The Thin Blue Line
Politics, it is true, attracts certain ‘types’, often in stereo. On the left, there is the social crusader whose guilt at his comfortable middle-class upbringing is manifested as doing the right thing by those who didn’t share his good fortune, and the more disadvantaged the better. A disabled black lesbian Muslim convert would be the perfect patronising cause, but being gifted a constituency with a high immigrant population gives him plenty of photo-ops to advertise his conscience. On the right, there is the Professional Englishman fond of reminding the Commons what a good job Her Majesty does; if that doesn’t eventually get him a knighthood, perhaps the economy-boosting contracts with China signed by the various companies he accepts directorships from will; if not, there’s always the corporate perks when the Ashes and Ascot come round, so it’s not a bad life when all’s said and done.
A long time ago, the man on the left would have earned his parliamentary spurs progressing through union ranks, whereas the man from the right would have been selected for Westminster candidacy by the same old Tweed suits from the shires who had selected his father thirty years before. It doesn’t quite work like that now, however. The slow, gradual erosion of the class distinctions that once separated Labour and Tory have muddied the differences between the two, so that the man from the left could just as easily be a public schoolboy who’s never done an honest day’s work in his life as the man from the right could be the son of a bus-driver who arrived on British shores from the Caribbean in the 1950s.
The post of Special Adviser is now the first target on the hit-list, one the aspiring politico has discerned is the best way to earn promotion to Parliament. To get to SPAD status, being a party activist is the first step on the ladder, and attitude is crucial; adopting an arrogant swagger can imbue him with the belief he is already a smug, self-satisfied frontbencher, albeit one whose obscure profile within the party gives him carte-blanche to utilise tactics no member of the Cabinet could get away with. His big chance to impress the top brass is usually when a General Election is in the offing, and then he can do at grass-roots level what is literally beneath the Minister.
The Cromwellian prohibitionists who first flex their muscles on university campuses by concluding anyone expressing an opposing opinion to theirs is one notch below a child-killer have been integral to the rise of Jeremy Corbyn; these twitter Rottweiler’s think assembling as a mob hectoring prominent MPs arriving at the Conservative Party Conference will aid Labour’s route back to government, whilst the older activist peers look down on their children benignly as they themselves infect social media with scurrilous rumours about the sexual peccadilloes of deceased Tories one has to be a certain age to remember. Mind you, the other side appear no more enlightening regarding the fresh blood they recruit.
The Young Conservatives may have been a name that resembled that of a kitsch American Anglophile band from the 60s like Paul Revere and the Raiders or The New Vaudeville Band, but the truth didn’t quite match the moniker. It always seemed that those who, up until 1998, were called Young Conservatives resembled old men trapped in young men’s bodies, like an acne army of prototype Jacob Rees-Mogg’s perusing the Financial Times when their non-Tory contemporaries were scanning the NME or sticking together the pages of Whitehouse with organic glue. I’m sure there are still a fair few of those around in ‘Conservative Future’; but these days the Tories favour the kind of intimidating bullies-in-suits who would once have seen their political ambitions stretch no further than volunteering for the PR wing of the BNP. Perhaps growing up during the era of New Labour smear campaigns and Campbell’s reign of terror has convinced them that Malcolm Tucker is not so much a fictional character as a lifestyle coach.
Former Tory Party Chairman Grant Shapps (whose name sounds more like a part in a plumber’s toolbox) resigned on Saturday as International Development Minister, the first high-profile casualty of an internal scandal that has been brewing for the past half-decade. Back on the eve of the 2010 General Election, Shapps gave the green light for a young Tory activist and hopeful parliamentary candidate Mark Clarke to head the so-called Road Trip, whereby young party volunteers were driven around the country to drum-up support for the Tories. Allegations of bullying, blackmail and sexual harassment on the part of Clarke have only publicly circulated in the last fortnight, but they were known enough within Conservative circles five years ago, when they were deemed of a sufficiently serious nature to warrant Clarke being struck off the list of prospective candidates. He has subsequently been banned from the party for life.
Although Shapps claims he has no written evidence of the allegations against Clarke, his predecessor in the post of Chairman, Baroness Warsi, says she wrote to Shapps about Clarke almost a year ago. The man who currently holds the post, Lord Feldman, is also now under pressure to fall on his sword after it was alleged he too did nothing to act upon the allegations. The suicide of Eliot Johnson, a 21-year-old Conservative Party activist, in September was the tragic event that brought what has been referred to as institutionalised bullying within the Tory youth wing into the open. Johnson had complained to Conservative Central Office that Mark Clarke had threatened to destroy his career, yet it would seem no action was forthcoming before Johnson took his own life. And this in spite of five more activists who raised similar concerns with regards to Clarke’s behaviour.
MP Ben Howlett, former Chairman of Conservative Future, claims he suffered mental health issues as a result of his encounters with Clarke and also spoke of the sexual harassment accusations from female Tories in the youth wing when he broke the story on the BBC’s ‘Newsnight’. In the wake of this public revelation, Eliot Johnson’s father has demanded an independent inquiry into the allegations against Mark Clarke (allegations that Clarke understandably refutes), and the accepted culture of bullying amongst young Tories in general.
The impression given is that the Tory Party hierarchy – and its equivalent in Labour – don’t sully their hands much with the young guns selling their brand at the bottom of the party pyramid; if the alleged activities of Mark Clarke are a pointer to widespread bullying practices at that lowly level, it’s no wonder those that make it to SPAD status and then Parliament itself can often turn out to be such unpleasant characters. At a moment when there is a greater awareness than ever of bullying in the workplace, turning a blind eye is no longer acceptable, and it would seem a bit of bud-nipping is in order, quickly. Not that it will do Eliot Johnson any good.
Petunia Winegum
-
November 30, 2015 at 9:18 am -
don’t sully their hands much with the young guns selling their brand at the bottom of the party pyramid
…one can’t help but wonder if it is not a case of you putting words ‘brand’ and ‘bottom’ the wrong way round? I know just how tricky English sentence structure can be.
-
November 30, 2015 at 10:28 am -
November 30, 2015 at 11:10 am -
But points are deserved for “sticking together the pages of Whitehouse with organic glue” – yet more unpleasant imagery.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:22 pm -
And yet more: “…resembled old men trapped in young men’s bodies”! I thought you were going to stay away from the subject, Pet!
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:32 pm
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 9:30 am -
For the climbing of greasy-poles it is recommended that the climber be equipped with sharp elbows and a lack of concern for collateral damage.
I’m sure all the major political parties are the same at the ‘operational level’ where, in order to stand out from the crowd enough to be rewarded with a channel into Parliament, those who use their elbows most vigorously tend to progress. It’s not about politics, it’s not about principles, it’s not about improving the lot of your fellow countrymen, it’s simply naked self-interest – this latest episode merely lifts the curtain a little to allow we outsiders a brief glimpse of those inner workings. The leaders are content to look away from the detailed practices, so long as they are delivering the results on the ground and at the ballot-box.
That said, it’s no different from corporate life – the same self-promotional tactics are used, the same self-benefits usually ensue. The meek may inherit the earth, but they’ll certainly not get ahead in politics or big business today.
I never thought I would say it, but Grant Shapps seems like the sort of bloke who could almost make Jeffrey Archer look a model of integrity, which is some sort of achievement at least.-
November 30, 2015 at 10:42 am -
All that being given, no wonder Jeremy looks surprised to be leading the Labour Party.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:39 pm -
Not so much ‘surprised’, more looking like a dreamy revolutionary rabbit caught in the main-beam headlights of reality.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:43 pm -
Or a tramp who has somehow managed to pass himself off a a family’s long lost uncle.
-
November 30, 2015 at 5:36 pm -
At this Christmas-time (more correctly, Advent), he looks like the sort of person who will shortly be adorning newspaper advertisements tugging at the heartstrings over the homeless.
‘Just £5 will give Jeremy a bed for the night in one of our shelters; £10 will buy him a second-hand suit of clothes to allow him to attend a job interview; £15 will give him a filling non-denominational winterval vegetarian organic turkey-substitute meal; and £20 will allow one of our trained counsellors to interview Jeremy and break the tragic cycle of despair and self-destructive behaviour.’
-
-
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 10:08 am -
Lording it over others is a scummy business. It will naturally attract scum including large numbers of psychopaths and general nutters of the nastier kind.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:44 pm -
If such people didn’t exist, nor would the “lording” business.
-
November 30, 2015 at 5:45 pm -
On the contrary, all the peers that I have ever met have been charming – they were all ‘hereditaries’ – wearing their titles lightly, and able to talk to anyone on the basis of equality. I have never met Lord Spencer, who is by all accounts a shit, but he could just be the exception that proves the rule.
I have come across several life peers: Lord Condon was an idiot, and Lord Levene struck me as greedily self-interested and probably owing his title to his friendship with Michael (Lord) Heseltine. I’ve met him as well, and he’s ghastly.
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 10:44 am -
There’s been a lot said and speculated about and the profile by Matt Cole on BBC of Clarke made him sound like the myth of Jimmy Savile incarnate. However, we really don’t know how much is true and what the competing interests might be. Seems (unlike JS) Clarke was a sexual magnet with matinee idol looks so you can see how this could be used and abused and be the subject of factional jealousy. We don’t know much about Eliot Johnson and the real reason for his tragic end.
A couple of years ago allegations in The Socialist Worker Party against an activist virtually destroyed the party which draws a lot of its support from students. Although there were good reasons to suggest these were exaggerated if not fabricated, the SWP found itself outlawed on university campuses as the ‘rape culture’ ideology trumped the traditionalist Trots.
I’ve no idea whether this tendency might be related in the Clarke case, but I’m agnostic as to what might be the facts at present.
-
November 30, 2015 at 11:33 am -
Quite
Anyone want to bet on how long it takes until allegations of ‘sexting’ rise up from the swamp? And who, or which political party is first to whisper ‘J’accuse!’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34716852
(As an aside, (not intended to derail the post’s main subject matter) and as I have only lets web access right now, is that the same firm of compensation specialists whose members were recently going on about extending, or it might have been even abolishing, the civil liabilities statutory limitations on related claim making?)
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:01 pm -
@ho hum BBK? They are an aggressive compo firm – firmly within the ACAL stable.
You can see their CSA promo video here http://www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/child-abuse/ One of the Exposure spoofs exploited it mercilessly – but it’s almost beyond parody in itself.
Maybe Pet could advise as to whether the spoof is still available.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm -
Are you keeping an eye on the various ‘panels’, Margaret? The compo-specialist advising the pointless People’s Tribunal has just appeared in a video, interviewed by Roger Cook (yes, he). But the competition for compensation is hotting up: the rival panel (from a group who ought to change their name to ‘Splinters UK’ as they have already self-divided in a cloud of bitterness) have landed the current World Record Holder in obtaining vast sums of justice (i.e. cash) for their own mad panel. (I’m not sure if the ‘Real Splinters UK’ will launch a counter-attack on their until-very-recent allies, or just throw in the towel.)
-
November 30, 2015 at 1:39 pm -
Yes Bandini – it’s going to be a real bun fight – leaders in the field appear to be the ‘Whiteflowers people’ who may have teamed up with Phil’s residual reflections – they’ve got the bumper crop of insiders/highprofiles including Mike Mansfield. the People’s Tribunal (modelled on US equivalent) is Allan Collins’ preserve with Jersey connections. Note that Tim Tate gave a misleading interview to the US PT on Cleveland to somebody who knew nothing about it – so the Cook promo may be linked.
The rump REflections with Jenny and Esther (Graham too?) have yet to declare hand.
Goddard was not about the money. But of course ‘reparations’ are firmly on the agenda – it’s already caused a kerfuffle in Australia when ‘survivors’ rejected a proposed open handed payout as being derisory. Goes back to the Irish scheme whereby lawyers (mostly English) and claimants netted zillions in the cappuccino days. At what point will the ‘interim payments’ demands kick in?
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:04 pm -
Margaret, they’ve got Richard Scorer to help them fight for justice, the rebranded Reflections that is. As kind-hearted Tomlin points out:
“@reflectionsuk3 is the original group and all others are fake. I personally have the assurances of the home office that we will be heard”Hear them roar! Can you imagine actually being in need of help & having to navigate this mess? If only they could all come together & fight to have qualified psychiatric help made available to those needing it on the NHS (rather than compo, supposedly to pay some of the dodgiest, flakiest ‘therapists’ being churned out of colleges)!
P.S. Following on from Petunia’s idea of a “name that resembled that of a kitsch American Anglophile band from the 60s” I think we could assemble a whole volume for the famed compilation ‘Nuggets’: Phil’s Residual Reflections… Whiteflowers People… the Mike Mansfield Singers… the Rotary Club Connection…
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:05 pm -
Update – seems new RElections includes GW and Sharon Evans – both booted out IICSA panel members – with Richard Scorer of S& G – looks like they’ll be targeting Catholic and CoE churches – GW and RS heavily involved in Stop Church Abuse implicating CC and CoE in payouts. The 2011 and 12 St Williams and Portsmouth Diocese cases continue to spread effect re vicarious liability re non-employment abuse- the same cases that facilitated Savilisation.
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:47 pm -
My God, what a role they’ve found for him!
“Judicial system advisor: Graham Wilmer MBE”He’ll be advising everyone to come & visit him to see the good work his project does, I suppose! Repeatedly!
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:59 pm -
Note too that ‘WhiteFlowers campaign’ Mansfield Chambers have teamed up with Phil ‘Al Sweady scam’ Shiner’s Public Interest Sols . PIS v S&G for the lion’s share then – or will the birds of a feather…?
-
November 30, 2015 at 3:06 pm -
Given that GW – aka ‘psychotherapist’ has been slated for UTD and in the courts re the undercover extortion call his chutzpah is really quite amazing. That S&G wish to align themselves with an accident waiting to happen speaks volumes about them and the perceived cowboy judicial system itself.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:24 pm -
“Mr Whillock was arrested in front of pupils and staff…” (Shakes head in disbelief.)
Maybe they’ll now get a class-action going on behalf of the kids who have been ‘traumatised’ by witnessing such a pointless & degrading spectacle.-
November 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm -
goes along with practice of police in the celeb cases. BBC invited to watch with Cliff and arrests at airports as in the case of Jim Davidson.
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 11:33 am -
sex & politics. Getting a bit sick & tired of it to be honest.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:26 pm -
They do seem to go together like a horse and carriage, though.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:35 pm -
only in Anglo-Saxon democracies from what I get to see
-
November 30, 2015 at 1:25 pm -
There was a case here in Spain a while ago – a politician was accused of using tax-payer’s money to finance his many trips to ‘liaise’ with a very much younger (and MUCH more attractive) “party activist”. The bloke denied it furiously, but changed his story so many times that the news programme I usually watch on an evening started to keep a running score of the number of versions.
The gorgeous gal, an active partier as well as active party member, gave a media interview or two, but nothing about sex was ever directly mentioned; nor was the marital status of the politico. Big-hitters came to his aide – including the PM – but a political companion had less luck when he was revealed to have also made flights to visit someone – the same woman!
(Again, no mention made of sex nor his status, although when he fell immediately on his sword it was intimated that he needed to ‘rebuild trust’ or summat.)
The story rumbled on & on, and then disappeared as they usually do for those strong enough to ride out the initial storm. It was very recently reported that the original ‘sinner’ had not, after all, broken any rules over his massive expenses claims – at least not strictly.
The real story, shorn of sex, was that for decades an unspoken agreement had existed between all the parties, the members of whom could be found regularly hanging around the airport just before midnight (as there was some great scam going whereby they could put a double-claim in should the trip spill over into the next day).
Although every ‘normal’ person would likely find the lot of ’em guilty, they were merely taking advantage of incredibly lax rules, and therefore the solution was to tighten them up (did they? Who knows?!?).Other than a few below-the-line comments, the only ‘Brit-style’ coverage I saw was an eyebrow raised so high by the presenter that it poked out the top of my telly. It was a real education for me.
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:21 pm -
There was Berlusconi too of course, and his under-age prostitute, or abused child, as we prefer to call them, in our round-headed, puritanically circular society just now.
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:33 pm -
Pointless observation, but the channel I get the early evening news from is La Sexta (6), and right next door is the horrendous TeleCinco (5) which belongs to Berlusconi. It is wall to wall celebrities, mindless ‘reality’ programmes & screeching, shouting no-marks; the end of civilisation in televisual form. I bristle even when flicking through channels – truly appalling. But it’s the most popular channel going…
For this, and this alone, I wish Berlusconi nothing but suffering! A pox on his Bond villian-style house!
-
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:54 pm -
…now that sex’n’drugs’n’rock’n’roll is too dangerous
-
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 11:25 am -
Maybe my 21st century emote gene is not working as it should do but I struggle accepting that bullying, blackmail and sexual harrasment caused the death of this clearly troubled young man.
For a young squaddie at Deepcut with 3 years to serve and a vicious troop Corporal I can understand it. Protest or step out of line and the forces have the power to put in into prison. But on a bus going to Tory constituencies or writing a Tory newsletter ? Unpleasant perhaps but no different to a hundred situations adults find themselves in over the path of their lives. He was not being held there at gunpoint
You don’t actually have a career to squash at the age of 21, especially when you have only just left university.
That this young man decided to jump under a train because of unpleasantness from his co workers says more to me about his mental health than the morals of the (probably) ghastly drones he worked with. It also says much about how unprepared for life some young adults are when they leave education.
-
November 30, 2015 at 11:32 am -
not to mention the level of Narcissism present that leads them to consider themselves so very precious.
-
November 30, 2015 at 11:43 am -
I think you’re right to point out that bullying means different things in different situations. It’s also worth considering that it can be a fine line between bullying and just getting things done, especially when under pressure. A management style or approach that might galvanise some may repulse others.
With the case in point, I’d agree with Margaret Jervis that we just don’t know enough about the particular circumstances to make any sort of informed judgement. However, whether it is an exceptional event or just a example of what is actually not that uncommon in complex organisations (albeit an example with a particularly tragic outcome) is moot.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:29 pm -
I agree with the points raised in your last paragraph, but if bullying did indeed take place, that could well have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:55 pm -
There are always bullies in a hierarchy. I’m saddened but not surprised that some people can’t deal with the sort of bad behaviour that is so valued on shows like The Apprentice.
This sounds like a tragedy being used for political purposes to me.BTW, Grant Shapps – plumber’s toolbox – I salute you Sirrah
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:19 pm -
There are always whining wimps in any hierarchy too.
The wimps generally have the law on their side, a la Oisin the Oik.-
December 4, 2015 at 12:53 am -
This chappie seems to think the law should be on his side
The news reports would seem to indicate that he keeps banging on about using it as if to, albeit paraphrasing somewhat, help him in wielding the trusty cudgel of truth
-
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 10:07 pm -
‘how unprepared for life some young adults are when they leave education.’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34969424
It’s not that I approve of doing this, far from it, but it really worries me more that nowadays it seems that whichever plonkers are distributing these feel that, to be understood, they have to spell out their nonsense in full, rather than just giving out a card stating:
‘You are Andrea Dworkin and I claim my five pounds’
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 11:31 am -
Come off it, Petunia,
I’ve been a Conservative activist for several decades, and I’ve never even heard of Mark Clarke (OK, excepting the American General, but I’m sure it isn’t him) let alone any hint of scandal associated with him. Young people screw around and play all sorts of silly games, so perhaps it is as well that the average age for any Conservative function I attend is late sixties!
I wouldn’t believe a word spoken by Warsi, who thankfully isn’t on the telly so much these days, as she is an apologist for the RoP (and far too young to be allowed in to our ‘jollies’).
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:28 pm -
I’ve been very careful to insert ‘allegedly’ and ‘apparently’ into this piece. I’m only going by what I’ve read and heard, so can’t say for certain if there is a culture of bullying amongst young activists or not. But it might explain some of the more reprehensible character traits MPs exhibit once they’ve scaled the greasy pole if there is.
-
November 30, 2015 at 3:40 pm -
It wasn’t a defence of Clarke, it was a criticism for believing Warsi. Clarke may well be an utter queynte, but the great thing about being a volunteer is that if the activity doesn’t suit you you just don’t do it. You don’t top yourself so irresponsibly in public as to traumatise onlookers unless you are a bit of a stupid queynte yourself.
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:59 pm -
Nark Clarke is 38. Not exactly a “young person”.
-
November 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm -
Sorry, Mark. Though Nark might be appropriate.
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:12 pm -
Totally irrevocably OT but since when did ‘we’ (ie the English speaking bit of humanity) start using the unword ‘Shero’ for ‘heroine’ ?!?!?! *shudders and goes off to download the complete Steven Fry On Radio4 to counteract his Post Traumatic Stress*
-
November 30, 2015 at 12:33 pm -
I can’t imagine there’s much call for young party activists in my Arundel & South Downs constituency. Our MP seems to be able to get about and involve himself in things local without a rat pack, & election seems a cert.
I do recall, however, the business equivalent of the young nasties from around the late 1980’s. Male & female graduate recruits, utterly focussed, devoid of social sensitivity, presumably selected through a process looking for shark like attributes. I came across such people both in house and at customers; I particularly remember a national company who would send two or three of their very hard young women on supplier visits. Unpleasant.
A few twinges of conscience from my own younger times, but not much.
Back to the Tories & Labour; I’d always associated socialism with the certainties & idealism of youth, and I don’t see how there can be a movement without intolerance, you’re either with us or you’re against us. The more immature the nastier the behaviour. The alleged young Tories antics sound like very bad judgement by both the hierarchy and those taking part in Road Trip. Nobody (I assume) had to participate or even stay, and the culture could hardly have been secret given today’s comms opportunities. Should have rung warning bells…
Just a view.-
November 30, 2015 at 9:57 pm -
‘who would send two or three of their very hard young women on supplier visits.’
Reminds me of the time I nearly wet myself when one of the same, during the ‘viva voce’ part of a contract evaluation. demonstrated the efficiency of her company’s inco pads on the board room table.
I kid you not….
-
December 1, 2015 at 9:51 am -
She sat on her i-pad?
Someone had to say it, sorry.
-
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 2:22 pm -
The word SPAD has a nasty ring to it, like some playground taunt. Er, appropriately perhaps!
Let’s have a mention for those who never achieve that particular honour, but nevertheless beaver away in the dirty-tricks drawer at the behest of their political (pay)masters:“Names have been named and there has been talk of legal action being taken against Baker, and perhaps his former boss [Danczuk] as well.”
https://www.byline.com/column/20/article/411-
November 30, 2015 at 2:47 pm -
In the railway world SPAD is Signal Passed At Danger. Make of that what you will!
-
-
November 30, 2015 at 3:39 pm -
It’s oft commented that Orwell’s “1984” was not intended to be an instruction manual. In similar vein, has the aggression encapsulated in popular TV shows (e.g. The Apprentice, Jerry Springer) been mistaken for a how-to-succeed lifestyle template?
Bullying happens, and always has: at school, in the workplace, and elsewhere. However, might does not equal right. And not everyone on the receiving end has the confidence, or clout, to give the bully a literal/metaphorical black eye. So there are times when intervention is needed.
However, I draw the line at the notion of “safe spaces” for university students. Firstly, they are adults. Secondly, Uni. should be the place where one expands one’s horizons. At that age, you’re supposed to be a radical! Join a dozen campus communities and, later, drop out if you don’t like the ethos. Attend the events where prominent people give talks and, having heard them, voice a (salient) question in the Q&A session. But trying to ban a speaker, unheard, is just another aspect of bullying. As is the demand, backed by a vociferous crowd of hangers-on, that no-one should say anything with which you disagree. Get real! Life is multi-faceted.
Talking of multi-faceted, I’m surprised it took so long to dislodge Grant Shapps (alias Michael Green, alias Sebastian Fox).
-
November 30, 2015 at 10:46 pm -
Dear Petunia,
Thank you for continuing.
A thought provoking post on a topic that the MSM ignore or distort.
Your commenters as always are insightful and courteous.
No comment- just wanted to show appreciation.
Good luck. -
December 1, 2015 at 1:46 am -
Wow, just logged in and am doing a belated happy dance with a stupid smile on my face. You’ve posted another article! Thank you, Petunia! You write so well and it’s always a huge joy to read your stuff. Lx
-
December 1, 2015 at 3:09 am -
Pedant’s corner:
The New Vaudeville Band was so Anglophile that it was British:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Vaudeville_BandIn fact they were an early example of the phenomenon whereby a producer recorded a song with session musicians and then, when it was an unexpected hit, needed to assemble a post facto group to appear on TV and tour.
-
December 1, 2015 at 9:09 am -
I stand corrected. I genuinely thought they were American, cashing-in on the US 60s vogue for all things Brit. Should have checked my Guinness Book of Hit Singles!
-
December 2, 2015 at 5:34 pm -
The “New Vaudeville Band” (vaudeville, the US name for music hall, might have fooled Petunia into thinking they were Yanks) were initially a bunch of studio musicians who recorded the Geoff Stephens song “Winchester cathedral” for the British Fontana label. When it became an unexpected big hit (thanks to a lot of play on pirate radio), the company found they needed to “create” a group for appearances. The budding new Bonzos refused their offer, so they assembled a line up which subsequently managed to have a number of other hits in the same 20’s style.
Paul Revere and the Raiders had the first hit in the US in 1961, with an instrumental called “Like long hair” ( at a time nobody had long hair – it referred to classical musicians and composers, often then referred to as “long hairs” a la Beethoven and co). So, the group predated the first Beatles British UK hit by 1 year, and the British US invasion by several. They started their big run of hits at the very end of ’65, when the Brit invasion had stared to run out of steam. They cut a string of pretty excellent records from ’65 to ’71, often in a tough Stones/punk style, though their visual image was rather clean cut. They appear in a Batman TV episode playing at a political rally for the Penguin who is running for mayor of Gotham City!
The closest Beatles “clone” song by a US band is “probably “Lies” by the Knickerbockers from 1965 – more like the Beatles than the Beatles, with the vocal almost identical to John Lennon – but a tremendous record in its own right.
-
-
-
