The Rebel Magazine

Friday, 15 February 2019

Help fund the new album by Neil Innes

A few months back it was announced that music lovers from all around the the world had chipped in to raise the money needed for recording, mastering, and manufacturing of a new album of songs by Neil Innes on CD and Vinyl via Pledge Music. The target was reached but annoyingly Pledge Music failed to honour their commitments ("Ouch"). On the 6th of Feb Neil made the following announcement: "I have at last spoken to Pledge Music and our agreement is now terminated.I would like to make it clear that I have no wish to pour petrol on a fire that has broken out somewhere high up in their organization. I am frankly not interested in who or what is to blame. I believe the “good guys” in Pledge when they say they feel just as betrayed as the Artists and their loyal Supporters. Their platform is broken. They hope to regain the trust and goodwill of Artists and Fans alike – but this will take time – 30 to 90 days. But this is too long to wait for my project, recording has begun with studio and musician costs incurred. My limited resources are dwindling. Consequently, I am busy looking for alternative ways to finance the recording/manufacture/artwork and distribution of the “new album”. Pledge Music have agreed with me the only way to make the best out of a bad job is to consider the following advice: You CAN get your money back IF you paid by a Credit Card with an insurance policy against fraud – such as VISA, Master Card or even PayPal. (Also, it is worth asking your bank if they have you covered) Please forward your Pledge “acknowledgement” to yvonne@neilinnes.media so that we can know Who and Where you are – and What you wanted. (We already have details for those of you who ordered T Shirts and/or Handwritten Song Lyrics.)
IF you DO manage to get your money back, PLEASE consider donating the same amount to gofundme.com/neil-innes-the-new-album. WE intend to deliver our part of the original bargain – but need all the help we can get! We still hope to finish “The Greatest Album (of its kind) in the History of the World” with De Luxe Artwork, by this Spring – aiming for April. It will then become available from my website: neilinnes.media/shop – if you’ve had enough of “crowdfunding” for now! THANK YOU for your patience and understanding, we are all in the this TOGETHER. Let’s be positive but mindful of the words of Oscar Wilde: “That Good triumphs over Evil is the True Nature of Fiction.” Be Happy!"

So, a new fund has been set up and the goal is £25,000. Click on HERE to go to Go Fund Me page.

Wednesday, 19 December 2018

The Spammed support Specialized and The Teenage Cancer Trust

Specialized is a musical community that was created in 2012 to raise funds to improve the lives of teens and young adults with cancer or who are living in difficult circumstances. The Specialized Project brings together amateur and professional musicians with the shared goal of creating musical projects to raise funds for cancer research and support agencies, particularly The Teenage Cancer Trust, The National Foundation for Youth Music and Tonic Music for Mental Health. They’ve done this by the production of themed albums supported by live music events across the UK.

Specialized 7: BOSS which is available now, is a four disc CD box-set featuring reinterpretations of all ska’s hit factory Trojan Records. Tracks featured on the compilation include The Spammed's version of Jimmy Cliff's You Can Get It If You Really Want. You can buy it for £15.99 via the Specialized online shop: http://www.specializedproject.co.uk/shopping/boss-a-tribute-to-original-sounds/

Yesterday The Spammed visited South London's Perry Vale studio to record a cover of 'The Prince' (originally by Madness) which will feature on 'Specialized 8' (a tribute to 2-Tone Records) which will be released in 2019. The Spammed consist of; Kevin Eldon (Vocals), Neil Innes (Keyboard), Micko Westmoreland (Guitar), Horace Panter (Bass), and Rat Scabies (drums). The man at the mixing desk for this recording was Pat Collier, (a former member of The Vibrators) who has worked with numerous bands over the years including The House of Love,Katrina & The Waves, The Wonderstuff, and Jesus & Mary Chain.

The Prince was released on Two Tone records on the first of September, 1979 and was the band's first top twenty hit single. The track is a tribute to the Ska legend Prince Buster who gave the world such classics as Earthquake, One Step Beyond, Al Capone, 10 Commandments and Oh Carolina.

Image above: Kevin studies the nutty lyrics. Image below: The Fun Boy 3

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Opening Party at Shortwave Gallery for Funny Business exhibition

'Funny Business' is an exhibition featuring work by Jasper Joffe, Kate Lyddon, Geraldine Swayne, Harry Pye in collaboration with Rowland Smith, in collaboration with Gordon Beswick, and Harry Pye on his own. Here are the first batch of photos from the opening night. The show is on till the 27th November. More info: here