Dear Joe...
See Gnolls
Dear Joe,
I am sorry to bother you at the pub like this, but I was told this was the
best place to look for you. The second place was down at Shaun's laundry
room, but I figured I shouldn't bother you while you were doing your
chores. Now, I just wanted to say I know I wrote some not-so-nice things
about you on the Internet, and I know you were surprised since I used to
be your biggest fan and everything, but I just wanted to say that I just
write those posts in anger. Why was I angry, you may ask? Maybe cause
being a Clash/Joe Strummer fan means being jerked around and lied to
endlessly. I mean you guys are worse than the fucking Red Sox! (By the
way, The Red Sox are a baseball team who torture their fans every year by
dying in the fall or in the post-season. Have a yank explain it to you).
Now, I just wanted to let you know that I promise to take all that stuff
back and go back to writing nice things about you IF YOU JUST MAKE A
FUCKING RECORD! JUST ONE LOUSY STINKING GODAMNED RECORD!! WHAT THE HELL'S
THE MATTER WITH YOU, YOU LAZY, LIMEY PIECE OF ...
Sorry.
Anyway, just peel yourself off your stool and get your ass into a studio
and make a good record. It doesn't have to be a great one. Just a good
one. Just a little bit better than Earthquake Weather. OK? Thanks....
Feel free to write back.
Jeff Dove
seeg...@aol.com (See Gnolls) writes:
>Dear Joe,
>Sorry.
Is this guy a stalker? He sounds obsessed.
--
JEFF DOVE jeff...@1000klub.com jeff...@well.com
* finger jeff...@1000klub.com for my tape trading list
* Enter the Funhouse! - http://www.well.com/user/jeffdove
Clash Zone (graphic disc. + live show archive) - Sleaze Zone - 1000 Klub
ChrstphrDW
...by your own admission, you have run from one extreme to the other:
first you idolized the clash, and now you denounce them. I don't think
the problem is with the band. I think the problem is with you.
You've said a lot of stupid things in the last few days, and I hardly
know where to begin to address them. Without a doubt, your most glaring
error is that you confuse an artist's personal morals with the quality of
their art.
I judge the Clash on their albums and live performances first, and
their personal short comings second. I'm not saying the band never did or
said anything stupid. I just don't really care. The fact of the matter
is, social conscience, integrity, manners or whatever has fuck all to do
with talent. This may be bitterly ironic considering the band and their
message, but it is true.
Throughout history, the most (seemingly) unsavory individuals have
produced brilliant music and writings. If Joe Strummer does drugs all day
and chases models all night, it does not lower the quality of "White Man
in Hammersmith Palais", or "Straight to Hell". (Some people hate the
Jews: doesn't mean they can't be brilliant artists. Some consider
homosexuality a moral deviance: doesn't mean homosexuals can't be
brilliant artists.) The fact that the Clash were often writing socially
conscience music while sinning themselves may be ironic, but it changes
nothing. I wouldn't trust an artist with morals, anyway: give me a dope
peddling transvestite any day.
True, you may not think "White Man" et al is first rate art. Well, I
do and I'm really smart. Given your many brainfarts in your recent posts,
I frankly discount your opinion.
I realize the band was often vague or contradictory about their
political positions (as are most people). So what? Even if the band did
not have a 14 point plan for ending poverty, London's Burning would still
forcefully expresses the emptiness and apathy of 1977 and 1997. I
remember reading something once: Joe was asked in an interview about the
band's politics and position on revolution and violence and everything,
and he answered that all they had was some guitars and drums. They didn't
own any machine guns. All they could do was try and create an enviroment
for change. They taught me a lot about a lot of different things, and I
bet they did the same for you, too. If you want consistent political
philosophy, go read Plato. If you really thought the band was going to
lead some sort of world revolution, you are awfully dumb. (And I have to
say I wonder at your list of 'intellectuals'. Michael Stipe?)
You said a bunch of other silly things, but I'll let them go except for
two too standout to ignore. You sneer at the Clash as 'pub rockers',
lacking musical talent. Huh. You mean they were punks?
Second, I have to wonder why you WANT Joe to go back in the studio if
you think he is such a low brow, no talent, politically inconsistent hack.
I could write a lot more, but it seems pointless. I do wonder though
why you are hanging out in a newsgroup for a band you say you hate. So
you can destroy everyone else's faith? Or regain your own?
And to everyone else, sorry this was so long....
Christopher
See Gnolls
Actually, Chrissie, I am trying to get a little excitement going on a
lame-ass newsgroup. I am sick of scanning alt.clash and seeing nonsense
and top 10 lists. and judging by your post my strategy to stir the pot was
successful....
Jek533
seeg...@aol.com (See Gnolls) wrote:
> . . . being a Clash/Joe Strummer fan means being jerked around and lied
to
>endlessly. I mean you guys are worse than the fucking Red Sox!
No no no, not worse than the Red Sox. I don't think even worse than the
Mets.
phl...@wwa.com
Good post, though I doubt seegnolls sincerity.
rom
chrst...@aol.com (ChrstphrDW) wrote:
>...by your own admission, you have run from one extreme to the other:
>first you idolized the clash, and now you denounce them. I don't think
>the problem is with the band. I think the problem is with you.
-snip-
>Christopher
JT BCSound
In article <51nmod$2...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, jek...@aol.com (Jek533)
writes:
>No no no, not worse than the Red Sox. I don't think even worse than the
>Mets.
>
>
Well, at least you didn't mention the Tigers. :)
JT BCSound
In article <51nmbc$1...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, chrst...@aol.com
(ChrstphrDW) writes:
> I wouldn't trust an artist with morals, anyway: give me a dope
>peddling transvestite any day.
Take it then you distrust every thing Barbra Strisand and Jane Fonda say
politically? I know I do!
Scott Davis
Actually, for the record, I kinda agree with you on the original
"Ex-Clash fan post." Nowadays I only listen to music for the enjoyment.
If I want politics or social commentary, there's always PBS...It's not
as if rock bands have anything relevant to say about politics anyway.
ChrstphrDW
In article <51nq1n$3...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, seeg...@aol.com (See
Gnolls) writes:
>Actually, Chrissie, I am trying to get a little excitement going on a
>lame-ass newsgroup. I am sick of scanning alt.clash and seeing nonsense
>and top 10 lists. and judging by your post my strategy to stir the pot
was
>successful....
>
>
Chrissie? (Like Chrissie Snow?) Whatever...
Well, that was certainly a clever trick, but now that you have revealed
yourself, things will slip back into tedium. HA! Your plan is foiled!
I'd like to usher in the new era of ennui by giving my even numbered
list of favorite clash songs:
2-The Right Profile
4-Hitsville UK
6-Lover's Rock
8-Overpowered by Funk
...and last but not least...
10-the Sandanista version of 'Career Opportunities'
Christopher