with some people we feel a subtle barrier of some sort no matter how much we may admire or like them and with others it feels like we have known them forever or from some previous realm no matter how great they have been in their lifetime. Simon is in the second category, and not many people are.
This all makes perfect sense to me, if a person seeks awards them let them go for the Olympics or enter whatever competition has been organized, mostly to give some judge or panel of 'would be wankers' their five minutes of glory. Movers and Shakers like Simon shake and move because that is what they are and things big happen because they are not timid about doing things, I guess Nobel Prize Winners might be different, Music is more like a jungle of crazy animals than a club or boy scout type of collective. Survival in it takes intelligence and/or fortunate happenings.
Simon, it’s interesting how you have made a career of doing something you love that is interesting, fun and challenging! And there is no shortage of clients! I wish everyone could have read your book on booking WHAM! into China. You had to be a spy to find some of those meeting places. It was brilliant, and so are you, Simon!
Bringing a gay musical group to China in the 1980s - now that is subversive! Well done Simon. And the corporations have killed music. The culture of risk avoidance and short term focus has destroyed the best thing humans have ever ever created- the wildly diverse and powerful world of popular music, street music, music by amateurs and eccentrics !
Whole heartedly agree. I've always been an independent artist, a true soul rebel. I do enjoy reading of your exploits and as someone who turned down Janet Kaye's Silly Games 🙃, I've always enjoyed the ups and the the downs, the triumphs and the failures a crazy, but as you say, a fun life.
A brilliant read - subversive and insightful. You describe so well how something that is chaotic and unpredictable becomes ordered and predictable through corporate control, and in the process far less creative than it was before. There's obviously some exceptions and a process of negotiation and/or struggle involved. Thank you for writing this.
Great stuff. You are an honest man in a dishonest industry. 🙂
with some people we feel a subtle barrier of some sort no matter how much we may admire or like them and with others it feels like we have known them forever or from some previous realm no matter how great they have been in their lifetime. Simon is in the second category, and not many people are.
This all makes perfect sense to me, if a person seeks awards them let them go for the Olympics or enter whatever competition has been organized, mostly to give some judge or panel of 'would be wankers' their five minutes of glory. Movers and Shakers like Simon shake and move because that is what they are and things big happen because they are not timid about doing things, I guess Nobel Prize Winners might be different, Music is more like a jungle of crazy animals than a club or boy scout type of collective. Survival in it takes intelligence and/or fortunate happenings.
Simon, it’s interesting how you have made a career of doing something you love that is interesting, fun and challenging! And there is no shortage of clients! I wish everyone could have read your book on booking WHAM! into China. You had to be a spy to find some of those meeting places. It was brilliant, and so are you, Simon!
Thank you Linda. 🙏🏻
Hi Simon
A beautifully written and heartfelt piece.
Completely get being on the outside looking in.
Eloquent perspective on the music industry today.
Brilliant, as ever!
Amanda 💚
Thanks Amanda
Bringing a gay musical group to China in the 1980s - now that is subversive! Well done Simon. And the corporations have killed music. The culture of risk avoidance and short term focus has destroyed the best thing humans have ever ever created- the wildly diverse and powerful world of popular music, street music, music by amateurs and eccentrics !
I couldn't agree more.
Bravo Simon 👏
Beautifully written (as always)
Don't know why this really connected with me ... but it did 👍
Thanks John. Glad it connected. 👍🏻
Whole heartedly agree. I've always been an independent artist, a true soul rebel. I do enjoy reading of your exploits and as someone who turned down Janet Kaye's Silly Games 🙃, I've always enjoyed the ups and the the downs, the triumphs and the failures a crazy, but as you say, a fun life.
Absolutely - stay unconnected - be free to be yourself
I'm too hot to handle, too cold to hold, BTW been meaning to ask if you knew Tony Calder.
A brilliant read - subversive and insightful. You describe so well how something that is chaotic and unpredictable becomes ordered and predictable through corporate control, and in the process far less creative than it was before. There's obviously some exceptions and a process of negotiation and/or struggle involved. Thank you for writing this.
And thank you for appreciating it