'A silence has followed my recent unilateral decision to split from the rock/pop music collaboration THE QUEER MESSIAH BANNED'- a concept I had solely created. Working relationships do reach unavoidable breaking points and sadly some of these prove to be utterly insurmountable.
After fifteen years of attempting to work creatively and sympathetically with musos I finally took the advice of my closest friends and realised that my past and present experiences with these people had indeed proven that they do not share my work ethic or utterly embrace my understanding of what a collaboration is. What they had brought to my life with a remarkable consistency was a vast list of disappointments and a particularly unfriendly catalogue of broken promises.
My biggest beef with all these people was that unfailingly they promised what they were not, in the final analysis, prepared to deliver. My recent grief was that my latest collaborator had taken it upon himself, without any reference to me, to publicly via the internet promise the launch of both an E.P. and an Album according to a specific timeline. These were promises made on my behalf which were subsequently broken not by me but by him. That is reprehensible.
I am deeply disappointed that I have been involved a project which specifically promised something it was unable to deliver. For that I apologise without reserve. Despite it being a 'collaboration' such immense decisions had been taken out of my hands.
My collaborator- the composer, the instrumentalist and vocalist also appeared intent to take it upon himself to make the unilateral decision to appoint himself the sole art director for the project. He posted many examples of his approach to artwork for The Queer Messiah Banned without seeking any 'proof' approval from me. That is also reprehensible in the context of a collaboration. The fact is that I liked very little of it. Our tastes in these matters are polarised.
I have learned to be very elastic with my patience with regard to musos- it does seem that they are very fond of having their own way: hence the modern phenomenon of the ubquitous singer-songwriter; they all believe that they can do it all. So be it. Then never collaborate.
I checked my meticulously kept contact record- 95% of the time contact was initiated by myself. This is never a great indicator.
The final straw came when I realised that in a very ill-advised comment posted by him publicly on Facebook all empathy and respect for me had totally dissipated. Pulling the plug was extremely difficult but it was my trusted advisers who forced my hand. The Queer Messiah Banned is now The Queer Messiah Banned That Was.
I shall never work with a rock/pop musician or within that industry again. I do not trust it.
My best work in this area remains the concept album CERULEAN BLUE which I wrote with Dominic Shaw. I view that as an achievement- particularly in the context of its birth. Very many other people have been kind enough to express the view that it is a work of worth. It is not all negatives then though, inexplicably Dominic Shaw refuses to agree to release the album.
I wrote the entire script of that album and then the brilliant Dominic went to work on the music- I do believe that not a word needed to be changed. No excuses there. Just flawed genius.
My belief in the power of collaborations is dented rather than diminished and I have recently opted to join forces with the very accomplished satirist Mike Knowles in a number of varied projects under the name QUEER MESSIAH MEDIA.' CM
Everything will be okay, mate, as long as we stay away from musical instruments. Not even a Jew’s harp! Which is a pity because the very term, “Jew’s Harp” makes me laugh because it conjures up some weird and possibly disturbing images. Images that Dan can bring to light. As a result we must target the music industry. We must lampoon them mercilessly. We must ensure that the never play another note. And next time I see a busker on the street I’ll kick him in the bollocks! “That’s for my mate, Chris Madoch, you cunt!”
ReplyDeleteVery Sorry to hear your struggles. I alone understand your position, as one who has waited in vain at times for those to deliver, now have found new venues to respect. I again extend my hand at our past projects-as stated year ago-with love and passion. Nicky-
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