Artists attacking journalists

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Any good stories on artists beating up journalists? Vicious v. Kent, Iommi v. Jones, Stranglers v. everybody? Why doesn't this happen more often? (NOT that I condone it - it's just that artists are often oversensitive and 'precious' - and also, why don't journalists ask more provocative questions, at least with bands that haven't acquired the protective PR shield yet?)
Also, has a band/artist ever done a song attacking critics and got away with it, press-wise? "Gimme Some Truth"? "Get in the Ring"?

― tarden, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not really an answer to the question, but whereas songs attacking critics, are, of course, always rubbish, songs attacking artists who attack critics can be pretty good - see 'Bad Review' by Half Man Half Biscuit, which manages to drop in that classic cliché 'I only buy it for the gig guide anyway". I wonder if the Stereophonics have heard it.

― Nick, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

First Offence beat up some Melody Maker journo who accused them of being homophobic thugs, and then their career collapsed.

As for asking more provocative questions, maybe it is genuinely intimidating when there is just one of you and several of a band, even if there is no implicit threat of violence. Also, most people don't like being confrontational.

― The Dirty Vicar, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hmmm, me, I'm waiting for Stuart M vs. Swells, round 2. This time with boxing gloves.

― masonic boom, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There's also trhe lesser-known whatever of journalists who attack artists: ie as if print weren't bullypulpit enough. The v.irascible Stanley Crouch — cf pinefox's JAZZ thread — had a let's-take-it-outside with pianist Matthew Shipp (I think) at an awards ceremony. He's punched "fellow"-journo Howard Mandel (not my idea of an aggressive writer), and of course famously gat canned at the Village Voice for punching Harry Allen, PE's "media assassin". (They later toured Liddy-Leary style, and became quite good friends...)

― mark s, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There was a notorious incident involving Tricky a few years ago, wasn't there? And there is that great footage of Bjork going bjerserk at that airport (not strictly crit-bashing, but still).

Is the first incidence of this phenom the infamous first Futurist exhibition (circa 1920, I would guess?) in London? Following some sniffy remarks from some Bloomsbury types, Marinetti sent the boys round to re-educate a fellow in the principles of the aesthetics of violence.

― stevie t, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Didn't Nick Cave punch an NME writer back in the 80's (Jack Barron, maybe)?

― Nicole, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What about Matty Blagger (RIP) from Blaggers I.T.A. - went a long way to scuppering their brief major label career by getting in a fight with someone? Also I remember Simon Mayo condemning their track Stresss because of the joyriding content.

The Levellers sent shit in a box to the NME and ended up editing an issue. They still always get critically slaughtered though.

Clinic did "IPC sub editors dictate our youth" and got away with it.

One day I'll get to meet Mark Greaney...

― chris, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

First incidence: Berlioz in his memoirs mentions getting tooled up at concerts as a student, to heckle... Not quite the same, I know, but I *really really* doubt in the Age of the Duel that stuff like this didn't occur. First Futurist show in London = 1912, I think. They were swift, those boys — which was part of the point.

― mark s, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Got another one: writer Jeanette Winterson turned up at the dinner party of some critic who'd savaged her, all ready to go ballistic. Not sure what actually happened but she was up for it...

― chris, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think there was an incident involving Steven Wells from the NME and Sci-Fi Steven from Bis. I think SFS ran at him from behind and elbowed him in the back at a gig.

Which may not be that harcore, but for a limp-wristed indie fop like Sci-Fi Steven it's pretty agressive.

― Matt D'Cruz, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

wow, thats amazing. i didn't know anyone was actually offended by Steven Wells, angry shouting people that are offensive and controversial ALL THE TIME, arean't very offensive or controversial at all are they? more like, um, quaint

― gareth, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Blaggers thing -- Dave Simpson at _Melody Maker_ was who they attacked. I think he almost lost an eye or something...

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

As for Subject at Hand -- obscure solo Morrissey B-side: "Journalists Who Lie." Not what I would call subtle.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Didn't Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke turn up to the NME office and deposit some shit onto the editors desk?

Which kinda reminds me of the Inger Lorre story when she climbed onto the desk of her - I think - record company boss and pissed all over it in front of him.

― DavidM, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Didn't Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke turn up to the NME office and deposit some shit onto the editors desk?

A Killing Joke CD?

(I have no real opinion about KJ, but that joke was REALLY begging to be made.)

― Dan Perry, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Coleman did that very thing, but at the MM.

― Robin Carmody, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Are you sure? No, I think you're right, it was Steve Sutherland he wasn't happy with. When Sutherland left MM to become editor of the NME in the early 90s, Coleman appeared on the cover of indie-mag Indiecator, holding a burning copy of the NME which had Sutherland's name and a message scrawled on the cover.

― DavidM, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

fourteen years pass...

http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/sep/24/epic-feuds-pop-v-the-press

ahh .. should have read this thread before posting a comment !

ouch.

― mark e, Thursday, 24 September 2015 18:37 (ten years ago)

article written by the journo who blaggers gave a thump ..

lets see how long my comment last before being taken down.

― mark e, Thursday, 24 September 2015 18:37 (ten years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6DShBS6SsY

― flappy bird, Thursday, 24 September 2015 18:43 (ten years ago)

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