php - MySQL query with multiple 'OR' statements -

i have query, have tested outside of php directly on sql , still getting same problem

the idea being $currentartist sent through using method, value matches value in event_artist columns information displayed.

select              *                     `".dbn."`.`events`                     `event_artist1` or `event_artist2` or `event_artist3` = '".$currentartist."'      "; 

the problem have is ignoring where part of query. returns complete table results , not results match $currentartist.

i have tested $currentartist , works fine. i'm @ loss how complete statement work.

i've tried surrounding or statements in brackets in:

(`event_artist1` or `event_artist2`...) = '".$currentartist."' 

this returns result if $currentartist equal "1" being first person in artists table information stored.

any appreciated.

select *   events e  '$currentartist' in (e.event_artist1,e.event_artist2,e.event_artist3);