Re-The Supreme Court Decision

What can we do collectively? Democrats are weak because so many of them are women. Women are weak because they historically have been kept isolated one per home and so have not learned how to take collective action. They have been pitted against one another since childhood in the competition for the best husbands and so have not learned how to form powerful, efficacious alliances. All that has changed drastically in my own lifetime. Birth control freed women from involuntary childbearing. With that freedom, we have altered the world so much that we are provoking more and more extreme reactions, but there is no putting our genius back in the bottle.

Paula Franceschi

________________________________________

I am so disinterested in Party Democrats telling me how bad the Republicans are.
I know that, they've proven to me for decades.

I put blame on my two Arizona Democrat Senators

One a belligerent.
Sinema took Biden's policy and turned it into a "half-a-structure" bill delaying it 6 months so candidates can't run on a result,
just an idea and a series of road barricades gumming up the roads this summer.

Mark Kelly mostly silent, starting any statement with an attempt to reach a mythical GOP cross over voter

These elected Democrats disrespect the very people who voted, turned up, knocked on doors in 100º+ heat, donated.
I wouldn't piss on them to put out a flame.

The issues of import are unaddressed, they work hard to move public money into the hands of private "partners"

& work to weaken the policies we put them in D.C. to support, criticizing the Biden Harris Administration's policy proposals

That other passport gives our family an out, and I'll have a spare room for you

Cheers, TS Bitterman

________________________________________

Let's start w/ a hard push against the right's promotional engine, Fox News Channel (FNC). If you calculate the dollar value of the editorial bs fed by FNC to the American public, much under the guise of "opinion journalism," it's annually in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We bitch and moan about Twitter feeding the trough of misinformation, but it's nothing compared to the biased, prejudicial, inflammatory rhetoric of the FOX state news channel. There's been attempts to boycott FNC's advertisers' products, but the network derives most of its revenue, not from advertising, but from affiliate fee compensation from the lines of Charter, Comcast, AT&T, etc. That's right, a few dollars every month from your cable or telco bill is paid directly into the coffers at FNC, whether you watch the channel or not.  Yep, if you're getting FNC on your system, than YOU (likely unknowingly) are a direct financial contributor to the network's disgusting, divisive rhetoric.  Everyone should explore what chunk of their monthly cable or telco bill is being paid to FNC, and they should deduct that dollar amount from their bill.  In the early 1980's, "I Want My MTV" was a highly successful campaign in driving network distribution and carriage for Viacom. It's time for an "I Don't Want My Fox News Channel" campaign, with a call to action asking subscribers to deduct each month the dollar amount from their bill that's going to FNC. We need to end this insanity, and the power of the purse is the best way to do so. 

Stuart K. Marvin

________________________________________

Once again you nailed it Bob. We need a national strike. No going to work, No spending money until the choice of whether or not to carry a fetus to term, to jeopardize one's health and well being, is considered a right of privacy, of body autonomy, that is solely between a pregnant person and their Healthcare provider. Period. 

We certainly can't depend on the devil's spawn that comprises the majority of our Supreme Court to protect us so we must demand legislation. NOW. Hoping for a movement. Hoping for some inspiration from our democratic leaders. This is why we elected them right?? 

And companies that reside in "trigger" states should move. Don't send your child to a college in any state that doesn't protect this basic human right. Don't attend a convention in those states. The only way to facilitate change it seems is through the Almighty dollar as hearts have been hardened. If we can't get this country back on an enlightened humanistic course, and soon, we really will become a fascist state.

My daughter is in Berlin, Germany on a post graduation vacation this week and I honestly wonder if she would be better off staying there, my Jewish child, in Germany. That says it all. 

Lisa Marks

________________________________________

Politically the US is in a bad spiral...

In the 50s the National Party in South Africa used political maneuvering, racist fears and religious rhetoric to launch and maintain an entrenched and unrepresentative Christian nationalist government. It took 50 years to end it, and South Africa's people will be dealing with the scars across their society for hundreds of years to come. 

In the 2020s the Republican Party in the United States is using political maneuvering, racist fears and religious rhetoric to launch and maintain an entrenched and unrepresentative Christian nationalist government. Who knows how long, and what it will take to end it. Who knows how many hundreds of years it will take for the US' people to deal with the scars across their society this will bring about. 

History repeats itself. 

Bruce Mackenzie

________________________________________

There's no hope as long as the same people continue to be in power and continue to do the same thing.  What's that they say about insanity?  As usual, democrats are running around screaming and yelling and just reacting.  They have no idea how to play the game.  The republicans have been patiently, slowly and methodically working their angles for fifty years while the democrats have been oblivious. And everyone is just shocked.  It's ridiculous and embarrassing.  When they go low, we go high?  Are you kidding?? It's time for everyone to realize when they go low, we have to kick them in the balls. Until we get leaders like that, we are doomed.  

Wendy Leitman

________________________________________

There is no stupider slogan in 21st century politics than "When they go low, we go high." When we go high, we get fucking blown away. How about, "When they go low, we CURB THEIR FUCKING TEETH"?

Paul Slansky

________________________________________

The answer is in Lysistrata. Women should stop letting men have sex with them until they change the law.

Gary Stockdale

________________________________________

I am sending your essay to all my clients and fellow operatives.

I have a been a political consultant for Democrats for nearly 30 years, and yes, too many of my brethren are trapped in the past.

You are 100% correct. We need to take action. We must bring the fight to every place, where we live our lives - our families, our workspaces, our dinner parties, our barstools, our stages, our songs, our comedy, our keyboards (both computers and Hammond b3s.)

I think a national strike day for the two most important issues guns and choice would be a good start.

Recently I have studying what Little Steven Van Zandt did to rally others to fight apartheid. 

As they sang in Sun City:

It's time to accept our responsibility

Freedom is a privilege nobody rides for free

Look around the world baby it cannot be denied

Some-somebody tell me why are we always on the wrong side.

Thanks 

Kevin Lampe 
Kurth Lampe Worldwide

________________________________________

Let's be real -- a country ruled by minority with its disproportionate Senate and gerrymandered Congress; ruled by unelected 'judges' empowered to 'create laws' even though they lied under oath and were appointed by men who lost the popular vote over decades -- has no path  forward. None.
 
 When 75 % or more of the people want a given thing for their country and have no legislative path to get it, democracy has ended.

The system has collapsed.

 Millions of people living unhoused on streets is not the fault of a party or a politician. It is a 'result' -- of a broken socio-economic system that fell apart ages ago, along with all the other unfixable shit like medical bankruptcy and creeps running around with machine guns.

 I said this when Biden was elected and I repeat: 
 His win was a mere respite from Tinyhands' dementia. Nothing more. 

 What we have at the moment is a little time -- to get affairs in order, decide if this is really where you wanna live, or not. Sweeping changes are complex -- and ofc many do not have the means -- but for those who do but are for now simply considering maybe not sending their kid to Vanderbilt or University Texas Austin, understand that staying out of red states won't be enough. 

Deb Wilker

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Bob, when you first proposed a national strike a few months ago it resonated with me. Between the 1/6 hearings and today's scotus bullshit, I'm ready to participate and actively implore others to as well. Where will the leadership come from?? I'd suggest the platform should include reform to voters rights, gun restrictions, and abortions. Not sure anything else is that universally agreed upon, but a small limited number of items and concrete demands is the way to go. I'm ready, and I think enough of the general population is as well. The pols will get in line right quick once corporate America tells them to. Let's do this.

Leonardo Dosoretz

________________________________________

You are correct in suggesting we need to make those States that outlaw abortion an economic target. Protesting is passé, but voting is still a must. Especially if we can get the Millennials and GenZs to get to the polls in significant numbers. So let's make them hurt.

We need an 'Ain't Gonna Play Sun City' moment. All artists (sans Nugent and Kid Rock) must refrain from touring any of those States. Make those places complete cultural wastelands. 

And I put my money where my mouth is. Today we pulled out of an event scheduled in Dallas Texas later this Summer. We will have a values test to any company needs for all future events.

Christian Swain
CEO Pantheon Podcast

________________________________________

I spent decades bandaging the wrists of the children & adults dumped in the foster care system
because their parents simply had no access to birth control

Party of values 

BULLSHIT

There's no compassion or heart there!

They didn't care about the families they tortured by tearing children from their desperate parents at the border

They don't care about the youth LGBTQ suicide rate

They don't care about the death penalty…. Oh that life… Nope zap em. 
But life begins at… NEVERMIND. I didn't mean THAT. MAKE IT HURT.

But we know this isn't really about life anyway

Its about how low vile people stoop to lather up votes

Call the strike Bob

Set it up

Tell your followers it's damn time to spread the word

I'm in

& I KNOW I'm not alone

& personally I'd add: 

Time for all of the women of America to close their legs until someone pays attention

Time to flush these disgusting no-values maggoty-assed-turd pies down the bowl 

AmenDammit

Annie Wenz
Horrified Musician/ & former Psych RN

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1.  The generation in power is the 60's and 70's generation.  Enlightened youth!  Flower Power!   What happened to them?

2.  We were taught in school that our system was the best.  Checks and balances.  Now, in the age of social media and Citizens United, maybe we're wrong.   Interesting article in the Times  about Europe and other nations parliamentary systems where the regime voted in can effectively pass laws reflecting the will of the majority…should we be looking at that?

3.  Our country is divided.  Should it break up?  Let the gun owners kill themselves in the their states and need a passport to come to states where gun laws are restricted.  The south fought, died, over the right to have slaves!   Will gun ownership be the cause of the next civil war?

4.  The people most detrimentally effected  by the Roe overturn are poor.  The divide between rich and poor in this country has become unhealthy.  Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg can easily set up a fund to help these poor women. 

David Ehrlich

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A national strike I think is right.  If they outlaw contraception, let's all go turn ourselves in.  That's one way to gum up the works.

catmonster

________________________________________

woke up in bali, turn on tv, see news, turn on phone, text from Aussie friend says between Jan 6, gun rights and now abortion, your country is totally fucked. surprised more people have not left like you. I said, I know....

Brian Barry Esq. now in Bali

________________________________________

Thank you for calling it out, Bob. 
All of the Democratic leadership benefits from the same corporate grift as the GOP. Remember Citizens United? 
How many Americans even know what that is. 
The left representation is equality as insulated, as entitled, as privileged as the right.
They can pay for their private abortions, security, education, LGBTQ privileges regardless of party.
They only represent most Americans in platform only. Lip service. 
Joel Messerer in SF

________________________________________

It's sickening how right you are, Bob. 

Sickening because it cuts to the core of why we are no longer the United states of America.

I think a core issue is simply both uneven distribution of wealth and education.

We've now got about 5% of America who are disengaged in every way from "average" Americans. Their kids go to private schools, one of the biggest factors in destroying empathy with the other 5%. They get to school in new SUVs and then socialize only with kids just like them.

Then, there are religious schools - which are anti-science and which encourage an us vs. them mentality, with savage discrimination against "sinners", which is most of America. The socialization is the same as private schools. 

Not long ago, one of the things that kept America together was that most kids went to local schools and rubbed shoulders with each other. 

It appears that no one has the guts to point at private and religious schools as a serious factor in our divide. Not the NY Times and especially those who are in the 5%. And, those who use those schools don't want to change. This politicized Supreme Court is making sure they don't have to.

John Parikhal

________________________________________

There is nothing here I disagree with. And you referred to Dem leadership, sadly there isn't any. 
We missed out 2 years ago when we could have taken a Katie Porter, or AOC and set them up for long term success but we haven't. Coons? A dem Governor? Who runs in 2024 for potus? We don't have anyone! It's an embarrassment.

Best shot we have is with Amy Klobuchar… I know I'm in the minority but she has what it takes but is slandered as not being charismatic enough. She is. We do need a Hail Mary …
Andrew Zimmern

________________________________________

I'm trying desperately to hang onto hope myself, Bob. I can no longer count the times I've heard my left friends say - but you can't do that. Sometimes even - but you can't say that. My response - then you better get used to losing. 

Barry McCabe

________________________________________

Can you imagine Apple or Amazon being run by Pelosi and/or Schumer? Of course not.  The Democratic party doesn't fire or demote the inept.  It's the Peter Principle.  
Dems need youth, minorities, progressives, and the educated to get fired up.  Good luck!!

Cliff Keller

________________________________________

Democrats shill; Republicans kill.

Andrew Loog Oldham

________________________________________

+1 with you all the way.  What kind of eclipse do they call it when maga+Christian right + all gop (minus rino) own the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court and the White House? Certainly something more grand and ominous than a Green Bay sweep,  Maybe it's something akin to what Dylan said—ie, "it's not dark yet but it's gettin' there." And...Who have the Dems got for 2024 to carry a new mantle, a new torch—the kind of torch I harassed my Dad about when Kennedy was running in 1960 and i was 8 yrs old.  Certainly not the incumbent VP and POTUS.  And, not anyone else I can think of who may be chomping at the bit.  So there's no farm team, no strategically organized grass roots…WTF?!  We both know it hasn't been for want of $.  So…I say that if adversity is the mother of invention, now's the time for full on Dem "Marshall plan".  If i we're guiding Dems, I would get strategists who are familiar with the political equivalent of long term Chinese economic plans—you know, the 10 or 20 or 50 year plans.  And, I'd run two fully funded scenarios going forward.  Going all out with the best most enlightened approach one can muster for 2022 and 2024, but also,for 2026 and 2028 which assumes that the two priors are a wipe out. Because they probably will be. How'd we get here? That's beyond the scope of this reply but not difficult to diagram.  Bob…thanks for your voice.

Burt Berman

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Red + White + Blue = Ignorance 

This is now our brand…and it sucks.

Jesse Guglielmo

________________________________________

So many spot on and poignant memes today. This country is truly going backward. And the shared thoughts from a posthumous George Carlin that conservatives care so much about a fetus but once you're grown, you can FUCK right off. We used to be the land of the free, now it doesn't feel so much that way. So anyone can buy a gun and shoot up a school but a woman can't get a legal abortion? Feeling the whole "let's move to Canada" thing coming on again...

Danny Jay

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Thanks Bob. 
I live in deep Southern Illinois, close to the confluence of The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. 
Illinois is blue, but down here is dark red-80% for Mar-a-lardo. 
I contact our US Rep. Mike Bost often. He has NEVER once responded.  He is a part of the big lie and brought the Felon in Chief to town. 
I really don't know what to do either. I'm not giving up though. 
DW Davis
Carbondale 

________________________________________

This is what happens when you vote in moderate corporate Democrats who play to compromise instead of win. 

McConnell doesn't give a fuck and gets what he wants. 

Dave Conklin

________________________________________

By every measure and index this is a 60-40 progressive nation and we should start acting like it. 
Dems should stop worrying about "taking the high road" and take any road that gets us to where we want to go. 
Texas wants to secede? Let them go and while we're at it let the entire Red South go. 
They're always first in taking federal aid and last in contributing to the Treasury. 
And last in literacy and education. 
That will never change. 
They want to live in 1958? 
Let 'em go back there right now. 
Nobody with working brain cells will miss them for a minute. 

Stephen Dessau

________________________________________

I've never been and never will be the smartest guy in the room. However, I've been saying this for years:  The Democrats need to learn to fight back and stop being pussies. Yeah, I said it. Pussies.
Wimps. Doormats. Punching bags. Whatever you wanna call it. We need a fighter who pushes back and isn't afraid of slinging mud and getting dirty. Otherwise, we're all doomed and so is the future of this country. Who is this person? Hopefully they show up and soon.

Russ Turk

________________________________________

The problem is that there are no strategic thinkers on the left to whom the establishment (or the far left) listens to, worth 10c. There are some very smart and successful political strategists on the anti-rump right who would be willing to help but the Dem center is too afraid of the far-left wing to hire them and listen to them. Obsessing about LGBTQ+/- rights and supporting wokism, etc., are losing propositions for the Democrats, but the leadership simply does not have the spine and guts to acknowledge it. 

The other sad fact is that the left, especially the far-left, still adulates Obama, who actually played a significant role in creating our present-day problems. 

The bottom line is that for the short and even medium term the situation is pretty hopeless. You cannot win if you always play defense, especially if you are weak/meek in playing defense, which is what the Dems have been doing for decades. 

All the best: Thomas S

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This what happens when you sit on your ass and don't go out to vote and a inept person like Trump gets into the White House ~ 

Now Hillary Clinton wasn't my first choice but when she became my only choice I recognized it and voted for her ~ Some of you democrats were Hillary Haters and didn't bother to go out and vote ~ Well look at the trouble we are in now ~ That's one step forward and two steps back ~ Look even Trump was surprised he didn't think he'd win either ~ 

I'm not going to believe the Lame Stream Media and say we (Democrats) will all be losers in the up coming elections ~ I'm going to get out the vote ~ Talk to all my like minded voters even those who aren't like minded and tell them what at stake here in 2022 ~ Life is to short but think of your children ( I don't have any) and what kind of mess we have left the environment in and who we want to Captain this ship we are all on ~ 

OMT ~ When Obama left office Trump was left with a booming economy ~ His inaction regarding the Pandemic and the Tax Break for the rich left the economy limping which Biden inherited ~ He has no control of the price of gas much like Jimmy Carter and that just might be his doom as well but if he does decide to run again I'll have his back ~ Once bitten twice shy ~ I'm not stupid ~ 

Regards ~

Rock Singer ~ 

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Now that Roe has been overturned and Thomas hints that he'd overturn gay marriage and contraception too, it's time to overturn "Loving vs VA" that overturned interracial marriage ban. Then Clarence & Ginni marriage can be canceled and they both can go fuck themselves!

Michael Fremer

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I love your efforts, Bob, even though it appears to be pointless. The zealots are winning and may have already won. 

At least you're going down swinging. (Like Sonny Liston)

Patrick Donahue

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The United States. Once so very much the ideal for me. Since Bonanza, since the hippie era, since whatever. Now so hopelessly behind in everything. Scary even. I will never visit again. Good luck. 

Lars Nylin, Stockholm, Sweden.

________________________________________

Look at the bright side: the more abortions they can stop, the more kids there'll be  to shoot at in the schools. 

Isaac Marr

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A Book And A Movie

THE LATECOMER

https://amzn.to/3u1Id02

This book is so good...

That I don't want to tell you a single thing about it.

Now it's fiction. So for those looking for instructions, the tome of a billionaire, this is not where you want to go. And if you're looking for mystery, or macho, this is not a genre book. What it is is a story of a family, over generations. But it's different from those heavy, multi-decade slogs. There are twists and turns, unexpected things happen. But mostly, you can relate, if not to individual characters, then the humanity.

"The Latecomer" is not highbrow, but it's not lowbrow either.

It's not short, it's long enough for you to marinate and luxuriate in.

This is what you're looking for in a reading experience, at least I am. Something that calls out to you, that you can't wait to get back to, that is better than almost everything else happening in your everyday life.

It's an adventure, it's a journey.

You'll be hooked right way...

Or you won't.

I was surprised I got into it from the very first page. For a minute there, about two-thirds through, I thought it was going to disappoint me, but then it got back up to speed and... I wish there were more books like this.

CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH

https://bit.ly/3buXsIv

This is the Sundance hit that was purchased by Apple for $15 million.

If you don't have an Apple TV+ account already I do not recommend signing up just for this. But if you do...

Do you like Duplass Brothers movies?

It started a while back with Mumblecore. Greta Gerwig crossed over from that genre. These are films about people, situations, they aren't made to be blockbusters and they aren't. But they resonate the way most big screen product does not.

So what we've got here is an auteur... Cooper Raiff. Who wrote, directed and stars in the film. Unfortunately, he's the worst actor in it, he's pretty good, but sometimes when he leans his head sideways and smiles...well, let's just say that he does that too much.

As for the rest of the cast...

Dakota Johnson is a phenomenal actress. I know she's Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson's daughter. But I never saw her in "Fifty Shades of Grey," I haven't seen almost all of her filmography. But she caught my eye in "The Lost Daughter," she stood out in a cast of much better known actors. I did research after watching this flick and it turns out she's Chris Martin's girlfriend of a couple of years, and she was even a model, and she certainly is good-looking, but that's not what seals the deal. It's in her eyes, her smile, the way she looks directly at you, the way she inhabits the character, the way she's alive. She seems like a girl you went to high school with. Who was not the icon, the good-looking prom queen, but somebody you had classes with, who was approachable, who you knew, who you didn't get anxious hanging around.

So what we've got here is twenty two year old Andrew, who has just graduated from college and is clueless about where he's going thereafter. He's got a Tulane girlfriend who's gone to Barcelona and he dreams of going to visit her there, but...

In the meantime he's got a minimum wage job and he's living with his mother and her new husband and his thirteen year old brother. Everybody considers him a loser. And he's not so sure himself.

You're supposed to be a world-beater. What happened to him?

His mother has compromised, married someone for security, played by Brad Garrett, who has aged and is better in this than in any other production I've ever seen him in. He's not playing broadly for laughs, like in "Everybody Loves Raymond," he's inhabiting the role of a middle-aged person with his nose to the grindstone, who is convinced he knows how life works.

And then there's the brother, David...

He wants to kiss a girl. This is so well done, he and Margaret have a relationship, which consists of dancing at Bar Mitzvah parties yet not talking. How does he bridge the gap? I remember this anxiety, and in truth I can't remember my first kiss, but what do you do, how do you do it? Just jump in, ask for permission, or wait for them to speak up, express their desire, the hurdle seems insurmountable.

And Andrew ends up as a party starter at Bar & Bat Mitzvah parties. You know, the one with the toys, who gets everybody up on the dance floor to have a good time.

And there he meets Domino.

Terrible choice of name. That's Dakota Johnson's character. She's a middle class New Jersey denizen, they have conventional names, the ones everybody else does, not monikers that connote a stripper as opposed to a housewife.

And... Andrew becomes fixated on Domino.

This is all in the hype, and it's obvious, but...

There are so many real elements.

Ever have a crush on someone older? And wonder if it's real? And then freak out when you read the signals, when you're delivered all your hopes and dreams?

This is what it's like growing up as a man.

Not the kind you see in hip-hop videos.

As a matter of fact, I don't see myself in any of today's music or films. Everybody's either macho, unable to express their inner feelings, or they're tech nerds with glasses. But a regular guy, not cool, but not an outsider, who has feelings, and is unsure of themselves... That describes most men in America, which is why this film is such a revelation, it nails this!

Come on guys, you can describe every interaction with a woman you've ever had. You didn't go on hundreds of dates, you didn't score with hundreds of women. But there were a few where it seemed there was mutuality, you felt something between the two of you, and that feels so good, you never forget it.

You might even think back and wonder if you'd played your cards differently...

Or maybe if you hooked up with them today...

But those are fairy tales. People are not static, they evolve. And the reason it didn't work out in the first place is usually the reason why it wouldn't work now. But in your mind, you savor these moments, when you think about them you feel complete, equal to any other man on the planet. Yes, that woman you desired desired you, was into you! That's better than any car, any watch, any physical object.

And this movie gets that across.

You'll laugh out loud. At least I did.

But it's not a complete comedy, there are serious elements.

It's not a Judd Apatow film, even though his wife, Leslie Mann, is in it. Apatow's films are comedies with a splash of heaviness thrown in, to make the point. Whereas as light as "Cha Cha Real Smooth" can be, there are moments of reality sprinkled throughout, this is not complete fantasy, you can see yourself, or someone like you, in the film.

In other words, this is a Duplass Brothers movie. In style. You may not have seen their films, but you might have seen their series on HBO, "Togetherness," starring Melanie Lynskey, Amanda Peet and Mark Duplass himself. That got canceled. What did Jack Nicholson say, "you can't handle the truth"?

But some people are only looking for the truth. And there is truth in "Cha Cha Real Smooth." It's imperfect, but I'd rather watch stuff like this than "Star Wars" spinoffs and Marvel movies any day of the week. As a matter of fact, I don't even bother with those productions, I don't want mindless escape, I want to feel like I'm part of the world, that I'm not alone, the only one thinking what I do.

Maybe you feel the same way too.


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The Supreme Court Decision

They're gonna take away your guns!

They're gonna turn your kids into homosexuals, even worse they might end up being trans!

These are the tropes the right runs on again and again. Tiny issues, usually social issues, that they blow up to obscure the real issues, which are often to the detriment of their constituents, to win elections. AND IT WORKS!

I was having dinner with John Glenn... You remember, he was a senator in addition to being an astronaut. And, he was from Ohio. Which used to be blue. And he's telling me how the right weaponized social issues to win. But he was already out of office, approaching ninety... Everybody knows the truth, but no one wants to say it on the left.

IT'S ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT!

If you're educated, you've been repeating this mantra this entire century. Has there been any traction? OF COURSE NOT! Because the Democratic party and its minions have consultants lost in the last century telling them you can't win by going negative. They adhere to all these rules that no longer apply. And if you want to challenge the orthodoxy, they shut you up. Like AOC... They want to undercut her instead of following her. I mean do these oldsters in Congress have any idea what the younger generation thinks? If they do have kids, in most cases they're already out of school.

As for polls...

Let me see, ever since 2016 they've been wrong. So why trot them out now?

All these numbers dictating that Republicans won't change their opinions as a result of the 1/6 hearings... Am I really even going to tell someone if I have doubts? I mean come on, don't trust the polls. And let's not even get into methodology, who agrees to respond, etc.

So, the Democrats could have made the Supreme Court the issue.

They could have said, over and over again, THEY'RE GOING TO GET RID OF YOUR RIGHT TO GET AN ABORTION! They could have scared the populace into voting for Hillary, which would have eliminated this entire problem. But no! Hillary herself was so focus-grouped she lost touch with her inner feelings. Once you lose touch with your inner tuning fork, you're screwed, it's your core beliefs that guide you.

And let's be clear, even a huge proportion of Republicans don't want abortion rights to be eliminated. They're past the age of procreation, or they never have sex, or... But the right keeps paying fealty to the religious zealots who represent ever fewer members of the voting constituency. What do we call this? THE TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY!

So the New York gun decision comes down.

The first thing that I think about is if it weren't for McConnell, the decision would have gone the other way. Yes, Merrick Garland would be a Supreme Court justice and there wouldn't be enough time to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg, whose legacy needs to be re-evaluated... How come on the right you must take one for the team, but Ginsburg kept her job even though she knew she had cancer? Talk about being self-serving. Ultimately narcissistic.

And now this issue eliminating Roe v. Wade.

On every news site they say this is not the will of the people, most people want abortion rights maintained.

But there are articles saying most people use the pill now anyway (that's the abortion pill, not the contraceptive pill, which they want to get rid of).

Yes, the water is boiling in the pot but unlike lobsters human beings are sentient and they still won't jump out. They're still making excuses. I mean what's end game? An authoritarian state? How do we end up standing up to that? As for street combat, it's the right that has all the guns.

And speaking of killing... After this week's 1/6 hearings you know it's only a matter of time. Supreme Court justices need protection? Now even POLL WORKERS need protection! Ever vote? You've encountered these people. Usually somnambulant, living life in 3/4 time. Eating their doughnuts, providing a public service. If you think they're the enemy, that they're conspiring to overthrow elections, you've never voted.

And speaking of truth. We had to endure national analysis that the Democrats were even in trouble in California! Which turned out to be complete hogwash. We don't want no stinking billionaire running Los Angeles, and now that the entire vote has trickled in, Bass is killing Caruso. As for all this anti-California backlash, the Golden State looks really good if you want, or even NEED an abortion. What if California acted like the red states. You can't get an abortion unless you show a California driver's license. Imagine the uproar!

That's what the right specializes in, uproar.

The left? We take our lumps individually. We retreat with our tails between our legs. The solution is always the same... VOTE! Give me an f-ing break. As a result of the liar in chief spreading the falsehood that the election was stolen, all these draconian voting laws have been passed, making it harder for "those people" to vote. Why is it you don't have to wait to vote in rich white neighborhoods, but you have to stand in line in Black neighborhoods for hours. Do you think this is by accident? WAKE UP!

And it's all because of the Supreme Court. We don't need no stinking voting laws to keep the southern states in check. Yes, the mantra of the people on Fox News is that we live in a post-racial society. Truly. They talk about equality, a bunch of other B.S., how it insults the dignity of people of color, and then their minions go to Charlottesville... That's one thing that has become absolutely clear, there's a plethora of white nationalists in the Republican party, i.e. there are good people on both sides.

So you ask me to have faith in the Supreme Court??

And the Supremes aren't the only ones. Trump rammed through a million right wing judges, some with no courtroom experience whatsoever! So you think you'll be saved by the courts? Good luck!

I lost faith in Congress first.

Now the Supreme Court.

Who do I believe in. John Lennon? Oh, that's right, he's DEAD! SHOT WITH A GUN!

Don't tell me to vote. I mean I will, but that's not going to solve our problems, we need action.

Like a national strike. It's very clear here, you need to hit the corporations, they can't handle, can't afford to sit on the sidelines. They want problems solved NOW!

And the people who work for these companies... They care more about their paychecks than they do abortion rights, believe me.

But no, that's too much, too far. We've got to respect the rule of law. Just like... TRUMP?

I literally cried when I saw the decision on my phone. Which I did not expect whatsoever. I mean I already knew the outcome, but to see it in broad headlines on my phone. It was like one of those bizarre movies playing out an alternative history, but this time it's REAL!

As for all those people claiming America's the greatest country in the world... Even Boris Johnson was scratching his head at this decision. I mean you can get an abortion in Catholic Ireland but not in the U.S!

And this isn't the end, just the beginning.

And do you know what is going to happen folks... NOTHING!!!

That's right, absolutely nothing. We've seen it again and again. Maybe there are a few protests, to show solidarity, but in the twenty first century protests have no effect, everything happens online. But when it comes to online boycotts, sacrificing convenience, it's been proven again and again that people will not give up a single thing. They'll still shop at Amazon and...

We don't even have any leaders on the left. Forget Biden, a twentieth century man in the twenty first century. But our leaders, like Schumer and Pelosi. They keep saying how bad it is but their hands are tied. Yup, that's the way to inspire people, RIGHT!

I mean the left has so many tools in its belt, so many bullets in its arsenal. Killer Mike? Articulate Black rapper? Build that guy up, give him as much screen time and ink as you can. Everyone can see that he believes what he's saying, and he has a sense of humor to boot. I'm not saying to run celebrities, but to use them to get results. The right keeps saying the left owns Hollywood, and Hollywood keeps blinking. Own it, double-down on what's right! You can't appeal to everybody anyway.

Pick out one target a week. All these Congresspeople are rich. Boycott the company, the income of one Republican every month. Oh, they'll kick and scream. How does it feel? EXACTLY HOW IT FEELS FOR US RIGHT NOW!

But we don't kick and scream, we accept it. We rationalize.

So what we end up with is the tyranny of the minority.

You'd think that the Constitution was written last week according to these originalist judges and Republican elected officials. No, it was written by human beings 250 years ago, people who'd be flummoxed by a dial telephone, never mind an iPhone.

We keep correcting the past. The slaveholders, the Confederates. Yes, we'll take down their statue, change the name of the building, but that's only window dressing, that's not real change. Meanwhile, those on the right say that people have never changed. That the Constitution is inviolate. Do you think the framers foresaw a day when North Dakota would have two senators and California would have the same number? OF COURSE NOT!

As for amendments... The way we're going the Supreme Court is going to eviscerate those rights as opposed to having new ones enacted.

You not only have to fight for your right to party, you've got to fight for Democracy too.

As for the brainwashed rank and file on the right, they'll be the first ones to say they didn't understand what was at stake when they become oppressed too.

Once you start taking away the rights of people, it's a slippery slope, where do you start?

As for truth... These stinking Supremes lied in Congress saying Roe v. Wade was inviolate.

It's like America is run by drug kingpins, or the Mafia. What they say goes, and what they want happens. And if you go against them...you pay, oftentimes with your life. Yes, try getting an abortion for medical reasons, conditions that will kill the mother. Ain't gonna happen. That's what happens when you live in an absolutist society.

And let's not bother talking about freedom. The right only employs the concept when it benefits them, they're hypocrites. Why should you care what I'm doing, why should you restrict my behavior when it doesn't affect you?

Never mind the insane ruling on Maine schools. Separation of church and state? The Supremes don't even believe that, they want to overrule it, demonstrating their belief in following the letter of the law, the Constitution, and the intent of its creators...they're just outright lying. The Constitution talks about separation of church and state. If a state is giving money to a religious-based organization, where is the separation? IT DOESN'T EXIST!

Yeah, you're on my side. We're all in this together. And we all do nothing. Because the Democratic party has abdicated, it's got no leaders. It refuses to wake up and see the situation we're in as our rights and powers slowly slip away, and now even more quickly.

If you're optimistic you're delusional.

Unless we take action, we're doomed.

And that action is not protesting, and it's not even voting. Like I said, let's start with a national strike. Or limited strikes. Show our power. It ain't that hard not to go to work one day. You say you're sick, is the company really going to show up at your door and check? And when a plethora takes action, the company is impotent, and usually caves.

And how about packing the damn Supreme Court right now. Yes, introduce a bill. I don't care whether it ultimately passes or not, play like it's going to. You stand up to bullies. You don't reason with them, you don't accept what they say, because the field for you to play on gets smaller and smaller.

You publish names of Congresspeople who believe the election was stolen from him. The right hammers those on the left by name every day. You'd think that George Soros is the shadow president. The left? Well, it's unseemly, distasteful, and we might piss somebody off.

OF COURSE WE'LL PISS PEOPLE OFF! But there are more of us than there are of them.

We've got to throw the long ball.

This game is down to its final minutes. We're way behind. There's not enough time to stick with the ground game. You don't always connect on the eighty yard pass, but there's a chance you do. Whereas if there's thirty seconds on the clock and you've scored almost no points against a strong defensive line to run the ball ensures defeat, you just can't win using that strategy. Oh, you can be delusional, like the Democratic party, but everybody knows it's impossible.

Give me some hope. Tell me what to do. Lead me. PLEASE!


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Pat Simmons-This Week's Podcast

Pat Simmons is the only person who has been in every iteration of the Doobie Brothers. We talk about motorcycles, playing live before the Doobies, hooking up with Tom Johnston, New Orleans...there's a lot of history here!

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/episode/pat-simmons-98640728/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pat-simmons/id1316200737?i=1000567480427

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3chVycCu1vH9KFHMViAPvV?si=jwNqnZ1zQOOD2asElHQxUQ

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/episodes/40a1199f-b245-4b23-bb7d-c1d7d3c60e87/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-pat-simmons

https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast/episode/pat-simmons-204310657


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Grosses

ERIC CHURCH

6/11/22
U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Capacity: 51,117
100% sold
Tickets: $54.50-$455
GROSS $9,519,167

This is the biggest show in the chart, number one, above three Paul McCartney dates. Why? MORGAN WALLEN! In order to do that business in rock, you'd have to have two classic acts, or acts that made their bones over twenty years ago.

As for McCartney, he played smaller buildings. He too went clean. But the top and lower prices were actually a few dollar less than Church's. This is not a diss of McCartney, this just illustrates how powerful country can be. Eric Church has been building his outsider status for over a decade, and he's definitely selling rock. And Morgan Wallen has the biggest album of
the past two years...


PAUL McCARTNEY

6/4/22
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Capacity: 42,662
100% sold
Tickets: $539.50-$428.50
GROSS $8,848,665

CAMPING WORLD STADIUM? This has turned into a joke, no building maintains the same moniker, ultimately undercutting what credibility, status they've got. Sure, people will go anywhere to see a hot show, but that does not mean they'll feel good about the building. Everything in America is sold out. The money may not have trickled down, but the philosophy sure has. People put the money first, as do the acts. And that means you can't trust or believe in either. As for naming rights...how long is Staples gonna be Crypto.com? I'm sure there are all kinds of guarantees in the contract, but if the company goes out of business...

As for Mr. McCartney... People are now realizing that you've got to see the dinosaurs now, or they may forever be gone. That's the Charlie Watts effect. All the hosannas about Taylor Hawkins, but he was all doped up, taking his own life, albeit by accident, whereas Charlie was clean and the Big C got him. Hawkins was a very good drummer, but Watts underpinned rock and roll. And if Charlie can go...so can you.


KENNY CHESNEY

6/11/22
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
Capacity: 53,502
100% sold
Tickets: $69-$274
GROSS $5,569,182

The Jimmy Buffett of his day, and not only musically. Kenny comes around almost every year, it's a ritual to go to the show, doesn't matter if he's had recent hits or not. He's got enough hits, but he also promises a show, with new, impressive production every year. Sure, he had Dan + Shay, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce in support, but that was just making a day of it. Chesney could sell out stadiums all by himself. It's doubtful that Eric Church could sell that many tickets all by his lonesome.


EAGLES

5/28/22
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Capacity: 10,926
100% sold
Tickets: $99-$750
GROSS $3,717,639

Charge what the tickets are worth, that's how you beat scalpers. The Eagles are forever, at least as long as Don Henley wants to do it. Did you see that Kidd Creole was listening to "Take It Easy" when he encountered that guy he killed? Yes, you should read the story, also to see how fame doesn't mean you're rich, Creole even worked as a security guard: https://nyti.ms/3OltdCI


LOUIS TOMLINSON

5/15-17/22 (3 shows)
Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile
Capacity: 8,201
97% sold
Tickets: $26.33-$1,344.65
GROSS $1,386,096

So he only did 97% at one gig in South America... No, he went clean in Lima on 6/1/22 and grossed $1,022,367!

Tomlinson could not sell anywhere near this number of tickets in the U.S. Which used to mean he would sell fewer tickets in South America. But, the U.S. is behind in more ways than politically and economically. The U.K. does a better job of spreading their acts worldwide. And pop and rock travel better than hip-hop, which is where all the focus is in the U.S.


SNOOP DOGG

4/19/22
Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Capacity: 10,081
95% sold
Tickets: $36.50-$166.50
GROSS $874,490

Snoop Dogg is a legend, around for 30 years already. To do these numbers in South Dakota is amazing. It's very hard to sell out in these Northern Plain states. Interestingly, the opener was Koe Wetzel, an edgy country rocker who most hip-hop fans have probably never heard of, you've probably never heard of, but he's got streams of 40 and 50 million on Spotify. And you wonder why you're not rich and famous on your million...


"NASHVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL"/BILL BURR

4/22/22
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Capacity: 12,624
99% sold
Tickets: $29.10-$69.50
GROSS $653,055

Let's forget the 1% unsold. Just imagine how bad those seats are, in the rafters...FOR A COMEDY SHOW! These barns all have bad acoustics, I'm stunned people will sit so far back to listen to people talk. But they will, that's just how hot comedy is.


HALSEY

5/29/22
Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkson, MI
Capacity: 14,446
92% sold
Tickets: $29.50-$129.50
GROSS $594,949

Halsey seems to have superseded the here today, gone tomorrow stamp that so many of the Spotify Top 50 wear. She's seen as more of an artist than a hitmaker, to her advantage. As for not going clean, at these outdoor shows there are endless lawns, far away, this is a very impressive number. And she racked up similar grosses in Toronto, Cuyahoga Falls and the Woodlands in Texas.


JOHN MULANEY

5/12/22
Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, FL
Capacity: 7,654
89% sold
Tickets: $46-$126
GROSS $585,363

This guy was seen as white bread and harmless, and in his act he reinforced, in a humorous way, that he was not gay. Then he went to rehab, dumped his wife and had a baby with Olivia Munn and you wonder who really is this guy? Not an edgy comic. But perceived to be one of the funniest out there.

This is a huge number. Used to be comics could sell out theatres at best, with superstars playing a gig at Madison Square Garden. But in truth, comedy is hotter than music. Because in the era of sold-out cancel culture they're the only people speaking truth (well, there are the Simpsons and other animated characters too). Everybody else is fearful of pissing somebody off, jeopardizing their career. But that's the comedian's act! People want to laugh and get a jolt of the truth. Do not underestimate comedy. Rather than becoming a musician, you're better off becoming a comedian. You can buy your beats, create a hit and be back in your bedroom within a year. It's a lot harder to make it in comedy, you have to pay your dues, hone your craft, but once you break through you can tell jokes FOREVER!


DaBABY

5/13/22
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Capacity: 10,929
45% sold
Tickets: $49-$300
GROSS $522,259

45? In ATLANTA?

If you read the press, you'd think that DaBaby was one of the biggest acts of last year, if not the biggest! He's got two tracks with over a billion, significantly over a billion, streams on Spotify. Too much too soon? People didn't used to play arenas so early in their career. And are people wary of laying down their hard-earned cash for something that has such a brief time in the public eye?

Of course, this makes one wonder what else in the Spotify Top 50 can't sell tickets. And if you think the act will have any sort of career, maybe you should play theatres first, where hopefully the demand will be overwhelming, generating heat for the act.


KATT WILLIAMS

4/23/22

Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
Capacity: 5,807
92% sold
Tickets: $59-$350
GROSS $486,387

Katt is a known quantity, but he did these numbers BEFORE his new special "World War III" dropped on Netflix. Sure, there were supporting comics, but none with his firepower, nothing close. Katt sold these tickets.


JIM GAFFIGAN

3/30/22
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Capacity: 7,902
97% sold
Tickets: $28.62-$89.75
GROSS $435,148

Arguably he's leaving money on the table. He's investing in his career by not charging the three digit prices of all the other acts. This does result in scalpers controlling the great seats and earning the lift, but the low prices do add to Gaffigan's everyman persona. As for the high prices paid to scalpers... People LOVE PAYING THEM! Talk to anybody who's paid way over face value for their seats. They love that they didn't have to buy their tickets a year in advance and they know otherwise there'd be no way they could get these seats. So, you can either pay the act or the scalper, but don't expect to sit in the front row for under a hundred dollars, the tickets are worth much more to fans!

As for Gaffigan himself. He's seen as a safe, family comic. Although not THAT safe. But this guy does this kind of business everywhere.

Now think about that gross...

He's got to pay his agent. But I'm sure he's paying less than 10%, he should be. And he's paying his manager, which can't be more than 15% and should be less. But, for the sake of argument, let's round off the numbers and take 25% out of 400k. That leaves Gaffigan with 300k! Oh, he's got costs... He owns his own microphone probably. And he probably pays a road manager he doesn't need, just to have company. And he stays in thousand dollar a night hotel rooms. But does the promoter pick that up? And then there's transportation... Well, if he flies, I'm sure he goes private. And let's just say he does a one-off, leaves New York and then comes back. Let's put the jet at a relatively high price of 50k to go back and forth to Nashville. That still leaves him with 250k net! Of course, we're talking gross numbers here, but someone like Gaffigan... He probably has a 90/10 deal. Or something close. And I rounded it off to 400k anyway. The buildings want him inside. To sell parking, food and merch. They're dying to put acts like Gaffigan in their buildings. A guaranteed seller??!!


BERT KREISCHER

4/10/22
Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
Capacity: 5,958
95% sold
Tickets: $39.75-$99.75
GROSS $339,611

The MACHINE! I hadn't even heard of this guy until last week and he can sell this many tickets? Would we see this amount of fervor for most of the acts in the Spotify Top 50? NO!


TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS

5/7/22
White House Music Hall-lawn, Houston, TX
Capacity: 5,166
100% sold
Tickets: $50-$400
GROSS $267,650

My e-mail has been blowing up with this band in the last month or so. They've been around since 2007, but they're not on a major label and they've never had anything close to a hit. Granted, this is Texas, acts sell tickets in Texas that can't get arrested elsewhere. But the Red Dirt sound could easily spread with the right commitment. It's like taking country to the U.K., you've got to invest, show people what they're missing. And this can't be done via a major label, Universal tried with Pat Green, this has got nothing to do with hits, it's a slow and steady build that pays dividends forever. This is the new music business. The Spotify Top 50, that hit business, THAT'S THE SIDESHOW!

Having said that, the Turnpike Troubadours' top ten tracks on Spotify all have double digit million streams. One even has 38 million. So, it's not just about live. But also know you can have this many streams and still be unknown to most.


RYAN ADAMS

5/14/22
Carnegie Hall, NY, NY
Capacity: 2,741
100% sold
Tickets: $55-$75
GROSS $150,205

I can't believe Carnegie Hall booked him. Who next, Harvey Weinstein?
This is a bad look. But an incredible number. Until you look and see three days later he only sold 47% of the tickets in a similar-sized hall in Philadelphia, only 1,292 people wanted to see him there.

My problem with Ryan Adams is he never apologized, he never owned his behavior. America loves to redeem its stars, as long as you give us a chance. Then again, in the wake of #MeToo, every infraction is seen as equal, whether it be by LouisCK or Aziz Ansari. CK went back on the road, I don't think he should have been banned forever. As for Ansari, I'm not sure I get it. He blinked more than CK, but he just got married and...


SAM FENDER

5/7/22

Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Dusseldorf, Germany
Capacity: 7,200
50% sold
Tickets: $36-$50
GROSS $138,154

50% is a bad look, then again I don't know this hall. Seems like a bad choice, he should have played somewhere smaller but the fact that Sam Fender can sell 3,600 in Dusseldorf, never mind Berlin, is pretty impressive. Fender has the goods, and he's definitely a rocker. He couldn't do anywhere near these numbers in the U.S., but why even try? Top 40 radio won't play his tracks, he sounds nothing like what's in the Spotify Top 50, he's better off going where his music is embraced.


CHELSEA HANDLER

4/30/22
Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake City, UT
Capacity: 1,870
87% sold
Tickets: $49.50-$169.50
GROSS $135,218

Handler does this business everywhere. And she's been off late night TV for years! Once again, this is the power of comedy. And for those who still think Salt Lake City is backward...you haven't been there!


NIKKI GLASER

5/20/22 (2 shows)
The Wilbur, Boston, MA
Capacity: 1,093
90% sold
Tickets: $42-$98
GROSS $107,732

Another comedian. And unlike in rock, women in comedy are equal to the men, many make bank, the audience loves you as long as you're funny.


TWIDDLE

4/2/22
College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT
Capacity: 1,400
92% sold
Tickets: $25.50-$40.50
GROSS $35,914

A jam band, and not the most highly respected either, at least not by the older generation still going to see Phish and DMB, but the kids need their music too. The last album they had came out in 2018, and it was a live one. The band's success is not about hit records, it's not about airplay, it's about live shows, delivering an experience, that is different every night. They're throwing a party, the pop arena acts are giving a performance, and there's a huge difference between the two. See the hit act extravaganza and...you don't need to see it again, unless they've got another hit or two, and chances are they won't. Whereas Twiddle is a night out, you can own it.

So the lesson is not to shoot for the stars, but the road. And know that traditional success, being on the cover of magazines and all over the radio... Many magazines have gone out of business and all of their readership is down. Believe me, the target audience for Twiddle is not listening to terrestrial radio. So, if you're good enough, have good enough songs, you'll eventually get bigger and bigger. Otherwise, you can continue to do it as a job, making a living, until you get burned out. This is the old pre-recording paradigm, and it's back. You're in control of your own destiny, it's only you and your fans. No one telling you what to do. But it's your responsibility to bring people to the gig, not the label's, not the media's, your music is your sales tool, and it either resonates or it doesn't. Live is where the rubber meets the road, literally, but this is where your excuses evaporate. If you can get gigs and continue to build no traction, you're either far ahead of the audience or not good enough.

It's incumbent upon you to stick it out, you can complain all you want, but no one is listening. And some of the most talented have given up, talent is at most 50% of making it, most of making it is desire and perseverance. It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. And it seems live people would rather hear something closer to rock and roll than what's in the Spotify Top 50.

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Can You Live With A Lie?

We're watching this show "The Journalist," on Netflix. It's Japanese, watch with subtitles, it'll rivet you, not that it's fast-paced, but your mind won't be drifting, you'll be paying attention.

And what we've got here is a lying Prime Minister. Caught in action, self-dealing. And at first the administration evades the issue, and then the Prime Minister outright denies it.

Everybody in the administration is shocked. Now they've got to cover up what has already been done, because of course the Prime Minister is guilty. They need to change all the records. And whenever someone balks, their boss says they'll take responsibility.

Yeah, right. Until the heat comes down.

It's hard to live with a lie. A sociopath can, but most people cannot. You can employ mental gymnastics to try and convince yourself you're not culpable, but when the facts are clear, and the heat is getting closer to coming down on you, it's nearly impossible to live in your own skin.

Or even if they're never on to you, never catch you, you know what you've done. You never forget it. Years later you still think about it, sometimes you can't stop thinking about it.

One thing has been proven definitively, Donald Trump lied about the election being stolen, there were no issues of fraud, Joe Biden won fair and square.

Now if you're in the hinterlands, in your own news bubble, you still may not know this. It's possible. And your faith is in your leader, Mr. Trump, and you've been taught to hate the enemy at all costs.

So if you even think about it, you have plausible deniability. When we're talking about criminal convictions, it all comes down to intent. You can convince yourself you did not know. But as we go further and further up the food chain...

Everybody knew. Just like in that Leonard Cohen song. There was no fraud, even Trump's own officials said "The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history."

And now there are hearings detailing that Trump's own people told him he was wrong, he was delusional, that he lost. But Rudy Giuliani decided to sacrifice whatever credibility he still possessed to pursue Trump's cause, even though Trump had never come through for him, never given him the cabinet post he desired. And the rest of the choir? They were outsiders like John Eastman and Sidney Powell, who did Trump's bidding, but also knew his belief the election was stolen was a cockamamie delusion. Hell, Eastman lobbied for a pardon, knowing what he was doing was illegal. And Sidney Powell's defense is to undercut her own credibility, to say she's merely an actor on a stage and you can't trust anything she says.

But what about the people in Congress?

Sure, some are completely delusional, like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, but the rest...they know the score, they know Trump lost. But just like in "The Journalist" they figure if they all stick together, deny, deny, deny, it'll all blow over. And it has, until these 1/6 hearings began.

So now they've got to live with the lie.

First they tell themselves everybody else lied too.

But now they're seeing people like Bill Barr distance themselves. The rats are jumping off the ship. Will the finger eventually point at them?

Somewhere in the last few decades it became about the team as opposed to the player. That's right, in the sixties it was all about rugged individualism, going your own way. You strove for excellence, not worrying about others' judgment along the way. You needed to leave your mark, you did not want to be hindered by society's constraints. And those who succeeded, in many cases musicians, became beacons for society. Everybody wanted to get closer to them, listen to them, model their lives after them. There was hope that you were not just a hamster on a wheel, that you could break out of the drudgery, find yourself and fulfill yourself.

But the coddled millennials had a different philosophy. Participating was enough. Maybe it's a result of getting trophies for sitting on the soccer bench, but if you follow the alternative sports that were embraced by the millennials, many exhibited in the X Games, winning was nice, but competitors were friends, you reveled in everybody's success. Unless you didn't. Shaun White may be a hero in the mainstream press, but in the snowboarding world he's a pariah, he was all for himself. And that's not how you play it.

Same deal in hip-hop. The east coast/west coast wars. Biggie and Tupac. Meanwhile, most of America tuned out, many being racist and seeing it as Black people killing Black people.

And simultaneously politics became a team sport. Sure, it was always a two party system, but now you couldn't cross the party, at least on the right. Stick together, toe the party line, or you're ostracized. Can you say "Liz Cheney"? Yes, we've rigged the game. We've gerrymandered the districts such that a Republican will always win, and if you don't do what I say we'll primary you, run someone to the right of you, and you'll lose your job.

And no one likes to lose their job in America. Certainly not a Congressperson with prestige, a guaranteed salary and a blue chip health plan. But if you play the game as told, there will always be a job for you down the line, as a lobbyist, or a lawyer, the Republicans take care of their own. As do the Democrats, which is one of the reasons why people have lost faith in the system.

But there are problems. Who is going to solve them?

Well, certainly not the Republicans in Congress. Their goal is to do nothing, that's what Mitch McConnell said.

As for McConnell, one has to give him some credit, at least he's intelligent. He walks up to the line of immorality, illegality, and then backs off. He's never said Trump won the election. He was troubled by 1/6, but then he realized his party was not and he just wants to have the whole thing forgotten.

But the people don't forget. Nor does the press. That's the press's job, as evidenced in "The Journalist." So, Trump and his minions have vilified the press. Anybody who says anything they don't like is fair game, even Fox News.

Everybody in the game knows the above. They're willing participants, believing if everybody else jumps off a bridge...there must be rescue boats in the water, there's no way they can drown.

But when the eyes of the law come looking for them...

It's not only Bill Barr, but Ivanka Trump, the Donald's flesh and blood, who says the Big Lie is not one.

You see when the whip comes down, everybody saves themselves. The Mafiosi may lie on the stand, change their testimony, but that's mainly because they know the long arms of the organization are everywhere, they can always be reached. Hell, remember when Tony kills that guy in witness protection while taking Meadow to look at colleges in Maine? You never escape from the Mafia.

And politics has been run like a Mafia business, and people are getting away with bad behavior, crimes, to the point where the entire country is gummed up, where no one believes in the system, but if you lie on the stand neither the Republicans nor the Democrats are going to pay your family, take care of you for life. Once you're in the legal system, you're on your own. Like I said, many of these people are attorneys, who've lost all credibility since Watergate, and they know what they're doing is wrong, which is why they ask for pardon protection.

As for Donald Trump... He believes the rules don't apply to him.

But he's not the only one. Did you see the story in today's L.A. "Times" about the Gettys skating on hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes? Hell, Trump himself looks like he's gonna get away with doing the same. As for the little guy and girl...they don't even itemize, so they can't even cheat! Yes, the richer you get the more opportunities you have to manipulate the numbers, put in so many layers of lawyers and shell companies that by time the government understands what you did the people who were excited about nailing you have left for private practice and the entire case runs out of steam.

So one guy screwed up the entire nation.

As for protection around Supreme Court judges' houses... Turns out if you go against the cabal, your life is in danger. You'll be threatened. They'll surround your house. You thought it was only abortion clinics, but it's not.

So how does this change?

Certainly not with Joe Biden, whose goal was to calm the waters and has not. Congress is different from what it was when Joe served, radically different. It'd be like hiring Russ Solomon to run Spotify.

Not only do we have no leaders on the left, the party wants the status quo, to the point where when someone tries to drag the party into the present they're ostracized, can you say "AOC"? The entire country runs on the internet, only the oldsters pooh-pooh technology and tell you to get off your smartphone, the younger generations grew up with technology and know giving up the smartphone would be like giving up your car, or Uber, unable to journey ten miles to see a friend, never mind go to the dentist.

As for those leading the charge... Chuck Schumer and Adam Schiff are the kind of mealy-mouthed player who talks about the rules after they've already been broken. Tells people to go back home after the walls of the citadel have been breached.

But what I'm really talking about is those next in the firing line. Which at this point is those in Congress.

How long are you going to be able to support the Big Lie, keep your head in the sand? You've been told just to lie low, the higher-ups are taking care of it. But now you see the higher-ups abandoning the cause, vociferously trying to protect their reputations.

What about your reputation?

Well, you believe your job is safe as a Republican. Your district is safe. Just as long as you play ball and spew the nonsense of Trump.

But Trump even threw Ivanka under the bus! He only wants to save his own ass, he's the definition of a narcissist.

So who is going to protect you?

If McCarthy turns the light shines bright upon your face.

And you never know when McConnell might turn. He's all about saving himself, his long term reputation, and keeping the party in line. He'll let Trump and his minions do whatever they want until it jeopardizes the entire enterprise. Then he aligns with the truth and Trump has to go.

I'd say we're looking for more good people to stand up, but that won't be their motivation. It's not about doing the right thing, it's about saving their own ass. And the army of truth-seekers is getting ever closer.

Ever read "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

It's nearly impossible to live with a lie. And if you weren't the original perpetrator when the law creeps towards your domain, you jump. It's the same story again and again and again.

Your friends abandon you.

If you think Tucker, Sean and Laura are gonna have your back...you're sorely mistaken. They live in a different world from you, they're not elected, they're on salary, they're all about numbers, and they run from losers. They feel no responsibility.

But the news never feels responsibility. Which is why it's hated. They chew you up and move on. Do you want to be chewed up?

As for the criticism of the 1/6 committee?

IT'S A MOVIE!

Yes, but that's all Americans understand. Most haven't read the aforementioned Edgar Allan Poe story.

And they're too busy trying to deny their own reality. Yes, homosexuality is a sin... But you're homosexual, or your son or daughter, what do you say then? And what do you say when they have an unwanted pregnancy? When it comes home, action is taken. That's why there's all this hoopla about opioids, it's middle class whites who are dying now, not just "those people."

Life is long. Sure, it's over in the blink of an eye. But you know as well as I do your faux pas, your moral transgressions, never leave you. Leaving the scene of an accident. Cheating on the test. Lying to your spouse. You'd think it would be the victories that stuck in your brain, but that's not how your noggin works. It's the intentional mistakes that haunt you.

And even if you do come clean, it's oftentimes too late. You've been labeled a pariah.

And if the game continues, if you never stand up for the truth, the collateral damage continues to pile up and you know you're responsible. That's what happens in "The Journalist." People die. They get in the way, or they can't live with the lie.

Ignorance is bliss.

But in truth once you get off the sidelines and start playing the game, almost everybody knows the score. No one says the Warriors didn't win the NBA championship. And the Houston Astros stole signs and the team will be tarred by this forever, even though to a great degree they've cleaned house, it's different players on the field. And they only stole signs, a relatively minor sin compared to throwing games, they still call it the "Chicago Black Sox Scandal" and it was over a hundred years ago.

So if pressure stays on. If the light continues to shine...

Expect people to crack. Because they won't be able to live the lie any longer.

And if they don't?

God bless America. But since God doesn't exist, it's gonna be a very rough ride.

Then again, when you believe in false prophets like Donald Trump you're the chump, you're the one who loses.

It's your choice whether to do the right thing.

And there's a camera everywhere, and you're leaving digital cookies online all the time. So the odds of you being caught are higher than ever.

The elite can cheat, but not you.

And few are members of that exalted group. But one is Donald Trump. The walls are closing in. And he's throwing everybody overboard, he'll throw you too. At what point do you raise your head and take action to do what's right and save yourself. That's what we're waiting for, don't be surprised if we see it.

But we might not.

And those silent legislators... Will have to live with their decision forever. And forever is a really long time.


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Mailbag

From: Jean Sievers
Re: Brian Wilson 80th Birthday Playlist

Thanks Bob
I'll show him your post 
He had a happy and fun day today filled with 
LOTS of love from his friends and peers (I'm sure you saw the video )
BIg cake from the Chicago guys at the show 
He IS on the road where he wants to be … forget the naysayers who say he should stay home … huh? 
He calls and asks when is the bus leaving and is Marc getting my oatmeal cookies?
He is feeling love on the road 
He loves soaking it up .. the music and applause for his music 
Watching the band 
Watching Al sing and Blondie killing it on guitar and vocals like a teenager 
He loves a steak for dinner and Popeyes on the bus 
Watching the baseball or basketball game 
Or football depending on the season 
Is he running around like Mick? No 
He doesn't have to and after a horrible back surgery he can't 
BUT he loves being there .. it means the world to him 
He thanks the Ladies and Gentleman and waves goodbye and hangs with his band and sings songs backstage off the cuff 
Zero prompters or lyrics 
He knows them all and sings whatever is floating his boat 
Did you ever hear the Billy Idol story from the Greek before the pandemic?
Billy was coming to the show and his manager wondered about parking and saying hello
We told him to come do an encore 
He came to soundcheck to work out some songs 
It was HOT so BW was in his dressing room
People thought he wouldn't know Billy.
Paul our MD said "Brian .. Billy Idol is here." . without any pause he replied "Eyes Without a Face Billy Idol??!!" (which is what we call Billy now)
And demanded to see him right away 
He made Billy sit next to him on the couch and wanted to talk about the production of that track and said
"I fucking LOVE that song" and he meant it !
Then he asked Billy if he was from England (classic Brian lol)
Billy was floored as were we and they had a great night at the Greek doing the encore and we had She & him as well.. they just did a beautiful tribute album with his songs .. you should check it out MELT AWAY A Tribute to Brian Wilson, it's wonderful 
Just when you think he's not paying attention you are wrong !!! He remembers everything 
He remembers what Paul McCartney was wearing the day they met right down to his shoes 
I'm so happy for Brian 
And happy for us all to have lived in his world with his music 
Happy 80th boss
We love you 

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From: Clint Young
Subject: Happy 80th Birthday, Brian!

https://youtu.be/FWH93dDnfcI

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Re: The Brian Wilson Movie

February 22, 1990… 

I was at my desk at Mercury Records in the Disney Chanel building above La Scala in Burbank. The phone rings and my assistant calls to me "it's Brian Wilson's office!"

So I picked up and the voice on the line says she's Brian's assistant and he's a big Tears For Fears fan and he'd love to see them tonight at the Forum. I didn't believe it but I said "if Brian would be kind enough to autograph my Pet Sounds album I'll send over a pair of tickets." She says "Great… send it over".

I messengered over the album… it came back signed "Brian Wilson" and I messengered back a pair of tickets to that night's show. I still didn't believe it was for real so i sent tickets next to my own seats. And guess what? I get to the show that night and there's Brian with Eugene Landy. I didn't say a word to him but it was a thrill sitting next to him watching Tears for Fears. I remember him looking not at all awkward listening to a band he obviously loved. My autographed LP of Pet Sounds is on my office wall to this day.

Cliff O'Sullivan

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Re: The Brian Wilson Movie

Hello..

I'm a filmmaker in Los Angeles, and somewhat of a music afficionando of my generation. I'm also a big fan of yours (I think I met you at Scott Powell's house in Venice a few years ago.)

I don't know how you do it: putting out so many essays on so many subjects, so consistantly and thoughtfully.

I almost never differ with your views, but…doesn't Van Dyke Parks deserve a place in your piece on Brian Wilson?

Respectfully,

TB
---
Tony Bill
Barnstorm Films

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From: Andrew Loog Oldham
Re: The Brian Wilson Movie

bob,
from the streamless, flood full colombia....
i spent an evening with brian, my ex immediate records partner, tony calder and two " health bodyguards " at a santa monica eatery circa '94. brian was feisty and fit, not looking like martin sheen, 
he left the restaurant on every hour with one of the bodyguards for a marlboro .
he had been answering questions on an average 5 seconds behind the count, but he was game.
when it came time to pay the bill he insisted on doing so, saying " i've let too many people do this stuff for me . "
tony and i , both lifelong fans of the man, his collaborators ( i.e. tony asher ) and their music , let him mercedes away towards PCH.
a dreamily similiar lookalike to doris day approached me and asked , " was that not the beach boy , brian wilson ? "
" yes, ma'am , it most certainly was, " i replied and smiled on behalf of brian.
" well, " said doris, " how nice to see him out and about again ."
say what you will about dr. landy , he got brian out of bed and walking up fifth avenue.
then he bought the trip .... we cannot all be paul mcguinness .....
best, o
RIP andy wickham

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Re: The Brian Wilson Movie

Don's right. He can't do what Brian could. Which is no knock: the same could be said for literally everybody else in our popular music world. And of COURSE you're not the only one who knows "Till I Die", which Brian wrote the lyrics for. It's achingly beautiful and as stunningly honest and forthright about mortality (or at the least personality disintegration) as any song I can call to mind. "I'm a leaf on a windy day, pretty soon I'll be blown away, how long will the wind blow?" I mean, come on. And, of course, on the same album, "Surf's Up", which for musical composition far outstrips any competitors from our magical popular music history, 60s on.

Put simply, Brian stands alone

Berton Averre

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From: Jim Koplik
Re: The Brian Wilson Movie

I'm glad you gave Mike Love his props. His lyrics were timely. Brian was the genius which Mike concurs. But Mike's lyrics made it classic. I was always friendly with Mike, Carl and Dennis. Never said a word to Brian. He was very distant. Now only Mike is alive. And I am very fond of him. He taught me TM and slept at my apartment on the floor in the 70's. And we took Metro North to Yonkers, New York that night. I'm looking forward to seeing him on August 19 when he participates in my late wife's Foundation that supports teaching music to low income kids. The Foundation is aligned with the Michael Bolton Foundation. 

____________________________________________

From: Rusty Young
Re: The Brian Wilson Movie

Brian Wilson was doing a show a number of years ago at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Nj. This is Bruce Springsteen's "home" theatre, and he shows up unannounced several times a year to join a performer on stage. Midway through the concert Bruce slips out of the wings and steps in with the band mid song. The audience begins the usual Bruuuuce chant, and Brian clearly doesn't understand what is going on in the middle of one of his songs.  After the song is done, one of the band members goes over and tells Brian what just happened…and he immediately turns into one of Sprinsteen's biggest fans —asking us if we know who has just arrived out of nowhere and joined him on stage. He was beside himself, telling us how honored he was that a talent of Bruce's stature would be willing to join him…They played together for a few songs and after Bruce left the stage, Brian was still shaking his head in disbelief…Just one of those rock moments.

____________________________________________

Re: Ziggy Stardust Turns Fifty Today

I promoted one of the early Ziggy gigs in the South of England. I'd seen one of the first at Imperial College in London and a homecoming performance at Wallington Town Hall in SE London. 

London was ready for Bowie, the provinces were not! This was still a few months away from the Ziggy album release. 

So Bowie's entourage including the indefatigable Angie rolled into Southsea and played to a half full hall. But those that were there have carried it with. 

It was in a good run of acts that included a very early support performance by Roxy Music, with Andy MacKay returning a couple of weeks later to see Sha Na Na. 

Happy days - except for the bank manager! 

Always good to read your newsletter & listen to the podcasts. 

Philip Haines 

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Re: Ziggy Stardust Turns Fifty Today

Great article regarding Bowie. I saw the Ziggy band live at Chicago's Auditorium back in fall '72. He was just breaking in America... mos def not a full house. Got very close to the front of the stage. What a mind-blowing show! I never saw or heard anything like it before. Became an instant fan. Went back and discovered pre-Ziggy music. Hunky Dory is pure genius! When I first heard the song Life On Mars I was completely blown away. Years later I would direct an indie feature film called Life On Mars... the lead in the story was John Ronson (my heroes Mick Ronson and John Lennon). I wanted to cast my musician friend Lee Michaels as a villain but he declined. Lee did however catered the film crew with tons of Killer Shrimp (his restaurant). I still can't believe Ziggy is 50 years old!!! WTF!!!

Arthur Springer

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From: Michael Alex
Re: Ziggy Stardust Turns Fifty Today

I was thirteen years old, and all I knew about David Bowie was Space Oddity (which I loved) and adults saying he was a drug-taking homosexual, though I had a fifteen year old pen pal who wrote that Bowie was fantastic.  Then one Friday night the Hammersmith show was listed in TV Guide at 1AM, and I begged my parents to let me stay up and watch it.   I begged and begged, and they decided that I would be allowed to watch it, but my father would watch as well to protect me from his presumably terrible influence.    Fine with me.  (At this time my standard for outrageousness was Mick Jagger in Gimme Shelter, which had been on PBS.)
 
The show begins with Hang On to Yourself and my jaw drops.   Bowie is clearly from outer space.  So is Mick Ronson.   Nothing looked or sounded like this before in my life.   I sat in front of the TV for the hour or whatever eyes wide, head bobbing, while my father kept muttering nervously "clearly this is a very talented young man."    I was blown away.   The world was a whole lot bigger and wilder and more exotic, and I wanted in.
 
Years later I interviewed Bowie for MTV, a career highlight.  At one point when talking about early influences he said someone he really missed was Marc Bolan.   Meanwhile I still feel there's a hole in the world where Bowie was.

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Re: Ziggy Stardust Turns Fifty Today

Ron Davies was one of my best friends and mentor. I had known him for years as a regular at Brown's Diner in Nashville. I also have played guitar with his sister, Gail Davies for decades now. Ron, Gail, Ron Price and myself toured around the UK.  He became quite popular and not long after, Ron and myself were booking a UK-Europe tour as a duo. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple of months before we were to start the tour. Ron had been roommates with Tim Hardin and also Joe Cocker. Ron knew many, if not all, of Harding's songs and would play them for me at his house or after the gigs. Long John Baldry also cut ' It Ain't Easy' with Rod Stewart and Elton John producing. Helen Reddy cut his 'Long Hard Climb' Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Nanci Griffith, Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch and others covered ' Waiting On A Dark Eyed Gal'. Ron and Gail had sibling harmony like the Everly Brothers and were working on a project and then he was gone. Ron made a living as a songwriter from the age of 17 and has an extensive song catalog. He is loved and missed by all the knew him.
All The Best,
Sergio Webb
Las Vegas, New Mexico 

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RE: Ziggy

My crew got into David Bowie's music through Hunky Dory. One lone copy sold at my local record store. I picked it up. By the time Ziggy came out, we were what you'd call fanatics. So when it was announced that Bill Graham was bringing the show to Winterland, San Francisco, we bought up immediately. It was late October, 1972, sort of a Halloween show. Graham bit for two nights. I remember seeing James Taylor in Berkeley that week. On every chair at the Berkeley Community Theater was a Bowie flyer. Uh-oh. Also on the bill was Sylvester and His Hot Band and the Florescent Leach and Eddie. 

Anyway, we made it to Winterland early afternoon to get in line, except by the time the doors opened, there were less than a hundred people behind us. Uh-oh.  I would estimate less than 300 people showed up on our night. (Winterland held 5400. Multiply that times two.) The same the following night. I remember Jerry Pompelli, Graham's MC, mentioning that "Most of you came dressed up as empty seats." Bill took a Bowie bath.

The Winterland stage was situated on the side, as it was for Pink Floyd first playing Dark Side. As a result, bands had to walk through the audience floor to get to the stage. I still remember the band traipsing across the floor in their silver space suits. They played undaunted to the thin crowd. We were seated above and behind the band. No setlist exists. I remember they opened with "Hang Onto Yourself." 

After the set, Bowie never returned to San Francisco until the Station to Station tour. So, yeah, to say that tour wasn't sold out (it may have been in Santa Monica nights before) is an understatement. The only folks who attended were the freaks and the super fans. 

Precisely ten years later, I was working with a local band and they were opening for T-Bone Burnett for a few local gigs. Mick Ronson was in his band. When I reminded Ronson that exactly ten years ago to the day...he grimaced and shrugged. What a great guitar player and arranger he was...

Kent Zimmerma

____________________________________________

Subject: Mr Grand Funk Railroad

I loved that was how you introduced Mark Farner to your podcast. What an amazing man and what a story of his trip to the the other side and back. Of all the highlights of his career that stood out for me as the one he would most likely  not trade for any accolade.
I will share a quick GFR story that happened during the Strawberry Fields Festival in early August 1970 at Toronto's Morport Gran Prix Raceway.
Aside from over thirty other acts GFR headlined Friday night, Zeppelin were scheduled for Saturday's closer and Sly for Sunday. GFR destroyed the place and people would not let them get off the stage. It was amazing. By the time they finished it had become apparent that Led Zeppelin were not going to appear. No communication with transportation, no check in at local motel rooms on standby for them and of course no one was at Premier talent on a Friday night and no one had Frank Barcelona's home number.
We took a quick survey of the team and it was unanimous. Let's ask GFR to stay over and play again Saturday night. The band loved it, we paid them the same again (a fraction of the deposit we never got back from Peter Grant) and made the announcement to the crowd, who because there was camping mostly adjacent to your car, were all still within earshot of the huge PA which had been trucked in from LA. There was a roar from the visible crowd and a thunderous echo from the adjacent woods and it was on.
Talk about rescuing a Saturday night. GFR did it up right.

John Brower
Toronto

____________________________________________

From: Susan Levy Rash
Subject: Re: Bosch: Legacy

Bravo Bob !!!
Another great piece. I love your musings.
I was the publicist at MCA during  'Full Moon Fever'.  Shortly before it was scheduled for release Tom ran into George Harrison at a restaurant in Studio City, having lunch with a bunch of the department heads at Warner Bros.  Tom was still mad at his label for the whole $9.98 mess and he couldn't imagine lunching with the enemy.  But whatever George said to him about it softened his stance and next thing you know Richard Palmese's secretary is calling me, telling me that Tom Petty is coming into the building tomorrow to do all of his interviews to support the new album.  

You would not believe the buzz in the building. It was palpable. No one could believe Tom was coming into the building.  

With the help of Mitch Schneider, Tom did two full days— in one of the empty offices —interviewing with journalists to promote Full Moon Fever (which btw included a fantastic Spin cover story written by Michael Corcoran).

On the last day Tom asked me if he could see Al Teller, the then President of the label.  He took the long walk passed the bank of secretaries desks to Mr. Teller's office.  

I was told later that he wanted to see Al Teller to request that the label stop using styrofoam cups in their break rooms.  At that time MCA's headquarters were in Universal City on the Universal Lot.  I was also told that because of Tom's request, all of Universal Studios discontinued the use of styrofoam cups.

Like many others I was also surprised to learn that "Bosch Legacy" had been release and and that it was on FreeVee but I loved it just as much as the original series.  

And yes the commercials bugged us (thank god they are brief) but I will say that it did help me discover Freevee (which I guess is the point) as well as the new incarnation of Judge Judy, so it wasn't all bad.

____________________________________________

From: Shane Compton
Subject: RE: Gas

Hey Bob

Here in Ardernistan (New Zealand) we're paying over $3 per litre, which
equates to about $12 per US gallon!!  I'm talking in $ to $ terms, rather
than involving any exchange rates.

So, while I accept people are hurting in the USA, it's a lot worse here
mate!  Love your work Bob, take care,

Shane

____________________________________________

From: hasse breitholtz
Subject: Re: Gas

welcome to sweden:
1 liter gas today is 24 sek = 2,40 usd , which equals  9,60 usd !

____________________________________________

Subject: Re: Gas

Hi Bob,

Last I filled up at Costco (the gas quality is good) it was $5.60/gal. That was last part of May. I did see a few places in Beverly Hills and Hollywood that were showing $7+, but why go there? Arco is usually about the same as Costco, haven't had any issues with their gas. Like you I need premium (Mercedes AMG) and don't want to risk using sub-par gas.

I'm in Europe now, in Norway, an oil producing nation. Took the bus in from the airport (public transit works pretty well across most of Europe - try taking a bus in LA!) and saw Nkr 26/liter, which ends up being about $10/gal.

The truth is inflation is global, mainly due to the pandemic and supply chain havoc caused from it, more recently (and specific to fuel) oil and gas due to Russia's attack on Ukraine.

I totally agree with your assessment and worry that Americans will trade long term freedom for short term security. What happens when people in a democracy vote to elect a party who's platform is to eliminate democracy? Are people really aware of the choice they are being asked to make?

We certainly live in "interesting" times.

Be well.

Best regards,
Thor

____________________________________________

From: Mark Levy
Subject: Re: Gas

I hear ya, sometimes it doesn't feel like Democracy's hooks are deep enough to hold people through the kind of pressures it looks like we're headed into. The authoritarian tide is menacing. 

I believe this Summer will bring the touring music industry to the brink of viability. Inflation + fuel costs (fans and bands) + Covid + gun violence. None of it bodes well. As for fuel prices, like you said, the rich don't care how much they pay for gas.  My band toured March 15-April 10 cross-country in a bus and we spent 50% more on fuel than we budgeted for (before Russia invaded Ukraine). We barely turned a profit. Now we're looking down the pipe toward bus tours in August and September. I've seen forecasts for $10 diesel + shortages by then. First Covid grounded us, now this insanity. 

Like so much in life these days, I feel I can only savor the moment and hope for the best. After all, the only thing we really control is our own well-reasoned thoughts, right?  I'm grateful to still be pursuing a life in music. The idea of a world where such a life is no longer possible is too dark for me to reason with. So for now, I won't. 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and for reading mine. 

Mark Levy

____________________________________________

From: Gregory Prestopino
Re:  "Break My Stride" and 

Bob,

Firstly, love Joe Walsh's note about writing the song down a half step; total truth.

When Matthew (Wilder) and I wrote "Break My Stride", I think we both suspected (and hoped) it was a hit.  Matthew was on Arista at the time.  When Clive was sent the song, he just didn't hear it.  This is a much longer story but suffice it to say that Matthew got out of that deal and the album was released by Private Eye, Joe Isgro's label.

When "Stride" came out, it was called a "turntable hit", meaning it got airplay but no one bought it.  Well, not nobody, but only about 800,000 copies, so not gold.  

Well, somehow, a bunch of years later the song has ended up re-interpolated in several top ten records (Puffy's "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", Christina Aguiler's "Can't Hold Us Down", Matisyahu's "Jerusalem") and on and on.  Not to mention TikTok and various commercials.  

Why?  I have no idea.  I mean I always knew the song was great...for a "novelty" song, as many dismissed it.  

What J.D. said is right on the money:  "...write a great song and sing it well. It might not make you rich but then again, it just might..."  Bootstraps work is important.  But never underestimate the role of luck in all of this.

The older I get, the more I think "If You're Lucky" should be written across the universe and maybe tattooed on everyone's forehead the moment they're born.  

gPresto

____________________________________________

From: chris stein
Subject: Re: Elliott Murphy-This Week's Podcast

Elliott's brother Matt Murphy was perhaps the best tour manager Blondie ever had. Not to diminish others but he was fantastic

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