October 28, 2007
For this week’s Poetry Train, Rhian asked us to come up with scary stuff. This situation, based on real-life happenings, has been giving me nightmares. Pretty scary.
Now listen up, girls and boys. We got a problem on our hands and it’s up to us music lovers to solve it.
Most of you know ’bout that chain of live music joints called Castle of Tunes. It’s a good chain; they ain’t the problem here, so don’t go burn them down. Good people work for them. They open their doors to bands you probably ain’t heard of yet, and they make sure the bands come from all walks of life and on one night or another, they try to suit the music fix for every single person on the planet. Castle of Tunes just might take over the world but that ain’t the problem here.
The problem starts with the people who own the land some Castles sit on. Those people decided that certain bands — like Hammerhead or Deadly Metal Hatchet, Carrion or Bitterness — don’t have the family values that the big, land-owning corporations like. That those bands I just mentioned, they aren’t good enough for people who spend money at the big corporation’s theme parks, movies, books, and all the other things they try to make us buy.
You see, music lovers. I know you do. They’ve crossed the line. They’ve gone from suggesting what we should buy to telling us what we can’t buy. Which in this case, that be music. Live music. The kind that feels good and is loud and ugly and noisy and some of it’s Satanic and some of it’s violent and Lord knows that in the case of Hammerhead, it’s sexual, too. Some of it’s the sort you wouldn’t be caught dead listening to. And some of it, you can’t get enough of.
That scares the big corporation people. So much that they won’t let these bands play in the places built on land they own. Because, you know, someone might have fun or find some sort of inner peace or something from music they don’t approve of. God forbid.
Music lovers, it’s time for us to stand up and put an end to this. Unless you’re under eighteen, no one’s got a right to tell you what you can and can’t listen to, and if you’re under eighteen, take a few minutes and educate those people who think they’re your dictators. You never know where a new fan will come from.
The big corporation’s gonna refuse to be educated. We gotta deal with them the way our parents dealt with us when we were kids and we were bad: ignore ’em. Ignore their movies, their theme parks, their cute cartoons and those stuffed animals you guys like to give us girls. Spend your money on the bands. Buy t-shirts. See if the boys in Deadly Metal Hatchet will stuff a Hatchet, and give that to your girl. It’ll hurt less when she uses it on you.
Take yourself to the other clubs. If you hear a band’s been thrown out of Castle of Tunes, go see ’em at the place that’s got the nerve to take ’em in. Make sure that place earns lots of bucks from that show. Let the corporation see how much green stuff they lost. Make ’em understand that they can’t control us music fans.
We got the power on this one, boys and girls. Let’s use it. And once you do, be sure to lobby for ol’ Chelle here. She might be out of a job once the big bosses at the Trumpet read this piece. That’s okay. Chelle’s got to fight. ‘Cause once people stop bands from comin’ ’round town, Chelle’s gonna be out of a job anyway.
Want more Chelle?
Here’s her bio.
The first Chelle piece: Jock La Feet
Bitty Bands
Jill
October 28, 2007 8:08 pm
What about freedom of expression???BR/Those damn stupid guys!! Don’t they know they live in America??
bunnygirl
October 28, 2007 10:18 pm
You go, Chelle! Scary, indeed!
Ann
October 28, 2007 10:38 pm
Yup, that was quite scary. Happy Halloween!
Tempest Knight
October 28, 2007 11:30 pm
You go Chelle! Fight for your rights!
julia
October 29, 2007 12:02 am
“See if the boys in Deadly Metal Hatchet will stuff a Hatchet, and give that to your girl. It’ll hurt less when she uses it on you.”BR/LOL! Good idea, Chelle. Corporations definitely shrivel in terror at the idea of their financial quarter showing anything but a gain. Scare em silly! Buy band stuff!
gautami tripathy
October 29, 2007 12:13 am
That is scary! Way to go, chelle!!BR/BR/:D
Rhian
October 29, 2007 8:09 am
oh yeah – i can relate to this one. Fortunately in a similar fight here it looks like i’ve convinced the “powers that be,” that an Arts Organization that represents the ENTIRE arts community CANNOT align themselves under the mission of a religious organization that reserves the right to determine what is suitable and not suitable for visual, music and theatrical performances. Free space is nice, but at what cost. Two years arguing for no censureship of the arts… and last week it was agreed that free performance space, free exhibit space, free office space was not worth compromising integral values. Yay smart people in the community!
Breeni Books
October 29, 2007 9:31 am
That is scary! And sometimes we come way too close to it in reality!
Red Garnier
October 29, 2007 9:35 am
*Red under the blankets* Scary!!BR/BR/And you GO, CHELLE. Fight baby! 😉
Bob-kat
October 29, 2007 9:58 am
There is nothing more scary that censorship from people who are only in it for the money. All they wnat to do is control us and that is scarier still. As you, say it is real, it is happening, right now and in this world. We need more Chelle’s!BR/BR/BTW – this reminded me also a bit of when I wasa teenager and started to listen to Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Metallica and their ilk. My parents did not approve!
Susan Helene Gottfried
October 29, 2007 11:04 am
My parents *still* don’t approve, Bob-Kat. BR/BR/And guys, this is real. It’s happening. I’ll post links later today or tomorrow, so you can see for yourself.
STAK
October 29, 2007 1:50 pm
What you’re describing is especially scary to me…….we’re only just now getting from underneath record companies……..
karen!
October 29, 2007 3:12 pm
My Chelle 😀
Danika / OpenChannel
October 29, 2007 3:43 pm
I read your note on Stak’s blog that said this was real? I’ve never heard of Castle of Tunes – or is that a made up name for the real place?BR/BR/I’m not surprised, though. Saddened, but not surprised. There’s a pervasive conservatism in the U.S. and too much corporate control and influence.
Susan Helene Gottfried
October 29, 2007 3:45 pm
Castle of Tunes is my fictional equivalent of the real thing, yes. Hardly veiled, but oh, well. Sue me; I could use the publicity!
Amy Ruttan
October 29, 2007 7:41 pm
Woohoo for Chelle!!BR/BR/Excellent Poetry Train post.
Christine d'Abo
October 29, 2007 8:56 pm
Chelle rocks!! Fight the good fight!
Christine d'Abo
October 29, 2007 8:56 pm
Chelle rocks!! Fight the good fight!
Christine d'Abo
October 29, 2007 8:56 pm
Chelle rocks!! Fight the good fight!
david mcmahon
October 29, 2007 10:50 pm
Hi Susan,BR/BR/36 hours to go until deadline …. will I make it?BR/BR/Will I keep my reputation as the bloke who NEVER misses a deadline?BR/BR/!!!!!!BR/BR/Suspense …..
FRIGGA
October 29, 2007 11:15 pm
Ooohh politics thrown in! I see the first commenter, Jill, says freedom of expression. However, private land means freedom of expression for the owner. I respect that. Besides, I prefer my hard stuff to be played at a whole in the wall, not a corporate place. 😛