andrew wk in trouble?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/sep/16/andrew-wk-55-cadillac

Andrew WK: I am finally a free man

Hello! I hope you're well. I recently released an album called 55 CADILLAC. The Guardian asked me to write about it here. They requested I explain why I made the album and why it contains only improvised piano pieces. That's somewhat of a tall order for me at the moment (I just had a gag order put on me – really!), but I will do my best to type some words and hope they cover some of the desired bases.

Why and how I made this album is somewhat difficult for me to write about. Allow me to state the following: Over the past 10 years, I've had personal and professional issues with several people involved in my career, and due to formal agreements, I'm partially forbidden from going into detail regarding certain aspects of my recent work and, as a result, the making of the 55 CADILLAC album.

Here's what I am able to say: At the end of 2004, an old friend of mind got in some business trouble and basically decided to take it out on me. To cut a long story short, this person is someone I worked very closely with and had a formal and family business relationship with. Due to various complaints this person had with me, they were able to turn my life and career upside down. I wasn't allowed to use my own name within certain areas of the US entertainment industry and we were in a debate about who owned the rights to my image, and who should get credit for "inventing" it. This made my life complicated and intense for a few years, but I kept working and doing whatever I could to keep moving forward.

By 2008, and after a lot of negotiating, my new business team and I had come to an agreement with my opponent, and I was finally in the clear. That's how this new 55 CADILLAC album became possible – we based the new record label in the UK, so there were no issues within the US. However, as of last week, we've been partially pulled back into the thick of it and I'm getting hourly updates from my lawyer as I type this. I really don't know how to feel about it – it's beyond frustrating – it almost feels like a hallucination. It inspires so much rage inside me that my mind has to seek other outlets for that energy and I start to feel dizzy and see stars. Fortunately, I don't have to deal with anyone directly. Thank goodness my lawyers do all the real work.

Anyway, I wanted this new 55 CADILLAC album to sound like freedom. The sound of a piano being played by a free man – nothing more, nothing less. This was the first chance in almost 10 years where I was allowed to simply play and record an instrument – no songwriters, no lyrics to learn, no overdubs, no slow fixes, no remixes, no video shoots or interview practice – just the sound of someone sitting in room playing piano for the sake of it. No one telling me what to play, or how to play it. And no masterplans, high-concept visions, worldwide goals with roll-out schedules. No style consultants or acting coaches. No more meetings with sponsors or computerized yelling. No more threats.

Just a huge black piano. And a huge black car.

kicked ass on monday night.

what the hell

So I can't possibly keep up with this Steev Mike stuff, but this portion "no songwriters, no lyrics to learn, no overdubs, no slow fixes, no remixes, no video shoots or interview practice – just the sound of someone sitting in room playing piano for the sake of it. No one telling me what to play, or how to play it. And no masterplans, high-concept visions, worldwide goals with roll-out schedules. No style consultants or acting coaches. No more meetings with sponsors or computerized yelling," seems to validate the pre-fabrication angle. Or has that already been accepted?

haven't really heard of the steev mike stuff but lol @ the first page that shows up when you search it on google

http://awilkeskrier.homestead.com/N_17.jpg
http://awilkeskrier.homestead.com/N_18.jpg

"this person is someone I worked very closely with and had a formal and family business relationship"
Maybe "this person" is actually himself? He's just referring to himself in the third person and this is his way of saying he's tired of the previous AWK schtick he put himself through, and is now on to some new schtick?

it's awk fite klub!

apparently he may be joining fucked up as their keyboard player.

the secret codes, the mark on the forehead, the Nicole Kidman stuff. it is all wau so wau

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/apr/07/andrew-wk-juvenile-restraining-order

Woah awesome. Also recorded this when he was 17?

doubt it

Yeah, it really sounds like one of his more recent songs. The story sounds like bullshit too but I gave him the benefit of the doubt since I can't see why would he actually bother making this stuff up? Then I read: "Three months ago, I was advised by my personal manager and life coach to finally let people hear it, to resolve the nightmare" and it almost makes sense cos who knows what Eugene Landry shit's going on with Andrew WK right now?

If the story's true then I hope can forget all the angst it's caused him because it's great. It's powerful and over the top while still being at heart a simple rock song. I'd like to hear Bonnie Tyler doing it.

sounds bowie-like, like something off Labyrinth.

it's definitely not old. this another addition to his extended resume of performance art.

I can't see why would he actually bother making this stuff up?

i think u can see

What a nut he is.

OK, the "I'm not me!" shit 6 months ago was one thing, this is just WEIRD. Is this guy touched in the head or something? Whoever mentioned Marissa Marchant upthread was OTM.

res otm.

I hope this is the "Willow" song Desdemona sings before her death in "Othello."

Goes with the stalker-ish sentiments of "This is My World" and "I Want Your Face".

That baritone doesn't sound like any 17 year old I've ever heard. Maybe Rick Astley.

sounds bowie-like, like something off Labyrinth.

― Melvin van Osterlow, Jr. (res), Thursday, April 8, 2010 4:00 AM (12 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i was thinking a bit of Peter Murphy

"Harm / that's what you're in for / if you don't open the door"

YIKES!

I had a crush on a girl and was deeply and passionately fixated on her. She had a baby face, a 14-tooth smile, large eyes, a crowned forehead, an oversized brow and a tender style.

What's a "14-tooth smile"?!?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/apr/15/andrew-wk-my-destiny-girl

this is such an obvious and weird publicity stunt.

...which is pretty funny and imo entirely worth it for the unending stream of "you don't fool me this is nothing but a marketing exercise!!" comment box dimwits