With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

The Music Industry Gives Kate Nash And Most Artists And Musicians A Bum Deal! December 26, 2024

Filed under: News,Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 4:22 pm
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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

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Leeds Festival 2024 – The Preview August 2, 2024

Filed under: News,Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 9:11 pm
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It is now just a few weeks until the 2024 Leeds/ Reading Festivals and it must be time for a preview from me, so here goes. Are we back to one main stage again? The poster of the line-up suggests we are, which is wonderful news. Although there is still the silly joint headliner thing going on. But how do the acts on the main stage shape up? Personally, I will be sticking to the bands and artists appearing earlier in that part of the arena. On Friday 23rd August my tips for the best acts on the Main Stage are Pendulum and Crawlers. Who will I not be rushing to see? Well Liam Gallagher obviously, who needs an Oasis tribute act headlining a major festival? On Saturday I think headliners Blink 182 could be fun, even though watching middle-aged blokes with low-slung cargo shorts is a bit creepy sometimes, but I believe the band will rise to the occasion. I am optimistic for Two Door Cinema Club. Sunday’s Main Stage line-up is good with Bleachers, Fontaines D.C., Raye, and Lana del Ray likely to be highlights. The Last Dinner Party might pull it off if they can continue to live with the hype, but Fred Again.. as a headliner? Seriously? I know this festival has often been good at moving with the times, but I am not sure about this one.

The new and futuristic Chevron stage looks great for EDM and generic dance fans. Skrillex headlines on Friday and I find them quite a Marmite act, the Prodigy headline on Saturday, and even without the sadly departed Keith Flint I reckon they will smash it. The BBC Radio 1 Stage looks good, especially on Friday with Beabadoobee headlining and immediately preceded by Ashnikko. Confidence Man will be good on Saturday and the Sunday headliners are the Wombats, a real blast from the past. I imagine that I will be spending a lot of time at the Festival Republic Stage, particularly for the Japanese House, Rachel Chinouriri and Matt Maltese on Friday, Neck Deep, Bad Nerves and the Lambrini Girls on Saturday, and Kid Kapichi and Dream Wife on the final night. The BBC Introducing Stage is a favourite of mine and is a place where I have discovered some great artists. I am familiar with some playing the introducing stage this year, notably Sun King and Welly on Sunday. But shaping up to be the best act of the weekend is the magnificent Delilah Bon who headlines the BBC Introducing Stage on Friday. I predict that she will move to the main stage in 2025 or 2026. Who are you most looking forward to?

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‘Free Palestine: A Compilation for Humanitarian Aid’ – Various Artists March 7, 2024

Filed under: Observation,Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 10:23 pm
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In recent months the situation in Gaza has gotten worse and worse every day. What Hamas did on October 7th was vile and evil, but the Israeli government’s response has been thousands of times worse. Let’s not forget, that despite what much of the mainstream media is saying (or perhaps not saying), this war did not begin last October it has been going on for many years. More than 300,000 innocent Palestinian people, many of them children, have been killed and over 70,000 injured since October 7th. The Palestinian people are not Hamas in the same way that the Israeli people are not their government. In Palestine, countless neighbourhoods, towns and cities have been decimated, and most of the population has been displaced and left without food, clean drinking water, electricity and fuel. This is truly heartbreaking and the response of many countries across the globe leaves me ashamed to be human. The UK government, and many opposition MPs, have refused to back a ceasefire in Gaza even on humanitarian grounds and with a majority of the UK population in favour of a ceasefire.

I know that music cannot solve this problem, but maybe it can play a small part electronic label Human Endeavour (part of Ransom Note Records) has pulled together a wonderful compilation album to raise funds for two charities that are working incredibly hard in Gaza in awful conditions providing support and humanitarian aid. All proceeds from the album will be split equally between two charities, Medical Aid Palestine and War Child UK. A wide range of artists have donated their music to this cause with a smorgasbord of sounds that includes electro dance, Italo House electro, UK techno, chill, electronica, wonky electro, acid-baked dance, and some awesome Middle East vibes and flavours. Artists include D Twitch, Ambien Baby, Lisene, GoodMostlyBad, Jurango, Sofia El-Harifi and Azo. Every track is incredible, contributing artists have shown unequivocal support for the cause by providing some of their finest cuts. The gorgeous artwork for the cover was created by Jeena Ra.

The full track listing is below. Click here to purchase the album on Bandcamp

  1. Jon Beige – Complète
  2. C.A.R. – 19s
  3. Malcolm & Glitter55 – Damâa (Instrumental)
  4. Jurango – Burwood
  5. Sofia El-Harifi – bayati beach
  6. Azo – Peace on Planet Earth
  7. Reda Saiarh – New Beat Against The Machine
  8. Zillas On Acid – Sleep Mode
  9. REES – Mystic Daze (Downtempo Mix)
  10. JD Twitch – Question Authority
  11. Kitsta – Glisten
  12. Lisene – Hydrophonic
  13. Ambien Baby – La Tia
  14. Albino Sound – Bell Anklet
  15. Nuevo Prohibido – Pantano Slurp
  16. GoodMostlyBad – No Disco Just Disco
  17. Jeena – Love Is Resistance

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Shane Lynch – The Devil Is In The Detail! February 28, 2024

Filed under: News,Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 9:01 pm
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Shane Lynch Irish 47-year-old former member of Boyzone, alleged singer, and born-again Christian has said that Taylor Swift and many other rock and pop artists perform satanic rituals in their stage performances and send demonic messages in their music. He made the claims in an interview with the Irish newspaper Sunday World. Perhaps Boyzone would have been a tad more exciting if they had dabbled with satanic messages in their songs. How about “Love Me For A Satan”, “Satan And Son” or “Satan Can I Hold You” for starters. Lynch said “I think when you’re looking at a lot of the artists out there, a lot of their stage shows are Satanic rituals live in front of 20,000 people without them realising and recognising,” and “You’ll see a lot of hoods up and masks on and fire ceremonies.” I wear a hoodie and dance around at gigs, do I also worship the devil? Of course not, but then I don’t worship an imaginary friend in the sky either. Shane droned on and on about it, adding “Even down to Taylor Swift – one of the biggest artists in the world – you watch one of her shows and she has two or three different demonic rituals to do with the pentagrams on the ground, to do with all sorts of stuff on her stage. But to a lot of people, it’s just art and that’s how people are seeing it, unfortunately.” He went on to say that this is the reason he’s given up listening to several genres of music, including hip-hop.” Personally, I would be very pleased if he said he was never making music again, although to be fair has he ever made music?

Mr Lynch borrows Lucifer’s pitchfork

The devil has been an ever-present in music for years ever since Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul at the crossroads. So many satan related tunes are out there from the Rolling Stones with “Sympathy For The Devil” to Cliff Richard (yes the Christian Mr. Clean with “Devil Woman”. Is rock and pop an easy way into satanism? Of course not. Does Taylor Swift worship satan? I doubt it. Is Shane Lynch talking utter bollocks? Of course, he is! OK, dear readers I would love to hear your thoughts regarding Satan in rock and pop!

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Can We Make Viagogo Become Viagonegone? July 27, 2023

Filed under: Observation,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 2:10 pm
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In my humble opinion companies like Viagogo are, in simple terms ticket touts that have somehow become legitimate. These companies refer to themselves as “ticket resale agencies” a rather cuddly and friendly title for what feels like industrial-level scalping. But there are other “ticket resale agencies” I hear you say. Yes, there is Stub Hub, but did you know they merged with Viagogo? There is also Seat Geek which has branched out beyond resale and is now a ticket agency in its own right. In fact, it is the ticketing partner for numerous sports teams and venues in the USA and in 2020 signed a similar deal with Liverpool Football Club in the UK. There are other scalping agencies, perhaps too many to mention.

Recently Taylor Swift tickets for her Eras tour became available on Viagogo at pretty much the same time they went on general sale, including pre-sale tickets, that smacks of some kind of high-level scam. Some were on sale for more than £3,500. The price for most legitimate tickets for her UK tour were reasonably expensive to start with, between £100 and £200. Cris Miller who owns Viagogo was asked at the time to justify the huge price of Taylor Swift tickets for her ERAS tour on his site, According to MyLondon, the BBC, and other press publications, he said that Viagogo was “ensuring that there’s a secure, safe transaction“. So does this mean safer than the more legitimate ticket agencies like Ticket Master (another company I am not a huge fan of, but they will be covered in a future article). He also stated that “There’s not going to be enough seats. So, from our perspective, ensuring that there’s a secure, safe transaction that takes place is the single most important thing“. Well, there never are enough seats to satisfy demand when artists on the scale of Taylor Swift tour, unless she played three shows a day every day for six months that is unlikely to ever change.

So, the bottom line suggested by that comment is that Viagogo is all about creaming as much money from fans as possible right? Well, that is certainly my takeaway. Miller went on to claim that “fans prefer to buy more expensive tickets on Viagogo”. Seriously? What the actual fuck is that about? How many people do you know who would honestly prefer to buy tickets at ten times the face value? I know people do, but do they prefer doing that? Of course, they don’t. Miller said, “I wake up every single day, as does everybody else that works at the company, thinking about one thing, and that’s getting fans into these events all over the world”. That might be true, but it is more likely about how much money they can scam off said fans.

Scammers like Viagogo and their ilk pay a lot of money to Google and other similar sites to promote themselves as legitimate ticker agents, falsely in my opinion. This enables them to show up on the top of page one of a Google search when you search for gigs and shows. They operate in an incredibly devious and sophisticated way to give genuine fans and ticket buyers the impression that your tickets are direct from the authorised seller. They often charge an increased base price for tickets and add an inflated booking fee. There have also been many incidents of fans buying tickets for shows only to find that on arrival at the event their tickets were not valid. This impacted fans of the Rolling Stones and Take That in the years leading up to Covid. In 2018, even the UK Government expressed negative thoughts about Viagogo when the then Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, Margot James stated clearly on BBC Radio “Don’t choose Viagogo. They are the worst.” However, the company is now legal in the UK and that statement from Margot James was possibly the last sensible thing a UK Minister has ever said in public.

A few years before Covid I used Viagogo to purchase a ticket for the Reading Festival, that is the one and only time that I have ever or will ever use them. I had left it a bit late to get a ticket and weekend tickets had sold out. So, believing Viagogo to be a genuine fans resale company I purchased via their website. It cost me almost double the face value. Never again! I would rather not go than pay ridiculously inflated prices. This happens for almost every major event not just Taylor Swift. The same thing has impacted recent shows by Harry Styles and many UK festivals. What makes it even worse for me is that since Covid many shows struggle to sell out and having large tranches of tickets in the hands of legitimised touts and scalpers will not help change this. Late last year Rammstein mounted a successful legal fight that forbids Viagogo from selling tickets to their shows, let’s hope more artists do the same. Also last year UK independent TV channel ITV worked with the Fan Fair Alliance to discover that nearly all tickets on Viagogo’s site are supplied by just three traders, which means that only around 10% of tickets on the site were on offer by what we might call ordinary punters.

Meanwhile, there is the NME who, back in the day, were bastions of positive and liberal thinking and even recently they have written some quite strong pieces that slagged off Viagogo. But now, presumably thanks to advertising revenue, the once proud NME who, back in the day, really knew how to “stick it to the man” is licking Viagogo’s tarnished golden rim by publishing paid-for advertising features for Viagogo. Is Viagogo legitimate? Sadly, it is in most places, they currently have operations in more than 60 countries. Is it ethical? Well for me that is at best a very grey area, personally, I don’t believe that they are. Can I stop anyone from using Viagogo? No, I can’t. Can I implore people to avoid the company forever? Yes, I can and I really believe you should do some research into this awful organisation before you consider using them!

This is a screenshot taken from the Viagogo site on 27th July 2023 for Taylor Swift tickets for the Liverpool shows. These are just floor tickets!

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“Scrap The Monarchy” – The Krown Jewels April 13, 2023

Filed under: News,Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:38 pm
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Kunt and the Gang a.k.a. the Kunts and now a.k.a. the Krown Jewels are back. They have previously released some cracking poppy, punky tunes about our “illustrious leaders” including such classics as “Boris Johnson Is A Fucking Cunt”, “Boris Johnson Is Still A Fucking Cunt”, “Prince Andrew Is A Sweaty Nonce”, “Fuck Off Boris You Cunt”, “Fuck The Tories” and “Rishi Sunak Is A Rat Faced Cunt”. Every one of these songs (and all the seemingly endless remix versions) are stone-cold pop classics and I can’t understand why they haven’t all been to the top of the charts and never been played on the radio, can you? Anyway, they are about to take another shot at the chart summit with a new song, “Scrap The Monarchy”. Marvellous lyrics, great hooks, and something to sing along to while you do your damndest to avoid the vile spectacle of the coronation on 6th May. The video below is, I think, an early version of the single which will be released on 5th May according to the Kunt and the Gang Twitter feed, on which they share what looks like an updated lyric video, click here to check that out. I love the lyric about King Charlie Tampon “He propagates the narrative, he’s a climate protester. But his best friend was Jimmy Savile, Britain’s foremost child molester” along with “and his brother Prince Andrew is a nonce case too”. They also mention the pegmeister himself, Prince William with lines such as “maybe we have pegged him wrong”. Get ready to download or stream this worthwhile, spiffing well needed tune on 5th May by clicking here. Oh and apologies if you are offended by nasty words and profanities there are a lot included in this post, a bit late for that warning I know. But maybe you should be more offended by the obscene wealth and privilege of the Royal Family and that in a so-called modern world, the UK has an unelected head of state. Do everything you can to get “Scrap The Monarchy” to the top of the charts!

If you want to sing along here are the lyrics. Printed here without permission, is that ok with you Mr. Kunt?

[Intro]
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?
What do they do? What do they do? What do they actually do?

[Verse 1]
The coronation seems a good occasion to discuss
Why one family live in palaces, all subsidised by us
While folks rely on foodbanks, and we’re supposed to rejoice
As a crown is chauffeured round in a custom-made Rolls Royce
It’s time for this to stop, let’s give the royals the chop

[Chorus]
Scrap the monarchy, scrap the monarchy
Their pampered lives are vile while people live in poverty
In inhumane conditions, while out-of-date traditions
Mean we all pay for the royals to live in luxury, so
Scrap the monarchy

[Verse 2]
King Charles’s fingers are so fat, swollen, sore, and red
From swans that he gets fed and things he does in bed
He propagates the narrative he’s a climate protester
But his best friend was Jimmy Saville, Britain’s foremost child molester
And his brother Prince Andrew, he’s a nonce-case too

[Chorus]
Scrap the monarchy, scrap the monarchy
They turn a blind eye to their pedos like the BBC
They think they can pay for it all to go away
But covering up for nonces is their lasting legacy, so
Scrap the monarchy (Oi) Scrap the monarchy (Oi)
They stand for racist values and inequality
It’s time to have a vote, then stick them all in a small boat
And let them take their chances in some far-flung colony
Scrap the monarchy

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“I Wish A Bitch Would” – Delilah Bon February 4, 2023

Filed under: Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 7:32 pm
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Delilah Bon is back (not that she ever went away) with a new single, “I Wish A Bitch Would”. This is another track that directs Delilah’s anger at misogynists and those who see harming women as ok. This one is perhaps even more political than “Dead Men Don’t Rape”, particularly lyrics like “don’t trust no man, don’t trust the police“. Sadly the men that this is directed at are unlikely to change, but the way Delilah spits these words clarifies again that she has the backs of all those who love what she does, especially the women and LGBTQ fans, even more those that have suffered and still suffer in abusive relationships. Delilah Bon uses her voice and position so well and so eloquently, it should at least embarrass or even scare those in power, although it will probably do neither. That is the nature of the twisted world we live in. The track has some supremely bassy beats and an eerie synth hook and she spits lyrics with passionate, and justified anger. Every sound on this track is performed by Delilah and she also produced it. This single and “Dead Men Don’t Rape” have given me huge excitement and expectation for the next Delilah Bon album. Good people of the world, Delilah Bon has your back, make sure you check her out if you haven’t already. Delilah’s Mum pointed out that “I Wish A Bitch Would” was released on the day that UK authorities confirmed that Gary Glitter had been released after serving just 8 years of a 16-year sentence for molesting young girls. He has a history of abusing young girls and for me, I concur with a line from “I Wish A Bitch Would” in respect of how Glitter should be treated, “rip every single limb off of this child molester“. But even if we didn’t take it to that level, he should never be released. But this just proves the dark sickness that still exists in our world.

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“I’m Not Here To Make Friends” – Sam Smith February 3, 2023

Filed under: News,Observation,Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 12:20 am
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So, as expected, the tabloid media, particularly in the UK, have got their knickers in a right twist over the video for Sam Smith’s current single “I’m Not Here To Make Friends”. The video features drag queens, dancers, corsets, leather, a gold helicopter, nipple tassles, and amazing camp costumes, and is frankly stunning. Yes, it is sexual, but sexual with a sense of humour. This to me has a large element of Sam Smith sending themself up. Would the mainstream media have got so upset if a similar video was made by a svelte-like female pop star? Of course, they wouldn’t, but Sam came out as non-binary a couple of years back and the tabloids just love to attack anything they see as different, so basically anyone who doesn’t fit the usual heterosexual, nuclear family tropes. The tabloid media barely hides its homophobia and transphobia these days and they mix it with an element of body shaming too. I think that with this video, Sam Smith, has produced one of the finest pop videos in years, and “I’m Not Here To Make Friends” is, without doubt, a classic slice of 21st-century disco. I am an old, straight man and I bloody love the video and the tune! I have not been a huge fan of Sam Smith’s music up to now but this song has definitely won me over and the video is the icing on the cake (or maybe the tassle on the nipple!) The song and the video are direct descendent of “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood and “Outside” by George Michael. Sam Smith, you are priceless, UK tabloids, you are worthless! I would love to hear what you folks think of the video.

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“Liar Liar #TrussMix” – Captain Ska October 6, 2022

Filed under: Rants,Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:06 pm
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Tomorrow, 7th October, the fabulous Captain Ska release another take on their classic “Liar Liar”. It started with one attacking Gideon, Dodgy Dave, and Clegg, and the rapid merry-go-round of Tory Leaders since then means that there have also been versions of the tune directed at Maybot, Uber Liar Johnson, and the new one is aimed fairly and squarely at Thick Lizzie. To be fair it has been touch and go as to whether Truss would stay in post long enough for the new release, but it looks like she has. Although I suspect that Captain Ska will need to fashion yet another new version before the next election given the rather entertaining fighting and backstabbing that the Tories are doing at the moment. It is nice to see the Conservatives implode and what better to soundtrack that implosion than “Liar Liar #TrussMix” from Captain Ska. As usual, the video is excellent and, for me, it shows just how out of touch with reality and out of her depth Truss actually is. It is a great ska-pop tune and works for whichever hapless loser the Tories offer as their leader. Instead of M People’s Moving On Up” Thick Lizzie should have walked out to “Liar Liar” yesterday! Spread this tune around, let’s get it into the charts! Use the YouTube link below tomorrow to watch the video, download links will all be available tomorrow too.

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Eric Clapton Is Not God, and He Never Was December 19, 2021

Filed under: News,Rants — justwilliam1959 @ 12:50 am
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In the 60s when Eric Clapton was revered by many as one of the greatest living guitarists. Graffiti stating that “Clapton Is God” was seen in numerous locations in London. When Clapton first saw Jimi Hendrix play he was allegedly truly blown away. Apart from the odd gem with Cream and perhaps “Layla” (although it was Duane Allman who was mostly responsible for that iconic lick), I believe that Clapton’s solo output has been somewhat mediocre. I saw him at the Royal Albert Hall in the 90s and my conclusion then was that he was a good guitar player with an ok voice and not many great songs. Perhaps the nadir arrived earlier this year in his collaboration with fellow Covid anti-vaxxer, or at least vaccine sceptic, Van Morrison. In June under the name Slowhand & Van he released a song called “The Rebels”. It was pretty atrocious in my view. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse they released “This Has Gotta Stop” in September. If you wish to check out more dire recordings search for Van Morrison’s “No More Lockdown”. So that you can see how poor both songs are the videos are included in this post. Yes, I recognise the irony of giving such crap airtime, but I thought it was appropriate for this post. I would be happy to step out from behind my computer screen and debate this.

Clapton has a history of racism, his drunken rant on stage at a UK gig in 1976 where he asked foreigners to put their hands up. He then told them they should leave, stating “Not just leave the hall, leave our country… I don’t want you here, in the room or in my country, The Black w—s and c—s and Arabs and f—ing Jamaicans don’t belong here, we don’t want them here,” This is England, this is a white country, we don’t want any Black w—s and c—s living here. We need to make clear to them they are not welcome.” This racist rant concluded with Clapton calling England a white country made for white people. This rant went some way to help start the whole Rock Against Racism movement. He has addressed this attitude in at least one interview, although to be fair that was with the Daily Mail. He described himself in the ’70s as a “semi-racist” and said that he was “so ashamed of who I was” at the time. He also said that he once dated a Black woman, had Black friends, and said that he “championed Black music.” That old chestnut of racists, “I have black friends” really doesn’t wash Mr. Clapton, particularly 42 years after the original statement. Thanks to Clapton’s Covid related views acclaimed guitarist and decent human being Robert Cray has pulled out of touring with him.

The icing on the cake arrived this week when it was reported that Clapton’s lawyers had sued a woman who was selling a live compilation CD of Clapton playing in the 80s entitled ‘Live USA’ which she said her husband had purchased from a German department store years ago. According to the lawyers it was a bootleg recording. The woman now has to pay legal costs of nearly £3,000 for a CD that she was offering for sale at less than £10. Clapton, through his lawyers, claims that bootlegging is rife and that he has been unable to earn during Covid. Seriously? Wobble your head, Clapton, this woman was really taking nothing from you with a cheap CD of recordings that to my knowledge have never been commercially released. Click here to read the full report in the Guardian. I can no longer bear to listen to Clapton’s music, nor Van Morrison and for that matter Ian Brown and Morrissey too. If Clapton really was God then he has made a shit job of it!

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