Diary - Ol Drake
Anarchy for the UK.....is.....here
12/06/2010
Bare with me..... Yes there's a bear with me. He's called "This country is going to Hell", aka "Great Shitain"
I'll start with the story of last night which lead me to write this.
Friday night, going out for a few drinks with some close friends. Waiting for the bus in my village. While I step up to get on the bus 4 youths who were hanging around with many other youths come up behind me to also use the oh-so lovely public transport. The words "long haired cunt" comes from one of their mouths. I turn round and say "excuse me?" to which they reply "nothing, didn't say anything". I turn back around and they say it again, so I ask them to say it again (knowing full well they won't to my face) with no response.
I go to sit down and they expectedly sit at the back of the bus (if anyone is unaware, to sit at the back of a bus in the UK makes you immaedietly "tougher" than everyone on the bus; obviously). What follows is the general abuse I put up with most days on venturing into highly populated british locations, which over the years I've grown used to and it doesn't phase me. I even just laugh at it, considering who it is saying them (idiots).
Here's just a taster of the insults I remember:
"Long-haired Cunt" (in apparent comedic succession)
"Long-haired Prick"
"Fucking Tramp" etc
I never rise to anything like this. There's just no point. Simply out of repetition and out of sympathy for the other travellers I face up to them and suggest they shutup, I wouldn't threaten them, as that's just what they want (which I'll touch on later). A few girls back me up, whilst one young lad eggs them on and laughs. Fair enough. They'll do this for the next few years until they work at Mcdonalds and realise this manner is not widely accepted in society (though nothing is ever done about it).
Then they touch on a subject which goes beyond mere insulting. They start speaking of stabbing me. Getting off when I get off and stabbing me. In this day and age, you don't do that. These kids were about 12 going on 15 (that's years, not brain cells), and knowing of the many, many stabbings that go on in the UK this made me quite unsettled. Still, I didn't rise to anything or threaten them back.
One got off, walked to the front of the bus, looked at me and said "what?". 3 left. Insults still continue. Two of them get off, whilst saying "Prick" as they venture past me. 1 small kid left. I turn to him and ask if he's got anything to say now he's all alone and he insists he didn't say anything. aww. I considered taking his questionably placed baseball cap off his head and throwing it out the window to hit him where it hurts; in the bling. (I'm aware that's not bling, I'm just that funny you see). He alights the bus, quiet as a mouse.
After I leave the bus I'm left slightly shaken up, knowing that they could have easilly stayed, followed me and stabbed me. It happens. So it could happen. I decide to pay a quick visit to the Police station just down the road to speak to them about this, as I strongly consider this a "Hate Crime". I explained the situation, enquired about this kind of action and they file an incident report, and an officer will see me tomorrow etc. I'm not overly interested in what could happen to those kids, I'm interested in how people should be protected and treated in today's society.
1.
Someone was telling me how one time they were on a bus in a similar situation, where the youths would insult any male who boarded the bus, and sexually harass (verbally) any female who boarded, regardless of age (even at the moreso morally wrong spectrum of the scale).
Why do they do this? Because their lives are going nowhere. They see people around them with seemingly more interesting lives than their own all the time, so any chance to try and bring them down a peg, they take. To insult someone and have them retort or rise to their taunts is exactly what they want, as it lowers the person/people to their level of understanding: Violence, insults, vulgarity and .....idiocy. Imagine well mannered, intellectual people in their position, shouting Math problems at them. They wouldn't rise to it because they can't. "4 x 78!" "......Fuck off Nobhead!". The intellectual gets no gratification or an answer. Whereas "Long-haired Cunt" retorted with "You fucking what? I'm going to kick your head in" is the perfectly mathematical answer to "Long-haired Cunt" (ask Einstein). They get their gratification within their understanding, they get their answer, and they are complete. Just then onto the punching, or cowering.
Einstein
2. "Hate Crimes" (bare with me, I have a point)
Homophobia can be a Hate Crime.
A Homosexual individual can get insulted for their choice of lifestyle. As the widely known "norm" is a Hetero-sexual orientation, anything other than this is viewed as wrong. A homosexual can have insults hurled at them. This can hurts their feelings, make them feel of less worth, and generally lead to a feeling of not wanting to even venture into society without feeling this "Hate" looming over them. Naturally I expect they rise above it, but again I stress, this is considered a Hate Crime.
Disablism can be a Hate Crime
Someone who is disabled can have abuse hurled at them. This behaviour has no meaning other than the disabled person being less able than who is hurling the abuse. Like Homophobia it can make the individual/s feelings hurt, make them feel less worth, and so on. The normal order in the UK is that disabled people are seen and considered as less than human. Argue all you want but that IS how they are seen and treated. Hatred and prejudice against the disabled is a Hate Crime.
Racism can be a Hate Crime
Someone who is of a different race can be abused verbally, making this a Hate Crime. It is not the person's fault what race or colour they are, it is simply who they are. For one to insult/hate someone for something they simply cannot change about themselves would naturally hurt their feelings. This is considered a Hate Crime. Understandably, the individual feels hated, is insulted and hurt. Hate Crime. I'll just say it once more. It's a Hate Crime, that is.
Hate Crimes can also be commited against persons of a certain religion, but you get my point.
On August 11th 2007, a girl was walking towards a park with her boyfriend. The couple were what some might call "Alternative", but what I would call "Humans". A gang of youths attacked the male without provocation, knocking him unconcious (nice, ey?). When this happened the youths began to attack the female, while cradling her boyfriend in her arms. The youths started to kick the girl in the head, jumpin up and down on her head and also causing injuries in multiple other places. Knowing this country and experiencing first hand this kind of mentality, the couple were attacked simply due to their appearance, choice of lifestyle and personal opinions. The youths were even seen to be celebrating their attack on the "Goths" or "Moshers" (terms/a subject i'll touch on shortly). A witness called Emergency Services explaining this "Mosher" has just been banged "because he's a Mosher". The girl wouldn't recover from her injuries, and her family agreed to have life support turned off. Her name was Sophie Lancaster.
Sophie's mother, Sylvia, recently had a meeting with Kirklees council and the West Yorkshire police to help lobby to get this kind of attack and mentality to be considered as a Hate Crime. As far as I'm aware it was a failure. To show your support visit http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com
These youths' prejudice and hatred towards the couple didn't just hurt their feelings, it killed one of them, with absolutely no provocation or basis other than prejudice and "intolerance". That's a crime, obviously. Attacked/killed simply because of their appearance which they have chosen as "them". This prejudice is an attack/insult on a person's appearance, choices and lifestyle, much like the premises of other Hate Crimes' criteria. I can see no reason why this mentality is not considered a "Hate Crime" or even just simply a "Crime".
I was on public transport whilst youths spoke of stabbing me for my appearance, for having long hair. Sure, these are just words, but how seriously would the Police take it if I'm suddenly stabbed and killed. Oh it's suddenly bad. Wish they'd have done something sooner, but how would they have known? Oh, because they said they were going to do it. They were prejudicing and displaying hatred towards me, attacking me because of my appearance. this, to me, is on the same level as what is considered a "Hate Crime". People's prejudice and verbal abuse towards others, regardless of matter or subject, creates the same emotional effect as with Hate Crime incidents of Homophobia, Disablism and Racism.
Through a source at Kirklees Council the Police have said nothing has been done because there have been no reports of this kind of thing. Why do you think? because it's not considered serious, so no one comes forward. I'm sure many people don't come forward for other subjects which actually ARE considered Hate Crimes, but if they did, it'd be taken seriously.
According to West Yorkshire Police a Hate Incident is:
"Any incident which may, or may not, constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate"
and a Hate Crime is:
"Any hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim, or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate."
Myself and others around me perceived my abuse as motivated by prejudice and hatred. I personally think the above two statement are contradictory. That's my opinion.
West Yorkshire Police says it will "always treat you fairly, with dignity and respect". It is quite unfair for people to have to take abuse, threats and insults which genuinely hurt them (and could physically hurt them), and them to be not considered worth the bother, unless you're stabbed or kicked to death. I thought the police were there to protect their fellow man. It's unfair to have to live in your local area in fear of being singled out because of your appearance, similarly to Homosexuals, people of different races and the disabled.
Assistant Chief Constable John Parkinson says, of the West Yorkshire Police Force:
"I want them to be responsive, to listen to your concerns, to be able to recognise your local priorities and what really affects you the most"
If this is the case, they should be responsive, listen to people's concerns and what affects us the most. Hatred and prejudicing affects me the most. But will they listen? We'll see tomorrow.
He also concludes a paragraph with "so you feel a real sense of understanding of what your local police are doing for you". The Police do a lot of hard work, I'm not questioning that, but another thing it could "do for me" and many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many others, is not just take this into consideration, but put themselves in other people's shoes. This country is going downhill more and more every year. Sure, people commit crimes, and people have been doing so since a very long time ago but the way people treat each other in our society is worse than appalling.
More money needs to be put into the Police force and into Schools. Would David Cameron (forgetting his status and familiarity for a second) spend a month travelling around the UK on public transport at any hour of the day/night? Go through city, town and village centers after 9pm? No. Because he knows how bad it is.
3.
The term "Mosher" is a widely used word in the UK. From my many years of experience, this word is used with intent to be derogatory and insulting. People who don't conform to the expected normal order of everyone else is seen as different, and if they have enough black clothes, are considered a "Mosher". Most people don't know what the word "Mosh" actually means, and they still use it. I don't go around shouting "You are so xenodocheionologic" because, until now, I didn't know what it means (xenodocheionology means a love of hotels or inns; which I'm a part of). Yet people still go around using a word they don't know the meaning.
In music, people do something called headbanging. The term and act has been around for a long time. People nod their heads to music regardless of genre, but with more aggressive music, a need for more aggressive moving of the head is needed. Even back to 1969.
Headbanging isn't Moshing. There you go. Ask your mum and dad, they probably did it to Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Headbanging I mean, not rompy pompy. Though they probably did that too. Thank them. You exist now.
Moshing is what an audience/audience member does at a live music concert which consists of pushing, running or slamming into each other. The act is meant in a fun, positive way. There are few people who use it as an excuse to hurt people (these people are known as "inconsiderus ignoramus"). For Mosher to be used as a derogatory term, implies the person is at fault in regards to the insulter's personal opinion, but usually due to their musical tastes. I get called Mosher all the time, but my musical tastes waver much more onto the side of Classical, Progressive Rock and Jazz, aswell as Heavy Metal. Hell, you even see Moshing at Cypress Hill shows, and they're a Hip Hop band. If you saw an individual walking down the street with big baggy pants, a hockey/baseball jersey, gold chains, a bandana and a back/side turned cap, they wouldn't get called a Mosher, but they might indulge in it. I hear there's even moshing at Muse shows, but I bet a Muse fan walking down the street wouldn't get any "abuse" at all (other than "take off that Muse shirt", maybe). Long story short:
Be quiet. You do nothing but air your ignorance to the people nearby. You don't know what you're talking about, and may aswell shout "hey! think less of me!"
There was a conclusion to this post, but I just had a really good idea for a song I'm writing, and as soon as that happens everything else leaves my brain for a while. So, to conclude. *insert Evile's 3rd album when it's released*
I may later remember the conclusion and edit it in.
Mein Hamster ist Gestorben
11/02/2010
Currently in Weinheim, Germany. I've lost track of what day or....anything, it is.
had some awesome shows on this tour. Madrid, I have to say, was the best show i've ever played in my life.
Everything was just amazing about the show. The sound, the crowd, the response, the warm welcome; everything.
I absolutely love it when people show they are appreciative of us travelling all that way. The more energy people give us, the more I get more back into the mood.
I've been feeling a bit down in the dumps about being back on tour, and at one point i'll admit I just wanted to go home, but the show last night in Paris got me back in the mood to be out on tour. So thankyou, Paris.
I'm still finding my feet in terms of playing again, and I'm really glad we have Joel with us. I'm confident we;ve made a really good choice.
Hoping to catch up with Schmier at one of the upcoming shows. Caught up with Sy and Steve of Onslaught in Bristol, haven't seem them for ages. Looking forward to their new album.
Caught up with Talita (Earache Press) and Louise from Terrorizer last night in Paris, good times.
Missing friends and family, but luckilly we've got a week or so off before we fly off to the States. Pow.
Tour Tour TUORUOROURUO
24/01/2010
So we've just got to the London show of the tour.
Our first tour without Mike.
Joel is doing great, and is picking away at the songs whilst on the road.
He only had about 2 or 3 weeks to learn the entire set from scratch, so mad props to him yo. no idea why i said that
I'll be completely honest and open and say I'm finding it slightly hard to get fully in the mood right now. Mike was with us
for a very long time, even far beyond starting Evile. It will take time, but I'm glad we have Joel.
Someone went up to our merch girl, Lucy, and said there was a rumor going around that we don't get on with Joel.
That is utter bollocks, where does this crap come from? The main reason we chose Joel is because we got on with him so well.
But the running joke is now that we all hate Joel, thanks to the rumor. That bloody Joel, being all, there.
We got a very innapropriate and disrespective e-mail from an auditionee. He basically said Joel was crap,
he should have been picked and the choice was very unprofessional. Wow, we obviously didn't make the right choice,
considering how professional and considerate to our situation that e-mail was. We chose Joel because he's a great,
friendly, professional guy. A person's personality is just as important as how good they are on an instrument.
Anyway, I'm glad we didn't choose the nameless one after that. Say it to our faces next time.
FUCKING SNOW
05/01/2010
So it's snowing AGAIN. If I was 6, I'd love it, but I'm not.
We HAVE to get rehearsing with Joel, and get us tight as a band. He hasn't had too long to learn all the songs we'll be playing, and seeing as our headliner tour is the first tour we're doing, it has to be a long set. Plus we have to nail "Metamorphosis", which isn't an easy task.
The snow is stopping him getting over, or us getting over to him, or to our rehearsal room.
The tour starts on the 14th in Cardiff, and I'm absolutely bricking it. I hope this snow FUCKS OFF in time for the tour, or i'd hate to think what could happen with the amount of snow up and down the country.
I curse the day we labelled ourselves the unluckiest band in the world.
RATM Xmas No 1 - The Devil's Music
21/12/2009
So yeah, RATM are number 1 for Christmas. I'm not too bothered, but I was reading comments on Yahoo and I noticed one from some woman called Yvonne N.
"what an absolute disgrace rage against the machine song foul mouthed filthy dirty sex fuelled the devils song! got to number one , well that just sums up our broken down society in the uk today drunkeness debauchery idolatry murder rape incest godlessness the devil reins here among our young kids god help them....."
*applause* Congratulations, you are prejudicing. Society's problems can not be pinned on a music genre you don't like, and if anything, I could safely say popular music can be mentioned in the same sentence as "decline of society" way more worthilly than the "devil"'s music (ie, anything not popular, or widely considered unacceptable).
First off, the Xmas number one has now become meaningless due to Simon Cowell for the past 4 years. No matter who wins the X Factor/what the X Factor song is, is bound to be number 1 now, which is sad. It's not even about a "CHRISTMAS song" anymore. I'd much rather Slade or Wizzard be at number 1 at christmas, but on the other hand, who gives a jingled ball who is number 1 anymore.
RATM are donating the proceeds of the single sales to the Homeless Charity Shelter - What an absolute disgrace...............................(that was sarcasm)
Second; What is with this prejudiced generalisation that music which isn't in the charts, or seen as socially "acceptable" is automatically the "devil"'s music and frowned upon?
If people only knew that the vast majority of individuals (I stress the word individuals) in the Rock/Metal/Alternative community are some of the nicest people to walk the earth, this narrow mindedness would be avoided. Will that ever happen? no, people are too narrow minded. So narrow minded that having to concentrate on anything beyond what a popular music singer looks like or is singing, that they disregard it.
So if a RATM song sums up our broken down society, let me ask this. What about our society is broken down?
If I go into some popular locations within the UK on an evening (most likelyfriday/saturday nights), what will I see? more likely than not, therewill be drunken people being loud, innapropriate, abusive,violent, judgemental, sick and basically having no respect for peopleother than themselves, and more likely than not, at (or outside of) a popular/trendy nightclub. Is Rock/Metal/Alternative/The DEVIL'S music playing in those clubs? no? just an observation.
Where are the followers of the "Devil"'s music? Staying out of the way.
I for one am more often than not unable to venture into any popular clubs/locations (day or night) which most townshave without attracting the attention (and abuse) of manypeople who have nothing but negative, childish, insidious comments tosay; therefore I don't go there. I do not enter the clubs which play music I am not a fan of, and I do not abuse anyone, or any music/musical taste.
Now if one of these people who would no doubt give me abuse (for the way i look/the music i listen to/the music itself) were to come into an alternative bar with alternative music playing, they voice nothing butcontempt and abuse. Just painting a picture - doesn't seem right to me.
In 2007, a girl called Sophie Lancaster was kicked to death in a park in Lancashire for being different. She was dressed differently because her musical tastes and life choices were different and didn't conform to the "normal order". I cannot help but imagine that if Sophie and her boyfriend were dressed the same as the thugs who did this, and maybe listening to the same music as them (too loud on their phone annoying the crap out of everyone - btw, you never hear "devil" music being played loud on the bus do you? hmm), they could have easily passed that group of people that night and the mindless act of violence, hatred and prejudice might have been avoided.
Did you know Jesus is depicted as having long hair? that's fine
Did you know some Boshisattvas had long hair? that's fine
Did you know Beethoven had long hair? that's fine
Did you know the Beatles had long hair? uh-oh starting to get frowned on by parents.
Did you know males in modern society have long hair? DEVILS!!!!!!! Fuck you.
FUCK
YOU
PS, I like ABBA.
