In 2011 I find myself in the unenviable position of having invested 15 years of my life in a business that is dying, if not already dead. As a musician I spend months of my life touring the UK, Ireland and Europe. Yes, I have seen many places and met many people but ultimately I invest at least 50 hours a week to a job that does not pay me. Not one dime. Occasionally oi will receive a royalty cheque (every 12 weeks), usually for the princely sum of £60. Hardly enough to pay one’s rent, is it? Now, of course, nobody buys music. I cannot remember the last time I bought a CD. That’s a lie. I can remember. It was the Arcade Fire’s first album and I bought it the week that it came out. I download ALL my music for free. I am starting to think that all music should, indeed, be free. Which is all well and good but it leaves a lot of musicians, inclusing myself, out of pocket.
Where now?
They seem to have elected Boris ‘Bozza’ Johnson as London mayor. Strange. No, no that can’t be right. Hang on, let me just check the news…….oh. Yes, they did. Well, that’s that then, it’s all over. Idiocy has set in and rotted the will of the free speaking. ‘We don’t care, we just want change.’
At least Zimbabweans have some sense eh?
I sit here watching live pictures of celebrities and sports icons carrying the Olympic flame through the streets of London. These ‘beloved’ people are surrounded by Policemen in flourescent jackets and combat gear, protected by the ‘authorities’; trying to protect the flame and it’s bearer from protestors who are attempting to draw attention not to themselves, but to the atrocities in Tibet and also Darfur. The world watches and only a minority react. It is these minorities who are seen as the problem by the ‘authorities’.
The various ‘celebrities’ all attempt to bear a smile as abuse is thrown at them by people lining the streets, holding banners and flags. “Free Tibet” they say.
It is a scene eerily reminiscent of the inauguration of George W Bush into the White House. The Police State is divided once again. This is not right. The smiles of the torch bearers are occaisionally broken into looks of terror as protestors attempt to extinguish the flame.
How can you smile? How can you be so selfish?
Stand up and be counted, you cowards. Gordon Brown should have rejected this but he lives in fear of any reaction from the Chinese government. You see, Mr Brown, you are not so different from the Tibeten exiles now, are you?
This is disgusting.
there have been days and
there have been nights
and somedays
that is all there has been.
there have also been
days where i
have noticed
the smaller things; the love,
the laughter,
the joy
and the hope,
but they are
few in number
and the bad
days flood the calendars,
the diaries
and the schedules.
