A few regular readers may know that I am now the chair of Love Music Hate racism in York. I have been in this role for just a few months, along with a fabulous team of music loving anti racists! Anyway we have organised our first gig and the press release for that show (which I wrote) is copied below. If you are going, you are very lucky, because it is sold out. But we will be doing more so keep your eyes and ears peeled!
Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) uses the energy and vibrancy of the music scene to promote unity and celebrate diversity through education and events. Our message is simple; there is more that unites us than divides us; and nothing demonstrates this more than music. Whatever the genre, music is living testimony to the fact that cultures can and do mix. Music has the power to unite, to give strength and to effect positive social change. Racism, on the other hand, weakens us; it creates barriers and turns friends and neighbours against one another. Sadly, racism is on the rise in the UK and internationally. We believe that if we work together, we can harness the power of music to stop this destructive force in its tracks. Our aim is to use the power of music to bring together individuals and communities in a beautiful resistance against bigotry and hatred.
We are utilising the power of music by putting on gigs to raise awareness and support. Our first gig is at the Basement at City Screen on Friday 27th February and it is sold out! It has been badged as Love Punk Hate racism! It is headlined by young York band Vagabond. They have played the Cavern in Liverpool, opened Mothership Festival in York and are talented and established York buskers. They are a punk band, but they have so much more. It is a solid and curious amalgam of the traditional and the modern. Punk, pop punk, power punk and funky punk. Second on the bill are the Blair Bitch Project (now named Bitchcraft after a complaint from the horror film franchise). They are an all-girl band who know how to rock. Think Sabbath, Girlschool and Siouxse rolled into one massive sonic onslaught. They conjure some scary, monumental, weird and wonky riffs. Also, on the lineup we have Sweeping Statement. They encompass post punk and prog in a delightful melting pot of sonic excellence. If you used Artificial Intelligence to create a band that mixed largely unrelated genres and encouraged moshing it might well deliver Sweeping Statement. Our second gig is scheduled for Friday 27th March, keep your eyes on social media and the streets for more news on that soon! Finally we would like to thank all the bands for their passion and commitment to the cause by being so willing to give their time and performance for free!
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Earlier this month the High Priestess of Brat Punk and the Queen of all marginilised, mistreated minorities released “Illegal Aliens” possibly her best song so far. It is a powerful protest song driven by anger, caring, empathy. Much of the songs caustic venom and rage is directed at the patriarchal powers that be, notably the fascist Trump regime. It is built on a bed of music made from punk, hip-hop, nu-metal and the lyrics are in your face. The words are raw and passionate and convey a huge outrage better than some of the greatest protest songs that have come before. The depths of Delilah’s ire on this track are never ending. Why are more people not as angry as her at the various shit shows and vile people that are running/ ruining the world? To paraphrase the Sex Pistols Delilah “means it maaan!” Delilah has said “I’m donating all proceeds from my ‘Digital Downloads’ bought directly from my website to MIRAC (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee) a grassroots volunteer based charity helping immigrants impacted across Minnesota with food banks, legal advise, support and protest organisation.” Go to her website to download this epic song, https://merch.delilahbon.co.uk/
Delilah has described the genesis of “Illegal Aliens” as “a song I wrote and produced in response to the violence happening currently in the US as over 73,000 immigrants including documented citizens and children have been captured and detained in unsanitary overcrowded ‘camps’ with no legal representation or justice. 38 people (that we know) have died within these camps without access to medical care, reporting abuse, SA and violence at the hands of ICE agents. 12 People have been shot and 4 killed, with thousands taking to the streets in protest to defend their neighbours while many hide within their homes in fear. I wrote this song back in February last year and have sat on this rage for too long. Before, I was too nervous to release this song as I had tours in the USA, but now is not a time for holding back, now is a time of urgency as we watch peoples lives being torn apart before us. This song is for those that are standing up and fighting back, a soundtrack to your incredible activism and strength“.
Following on from a first successful tour to the USA Delilah was scheduled to return later this year. However those plans have had to be cancelled thanks to the Nazi regime in the White House. America has become a totalitarian state where anyone who dares to be different, is not white skinned, straight or MAGAs is deemed persona no grata. I am radical leftist woke scum and proud of it. But the state of Trumpstein right now would be dangerous for anyone as outspoken as Delilah. Land of the free? Seriously? Delilah does not want her US fans, or Bon Bons, to be too disappointed so she has organised a one off gig in May at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds which will be professionally filmed and recorded for later release. The show will be dedicated to those US fans that have missed out on the tour and all profits from the show will be donated to 3 charities that will support immigrants impacted by ICE detention and family separation.
I believe that the lyrics are so powerful I have copied them below, I hope you don’t mind that Delilah!
“ILLEGAL ALIENS” – DELILAH BON – LYRICS
She did things that nobody would ever think of Now she wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison This is a radical left liberal As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government That there are only two genders, male and female
Yeah, yeah, yeah All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the mothеrfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
Look, if that is the president How fucking misguided is everything? What happened to loving thy neighbour? You’ve traded him into the government They’re putting them all in these camps We’re watching it all on our apps I’m scrolling my phone and feeling so helpless Just waiting for someone to act Man, fuck your opinions, it’s awful Mexican children in courtrooms You went from “protecting the kids” To letting them die just sat in their classroom I go from believing in change To hiding my face with the shame They’re pointing their finger at immigrants, finger at anything Other than what’s in their face
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see Looking around at these artists I wonder why none of them talkin’ So many not speaking about Gaza, speaking about nothing Carry on scrolling
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
Try to divide us, keep us in silence Segregating the people with violence Talking about freedom, talking about justice Talking about all of those seeking asylum Talking about Gaza, all of those people? Sending them back to the rubble? Sending them back, knowing that nothing exists Go ahead, call it collateral I feel ready for change Ready to say, say it with all of my chest I will take to the street Using my voice for those that gave every breath The President’s calling them aliens Illegal aliens Dehumanize and terrify the majority They’re putting all the blame and the hate on minorities I never get it I see the way that these people are indoctrinated Force fed all the words that they never question Walking blind in the line with a billionaire His right hand in the air, sayin’ “Look what happens when a rich prick gets All of the money while we pay the debt Hands in the air, I’m the worst one yet” Saluting these people that don’t even know what it means yet
Organise, defy, resist (Thirty thousand beds) Organise, defy, resist (In Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens) Organise, defy, resist (Threatening the American people) Organise, defy, resist
Look, if that is the president How fucking misguided is everything? What happened to loving thy neighbour? You’ve traded him into the government You’re feeding your people with scraps While saying that you got their back Distracting the people with immigrants, people with anything Other than what is a fact Sending ’em back, taking the land from the natives Drilling for oil, you’ve killed their environment, fact All of your power is built on systemic racism Putting your foot on their back Watching as systems divide You on the left and you on the right Controlling the masses and trying to hide They are the enemy, they are the reason you’re tired Nothing to do with minorities Nothing to do with the people just living their life Nothing to do with the women and girls You’re raping and killing, removing their rights Nothing to do with the immigrants Nothing to do with the books that you’re setting alight Nothing to do with these people But look at him, look at the men on his side Where is your anger? Where is the “save the children” when children are legal as brides? Where is your passion for kids When all of these immigrant children are spending the night Treated like criminals, treated like animals Holding their palms up out to the sky You’ve traded them into the government
All these people in the street Holding signs, scream with me We’re the motherfuckin’ change That these men don’t wanna see I see women and workers The immigrants, POC The Indigenous people No LGB without T
The problem’s in our phone (They’re fucking the robots) The problem’s in our home The problem is the media They wanna take control (The men are fucking the robots) The problem, the problem We see it every time we scroll The problem is the media (Let’s delete them) They wanna take your soul
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The Nonce Formerly known as Prince has been arrested, finally, by UK police. It is only for misconduct in public office so far, but it is a start. Hopefully this will lead to deeper investigation of his sex trafficking and Pedo activities. I would like to think this is the first domino in a whole row of rich and powerful sexual abusers and Pedos including Trump, Zuckerberg, Gates. Musk and many, many more! When will we also begin investigation investigating Nigel “2 super injunctions” Farridge? <sic> In my dreams I see this as the beginning of the fall of the British Royal family and the House of Windsor as it seems clear that Queen Elizabeth and King Charles knew all about Andrew’s sordid and vile behaviour but chose to cover it up. The age of entitlement must end!
Listen to the victims, that is where the truth lies. I hope every one of the perpetrators suffer for what they have done! America is dead, it is up to the rest of the world to find and punish these vile people that have committed heinous crimes for years with impunity. Trump and his cronies seem to want to normalise rape, sexual abuse, murder, torture and pedophilia. Do not let them!
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started my journey with the With Just A Hint Of Mayhem blog back on February 9th 2009. It started as just a few posts with me rattling on about some odd pieces of music trivia. Then it grew into me reviewing almost all gigs that I go to and then reviewing singles, albums and EPs. More recently I have reviewed a few music related books and films. I would like to thank every single one of you that has stayed with us, especially the real fans (I think there may be nearly ten now!). I owe a debt of gratitude to every one of you who sends me stuff to review, especially the artists themselves and all those rather nice PR people. I have also immensely enjoyed all the interviews with artists and other key music industry people that I have been lucky enough to do.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem has enabled me to do some things that I never imagined that I would. I am now a regular judge for two great annual Battle Of The Bands contests. I was also able to do a history of music journalism lecture at York’s Access For Music College. Sadly it closed down shortly after, I certainly hope that wasn’t down to me. Back in 2009 I would have been pleased and excited if just a few friends and random people viewed the blog, but now we are up to nearly 1.9 million views across 227 countries (according to the WordPress classification of a country!). There are currently six countries where no one has ever ventured to With Just A Hint Of Mayhem from, that includes North Korea. I can’t see the latter changing soon. Also another huge thank you to all of you who have ever written reviews and articles for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem. Will I still be doing this in another sixteen years? I have no idea, I will be in my 80s by then. But as long as I am able I plan to keep going! Stick with us here at With Just A Hint Of Mayhem for the next part of the journey. To quote David Bowie “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” Well I will at least do everything I can to make sure it’s not boring. Once again thank you and here is a sixteen related song to celebrate with (it is actually one of my favourite songs from the 70s!)
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When 2024 began I set myself a target of posting an average of one post per day. That meant I needed to finish at least 366 posts as it was a leap year. In the end I posted 377 times, 11 over target. Those posts received a total of 43,874 views, the second highest annual figure since 2015. That was from a total of 31,105 visitors. Since the blog began in 2009 (yes it really is nearly 16 years old) we have received 1,850,714 views. Let’s push on to 2 million! In completing my target I wrote 113,231 words.
The most popular posts were “Everyone Is A C*nt Except Me” – Judy Raindrop. Another favorite was “Johnnie Walker’s Final Sounds Of The 70s Show On BBC Radio 2“. He will be sadly missed by many of us! A huge thank you from me and the team for your support. We appreciate you sticking by With Just A Hint Of Mayhem for all these years. It is you that keeps me going and I really do love doing this. I hope that 2025 is a great one for you. Be happy, be strong and be kind!
I began my With Just A Hint Of Mayhem journey in 2009. At that time, I had no idea about the future. I never expected that one day I may be writing about what is essentially a porn site. I am talking of OnlyFans. This site was created back in 2016. It was initially a social network. The purpose was to serve as a meeting point between fashion influencers and followers. Its creator, Tim Stokely (a Brit), initially conceived it as a premium content platform. Users paid to see the publications of their celebrity idols. It has grown into a, mostly, soft porn site. It caters to some fetishes and tends to focus where possible on celebrities. However, plenty of ordinary people seem to make money from it. It took off hugely during the COVID-19 pandemic. I can state categorically that I do not have an OnlyFans account and nor am I ever likely to. Not because I have high morals but because no one wants to see a fat old white blokes body. Recently, Lily Allen mentioned that she earns significantly more money selling pictures of her feet on OnlyFans. This income surpasses what she makes on streaming services like Spotify. Check out the screenshot below for more detail and click here to read Drowned In Sound’s’ take on the story.
Since then, Kate Nash has set up an OnlyFans account. This highlights the predicament many artists find themselves in. Nash has said this about her ‘Butts For Tour Buses’ campaign on OnlyFans. “I think it’s bit of a punk protest as a woman to take control of my body and sell it to be able to fund my passion project, which is actually my 18-year career. I want to highlight that, and I want people to talk about it, and I want people to know the truth about what what’s happening in the music business. The only way I could find to make a profit on the tour – you’re either going, hopefully I sell enough T-shirts to cover the debt, or you cut people’s wages, or you fire band and crew, or you travel dangerously. So that leaves me in a position where I’m not profiting from tours. So is this a job, or is it a passion project?” She later said that it was “an important time for women to take control and to feel empowered” The pictures of her derriere that she has posted on OnlyFans so far are revealing but a long way from being explicit. She has also said of the pictures that “I think the arse is the perfect combination of comedy and sexuality” and “I actually like bums. I think they’re just quite great. I think it’s funny. I enjoy taking pictures of my bum. Always been a bit of a flasher. So I’m going to enjoy doing it, and I’m already putting it online anyway.” She has stated that she expects to make more money from her backside than her music, particularly in the short term. Kate has called this protest “as punk as fuck” and I completely agree with her.
Is this right? no of course it isn’t. The music industry needs to wake up and stop being so fucking greedy. It shouldn’t be all about the money for entertainment corporations, but sadly it is. What happened to nurturing artists, supporting them and the grass roots music venues while you are at it! So many talented and upcoming artists are affected by shabby and arrogant treatment by the industry. Remember Little Simz’s lyric from her song ‘Angel’? “They don’t care if your mental is on the brink of somethin’ dark/ As long as you’re cuttin’ somebody’s payslip/ And sendin’ their kids to private school in a spaceship”. That was a sharp and brutal remark directed at music industry executives. Many of them know nothing about music, but they know a lot about ‘product’. What will it take for the industry to change? Sadly, it is likely to take a lot more than Lily Allen’s feet. Even Kate Nash’s arse won’t be enough to change everything, but it is a start. I hope it doesn’t happen, but I can see a distant future where new music never happens. What good will come of that? Well at least the corporations and the misogynist fat cats that ran them will no longer exist. I can’t imagine a life without music so we need to act, and act fast! What can we do? Here are a few thoughts from me, feel free to let me have your views.
• Spread the knowledge of how badly artists are treated and rewarded by streaming companies. • Boycott artists who don’t share a part of their ticket price to organisations like the Music Venues Trust. • Reduce your usage of streaming services. Alternatively, stop using them entirely. • Use Bandcamp more • Buy more artist merch and physical product. • Support your local music scene and grass roots venues • Never buy ridiculously overpriced tickets. Oasis and many festivals for example. • Never use Viagogo or their dark brotherhood of ticket exchange companies • Contact your MP and tell them to speak up for artists
Here it is, we are finally ready to reveal Mayhem’s Top 20 Albums Of 2024. This is part 1 which covers positions 11 through to 20. Have your favourite albums made the Mayhem cut? Check out the list below and check out part two which will reveal the top 10 very soon! I had the list almost complete and then just to make life difficult Not Now Norman and Carol Hodge both released new albums and they appear at number 16 and 20 respectively. Are you looking forward to part 2? There will be a 20 song play list when Part 2 arrives!
11 Cartoon Darkness – Amyl and the Sniffers – Perfectly crafted cartoon punk. 12 What Now – Brittany Howard – What a fucking voice! 13 POST HUMAN: NeX Gen – Bring Me The Horizon – They have evolved into something very special! 14 Where’s My Utopia? – Yard Act – A stunning sophomore release. 15 The Past is Still Alive – Hurray For The Riff Raff – This captures the simplistic beauty of great music! 16 Go HARD or Go HOME – Not Now Norman – They went very hard and we didn’t go home! 17 EELS TIME! – Eels – Mr E once again produces a sublime collection. 18 66 – Paul Weller – He is my age and can still turn out a great album, unlike me! 19 Another Nice Mess – Curtis Eller’s American Circus – A gorgeous slice of American music. 20 EffortLess InSecurity – Carol Hodge – The Hodge pulls off yet another towering album.
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Johnnie Walker‘s final Sounds Of The 70s was broadcast on 27th October. I was on holiday when it aired but listened to it via BBC Music’s catch-up service. After 58 years as a DJ, this is the end of an era for Johnnie and radio. He is one of the finest radio presenters I have ever heard. I might have heard him during his stint at pirate station Radio Caroline in the ’60s, but I remember listening to Johnnie avidly during school lunchtime in the ’70s on BBC Radio 1. In those heady days, he was the first DJ to reveal the weekly chart in a Tuesday pop chart rundown. I remember that he used a musical bed of the classic Booker T and the MGs track “Time Is Tight”. His voice and that track bring back so many teenage memories. I was the kid who always brought a small transistor radio into school with him, particularly on a Tuesday. This meant that me and my mates at Bishopshalt School in Hillingdon could find out whether David Cassidy and the Osmonds were still clogging up the UK charts (they were), whether Slade had gone straight in at the top (they had), or whether Bowie would get his first number one single (yes but not until 1975 with a reissue of “Space Oddity“).
I have listened to Johnnie’s shows regularly over the years. Saturdays in the 1990s were good but Sounds Of The 70s possibly topped all of his other shows for me. This final show was quite emotional, particularly some of the messages provided by stars and colleagues. The one from Rod Stewart was heartfelt and heartwarming. It was followed by “Sailing”, the song played at my Dad’s funeral. I cried a lot at that point. Then there was the wonderful chat with the legendary Sally Traffic. The music Johnnie chose for his last show was like a playlist of some of my favourite 70s songs; “Giving It All Away” – Roger Daltrey, “Solsbury Hill” Peter Gabriel, “I Can See Clearly Now” – Johnny Nash, “Father And Son” – Cat Stevens, “Misstra Know It All” – Stevie Wonder and the Dame himself David Bowie with “Drive-In Saturday”. There was a lot about Bowie on the show. I loved Johnnie’s wife Tiggy’s tale of meeting Bowie in 2002. By the time Johnnie ended the show with Judy Collins’ “Amazing Grace” I was a sobbing wreck! Radio is a smaller place with no Johnnie Walker on the airwaves.
As a footnote, I should tell you that the ‘Johnnie’s Jukebox‘ feature of the Sounds Of The 70s show inspired me to start the Play It Again Mayhem playlist.
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Kate Bush has made a slight return today with a vital and poignant message on behalf of War Child. She has helped create a wonderful, thoughtful, and heartbreaking animation about a little shrew who searches for Hope as she makes her way across a bombed-out city. She has provided her song “Snowflake”, the opening track from her 2011 album ’50 Words For Snow’. While Kate put together storyboard sketches for the film the final animation was produced by Inkubus. Kate was interviewed by Emma Barnett about the film on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 earlier today. Click here to listen to the whole interview. She spoke at length about the film, life, and music. As for the latter Kate teased that she may be working on new music, for me and many of her fans that is incredibly exciting.
But in the meantime, please contribute whatever you can to help support War Child. If you don’t know who War Child are here is a brief summary of their aims and activities; “We protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict. We go to the hardest-to-reach places to support those who are hardest hit. We aim to be there for children who need us most when they need us most. When conflict breaks out, we aim to reach children as early as possible and stay on to support them long after the cameras have gone home. We help keep children safe and help them to heal and learn. We understand children’s needs, respect and stand up for their rights, and put them at the centre of everything we do – because just one child caught up in conflict is one child too many.” Take a look at the truly gorgeous, stunning animation which is bleak and yet still filled with hope. Kate posted about the film on her website, click here to read it.
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Well, it has been an exciting Battle Of The Bands so far this year, six excellent heats and three semi-finals that were the closest ever! But only four bands can make it to the final and those talented bands are; Patience (Semi-final 1 winner), Theseus (Semi-final 2 winner), Offbeat (Semi-final 3 winner), and Sleuth Gang who were given the coveted Judge’s Wild Card. They were my wild card choice!) I have been involved as a judge in this fine contest for three years now (and sometimes stand-in compere) and it gets better. The talent in the music scene in York and Yorkshire is huge. Who will win? I have no idea it could be any one of these four amazing bands. I reckon it will be very close again too. Have you got a ticket? I hope so because they sold out in something like eight hours! It might not be as exciting as the other prizes on offer but if any of the bands would like to do an interview at With Just A Hint Of Mayhem sometime after the final, just give me a shout! (Theseus are ahead of the game and I am sorting out interview dates with them already!) See you on November 3rd! To get you ready check out the playlist below!
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With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 