Four years ago the band Chumbawumba had a pop at the recording industry in general, and at Queen and the Rolling Stones in particular. Below is the essence of their gripe.
My question is: Four years on - Still ring true - or a load of old boll*cks?
Daily Telegraph - 25 October 2000: Chumbawumba, have added to the row over music on the web by producing a free, downloadable song which samples Eminem and Metallica, both of whom are opposed to file-sharing. Chumbawumba say it's not the illegal downloading of songs, but the industry's obsession with 'dollars and pounds' which is 'killing music'.
Singer, Dunstan, says the opposition to music downloads is a case of "some of the richest pop stars in the world like Queen and the Rolling Stones not being able to screw every last penny from their fans."
Are Chumbawamba still around?
That might be the answer you're looking for - if you're that adamant in your beliefs, eventually your own ego will get the best of you and your band will disintegrate.
I suppose, its a nice stand for them to take on the buyers behalf. Though it is an industry and like all other industries, they're out to make money. I guess we're all willing victims.
lol! Yeah, what ever happened to them? That's what happens if you insult your own industry. You're going to lose them. That's not a theory, btw. Look at those in the movie industry and you'll see the same thing.
Personally, I choose what I want to buy and what I want to support. I don't need to buy everything they serve up. Just because there's a cake on the table, doesn't mean I have to have a slice.
Peace,
Adam.
I saw Chumbawamba (by chance) a few months ago playing on a rather anarchistic/socialistic/hippie-like festival, as the only more or less famous mainstream band. They didn't really fit the mood of that place. But they obviously are still around.
Maybe they have a point about downloading, not sure.
deleted user 18.11.2004 20:44
I kind of agree with David Bowie's stand on the issue which is that he supports "mash-up" tracks (a track that uses vocals from one song superimposed over the backing tracks of another)
and he's offering prizes for the most creative "theft".
its nice to see artists flowing in the right direction with the technology.
Back to John's original point, I think it's a legitimate gripe. Can't say Queen or the Stones have done anything artisitic for the better part of a decade, yet they're turning out product at a phenomenal clip.
deleted user 18.11.2004 23:13
Chumbawambacca was a bunch of farts. Nothing special, just a flash in the pan.