With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

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

“The threats you made were meant to cut me down” November 27, 2012

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 8:52 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It would be fair to say that many rock stars who seemed to really have balls in their early years become progressively eunuch-like as they get older. especially those that step away from the dark side to accept the odd award from the UK Royal Family. No names mentioned for now, but they and you know who they are.

However in my opinion one rock ‘n’ roll Knight of the Realm clearly showed this week that he still has balls and I salute him for that. Sir Elton John played a show in Beijing in China this weekend. as usual the set list was vetted, as it is for any major performance in China. However what he did outside of the songs was brilliant. he expressed his support for Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei. There were apparently gasps from the audience when he said it and it doesn’t seem to have been reported in any of the Chinese media. Well there’s a surprise! Click here to read the story on the BBC website.

It  follows a lot of support for pussy Riot from artists playing in Russia in recent months and Bjork‘s chant of Tibet, Tibet when she played the Chinese capital in 2008. Are these protests a sign that rock ‘n’ roll is ready to show its huge cojones once again? I hope so!

I have a feeling that the Chinese government may have censored the next video as the sound disappears after a few seconds, what do you think?

Judging from this picture Elton is also supporting China right? (geddit??)

 

“From the family tree of old school hip hop, kick off your shoes and relax your socks” May 4, 2012

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 9:35 pm
Tags: , , , , , ,

I have some sad news to report, some of you may know this already, Adam Yauch or MCA of the Beastie Boys passed away earlier today. He finally lost his battle with cancer aged just 47. I believe that the Beastie Boys were among a handful of really groundbreaking acts of their generation paving the way for white rap and legions of rock/ rap crossovers.

On top of all that they were also the people who really kick started the awareness and promotion of a free Tibet. They are on the Chinese governments undesirable list. That to me says that they did things really well. Many people will remember Adam and the rest of the group for the controversies of their early years. I will remember them as a classic act who were not afraid to use their position to influence the world around them.

My thoughts are with Adam’s family, friends, fans and especially Mike D and Ad-Rock. Take some time out to enjoy some of my favourite Beastie Boy tracks in memory of Adam Yauch. RIP MCA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qORYO0atB6g&ob=av2e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUrsKjTP2Zk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LxRpmpE6oo

 

“The stars look so special and the snow looks so old” July 6, 2010

Filed under: Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 8:43 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very happy birthday to the Dalai Lama today as he turns 75. If only he could celebrate it with the gift of a free Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet and has so far spent 50 years in exile, courtesy of the Chinese authorities. Click here to send your support and birthday wishes. Many people hope that Tibet will be free within his lifetime, that’s a wonderful thought, but personally I believe that China will hold out much much longer. China invaded Tibet 60 years ago in 1950 and the 14th Dalai Lama eventually fled to Northern India in 1959.

The first Free Tibet music concert was held in San Francisco in 1996 and featured the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bjork, Smashing Pumpkins, Cibo Matto, Rage Against The Machine and De La Soul. The main aim was to raise awareness of the plight of Tibet among younger people, but it also raised $800k for Tibetan justice causes. More than 100,000 people attended the first show. Among the biggest supporters of the Free Tibet campaign in the music world have been the Beastie Boys. As recently as last year the Chinese government prevented Oasis from playing in China because Noel Gallagher had played a Tibet benefit some years before. Bjork caused the Chinese some problems and is unlikely to be welcomed back after chanting Tibet, Tibet at the end of her song ‘Declare Independence’ at a show in Shanghai in 2008

Anthony Kiedis off of the Red Hot Chili Peppers met the Dalai Lama on a trip to India in 1996 and has a wonderfully comic description of that meeting in his autobiography.

This video is Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood performing ‘Exit Music’ at a Free Tibet concert

Bjork sings “Declare Independence” and shows the Tibetan flag

I will close this post with David Bowie’s excellent “Seven Years In Tibet” Alternatively you can hear the Mandarin version of the song by clicking here