Ginger Says – The Good, The Bad And The Mighty
By Ginger | April 8, 2003
Ever thought that things have gone as bad as things can possibly get, only for things to get worse? Much, much worse? In the quest for the official nadir of bad tidings the good news is that there isn’t one. When the smell of shit becomes too much to deal with, worry not… pretty soon you’ll have to eat that shit, and then pine for the days when all you had to do was smell it.
Rock ‘n’ roll… it’s a shit business. Well, it’s a brilliant game for those who enjoy it, but for some it is a one way ticket back to the hell that haunts them in the shape of alcohol and drug addiction. Everyone likes a drink or a drug of some kind, but to some it is not a casual relationship. It is a bunny boiler of a partner that demands the soul and sanity of its victims. Be it drink or drugs, the problem with the sufferers of this particular illness is not the vehicle but the direction. They will get that buzz whatever it takes, and will still hate themselves for it. It is not anyone’s place to judge the intentions of an addict, it is a mental state and therefore not up for discussion by anyone other than fellow sufferers or people that have been close to sufferers. Addiction is not aimed at you. It is not a personal jibe. The self loathing involved with being an addict, to anything from crack to chocolate, is something that the public do not see. The addict is not innocent as charged but neither is the person that would judge the addict, in any way. There are people that think that feeding an ex-heroin addict regular alcohol is okay because it isn’t heroin, blissfully ignorant to the fact that heroin isn’t even the problem.
Having an addictive personality is the problem.
Yet, these are the same people that will judge, condemn and insult those around them for having design faults. These are the people that addicts will suffer from knowing. People who will spread rumours, and try to alienate the addict from other people that care for the addict. Why? Because if the addict knew just how much these people blame the rest of the world for them being fucked up, the addict would then realise that their sinister plan is to keep the addict in a controlled environment so they won’t fly away, thus making the lives of the condemners even more meaningless.
What chance have addicts if there are people around them feeding their newest addiction? They will obviously revisit their old habits in time if they are left off the hook long enough.
Action is the final answer.
Danny, as you have probably heard, is not in The Wildhearts. We do not know if he will be back in the band. This sucks. Especially right now, when everything is supposed to be heading in the right direction.
The first thing we do not want to happen, and WILL NOT allow to happen is that Danny dies because of his inclusion in this band. We can’t watch him head slowly downhill, and we can’t force the band and crew to stop drinking to make things easier for him, as the addict will find another source to obtain his fix of whatever. We can’t encourage him to drink, and if you see him drinking please do not buy him a drink, otherwise you are helping kill Danny, and I can’t think why you would think that’s cool. All I can do is this, urge you to help. Spread the word, and of anyone see’s him with as much as a beer in his hand, they owe it to themselves to remind him that they love him and would rather not see him drinking. Believe me, booze will kill him as surely as heroin. Please help.
The second thing we want to happen is that we keep the band going, for us, for the fans and to give Danny something to work for if he decides he wants to get well and re-join. If Danny walked through the door in a years time, clean, sober and actually living a life, there isn’t anyone that wouldn’t weep, and welcome him back.
I hope that he can do it this time. Do it properly and for good. Some people should be clean.
Good luck Dan, we love you very much.
Other things that need mentioning are the new album, the new tour and my new baby.
First the album: fuck, this is a really good album!!! After getting as tired as everyone else must be, by bands ‘trying’ to be heavy (yeah, that’s cool, like trying to be angry!) we decided, in typical Wildhearts tradition, that we wanted to make an album that we would like to go out and buy. And, hey presto, “The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed”! An album so chock full of tunes and choruses that a quality warning should be employed. Man, if you like songs you will like these songs! I cannot wait to hear the public reaction to this album, probably more so than anything but ‘Endless Nameless’. In fact I guess this album is the opposite argument to EN’s belligerent spraffing. In its voluminous place is a collection of masterfully arranged (tho’ I say so meself!) and catchy-as-hell tracks that show off the musicianship of this band, a commodity that has been largely ignored in the past. Standing proudly against the current trends, the album discusses relationships and the politics of love and honour. Something we could all use right about now. Trust me, you’re gonna love it.
The up-coming tour (featuring Jon Poole on bass duties) will have our first ever tour programme, and boy is it a labour of love for all involved. The greatest writers of our generation (featuring award winning Ian Winwood, eager eyed and longterm fan Brett Callwood, infamous Steven Wells, legendary inventor of Rock journalism Geoff Barton and published book writer type bloke Jason Arnopp) rub shoulders with an international array of amazing artists to bring you a slice of sheer goodness. All bound in a shrink wrapped bag to save condensation damage due to the over zealous behaviour of the regular nutjobs that frequent our shows. You are gonna re-read this lil’ sucker for years to come. Best buy two if you do E-Bay.
The line-up for this jaunt is surely the greatest show of the year. Brand new cuties Darling open things in glamorous style, then Amen come and destroy the gaff, then it’s all heads down for the singalong of the summer. I honestly forget the sheer noise that you lot make until I’m onstage again. The sound of up to 2000 people singing along to every song takes some beating. Who else get’s this kind of reaction live? Who else brings this many tunes and this many people together under one roof? You got it. no-one. Where punks, metallers, straight edge and wasted, gather in the same building is where you want to be this April/May. Come on down, and don’t even think about missing this.
And if you’re coming down to the Oxford Zodiac gig, get there early as Darling are opening the show, and a rare appearance from Volta is also guaranteed. This is one gig I am personally looking forward to.
I won’t mention the war, except to say that everything I had predicted has happened. Babies die, families are wiped out and all in the name of progress. Lies, lies lies. I don’t buy bullshit anymore than you do. And if you do, then presumably you agree with this war and are backing the methods of exacting justice the American way, and are clapping your hands at the moment. We are gonna win! I only hope that my predictions for what happens, after the war is over, are dead wrong.
Jasmine, my new baby girl, is doing fine, getting huge and prettier every day. She is a blonde version of Jake, but seems to be much more chilled out. Jake, on the other hand, is getting crazier every day. And I thank God for it. Seriously, if you suffer from any kind of depression (or related mental illness) and are contemplating the future then… have kids.
Do it!
Find someone to love and have kids. You will change so much as a person that you won’t even recognise the person greeting you in the bathroom mirror every morning as the same miserable sod you used to see. Kids are the new everything. They rock, they don’t bullshit and they don’t fuck you over. It’s true. Not everyone is as selfish and ignorant as you sometimes see humanity. Kids are angels. And they fill you up with everything you need. Fact.
Things are as fucked up as they have ever been, these days. Best, then, concentrate on making sure that you don’t make things worse.
If you are not a part of the solution then you are a part of the problem.
Chin up. Work hard. Take no shit. Spread love. Make love. Be happy. They’ll never see it coming!!!
See you in April/May… and I can’t fucking wait. I need some fun as much as any of you. And I intend to get mine.
LET US HAVE IT!!!
Peace,
Ginger
Danny – Health Problems
By Kris | April 7, 2003
Some sad news to report today – Danny is suffering from health problems that have plagued him for the last couple of years, so has voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation centre to recover, and thus will be unable to join the band on the up and coming tour. The band instead will be assisted on 4 string duties by SG5 cohort and all round mass of Randomness, Jon Poole.
Ginger Says: “We are incredibly shocked and saddened by the revelation that Danny’s health problems are ongoing. His well-being is obviously a major concern to us, to the point where to carry on with him would make matters worse. This is only a band after all, and to have someone die for it is not on anyone’s agenda.”
“All we want to do is get the guy well – the only thing that matters is that he goes away and gets himself sorted. The fact that he himself decided to admit himself into rehab is a good, positive start to that process.”
I know you will all join us in wishing him every bit of love and support through these difficult times, and hope he gets well soon.
Wildhearts – Street-Teams – Independent and Indestructible tour
By Kris | March 23, 2003
The Wildhearts are keen to set-up ‘street teams’ in cities that are being visited during the Independent and Indestructible tour in April/May.
These are envisaged as small (2-4 people), focussed and proactive teams for flyering and other publicity. And in reward for your help, the band are providing free entry to the show in that city and possibly other inducements as well.
If you’re interested in helping the band out in a street team, then email Gary Garner – gazagarner@aol.com – (please put the city you’re based in into the subject line of your mail).
Please note that all street team members should be aged 16+.
Ginger Singles Club – Single 5 – Virtual Love
By Kris | March 23, 2003
Ginger’s fifth solo single: Virtual Love is now available through ChangesOne. The single is backed with 2 b-sides: ‘Energetic O’ and ‘Where Did Everyone Go’.
The Wildhearts – So Into You Single
By Kris | March 16, 2003
The single ‘So Into You’, scheduled for release 6th May will consist of 3 formats.
CD1:
So Into You (Gordon Raphael mix)
Danny’s Dancin’
The People That Life Forgot
CD2:
So Into You (Spike Drake mix)
Action Panzer
Lake Of Piss
Vinyl: Double A-sided 10″
Side A: So Into You (Gordon Raphael mix), Return To Zero
Side A: So Into you (Spike Drake mix), Danny’s Dancin’ (instrumental version)
Says Ginger: “The instrumental version of Danny’s Dancin’ is markedly different to the vocal version, so don’t hesitate to invest in both versions if you like!
Let’s shake up the industry one more time! Let’s get this thing on radio (with a stunning Spike Drake mix) and TV (with an incredible animation/CGI promotional video from Collision Films, the people that brought you ‘Bugs and Drugs’, with the more ‘extreme’ Gordon Raphael mix providing the soundtrack).
We made the critics eat their words last time, now let’s truly baffle them and do it again!!! Tell a friend, tell them to tell a friend, and try to beat the success of the last single. We know we can count on you.”
Wildhearts – Wayahead tickets
By Kris | March 15, 2003
We’ve received the following statement via the band’s agents regarding the Wayahead ticket pricing:
“I can now confirm that the issue with the Way Ahead ticket sales is now over.
The face value of the tickets is ?12.50 regionally and ?14.00 in London. Way Ahead will add on the regular booking fee as now stated on their website. Any Wildhearts fans that have bought tickets initially at the higher rate from Way Ahead can now contact them to get a refund (approx 50p).
I hope this clears the matter up.
I apologise for any inconvenience to The Wildhearts fans who bought the higher priced tickets.
Please contact either us or the band’s management directly at gazagarner@aol.com, absurdmanagement@hotmail.com if you have any further queries.
Wildhearts – Promotion Help
By Kris | March 15, 2003
A call to arms from The Wildhearts Management: we want all Wildhearts enthusiasts to start feeding us contact information on any and all fanzines, local papers, independent record shops, local radio, college or school magazines, [pirate radiostations], any and all publications where we can spread the word.
Names, addresses, phone numbers and emails so we can contact these publications and stations and get them involved in the next campaign!
Thanks and i look forward to as much information as you can possibly forward to us.
Please send all information to gazagarner@aol.com
Gary Garner
co-manager – The Wildhearts
Wildhearts – So Into You single and Tour News
By Kris | March 11, 2003
New single ‘So Into You‘ is set for release on 6th May. The Independent and Indestructable Tour has been extended with an extra date in Bradford on 8th May. There will be two pre-tour warm-up gigs (without Amen supporting) in Oxford and Milton Keynes – see the Gigs page for details.
Ginger – Response following latest Ginger Says
By Ginger | February 22, 2003
The response to the latest “Ginger Says” has been ‘interesting’ if not as scary as anything I have ever been involved with. A bizarre number of fans/ex-fans/readers have jumped to the astounding conclusion that the piece is anti-American. Why? Because it is not pro-Bush. This is hard to swallow, but for some it goes like this… I have to like your President to like you. Wow, I never got political ultimatums from fans before. This War is making monkeys out of people, and it looks like the gene pool hasn’t got a lot of work to do in some (thankfully very few) cases. So, in response to the readers out there that insist I stick by your President or lose you as a fan (didn’t realise there were still such idiots in America to be honest, thank god most of America is anti-Bush) I have the following word for you: “Bye“. And the following statement to make:
“Your grandfather didn’t die for me… you have never served in the US Army for my rights… you didn’t vote your President in, he voted himself in… you didn’t ‘fix’ Baghdad, it’s still broken… Iraq didn’t attack your Capital, that was Afghanistan… you have nuclear weapons too… Iraq is a Nation and to be anti-War is not to be pro-Saddam… I do not support Saddam Hussein, no-one does you stupid fucking cunt. Got that? Oh, and every one of you that is no longer a fan because I am against War and opposed to your President – good fucking riddance to you, you hairy palmed fucking Neanderthal. I never felt so relieved to be ridding my fan base of such racist, redneck filth.”
I swear I never believed people like this actually existed. It was people like this that used to hang blacks and sit in the segregated part of cinemas, right? The rest of America, thank God for you. I understand how frustrating it is to have to be on the firing line at this time, as we are in the same predicament, but good will win. We are all together here and peace will win, because it is obvious that it has the cerebral advantage. Remember, everyone is entitled to their opinion, even people who think that being anti-Bush is being pro-Saddam. That is what freedom of speech is there for. Fight for your right to freedom of speech. And use it wisely. God bless you America and fuck your President.
Ginger Says – Bush has the bombs, but Britain has the balls
By Ginger | February 18, 2003
Anyone that attended the ‘anti-war’ march, or stopped by Hyde Park on Sat 15th of Feb 2003 will have been witness to the biggest celebration of action in the history of public demand.
Gathered in what seemed to be below freezing conditions an estimated 1 1/2million (the organisers even claimed there to be more like 2 million… hey, there were enough people there!) all claimed the right to an opinion in thename of World Peace.
Not as shouted at the TV by a dull and glibly accepting pro-war public, ordrunkenly babbled around a pub table as the chatter of buffoons claiming itwould ‘spice up the telly’. People of every colour, social standing andcultural background actually did something. Got off their apathetic Britisharses and actually stood for something. And these were only the ones thatCOULD make it to the rally.
Even Jesse Jackson flew in to be there.
It was life affirming. Literally.
So there, descended upon Tony Blair’s pro-war policies, and his allegiance tohis new American pen-pal, was a potential threat of 2 to 3 million votesagainst him in the next General Election. Guaranteed defeat if he decides notto listen to their voices. The voices of his people.
A minority in terms, but a huge fucking majority in passion.Just how passionate a turn out do you think would have attended a Pro-Warmarch? Do you really think it would have gone as smoothly, and without asingle violent incident like this one?And does Blair want the votes of the drooling, pro-violent idiots thatsupport Bush, to taint his golden boy reputation?
No. The minority has already won.
Every single person with a mind, a family and the hope of a future is againstthe war with Iraq.
The same thing happened, albeit on a much smaller scale, with the lastWildhearts single. The passionate minority charged while the lazy majoritytypically sat back and waited to be told what to do. Like I said in the lastintro, we (we, that’s people like you and me) can do anything. Even stop aWorld War. Tony Blair has got to listen to his people – and countries such asGermany, France, Belgium, China and Russia – and stop the attack. Act againstPresident Bush (have you noticed how hard it is to say ‘Bush’ without saying’GENOCIDAL CUNT’ instead?), and make political history by having balls the sizeof the turn-out on Saturday Feb 15th.
Or he can keep his cock in Bush.
And if he sides with the US this obviously means that he was planning to moveover there all along as one of Bush’s aides, because he’ll be as welcome overhere as a Ricin store.
Either way… if he is for the war he is against Britain.
So what to do as an alternative to war?
Keeping our right to opinion is paramount. Do not be lead to believe, by anyamount of anti-Iraqi propaganda, that war is the answer. Fight for your rightto protect innocent people from the threat of destruction, both here and inIraq. For every innocent Iraqi citizen that Blair claims has died at the handsof Saddam Hussein, one innocent family will die as a result of US plans toblanket bomb Iraq in a bid to rid the world of Saddam.
Death for death is Bush’s plan, not ours. Not in our name. Not in your name.Before we even think about stopping war in Palestine, and freeingAfghans from camps (both issues that can lead to a peaceful end to warwith Iraq) we must keep up the fight to own our right to an opinion. We mustwork on the governing of our own country. Starting with our Prime Minister.If we don’t get that right first any amount of worldwide political changewill impossible.
Opinions change worlds, and good changes history.Anything you can do to let your opinion be known to Tony Blair, and hissackless ‘Government’, then do it.
Just do it.
Anything you can sign, support or join in to stop war then do it.
If you are not actively against this then you will be actively involved inthe killing of untold innocent families that also do not support SaddamHussein’s tyrannical regime. Saddam has to be brought down, but not at the costof the lives of the innocent. If we let innocent Iraqi families die then weare next.
We are next.
If war breaks out this will be a ten year war fought with the Middle Eastwhere the death toll makes the Second World War look like Sept 11th,2001. We must have peace in the Middle East. This concerns you much more than youthink. This concerns your families, and the children of your children. If weeven get that far.
Do not let America make our mind up for us.
Do not allow the massacre of millions because of the death of thousands onSept 11th.
Do not let Bush allow this to happen. And with the United Nations on our sidehe will be forced to crawl back into the asshole that has kept him safe andsecure, and ineffective, until now.
For war to be declared on another country that country has to fit thefollowing criteria:
They have to have attacked the countries that are declaring war against them.
They have to be a threat to the countries that are declaring war against them.
Iraq is neither.
Their leader is a tyrant who has bought his weapons from America. He’s apsychopath that knows a good gun shop. Where are the best gun shops? America.
Use your mind on this one people, use your mind.
Use your brains. Use your heart
We can do anything. It is true.
Please, please believe it.
Ginger