Scott “Top Ten” Kempner was a founding member of two legendary New York bands, The Dictators and the Del Lords. His second solo release “Saving Grace” (out now on all digital download outlets and hard plastic copies for those who like such) contains a beautiful cover of my song “I’ll Give You Needles”. It’s an incredible honor to have Top Ten recording one of my songs. I hope you all buy a copy of it. By that I mean you all buy one copy each, not all of you chipping in to by “a” copy, although in the current economic situation I could understand that.

I had one or two people mighty upset about last week’s ELO piece, and many others joining in with me (“yea, they suck!” etc.). The intent of my sarcasm/satire got lost in the maelstrom somewhere along the line. For the record, it’s okay if you like ELO, I don’t really think ELO music is behind any mass murders, and I’m not really concerned that people are walking around liking ELO and nothing is being done to find out who they are. It was intended to be a satiric piece on paranoia and demonization – the placing blame on something, a scapegoat, so we can all feel better. I think my biggest mistake was that I sat down to write something intending to be humorous; and I’m never less funny than when I try to be.

Keep an eye on XM Radio Channel 12. I’m supposed to have an airing of my recently recorded live show. I just checked their upcoming schedule and couldn’t find it, but I’ll let you know when I do.

Cheers,

Tommy

Click on the screed link to your left and be enlightened. You need to read it, for the good of all Mankind.

I don’t know if my little grass-roots campaign had anything to do with it at all (likely not!) but the offensive artwork on myspace is gone today. Thank you all who offered words of support. TW

Just a quick note to say how distressed and appalled I am to log onto Myspace today and see a wallpaper movie advert for “The Dark Knight” (how many Batman movies do we need anyway?) displaying a gashed and burning building way too reminscent of the World Trade Center. I already dislike Myspace enough as it is. (Slow loading pages, multiple hoops to jump through just to send a message, etc.) I only do this because right now if you’re a musician and don’t do myspace, you don’t exist.

But I don’t have to like it and I don’t have to keep my mouth shut. The wallpaper advertisement for “The Dark Knight” is disgraceful and disturbing in light of what happened almost seven years ago. I’m not always the most tasteful person, but I would never promote something with imagery so disturbing and exploitative as this.

I tried to e-mail Tom but guess what, he’s not taking any e-mails. And I had to go through three pages to find that out.

If anyone knows how to get through to a human being at Myspace, please pass this along. And please join me in boycotting The Dark Knight.

Peace,

Tommy