Back in October last year, in the middle of her first tour, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the uber-talented Delilah Bon, which anyone reading this probably knows is the (not so) secret identity/ alter ego of Lauren Tate. Music fans will also know her as the firebrand who fronts one of Yorkshire’s finest bands, Hands Off Gretel. I interviewed Delilah once before, in late 2020 and the following year she released her eponymous first album. That album became the Mayhem album of the year for 2021. Since then she has released an EP and a couple of stunningly good singles, completed her aforementioned first solo tour, and made a few great TV appearances! Those include a stunning performance of “War On Women” on Live On Le Late Show With Alain Chabat (TF1 France). Why has it taken so long to post? Well, there were a number of technical issues with the sound, which have mostly been fixed, and on top of that my mental health had been a little flaky but I am back to fighting fit now! I chatted with Delilah recently and she is happy for the interview to be shared. So take a listen and I would love to hear your thoughts on Delilah Bon.
Click here to listen to the interview, I hope you enjoy it!
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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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If you saw my post from 3rd November you will know that this lack of posting is not through general laziness! But the catch-up has begun! On 1st October I was lucky enough to witness the galactic talent that is Delilah Bon live. How good was she? I will tell you, but first I must mention the rather stunning support acts that graced the stage at one of the most compact and delightful venues in Leeds, the Key Club. First up it was Bizarrefae. This was full-on angry techno punk with 100% passion, to quote an old Sex Pistols song, “they mean it, man….”. We all sat down for the sad song too, that was pretty ace. It was a great set and for me “Pesky Pixie” and “Dwarfed” were magnificent highlights. Next, it was the turn of Trunc, arch loud noiseniks coming out of the northwest. Trunc have some mountainously good songs, “Zombies” was my favourite. Trunc do punky storytelling and spot-on protest with oodles of panache. Everyone in the audience was 110% behind the FUCK LIZ TRUSS chant (Oh man does that line age this post!)
Finally, it was time for Delilah Bon, an amazing and passionate artist that I have been following since those early dark days during the Covid lockdowns. Lauren Tate as her alter ego Delilah Bon has proved to be a force to be reckoned with, a force that grows more powerful with every release. But is the world ready for Delilah Bon live? Well, the world has begun to find out if it’s ready for Delilah Bon live, and much of the world is not ready yet, but it fucking needs to be! This show was towards the end of Delilah’s first-ever tour and that came off the back of a few magnificent festival appearances. Delilah is supported by her compadres of hope and passion, Ruena and DJ GOLDENAXE. While Delilah is the focus the show would not be the same without such incredible support. Delilah blurs the lines of genre into a thick fog, there are elements of rap, electro, and punk. But what shines throughout everything is how much she cares for her audience, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. Politicians often have better platforms than this but never use them, Delilah Bon is fearless, compassionate and on evidence to date a fine human being. The set was among the best shows that I have ever seen. This trio of fired-up feminists kicked off at 100 miles per hour and rarely slipped below that pace. “Freak of the Week” and “Chiquitita” were early high points. “War On Women” was full of righteous and justified anger. At that point, Delilah invites women, girls, and LGBTQ+ folks to move to the front and they do. But there were a couple of blokes who chose not to, but the crowd shamed them into moving back. As for the heckler, Delilah didn’t have to say much at all, because the crowd gave him a resounding “Shut The Fuck Up!”. “Chop Dicks” loosened the roof of the Key Club and then “Dead Men Don’t Rape” smashed the roof completely. For me, this track is Delilah’s finest song to date and clearly, the audience seems to agree. Back in 1972, David Bowie began performing as his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, the vibe at early gigs was good but venues and crowds were relatively small. Over just a few months a word-of-mouth avalanche sent Ziggy into the stratosphere. I can picture that happening with Delilah Bon, but given that we now have social media, this will be on a scale that Bowie as Ziggy could only have dreamed of. In years to come, many years from now, if Delilah Bon is not remembered as the voice of a generation I will return and haunt every one of the haters that tried to stop her! I was lucky enough to interview Delilah during her tour, sadly the audio is not great, but I am transcribing it and it will be posted soon!
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There has been a lack of posting lately on With Just A Hint Of Mayhem, although I don’t like to post personal stuff here. Well very rarely anyway. This lack of posting is because I have been trying to build back my mental health resilience, I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. It has been a tough few months, but honestly, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am pretty sure it isn’t a train coming in the other direction! Regular service will be resumed at some point, but in the meantime look out for a glut of reviews from the last few weeks, including; Apollo Junction, Delilah Bon, Tankus the Henge, Bodega, Millie Manders and the Shut Up, Live At Leeds and Woman to Woman (featuring Judy Tzuke, Beverly Craven, Julia Fordham, and Rumer). On top of that, there will be a Delilah Bon interview, but sadly a transcription as the audio didn’t record well. Other reviews and a catch-up of the Mayhem song and artist charts will also be posted soon for September and October. This post is accompanied by my favourite song ever, as it always helps me through bad times and adds light in a dark place! Remember, it really is ok to be not ok. If you are suffering please make sure you talk to someone.
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Very, very late indeed, but here comes the sixth monthly Mayhem Top 20 Song Chart, this time for August 2022, and it remains as eclectic as most of our previous charts. There are some weird and wonderful strange bedfellows in this list, just like those charts of my youth. The number one for August is the rather splendid Newcastle act, Cat Ryan with their incredible single “Rex Mundi”. They are followed closely by four acts who have not appeared in the song chart before, Trunky Juno, Thrillhouse, Matt James, and Lynx Deluxe. The latter made it into the artist chart for August. Check out Matt James’ new album, ‘Breaking The Fall’, a set of fine songs from a former member of one of my favourite bands, Gene! Politics and passionate, powerful opinions are represented by Captain Ska with “Blood On Your Hands” at number 6, Muse with “Will Of The People” at number 19, and the magnificent current single full of monumental power, passion, and anger from Delilah Bon, “Dead Men Don’t Rape” at number 10. Vaquelin, one of York’s finest bands have appeared in the song chart four months in a row now, their latest single “Broken Window” is at number 20. Classic soul and reggae are represented by Holland and Dozier and Junior Byles. The Streets, Arctic Monkeys, Just Jack, Yungblud, and Pale Waves are all here. Early Italian House Disco music is at number 17 with Silvetti’s “Spring Rain”. Tom Waits is at ten, while classical music gets a look in with the beautiful and haunting piano piece “Metamorphosis No. 4” composed by Philip Glass at number 16. Hannah Robinson has featured in the Mayhem charts a few times and she returns as the voice of J.A.G. on “Fools Lie”. We would love to hear your thoughts on the Mayhem Song Top 20 Chart. Check out the complete list below and click here to access a Spotify playlist of the whole top 20!
1 Rex Mundi – Cat Ryan 2 Oxford English Dictionary – Trunky Juno 3 Cruel Twist Of Fate – Thrillhouse 4 Champione – Matt James 5 Jane Goodall – Lynx Deluxe 6 Blood On Your Hands – Captain Ska 7 Why Can’t We Be Lovers – Holland and Dozier 8 Brexit At Tiffany’s – The Streets 9 Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets To The Wind In Copenhagen) – Tom Waits 10 Dead Men Don’t Rape – Delilah Bon 11 Curly Locks – Junior Byles 12 Starz In Their Eyes – Just Jack 13 Fools Lie – J.A.G 14 Star Treatment – Arctic Monkeys 15 Tissues – Yungblud 16 Metamorphosis No. 4 – Philip Glass/ Jenny Lin 17 Spring Rain – Silvetti 18 Lies – Pale Waves 19 Will Of The People – Muse 20 Broken Window – Vaquelin
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Just a few weeks ago the US Supreme Court voted to overturn the landmark Roe vs. Wade case, which provided constitutional protections for abortions across the USA for nearly 50 years. The decision to allow abortion now rests with individual states which pushes America ever closer to the fictional land of Gilead in Margaret Attwood’s powerful dystopian novel, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. This decision is partisan and in my opinion reckless and grossly unfair. A woman must have the right to make decisions regarding her life and her body. The US Supreme Court Justices have taken that away. Not all the justices voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade, but five of them did. Just so that you know who these vile individuals are here are their names; Amy Coney Barrett, (yes a woman voted in favour of this), Samuel A. Alito, Jr, Brett Kavanaugh (although he tempered it with a desire to allow women to travel to other states to have an abortion, that hardly helps Brett, does it?), Neil M. Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas. I don’t usually wish harm and horrible luck to anyone, but I will make an exception for these five bigoted, evil scumbags. America, your democracy is far more broken than ours in the UK (although where you lead we will no doubt follow), when just five individuals can make a decision that takes away the rights of self-determination from millions of women you are clearly out of touch with reality. Wake up America, before it is too late. The justices who opposed this move, Justices Breyer, Kagan and Sotomayor warned that overturning Roe vs. Wade would threaten other high court decisions in favour of gay rights and even potentially contraception. On top of that, it is now crystal clear that guns are more important in America than women are.
Millions of people across the world have expressed their anger and concern over this decision including Delilah Bon (the alter ego of the obscenely talented Lauren Tate) who is a passionate advocate for women’s and minority rights and is not afraid to be very vocal in support of those rights. Unsurprisingly, Delilah Bon has a lot to say about what has happened to women’s rights in the USA. She has unleashed her righteous fury on rapists and the mostly old white men that make these vile decisions in her new single “Dead Men Don’t Rape”. Here is what she had to say about the USA Supreme Court decision and the new track. “After Roe vs Wade was overturned in the USA, I saw the very real aftermath on social media. So many women feeling completely helpless knowing their human right to bodily autonomy had been stripped from them. It made me think of how the system was failing women and those with uterus’ so badly, especially with such high cases of rape and the majority of those cases not resulting in convictions. Not only are the victims being punished in a system that’s meant to protect them, the punishment of illegal abortion in many countries is worse than that of actual rapists. It’s heartbreaking to see cases of women and girls killing their rapists in self-defence and spending their life behind bars because the system would not protect them. I wrote, mixed and produced this song in three days after being so deeply hurt by everything that’s happening right now.” She is absolutely right, why should women be punished for having an abortion? And why the hell do some rapists get less of a sentence than a woman forced to have an illegal abortion? Protest songs are so much better when the delivery has passion, intelligence and anger and on “Dead Men Don’t Rape” Delilah Bon has all three in abundance. The lyrics are stark, and powerful and should hit a nerve at misogynists everywhere. Although given the nature of misogynists they sadly probably won’t. While women’s and LGBTQ+ rights are being stripped away in this so-called civilised world the planet needs Delilah Bon. Everyone should be more Delilah, that is surely a way to help change the world and make it a better place. Be angry when need to be, but direct that anger at the right things. I have copied the lyrics to the track below the YouTube link, they are perhaps Delilah’s most powerful words to date.
You can see Delilah Bon on tour in the UK soon. Check out the dates below. I will be at the Leeds show on 1st October;
Dead men don’t rape Dead men don’t rape Dead men don’t rape They get so offended when I say Dead men don’t rape But where is their anger when I say Women are women are women are dying? This is my body My body is mine don’t belong to the government This is my body It’s mine to decide what the fuck I can do with it This is my body My right to decide is my right to my freedom This is my body yeah yeah Not just a body yeah They’re starting a war creating a scene My body is not just a playground For men with their guns religion and greed They’re taking our freedom to breed now If freedom to choose is taken away How many more babies will die now? How many women will die now? Tell me how many more people will die now? It’s never been pro life only been pro white Black mothers fighting for justice And what about babies you wanna save them? You only care when they’re unborn But you’re from the uk doesn’t affect you? But in the same ship we’re sinking Untapped is the anger feminist power A new generation are screaming no Dead men don’t rape Dead men don’t rape You get so offended when I say Dead men don’t rape But where is your anger when I say Women are women are women are dying? This is my body My body is mine don’t belong to the government This is my body It’s mine to decide what the fuck I can do with it This is my body My right to decide is my right to my freedom This is my body yeah yeah I am somebody yeah All of these men do it in secret Not ready to be a father So where are their voices where is their anger? Acting like it doesn’t matter Punish the victim making her suffer Nobody even believed her Now she is pregnant having his baby Raped by her very own father Oh i wanna scream Scream til I break They say i’m over reacting But how can i smile put on a face When all my sisters are dying? But free are the rapists child molesters walking round Tasting their freedom Because of the system no more abortions And fuck all the children that need them Dead men don’t rape Dead men don’t rape You get so offended when I say Dead men don’t rape But where is your anger when I say Women are women are women are dying? Women are dying And every day my thoughts have been spiralling How many rights will they take from the women Non binary trans people? Violence? Is it the answer? Maybe it is and they’re scared we’ll discover The strength of our feminine power The strength of our anger in numbers We are the witches they burned at the stake Black brown indigenous women replaced With voices of only white women today Who don’t know the struggles that these women face But this generation is ready to change We stand with our sisters of every race We understand racism still has it’s place In oppressing so many young women today So keep your politics out of my uterus And your hands off my body Excuse me mr people are dying People are people are people are dying My body my choice my future Keep your hands off my body Excuse me mr women are dying Women are women are women are dying And when a guns got more fucking rights that a girl Keep your politics out of my body Excuse me mr children are dying Children are children are children are dying My body my choice my future Keep your hands off my body Women are dying women are dying Women are women are women are dying This generation has the tools to push for a brighter future Where victims are not punished in a system that is meant to protect them Women, trans, non binary and people with uterus’s will have the rights to their own bodies And rapists will not walk free anymore no No Dead men don’t rape What the fuck Dead men don’t rape No Dead men don’t rape Dead men don’t rape
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Regular readers will know that I am a keen user of a site called Obscurify. It claims to tell you how obscure your listening on Spotify is. Compared to the rest of the UK I remain 99% more obscure than other users in the UK. It also lists my most obscure artists, (the top two of which have been there since I began doing these posts) which currently are;
Promethium (This metal bunch also made it to number 11 in this months top 20)
The Dead Zoo (This fabulous band made an appearance at number 19 in this months top 20)
Hans Deville (Hans makes an appearance at number 12 in this weeks chart while his band, ska punkers King Prawn sit at number 17)
The Suncharms (Not only did the majestic Suncharms get themselves into my most obscure list, they also made their first Mayhem chart number 1, well done lads!)
So who were the top artists for December (12th)? Check the full lists below, but I have already revealed that the Suncharms were number one. Delilah Bon was a chart-topper in October, and for her fifth appearance overall she has hit the number two spot. Radiohead is at number three. There are a few new artists in there, notably Gabby Barrett, Alanna Lyes, Efterklang, and the aforementioned Hans Deville and King Prawn. Also, plenty of the usual classic acts, including David Bowie at a very lowly 16, KLF, Frank Zappa and Paul Weller. Give Obscurify a spin and let me know what your chart looks like and how obscure your tastes are 🙂
Mayhem’s Top 20 Artists on Spotify (December 12th 2021)
1 Suncharms 2 Delilah Bon 3 Radiohead 4 Ch-Lites 5 Paul Weller 6 Gabby Barrett 7 Alanna Lyes 8 Frank Zappa 9 Silk Sonic 10 Millie Manders and the Shut Up 11 Promethium 12 Hans Deville 13 Gregory Porter 14 Joy Crookes 15 KLF 16 David Bowie 17 King Prawn 18 Efterklang 19 The Dead Zoo 20 Dave Gahan
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I don’t often put together the best albums of the year list, but I do love a good list so here are my favourite albums of 2021. What were yours?
‘Delilah Bon’ – Delilah Bon –An absolutely sublime, sassy debut from Lauren Tate’s magnificent, impassioned alter ego. This has been my album of the year since I first heard it
‘The Yearbook’ – Baby Queen – Not many bands care as much about their fans as Baby Queen, but they are so much more than caring, they really are a stunning band
Thanks to a site called Obscurify. It claims to tell you how obscure your listening on Spotify is. Compared to the rest of the UK I am now supposedly 99% more obscure than other users in the UK, which has increased from a mere 90% in July! It also lists my most obscure artists, (the top three of which have been there since I began doing these posts) which currently are
So who were the top artists for October (29th) and November (20th)? Check the full lists below, but I can reveal that Delilah Bon was the chart-topper in October, her second time at the top and her fourth appearance overall. Once again it was Dame David Bowie in November for his fifth time at the top. There are a few new artists in there, notably Dea Matrona, Joy Crookes and, Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton. I was pleased to see Apollo Junction, Emily Capell and, Nightmares On Wax making an appearance too. Also plenty of the usual classic acts, including Elton John, Amy Winehouse and, the Biffy Clyro. Regular readers know that as I share this Spotify account with my wonderful wife Catherine (a.k.a. Catwoman) a few artists finished much higher than they might have done if they were only my choices 🙂 Notably the Carpenters and Rick Astley. Give Obscurify a spin and let me know what your chart looks like and how obscure your tastes are 🙂
Mayhem’s Top 20 Artists on Spotify (November 20th 2021)
David Bowie Nightmares On Wax Damon Albarn Radiohead Carpenters Rick Astley Notorious Lightbulbs Avalanches Emily Capell Biffy Clyro Blur Apollo Junction Ima Robot Bruno Mars Millie Manders & the Shut Up Bob Marley & The Wailers Bunny Wailer Norman Connors Joy Crookes Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton
Mayhem’s Top 20 Artists on Spotify (October 29th 2021)
Delilah Bon Elton John David Bowie Steven Wilson Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Durand Jones and the Indications Amy Winehouse Emily Capell Billy Nomates Biffy Clyro Strange Bones T Rex Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Darts Counting Crows Nightmares On Wax Cleopatrick Beans On Toast Be Bop Deluxe Dea Matrona
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Lauren Tate is one of the most prolific artists around at the moment. Some excellent work with Hands Off Gretel, her classy solo work and more recently her bad ass bitch alter ego Delilah Bon. In my opinion the first Delilah Bon album is a contender for album of the year. So just when you thought Lauren might be taking a well earned rest she launches a horror themed Delilah Bon EP, ‘Ready To Kill’. Are you having a Halloween party this year? Then this EP has to be at the core of your party soundtrack. The sounds rage from classy rap, nu metal, punk and yes horror film theme vibes. Chain saws, coffins, killer clowns, cannibals, Dracula, what more do you need for Halloween? But this is no novelty horror cash in, there is not a duff track here. I hear there is a new ‘Scream’ movie coming, well producers please consider including a track or two from this EP on your soundtrack. The six tracks certainly evoke a spooky element perhaps no better than “Clown”, although “Cannibal Summer” runs it a close second. Even with the main horror theme Delilah manages to smash out at misogyny, particularly on the aforementioned “Cannibal Summer”. For me this EP and the superb album from May proves that Delilah Bon is most definitely here to stay. Remember when those snotty little kids come to you door on 31st October, blast them with the spine chilling, bone rattling, chainsaw massacring tunes from ‘Ready To Kill’, they will thank you for it, eventually. Can I make my suggestion once again for a range of Delilah Bon candies with sticky red fillings and called Delilah Bon Bons? Get your ears around these tunes ASAP, otherwise you will find zombies, ghosts, Vampires, Evil Clowns, Freddie Kreuger, Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees knocking on your door, because I will send them!
Delilah says this of the EP “I wanted the EP to have a ‘Jennifer’s Body’ meets ‘Harley Quinn’ energy to it. I wanted to create a character that was both disturbing but enchanting too, a real femme fatale. It’s more than just a few songs on an EP, it’s my music and art combined, a whole concept brought to life. For each song I created visuals based on the lyrics, influenced by iconic villains in horror movies”.
Check the new EP out, it’s released tomorrow, 15th October. And as it is now tomorrow, click here to listen on Spotify.
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With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 