Morvan and Pilatus became the pariahs of the music world. Although lip-syncing front bands weren't unique (C&C Music Factory and Black Box were doing the same thing) there was a huge public outcry. The group's Grammy was rescinded, Arista Records deleted the album from their catalog, and a US court ruling allowed anyone who had bought the album eligible for a refund.

In the end, the group tried to reform as the Real Milli Vanilli, but the album was a failure and Pilatus tried to commit suicide. Although Morvan and Pilatus later reunited to try again as Rob and Fab, they never achieved any measurable success. Pilatus was subsequently arrested for a series of criminal acts, and died of an alcohol and drug overdose in 1998. Morvan continues with his solo career and plays in clubs throughout the United States.

There are a number of lessons in this story that are very worthy of consideration. First off, it illustrates how talented and wonderful people are often overlooked because of their appearance. Our culture very much prefers youth and beauty, and if you don't fit the mold, your work isn't regarded as valuable. It's a very sad reflection on our society that Shaw, Davis and Howell couldn't sell their own music because they didn't have the right look. They obviously had the talent, but they didn't have a chance on their own.

The real tragedy is what happened to Morvan and Pilatus. They were both homeless and met on the streets in Munich, and were skyrocketed to the top of the charts on work that wasn't their own. Although I'm sure they were grateful for the attention, money and fame, I can't imagine what it felt like to accept a Grammy for work they didn't record.

According to Morvan's web site, they were contractually obligated to serve as a front band, and were stuck in an untenable situation. When the news finally did come out, their record producer and their label falsely claimed ignorance, turned their backs on the duo and let them absorb all the public criticism.

As human beings, we need to take a hard look at what we ask others to do and the impact it will create. In this case, the record producer and label knew what was happening, and they most certainly were aware that the word would eventually get out. Morvan and Pilatus did as they were obligated, and yet when things came crashing down, they received no support from the people who had asked them to be a front band. Their lives were profoundly disrupted by greedy record executives who were more interested in making money than doing the right thing.

We also need to consider how what we say and do has an impact that is much more far-reaching than the moment of the unkind word or deed. Our actions can have a tremendous and lasting impact on others. The public excoriation clearly was too much for Pilatus, as he attempted suicide, became involved with drugs, and ultimately died of an overdose. If he had received less public criticism and more support from his producer and label, I wonder if he would still be alive today.

In my own life, I know there have been times when a simple kind word or deed has made all the difference. Likewise, an unkind word or deed from a malicious or even unthinking person has a created lifetime of painful memories. Our words and deeds have tremendous power, and we need to carefully consider the impact of our actions.