It is definitely very important to me that they write their own music. The bands I like most all write their own stuff. It takes a lot away from a performer in my eyes if they don't have at least some involvement in writing their material. I probably wouldn't be such a die hard fan and buy their CD's if I knew that they didn't write their own stuff. But I only say that now, after 20 years of being a fan knowing they write their own songs...