The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower - Love In The Fascist Brothel

"We have received some complaints about the upcoming Tour for THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER in April and would like to clarify some points considering this band, because we - as all of our bands - support them 100%.

Moreover, we met Chuck, the guitarist of THE PLOT already last year on the SOME GIRLS-Tour, and we did not only get to know him as a band member, but also as a friend.

So, here we go:

1) THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER are no Nazis. We personally think that it is, due to the Jewish ethnicity and homosexual orientation of some of the members of the band, unbelievably ignorant to think something like this.

2) THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER are not German, which means that they can naturally address our Nazi-background differently than we do. And there is no doubt that THE PLOT will deal with this topic with due respect. They do definitely not want to offend anyone over here. We talked to them about e.g. their stage outfits, and over here, they will not appear in the same radical outfits they wear on stage in the U.S., like mentioned before, to show respect. THE PLOT themselves are very nervous because of this tour, because they know that a lot of people don't understand them and they DO NOT IN ANY CASE want to offend people in another country which is not their own. They know that they are guests here and will behave accordingly. But they have decided to address the Nazi-issue on their new record and therefore a certain degree of confrontation cannot be avoided.

3) The topic of National Socialism has been addressed in the arts more than once, e.g. Syliva Plath's poems, to mention only one example. In "Daddy", a highly appraised poem, she writes "Every woman adores a faschist / the boot in the face, the brute," which is exactly the same topic that THE PLOT use on their new album. Their concept comes down to this: "The idea, scattered across Love In The Fascist Brothel is that fascism, far from being defeated in 1945, simply went underground, where it now functions as the political unconscious of the west. Because it is an id, a factory of wishes and fantasies, it can't be confined to politics: fascism shapes what we do with love, which is the illusion of that -we think- makes life worth living. Both love and fascism are utopias-fascism the utopia of control, love the utopia of surrender of control (though fascism is also the utopia of surrendering control of oneself to authority, and love the utopia of achieving complete control over another person)- and both are dangerous and corrupting, because they promise absolutes, and because we can no longer tell one from the other. A real neo-nazi would be digusted by our sexual stage antics, Jewish and gay band members, our music, our absurdist art. We simply used accurate tools and imagery to create an extreme response, isn't that arts purpose?" But THE PLOT go further Sylvia Plath, who, by the way, is, by a wide public, considered to be a genius. Because THE PLOT want to criticize their own government with their provocative artwork and outfit, as well as the latest punk scene, where all the kids wear uniforms, have black hair etc. A punk scene in which you are not even supposed to think for yourself anymore, and where you're not supposed to make art outside the accepted standards, where you are even not allowed, and the best example for this are PLOT, to talk about taboo topics. Should art not be provocative, dangerous and disgusting? Dadaism was as frowned upon at the beginning as the Beat Generation or Picasso's works.

4) Moreover we have heard that THE PLOT are supposed to have destroyed microphones deliberately, and in the end we do not really know what to make of this complaint. All three of us have organized shows for years and therefore we know: whoever destroys a microphone, pays for it. And every band as well as every local promoter knows this or should at least know this, and this does not only consider THE PLOT. If, against all odds, something like this should happen (stuff like this can always happen accidentally) just deduct it from the band's fee. End of discussion.

5) We always confront our bands if they fuck things up or do something we cannot support. But we do NOT think that we have to insult people who make good music with an intelligent message with ignorance, only because some people consider everything that is provocative and different, to be wrong. Again, THE PLOT make fun of Nazis. And we know that this is a touchy topic, and that it is a serious topic, but we know just as well, that art should be and MUST BE provocative and dangerous. (See 3)

6) In general we do not care about rumors. But nevertheless, we thank everyone who sent us their complaints because that puts us in a position where we can explain properly. If anyone on this tour feels the need to complain or bitch, please feel free to contact the band directly or julia@2fortheroad.de. We are willing to make our point anytime and to talk about certain issues. Nevertheless we think that it is scary that, within the punkrock scene, so many people tell rumors behind someone's back, even without knowing or even trying to find out whether these rumors are true.

Like we said, we at 2FORTHEROAD support THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER completely and entirely and we are very much looking forward to be able to work together with them on this upcoming tour.

Ralf, Matthias and Julia"