What the Hell?

Stones demand apology from Swedish papers

08/29/2007 11:29 AM, Reuters


Guitarist Keith Richards has demanded that two Swedish newspapers apologize to the Rolling Stones and their fans in Sweden for stinging reviews of the band's performance at a concert in Gothenburg.

"Never before have I risen to the bait of a bad review," the veteran rock star said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"But this time ... I have to stand up for our incredible Gothenburg audience and for our fans all over Sweden ... to say that you owe them, and us, an apology."

A review in the newspaper Expressen said 63-year-old Richards, renowned for his haggard looks and tales of excess, appeared "very drunk" during the August 3 performance in Sweden's second-largest city.

The Rolling Stones ended the two-year "Bigger Bang" world tour last Sunday in London.

Earlier this month, Richards toppled over on stage at another show in Helsinki.

In a statement sent to the newspapers Expressen and Aftonbladet by the group's promoter in Sweden, the British musician said the press had abused its power.

"You have a duty to wield the power of the press with honesty and integrity. There were 56,000 people in Ullevi stadium who bought a ticket to our concert -- and experienced a completely different show than the one you 'reviewed'."

He added: "How dare you cheapen the experience for them -- and for the hundreds of thousands of other people across Sweden who weren't at Ullevi and have only your 'review' to go on."

The statement, a copy of which was provided to Reuters by the promoter, concluded: "Write the truth. It was a good show."

First, what the hell are the Stones reading their reviews for? Ego tripping?

Second, they are demanding an apology of someone's OPINION? Even as a music snob, I believe you have the right to your own opinion - but if you don't agree with me, you're an IDIOT. But you can have your opinion.

Third, what happened to THE STONES WITHSTAND: Divorce * Slander * Rip-Offs * Slagging * Under-Age Sex * Alcohol * Drugs * like it says on the Voodoo Lounge tees and
posters?

One More Thing On My Mind

I was thinking about how many people were disappointed by the ending of The Sopranos - as in the final show. You know, how it really wasn't an ending, no shootouts, no one knowing if Tony survives to be king of New Jersey or whatever. It's just kind of "and they went on with their lives.

People want stories they invest their time into to have a neat little wrapped in a bow like a present Ending. Whether is be "And the lived happily ever after.." or "Meadow identified the two burnt bodies pulled from the SUV as her parents." But why should our stories have a nice neat end when life doesn't have a nice neat end? People get divorced, die in car crashes, become alcoholics or addicts and some live a nice quiet happy life 'til their end. It's an unknown and that's what makes life precious, right? We don't know how much time we get, so make every minute count.

I will say this -I watched The Sopranos until the season became shorter and it took a year and a half between seasons. I walked away in the middle of the story. And I didn't drop dead from not 'knowing' how it ended. People walk away from ball games [baseball, football, etc] not knowing the final score. Why should this be any different?

Preaching to the Converted

If you are not a fan of the Black Crowes, you will probably not be searching out and buying the lastest offering from the Crowes camp. Packaged as Brothers of A Feather after the Robinson brothers [Chris and Rich] "solo" tour of 2006, Live at the Roxy offers a unique view of the Crowes songs, the brothers solo works and the interplay of the brothers themselves.

The first surprise of the whole set is opening with an obscure Crowes song like Horsehead. While it offers some great slide work from Rich and fantastic backing vocals from Mona Lisa Young and Charity White, it's an unhappy song about watching a friend slip down the spiral of heroin addiction. Not exactly the type of song one would usually open with. Of course, the brothers have never been afraid to take chances. Next comes a lovely working of one of my faves from Amorica, Cursed Diamond, Rich playing great on a 12-string, then a cover of John Martin's Over the Hill. I'm not familiar with the song, but it souonds like it could be a tale right out of Chris Robinson's own travails. The boys then unveil a middling new song, Magic Rooster Blues, and then dust off a fantastic reading My Heart's Killing Me [from the unreleased Band (until The Lost Crowes popped up)]. Up next is A song from Rich's brilliant solo CD Paper, Forgiven Song. On the record, Rich had to do his own high harmonies, but here Chris nails them perfectly. Next the do a Chris original, Someday Past the Sunset, then a tribute to Lowell George in covering Roll Um Easy, and another new song Cold Boy Smile. This one has potential and I'd be curious to hear a full studio rendition. They roll into a song Chris credits learning from a Tom Rush album, Driving Wheel which is another tasteful cover. Rich leads off another solo song, Leave It Alone, then they cover Gene Clark's Polly and then dive into the Crowes catalog again for the Southern Harmony B-side Darling of the Underground Press, which is interesting and shows off Rich's slide work but really needs a band to give it power. The set closes with my favorite Crowes [and my unofficial theme] song, Thorn In My Pride. The first couple of times you hear it, you miss Eddie Harsch's organ and Marc Ford and Rich's screaming solos, but then it dawns on you how much of the band Rich is covering for with just one guitar. Then Chris pulls out a harmonica and the two go into a nice Midnight Rambler style vamp in a send up to the Stones, then Rich goes into Sunday Morning Buttermilk Waltz/extended vamp before riding back into the ending of the song.

As I say, it's reach is probably not going to be far beyond the Black Crowes fan base, but it's a great Musician's Musicians type CD. Just two vetrans of the music wars and a couple of guitars.