Great ELP Debate

Richardh wrote:

I don't expect musicians to be great people.They only ever turn up to things like Live Aid because it improves their image and makes people think they are 'good' people.If only they could get their heads out of their own arses then maybe I would believe it.

Agree 100% with everything you say here Richardh.

Sad but truth.

Iván

Sorry Arcer, that's my work and I really know about that, giving to charity for big companies, sport stars or music bands is a bussines.

Switzerland doesn't make you avoid taxes, you pay for every concert in the country you make the concert and you pay a percentage of what you receive from the label that represents you in the country where that label is from, because the tax is charged by the country where the invcome is produced.

And Switzerland is not tax free as most people believe, taxes are cheaper than in many countries but not free.

Iván

giving is giving - doesn't matter if it's a tax dodge or not. At least it's a more productive tax dodge than b*****ing off to Switzerland for a 'hard, hard' year as a plutocratic tax exile.

Cal Jam 1 Actually drew over 200,000 and had 8 bands.

personal antipathy has no bearing on Strummer and Jones' contribution, which, whatever way you look at (no matter how dearly you hold any prog band to your heart) is culturally way more relevant than 90 per cent of bands here.

That's not cause I'n championing punk or down on prog - I love both - it's just the truth.

The Clash, and Strummer in particular, didn't take too kindly to the whole US concept and began a constant stream of criticism in the media. More cries of "sell out" were directed at them for taking all of that scratch(money?), which may have motivated some of the anger. Joe began making demands on Woz (Steve Wozniak-Apple)else the band hold back their services. He wanted a certain number of donations to charity, and the Clash stated that their fee would go to help struggling young bands in England.

Clash and Strummer fans have been encouraged to make donations to activist and environmental groups the musician supported. A message posted on the Epitaph Records website said: "In observance of Joe's passing, we ask that you check out the Mandela SOS organization and the Future Forest organization. Joe was active in both of these charities and his family has asked for a charity donation to them in lieu of flowers, etc. Future Forests has a Joe Strummer memorial forest that you can donate money and have a tree planted in his memory. If you can, please help these charities out."

All donations received by Future Forests will be used to create a Strummer forest on the Isle Of Skye in Scotland. More information may be found at futureforests.com.

-- Darryl Morden, Los Angeles

The Clash To Reunite For Charity?

05/12/2000 3:00 PM, LAUNCH
Craig Rosen

(5/12/00, 3 p.m. ET) - The long hoped-for reunion of the The Clash may finally happen -- for charity, and in the memory of the band's '70s punk-scene mate Ian Dury, who died of cancer earlier this year (LAUNCH, 3/27).

Britain's Mirror newspaper reports that the Clash's Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and Topper Headon have all signed on to perform as the Clash for the Cancer BACUP benefit show in Dury's memory on June 16 at Brixton Academy in London.

Proceeds from the event will benefit British cancer-related causes. There's no word on whether bassist Paul Simonon will rejoin his old mates for a full-fledged Clash reunion. Also on the bill are members of Dury's band, the Blockheads -- who have asked Robbie Williams to sing with them -- as well as Madness, Neneh Cherry , Kirsty MacColl, and Republica singer Saffron.

-- Gary Graff, Detroit

Lets also remember despite Punks influence the biggest acts in 1977 were Fleetwood Mac, ELO and The Eagles, why? because few people wanted to hear an entire album of punk or disco - have a look at the rise of the compilation albums in the late 70's, early 80s!

It was about time I could agree with Threefates.

I rather listen a Fleetwood Mac, Elo or even The Eagles album than any punk record. It's simply boring to listen an album full of songs created with only 2 or 3 chords repeated ad nauseam. Punk IMO is the absolñute lack of imagination, at least POP is elaborated.

Punk musicians (if you can call them musicians) IMO are a bunch of posers singing against the system that is providing them with a lot of money, almost as rappers.

Iván

threefates wrote: Syzygy wrote: The Pistols - much as I love them - were as manufactured as any boy band. They released 4 classic singles, which also accounted for almost all the best tracks on 'Never Mind The Bollocks'. After Rotten left, they turned into a sad parody of themselves. How punk is that? The Clash were also manufactured, up to a point, but they engaged with the truly scary politics of the day (neo nazi parties like the BNP and the NF recruiting at punk gigs, inner city riots, heavy handed racist policing, IRA bombing campaigns) in a way that the Pistols never did. Songs like White Riot, White Man In Hammersmith Palais, Career Opportunities and just about everything off 'London Calling' are a vivid snapshot of late 70s England. They refused to appear on Top Of The Pops and were a permanent feature at gigs benefiting the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism, as well as a host of lesser causes. Just a pop band? Yeah, right. Yep, exactly... but the Clash were just as manufactured as the Sex Pistols... and as the Damned for that matter... who first album was produced by Nick Lowe.. and I believe their second album was produced by Nick Mason... The Clash did what they did for publicity alone.. just as the Damned and the Sex Pistols.. it was like watching actors performing a show most time... I look at them as no different than the rap/hip hop artists of today... looking bad means making money

Who's to say that's true?  Did it never occur to you that maybe they just cared?

threefates wrote: arcer wrote: The Clash not punk?!!! Listen to White Man at the Hammersmith Palais. Listen to London Calling I rest my case - indeed I'll rest my entire set of luggage. Of course America only got them late on - and hmmmm isn't that when they have 65,000 people thru the door at Shea Stadium. Don't tell me punk didn't have an impact. Just ask the Strokes Listen to "Nevermind the Bollocks" and then listen to anything by the Clash... sorry, the Clash were just a pop band.... Oh.. and the Mets get 65,000 thru the door at Shea Stadium all the time... And geez, ELP got over 150,000 at the Calif. jam....

The Pistols - much as I love them - were as manufactured as any boy band. They released 4 classic singles, which also accounted for almost all the best tracks on 'Never Mind The Bollocks'. After Rotten left, they turned into a sad parody of themselves. How punk is that?

The Clash were also manufactured, up to a point, but they engaged with the truly scary politics of the day (neo nazi parties like the BNP and the NF recruiting at punk gigs, inner city riots, heavy handed racist policing, IRA bombing campaigns) in a way that the Pistols never did. Songs like White Riot, White Man In Hammersmith Palais, Career Opportunities and just about everything off 'London Calling' are a vivid snapshot of late 70s England. They refused to appear on Top Of The Pops and were a permanent feature at gigs benefiting the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism, as well as a host of lesser causes. Just a pop band? Yeah, right.

threefates wrote: arcer wrote: The Clash not punk?!!! Listen to White Man at the Hammersmith Palais. Listen to London Calling I rest my case - indeed I'll rest my entire set of luggage. Of course America only got them late on - and hmmmm isn't that when they have 65,000 people thru the door at Shea Stadium. Don't tell me punk didn't have an impact. Just ask the Strokes Listen to "Nevermind the Bollocks" and then listen to anything by the Clash... sorry, the Clash were just a pop band....

GRRRRRRRRR