http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/227061643/dear-robert-smith-an-open-letter
I've done this a few times myself and it always spins the ol' head around.Generally quite nicely put.
― I AM NOT ONE TO PURSUE GAME, MY FRIEND - NO, INDEED. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:09 (3 years ago) Permalink
Will have to give that a closer reread but that beyond rules.
But Dan's going to hate what she's going nuts for in the final photo.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:15 (3 years ago) Permalink
hahahahahahaha I did get to the end and go "OH COME THE FUCK ON"
but yeah, that pretty much exactly encapsulates why I still listen to The Cure (and why, in general, I think making fun of anyone for liking a "past-their-prime" band is the hallmark of an irredeemable dick)
― ADVANCED CHORD CHANGES (HI DERE), Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
Interesting.
Getting backstage at The Cure show at the Greek in Berkeley in '87 (I think) was the highlight of my life at the time.
― l'homme moderne: il forniquait et lisait des journaux (Michael White), Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
Seriously LOLing for real here.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
"Amanda Palmer performs the popular hits of Radiohead on her magical ukelele" EP out tomorrow:
http://music.amandapalmer.net/album/amanda-palmer-performs-the-popular-hits-of-radiohead-on-her-magical-ukulele
― StanM, Monday, 19 July 2010 19:37 (2 years ago) Permalink
fuck that
it seems like the only thing that poor instrument is used for anymore is for shitty covers
― Anticipating The Nation - High Islam (LOLK), Monday, 19 July 2010 20:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
extra 'for' in that last one
― Anticipating The Nation - High Islam (LOLK), Monday, 19 July 2010 20:11 (2 years ago) Permalink
fake plastic covers
― crispy hexagon sun (crüt), Monday, 19 July 2010 20:12 (2 years ago) Permalink
I've spent quality time with Amanda. Never seen the Cure though. I would like to.
― Nate Carson, Monday, 19 July 2010 23:34 (2 years ago) Permalink
Always hated this woman, her music, her shitty graphic design & her terrible personal brand.
― the food has a top snake of 1 (ulillillia), Monday, 19 July 2010 23:44 (2 years ago) Permalink
Jeez.
Anyway...
I never ever had this close a connection to any rock star, father figure, or (day I see it) hero type as so many people have done. To the extent that I wanted to follow them or be them (beyond the thought that I'd like that job yeah, sure)...
Even to the extent that I don't even have a default understanding of the mindset beyond appreciating how someone else might feel in the situation.
Anyway, nice letter, it's good to be happy.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 00:00 (2 years ago) Permalink
my extreme distate for dresden dolls, that letter, her wordiness, etc, put me off listening to 'who killed amanda palmer' until now but I really like it, it's a good record.
― akm, Saturday, 29 October 2011 06:03 (1 year ago) Permalink
She may not get a lot of ILM love, but getting crowdfunded to the tune of $1m is still something worthy of note, I would say.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amandapalmer/amanda-palmer-the-new-record-art-book-and-tour/posts/232020
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Monday, 27 August 2012 22:29 (8 months ago) Permalink
also recently filled in for erykah badu as bathtub fodder
― This cad needs a cordial introduction to Eugene of Oxbow. (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 05:14 (8 months ago) Permalink
25,000 people pledged an average of $50... how
― Poliopolice, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 15:06 (8 months ago) Permalink
I was sitting next to the writer Neil Gaiman in a pizzeria today, and he was with this lady with tattooed eyebrows and a bunch of Bard kids who appeared to be shlepping them around.
Tonight I learned that she's Amanda Palmer, and they're married. Also that Gaiman is some kind of Upper Poobah Lightning Level Scientologist (son of former U.K. Scientology boss and Vitamin mogul David Gaiman), and that many suspect the $1 million was just poured in through Sea.Org (fancy Scientology people) as part of a pretty sneaky publicity stunt....
― Hadrian VIII, Sunday, 2 September 2012 03:07 (8 months ago) Permalink
and now I guess I should be drawing the blinds or changing my display name or something
― Hadrian VIII, Sunday, 2 September 2012 03:08 (8 months ago) Permalink
Also that Gaiman is some kind of Upper Poobah Lightning Level Scientologist
this is not true, although his family are still. (he was actually listed as supressive for a long time iirc). and anyone who needs to make up conspiracy theories abt Palmer's fanbase and social media aptitude has prob not read anything about her, or spoken to anyone who likes her, in the last five years.
― itt: i forgot that he yells at a butt (sic), Sunday, 2 September 2012 03:19 (8 months ago) Permalink
What's a suppressive?
― Hadrian VIII, Sunday, 2 September 2012 03:25 (8 months ago) Permalink
WTF Church of Scientology is in my iPhone! Just resumed scrabble game and "Hard" robot played ENGRAM(!)
― Hadrian VIII, Sunday, 2 September 2012 03:27 (8 months ago) Permalink
^true
― Hadrian VIII, Sunday, 2 September 2012 03:28 (8 months ago) Permalink
Wait hold on
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/rockers-playing-for-beer-fair-play/?hp
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 September 2012 16:03 (8 months ago) Permalink
um
isn't that the entire point of funding your enterprise via Kickstarter, so that you can raise enough money for the things you want
on the flip side, this appears to be a "hey fan musicians, I invite you to play with me for a night on stage" thing and, as such, should be looked upon as a giveaway for amateur musicians rather than a solicitation for professionals
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 16:07 (8 months ago) Permalink
hahah goddamn musicians union folks are weird. DJP otm.
― with the ghostly "YOOOOOOOOOOOOHHOOOO" vocals? (crüt), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 19:48 (8 months ago) Permalink
oh don't get me wrong, if she was doing this to drum up her core band she would deserve every bit of invective and more
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Wednesday, 12 September 2012 19:49 (8 months ago) Permalink
What's the distinction your drawing there, though? "one gig vs a tour" or "horns & strings vs guitar/drums" or "a few songs vs the whole show"?
― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 13 September 2012 12:01 (8 months ago) Permalink
*you're
If she's doing a "let me bring out enthusiastic fans at each show to do a song or two" thing, then who cares
If she's doing a "let me fill out my band for the majority of my set with people I don't have to actually pay" thing, she should fuck off
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:18 (8 months ago) Permalink
i had never paid any attention to this person until this musician thing, which is shitty. but even shitter, she apparently was dating (pre-gaiman) someone who was a recovered drug addict and relapsed, and she faked a suicide attempt to show him how hurt she was by it, and recorded his reaction to finding her and thinking she had killed herself, and used it on an album. he later committed suicide. how is this person real?! that is stomach turning.
― john zorn has ruined klezmer for an entire generation (bene_gesserit), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:26 (8 months ago) Permalink
holy shit, is that for real
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:33 (8 months ago) Permalink
http://youtu.be/h57XWrFNGs8
5:10
this woman, holy shit
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:39 (8 months ago) Permalink
I hated this woman anyway for being a total shit to my friends when they were doing Weill cabaret, this is next level
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:41 (8 months ago) Permalink
ennh, she was 18 and the "gf fakes a suicide" -> "he commits suicide" connection doesn't ring true for me. It is so fucked up that she'd put that recording on an album, though, oh my god.
― would smash pumpkins (Ówen P.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:58 (8 months ago) Permalink
and christ, pay your musicians. Amateur vs. professional who the fuck cares. More like "I am blessed with a worshipful fanbase now let me exploit you for cheap labour"
― would smash pumpkins (Ówen P.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 13:59 (8 months ago) Permalink
haha Owen I think we're pretty much on the same page here with minor deviations
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:01 (8 months ago) Permalink
like... always?
― would smash pumpkins (Ówen P.), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:05 (8 months ago) Permalink
he said here.
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:10 (8 months ago) Permalink
ennh, she was 18 and the "gf fakes a suicide" -> "he commits suicide" connection doesn't ring true for me. It is so fucked up that she'd put that recording on an album, though, oh my god
yeah i wasn't making the connection that he committed suicide because of her, it was more of an aside. but faking suicide is horribly abusive behavior, and using the recording on an album implies she has no remorse about it.
― john zorn has ruined klezmer for an entire generation (bene_gesserit), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:22 (8 months ago) Permalink
― DARING PRINCESS (DJP), Thursday, September 13, 2012 2:18 PM (49 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Yeah, this is OTM. I think if one of my favourite bands put out a call for people to show up and play either a track they already know or jam out some psych a la Suzuki's Network, I'd jump at it and not expect payment. However, if it was "please learn my entire set, be present at a rehearsal, play for the entire show or at least when and where I expect you to" then I would find that a very different proposition indeed.
― emil.y, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:23 (8 months ago) Permalink
The string/horn sections she pulled together for the immediate post-Kickstarter mini-tour thing were all fans who opted in. They were asked to learn two songs I think, and turn up in time to soundcheck - and they looked like the happiest damn fans on earth onstage (as well as actually being really good).
― Background Zombie (CharlieNo4), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:26 (8 months ago) Permalink
She's also ableist. I think she's an asshole.
― NR’s resident heavy-metal expert (Nicole), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:36 (8 months ago) Permalink
You guys don't understand, she's an artist. You can't be an artist and an asshole at the same time, they're like matter / anti-matter.
― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:37 (8 months ago) Permalink
(If I listen carefully, I can probably hear DJP's reaction to that from across the Atlantic)
― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:40 (8 months ago) Permalink
I think a lot of the greatest artists have been complete and total assholes, and she's certainly living up to that. But women get given a harder time for ~not being nice~ and the level of assholehood required to be a ~great~ artist, so I try to cut female rock stars some slack on that count, i.e. The Courtney Love Clause.
The problem is, I've never heard any work of Amanda Palmer's that actually inspired me or blew me away in the way that I require ~great art~ to do. Which may well be my failure to appreciate it. So it's complicated.
― Atomow dhe Kres? MY A VYNN, mar pleg! (White Chocolate Cheesecake), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:43 (8 months ago) Permalink
Oy oy oy, that Evelyn Evelyn thing. I would have no problem if it was a Victoriana/Steampunk concept album about conjoined twins, really, but... positioning them in the contemporary world? Pretending that you rescued them? Giving *quite* such a distressing backstory to the record? DRESSING as them?
― emil.y, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:44 (8 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, that thing Nicole posted, that was the thing that really just crystalised a lot of the floating discomfort I'd been experiencing about her and her schtick. But, like I said, it's complicated.
― Atomow dhe Kres? MY A VYNN, mar pleg! (White Chocolate Cheesecake), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:50 (8 months ago) Permalink
but faking suicide is horribly abusive behavior, and using the recording on an album implies she has no remorse about it.
I've not knowingly heard an amanda palmer record but she reminds me so so so strongly of girls i used to know -- there can be this sense that making art around something shitty that you did is a way of working through it, the experience and your own behaviour? I mean, to me it is a terrible thing to have used that recording on an album that you release and get money for, but I can sense the edges of the logic that leads to it. Also i do not think her behaviour can be held responsible for his later suicide.
Like WCC says, it's complicated - because there've been these girls I knew who would have been so happy to grow up into Amanda Palmer, the very phenomenon of her existence is dear to me -- even when she does stuff like the Evelyn Evelyn project, which was frankly repulsive.
― v for viennetta (c sharp major), Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:55 (8 months ago) Permalink
I think I'm probably misreading you, WCC - your first paragraph seems to suggest that there's a minimum level of assholehood required to be a great artists? But your second suggests that if she was a great artist, she'd get a reduction in effective assholehood?
― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:59 (8 months ago) Permalink
in short, Great artists tend to be assholes, but assholes do not tend to be great artists.
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 September 2012 15:05 (8 months ago) Permalink
to be clear, I think everyone should feel free to pre-sell their work at ridiculous prices on kickstarter, i just find palmer's evangelism and extensions of the concept amazing
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:12 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
considering how EXCITED she is for popular artists to reap the whirlwind and drain the devoted for every dollar they'd give, i'm not shocked that she's had some experience with the cult that believes celebrities are the chosen few
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:14 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
i just skimmed it but as far as i can tell the only place where she indicates she would be involved at all is where she says "But I’d be totally keen to help you crowdfund" at the end. she doesn't say anything at all akin to "Hey I have this great idea for you Morrissey, and you can use it so long as I get a slice of the action."
she sucks but i don't really see anything too offensive or awful in this letter.
― congratulations (n/a), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:15 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
yeah n/a OTM; my only question was why she published an open letter rather than trying to contact Morrissey's management directly and then I remembered "oh right, attention; lol"
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:17 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
Like I said on FB, my real problem here would be if this resulted in a duet.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:18 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
It's just like a sad stab for attention/love from Morrissey fans.
― The last of the famous international Greyjoys (Nicole), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:21 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
it's a truism from politics that 'open letters' are written by people who have zero leverage over the issue or people addressed
― goole, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:22 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
i don't think the letter is offensive or awful per se, just a hilarious extension of her beliefs - "look, if you other drama club icons don't understand how to do turn the fanatic vacuum cleaner on I'LL DO IT FOR YOU"
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:23 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
She's not 'looking out' for anybody, this is just a advert for herself. AFP: How Kickstarter Can Make You Millions motivational talk series 2014 for booking contact loveequalsdonat✧✧✧@googleyourselfda✧✧✧.c✧✧
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:24 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
It's also relevant to point out that a man who can book out a few suites at Claridges to put up himself and friends whenever he's in London is maybe not someone who needs Kickstarter.
― karl lagerlout (suzy), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:24 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
no one needs kickstarter. depending on how you look at it, it's either a place to pre-sell goods or a place to offer investment opportunities with extremely limited rewards. oh, and there's no promise you'll actually get what you pay for.
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:26 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
still waiting on the one project i ever gave $20 to
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I mean, the content of 90% of that article is Amanda Palmer and 10% Morrisey. The only times Morrisey is actually mentioned by name it is at the end of a Dresden Dolls anecdote and then when AFP wishes he could have read her Twitter.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
xp: you should drop Deakin a line
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:28 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I think someone who has even a vague working knowledge of Morrissey knows that he would not want to do anything for himself, this really was more like an Amanda Palmer infomercial.
― The last of the famous international Greyjoys (Nicole), Monday, 29 April 2013 15:29 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
xpost haha i knew that was coming
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:29 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
pretty curious whether the kickstarter money for veronica mars is going to the show creator or straight to warner bros, and if it's the latter, whether they have to mark that as investment income or unearned sales income (since everybody gets the movie and posters and shit) but that's a topic for I Love Accounting
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:37 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
can't believe she didn't throw in at least a smidge of controversy in that letter. she's slipping. maybe a little p.s. about keeping England pure and burning down discos or something.
― scott seward, Monday, 29 April 2013 15:54 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
straight up reveling in the fact that crowdsourcing is a good way to exploit fanaticism for profit
― da croupier, Monday, April 29, 2013 7:49 AM (1 hour ago)
uh, i think you mean "straight up reveling in the healthy outlet she grants fanatics"
for profit
― controversial vegan pregnancy (contenderizer), Monday, 29 April 2013 16:40 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
so is... selling records?
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:15 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
saying "you should crowdsource!" is like saying "you should tour!" or "you should make videos!" - there's this "I love this! DO THIS!! THERE'S MONEY!!!" aspect to this thing that's annoying in the extreme. Not everybody wants to make their business public. I can't imagine Morrissey feeling good about crowdsourcing, aesthetically it's just got an inherent ick factor, though also he has debts iirc so I can see him giving up.
also Morrissey hasn't collaborated with anybody at all in forever? if ever? (with Siouxsie evidently ages ago; their choice of unison over harmony is lols for days imo)
― not feeling those lighters (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:22 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
lol at "healthy outlet"
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:24 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
do either of them ever sing in harmony?
― crüt, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:25 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I would bet five bucks that Morrissey is musically incapable of harmonizing
― not feeling those lighters (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:32 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
if you want some cheap lols, search #MorrsseyKickstarter on Twitter </IWroteSomeOfTheTweets>
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:32 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
xp: Kirstey MacColl sang in harmony with him on "Ask" but that was probably overdubbed
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:34 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
their choice of unison over harmony is lols for days imo
ha that is great
― goole, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:35 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
it sounds like morrissey is trying to harmonize here but really he's just flailing about looking for a counterpoint:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSpsc67Zm-I
― crüt, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:36 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
Siouxsie sings harmonies and countermelodies all the time, going back to "Mirage" off of The Scream
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:37 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
ah ok. it's just been a long time since I listened to Siouxsie I guess.
― crüt, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:38 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I'm guessing Siouxsie tracked first and Morrissey did what he could i.e. sing the exact same melodic line. I don't consider Siouxsie a terrific singer but I do think she's got more interesting musical ideas and a better grasp of them than Morrissey
― not feeling those lighters (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:40 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
harmonizing isn't Siouxsie's raison d'être but she'll bust it out from time to time
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:41 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
mozz's real issue with live aid revealed
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:45 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I mean go back to "Kiss The For Me", she switches back and forth between straight doubling and harmony all over that song; in fact, one of the cool musical developments of the song is how she drops in little harmony bits here and there, in the chorus and at the end of the second verses and in the song's denouement on the "I will be delayed" chord buildup... it's definitely there, just not full on like yr average pop song.
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Monday, 29 April 2013 17:45 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
yeah, now I realize she does it, I just for a moment couldn't recall any of the tracks where she multitracked vocals. I even forgot about "Spellbound."
― crüt, Monday, 29 April 2013 17:48 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
"also Morrissey hasn't collaborated with anybody at all in forever? if ever?"
mary margaret o'hara!
― scott seward, Monday, 29 April 2013 18:12 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
she kinda counts. i don't even know if they ever met in real life.
if he took her up on the offer, would she be willing to work for hugs & beer?
― da croupier, Monday, 29 April 2013 18:22 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
― diamonddave85, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:58 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
deal with it.
― diamonddave85, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:59 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
ehem thats a photograph not music we know the difference lady
― lag∞n, Monday, 29 April 2013 20:11 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
So a friend had a little fun
http://peachfuzz.tumblr.com/post/49188098374
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 29 April 2013 21:33 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
Ha that's awesome.
― The last of the famous international Greyjoys (Nicole), Monday, 29 April 2013 22:16 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
Total Fucking Win.
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Monday, 29 April 2013 22:50 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=XSY98rBOca0
― klaus dingeldore's rhinelander monkey keeper father (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:05 (Yesterday) Permalink
@cthagod 15 JanI threaten chicks with fake eyebrows daily. All you gotta say is "Don't make me lick my thumb and wipe your eyebrow off."
― my mans ray manzarek (some dude), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:30 (Yesterday) Permalink
http://features.slashdot.org/story/13/05/21/1457218/ask-neil-gaiman-and-amber-benson-about-their-kickstarter-vampire-movie?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 17:14 (Yesterday) Permalink
I would chip in $5 not to ask Neil Gaiman and Amber Benson about their Kickstarter Vampire Movie.
― Andrew Farrell, Tuesday, 21 May 2013 19:12 (Yesterday) Permalink
lol @ wario
― ḉrut (crüt), Tuesday, 21 May 2013 19:14 (Yesterday) Permalink