Music and Bombs

Driving to work today I made an all too frequent mistake of turning on the radio when the BBC world news is airing. I’m not one to turn my cheek to the tumultuous affairs that happen on this Earth but I at least deserve my morning cup of coffee before being subjected to a mudslide of media doom, gloom, and gore. Bombs are going off in taxis, suicide bombers are getting onto crowded buses in Jerusalem, and religious extremist women and children are suiting up with plastic explosive vests and walking into crowded hotel lobbies to detonate their payload of anger toward fellow humans. It’s a damn shame that such diverse and abstract concepts as religion can motivate people to intentionally harm their brothers and sisters on this planet.

After arriving at work with my steaming cup of Joe sitting on my desk I find more disheartening news in the music industry that I have reported on earlier in this column. Cuban musicians Ibrahim Ferrer, Chucho Valdes and Cuban group Los Van Van, three nominees for the September 3rd Latin Grammy Awards will not be able to attend the gala event because of stringent processes set up by the US State Department. Apparently, The ‘GW Gump’ Administration has been stepping up its resurrected ‘Cold War’ tactics by intensifying the process by which Cubans gain passage into the USA by tying up paperwork and investigations that could take up to two months before clearance is granted. All of this is due to the paranoid visions of our government that Cuba is still financially backing global terrorist efforts. Read Full Story HERE

This situation, which could easily be rectified by ‘GW Gump’ himself, is an absolute tragedy to musicians and to all artists worldwide. ‘Road Map to Peace’? How about extending your hand to three legendary musical artists and help them on their journey for recognition they fully deserve? I can’t believe the American public allowed such a foolish, bumbling, idiot into office. Are you going to let it happen again? You may have to put your remote control or Game Boy down for an hour to vote and make a stand this election, people. If all the music fans got together to help put these antiquated, outmoded, 1950’s idealist numbskulls out of their leather chairs in Washington maybe we could help turn this planet into a place where music is heard and not the sound of bombs…..

S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Questions or Comments: editor@phreshwater.com

Full Bluntal Ignorance

Ted Nugent, Seventies Rock Icon turned NRA zealot and poster boy, has recently filed a lawsuit against the town of Muskegon, Michigan for canceling his upcoming concert in June. Apparently, Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax, morning talk show hosts on radio station KRFX-FM, ended the interview in progress with Ted after he made several racial slurs against Asians and African Americans. Nugent claimed that the cancellation of the June 30th concert “damaged his reputation and career”, according to a statement issued by his attorney. Full story HERE

I guess if you were encumbered by the same massive ego as Ted Nugent then it would be hard to understand why an entire city wouldn’t want you and your ignorant, loin-clothed, bigoted mouth making a public appearance. Does he think we are all complete idiots when we listen to his lyrics in ‘Stranglehold’ and don’t notice the outright degradation and references to violence against women?

Let’s get real, brothers and sisters. Ted needs to get a grip on reality and stop bitching and whining when his mouth gets his ass in trouble. My two year old is light years ahead of Mr. Nugent in intelligence, composure, and respect for the other inhabitants of this planet. Ted’s back-ass values and blatant disregard for anyone who doesn’t agree with his platform of “Kill it before you grill it” just makes me sick. You got asked to not appear in concert, Ted, because you are a disgrace to our society that has evolved beyond your shallow perceptions of our planet that is searching for peace.


S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Questions or Comments: editor@phreshwater.com

Chalkdust Torture

I was poking through the Music News last night on the ‘Net like probing a bowl of spaghetti with a fork in search of the last remnant of a meatball. Suddenly, out of the piles of hype and fluff, appeared a headline that made my head spin in wonderment: ‘Phish Bassist Arrested for Child Endangerment’. You can imagine the shock of hearing that Mike Gordon could be into a major mess involving a child. I clicked quickly on the link and read the story. A sense of relief came over me as I finally came to the bottom of the article which read: ‘A joint statement released by Gordon and the girl's family reads, "We have had several discussions regarding the situation that occurred at Jones Beach. It is now clear to all involved that this was an unfortunate misunderstanding, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us."

I should probably do Phish and Mike Gordon a huge favor by not even mentioning this again in the press. But, my point in doing so is to point out that the core of this story, which held the truth, was eclipsed by the impending sense of doom in the headline itself. What idiot decides that this manure can get served to the public?

This is the difference between the Independent Press, like ourselves and others ventures on the ‘Net and print, and the mindless dolts who make a living by turning a harmless situation into a ‘Breaking Story’ that could cause irreparable damage to another persons social life and not to mention their career. Just look at the headline and then the article. The body of the story, which is Mike Gordon is cleared of accusations, cancels and nullifies the Headline itself! Lenny Bruce would have a field day with this material! I guess you don’t need to take a class in common sense in order to get your degree in journalism either.

So, before you go to class this morning or hit the Phantasy Tour forum you know the truth from the bullshit and can help the music fan community from spreading rumors. Please remember, in this fast paced world where you are expected to toss your brain out the window as soon as you roll out of bed, to not scan the headlines and inadvertently continue a trail of slime created by some lame-brain sitting in a high rise capitalizing on disinformation.

S. Remington – Editor
PhreshWater.com
Questions or Comments: editor@phreshwater.com