MP3 trailer for new album by Wax Tailor:
#07 March 2007 | Comments (0)
Reading old papers on the floor of the bathroom today (a filtration system arbitrarily filtering last week's news to my attention the slow way) I nearly choked to read that in a Playboy interview of 1976, David Bowie had caused outrage and widespread revulsion which helped to kick-start the Rock Against Racism movement with comments praising Hitler for being the first rockstar and asserting that Britain was "ready for a fascist leader". Given that this occured during a period of fermented racial tension, stirred and fuelled by psycopaths such as Enoch Powell and the rise of the National Front, I was shocked to think that this hero of mine could have been so devoid of sense and compassion. In the same year Eric Clapton threw his weight behind the NF's cause, skilfully disregarding his debt to soul and RnB by praising Enoch Powell and telling the world that England was turning into a "black colony".
Now I've heard that cocaine can do crazy things to people, and don't think necessarily that people shold be nailed to the cross for foolish statements uttered in a state of alcoholic paralysis, but where do we draw the line? Should we forgive artists and authors of their personal views, especially views of 30 years ago or should they still be held to account for what they publicised? Is the artwork distinct from the person who created it? Can I ever listen to Diamond Dogs without visualising Bowie doing a Nazi salute from an open-top Mercedes?
#07 March 2007 | Comments (4)