Setting Things Straight
I return from the wilds of Birmingham, where I have been availing myself of the talents of Mr Matt Hunt, tattooist extraordinaire. I got a Hans Holbein Jr woodcut done on my right arm to match the Nambucca Rooster on my left. Pics when it's not covered in ink and blood, haha. Also, Matt is awesome, and so is his shop - check it out.
In continuing discussions, kicked off by the 2000 Trees / Offspring thing, some points have been raised. Some of my friends have been telling me to leave off getting involved in this discussion, but it's important to me and I don't want to come across as aloof or not bothered. Anyways. The first thing is, people have been making comments about what I "represent", and in some cases about feeling let down by my recent decision. In the first instance, I'm uncomfortable about "representing" anything to anyone - I do this because I want to make music and share it. The rest is trimmings. Secondly, if I am to represent anything, I'd like to be thought of as an honest, hardworking and humble musician, nothing more and nothing less. Within that I do my best to play as much as I can for as many people as possible, to be totally accessible to anyone who wants to talk to me (I note that none of the haters have actually emailed me), and to do this in such a way as I'll be able to keep doing this and even be able to pay my rent too. I feel uncomfortable when people project much more than that onto me (though I recognize it often comes with the territory), and I'd respectfully ask that people respect me and my choices.
That then brings us onto the other thing I want to talk about - politics. There's been some discussion of my politics over the years, and more intensely recently. I don't actually want to go into a massive exposition here - it's actually no one else's business and I can't be bothered - but some ground points serve to be made. Most of all, I am not, nor have ever, ever been, a socialist. When I was younger, say, in the first half of Million Dead's existence as a band, I was a pretty convinced left-anarchist. Those days are long, long gone - the very first song most people heard by MD ("Breaking the Back") was about my disillusion with that scene (and the second, "I Am The Party", was about how my personal politics are irrelevant anyway). Nevertheless, there was some political and social commentary in that band, but I'd characterize it as left libertarian. There's an important difference.
In the time since then, my ideas have shifted - as most people's do between the ages of 19 and 27. A little more experience of real life has changed the way I try to find solutions to what I see as the essential problem - people's capacity to be horrible fucks to each other, whether as organized government or in the form of large monopolistic corporations. In the past I guess I thought that boycotts and demonstrations might "smash the system" and then we could all live happily ever after. I don't believe that any more. I started having to pay taxes, rent and so on, and stopped only hanging out with other middle class anarchists. My essential libertarianism is more in the middle ground now.
I suppose it's an easy assumption in some ways - I have songs with words like "anarchists" and "Thatcher" in their titles, and I sing angrily whilst playing acoustic guitar. That makes some people immediately I'm a leftist / socialist or whatever. Well, here it is. I'm not. Sorry. And most importantly of all, so fucking what? I'm a musician, making music. When I creatively address politics, I sing about being a normal person trying to find their way in the world. Please don't try and make me a flagpole for whatever it is you want to salute. I will make the choices I feel are right for me, and it is not now nor ever will be anyone else's business. If you find that disappointing, it's your problem I'm afraid, not mine.
Sorry if this comes across as harsh or petulant, I'm just trying to be thorough. It's also a disconcerting experience, seeing vast assumptions being made about you and your personality on the internet by total strangers. Also, thanks to the people who have commented / mailed being nice about things. Hugely appreciated.
In final news - an interview here, and tickets for the Cheltenham show here. More festival news (for the UK) in my next update.
In continuing discussions, kicked off by the 2000 Trees / Offspring thing, some points have been raised. Some of my friends have been telling me to leave off getting involved in this discussion, but it's important to me and I don't want to come across as aloof or not bothered. Anyways. The first thing is, people have been making comments about what I "represent", and in some cases about feeling let down by my recent decision. In the first instance, I'm uncomfortable about "representing" anything to anyone - I do this because I want to make music and share it. The rest is trimmings. Secondly, if I am to represent anything, I'd like to be thought of as an honest, hardworking and humble musician, nothing more and nothing less. Within that I do my best to play as much as I can for as many people as possible, to be totally accessible to anyone who wants to talk to me (I note that none of the haters have actually emailed me), and to do this in such a way as I'll be able to keep doing this and even be able to pay my rent too. I feel uncomfortable when people project much more than that onto me (though I recognize it often comes with the territory), and I'd respectfully ask that people respect me and my choices.
That then brings us onto the other thing I want to talk about - politics. There's been some discussion of my politics over the years, and more intensely recently. I don't actually want to go into a massive exposition here - it's actually no one else's business and I can't be bothered - but some ground points serve to be made. Most of all, I am not, nor have ever, ever been, a socialist. When I was younger, say, in the first half of Million Dead's existence as a band, I was a pretty convinced left-anarchist. Those days are long, long gone - the very first song most people heard by MD ("Breaking the Back") was about my disillusion with that scene (and the second, "I Am The Party", was about how my personal politics are irrelevant anyway). Nevertheless, there was some political and social commentary in that band, but I'd characterize it as left libertarian. There's an important difference.
In the time since then, my ideas have shifted - as most people's do between the ages of 19 and 27. A little more experience of real life has changed the way I try to find solutions to what I see as the essential problem - people's capacity to be horrible fucks to each other, whether as organized government or in the form of large monopolistic corporations. In the past I guess I thought that boycotts and demonstrations might "smash the system" and then we could all live happily ever after. I don't believe that any more. I started having to pay taxes, rent and so on, and stopped only hanging out with other middle class anarchists. My essential libertarianism is more in the middle ground now.
I suppose it's an easy assumption in some ways - I have songs with words like "anarchists" and "Thatcher" in their titles, and I sing angrily whilst playing acoustic guitar. That makes some people immediately I'm a leftist / socialist or whatever. Well, here it is. I'm not. Sorry. And most importantly of all, so fucking what? I'm a musician, making music. When I creatively address politics, I sing about being a normal person trying to find their way in the world. Please don't try and make me a flagpole for whatever it is you want to salute. I will make the choices I feel are right for me, and it is not now nor ever will be anyone else's business. If you find that disappointing, it's your problem I'm afraid, not mine.
Sorry if this comes across as harsh or petulant, I'm just trying to be thorough. It's also a disconcerting experience, seeing vast assumptions being made about you and your personality on the internet by total strangers. Also, thanks to the people who have commented / mailed being nice about things. Hugely appreciated.
In final news - an interview here, and tickets for the Cheltenham show here. More festival news (for the UK) in my next update.
posted by frank at 8:42 PM
34 Comments:
I love you Frank! (yes this is a man, sorry)
Just keep doind what you're doing. I fucking love you man
Well said on politics etc. When you are young you are angry but don't fully understand it! Now I am same age as you and the taxes etc hit, you realise what everything means!
Rock on
Well said on politics etc. When you are young you are angry but don't fully understand it! Now I am same age as you and the taxes etc hit, you realise what everything means!
Rock on
You are a symbol of hope for all of us. It is in your music that us normal people can relate and get on wih our lives.
Thank you.
I don't know any other musician who shows that much interest in his fans, huge thumbs up for that, Frank! Incredibly nice of you to explain yourself when you don't have to. So, again, good luck and have an incredibly good time :-)
Fair play - keep doing what feels right to you mate - just bought my cheltenham tickets!! Sara x
Oh Frank, you are but a sensitive soul.
Nice to see you contribute to the perpetuation of the myth that revolutionary / leftist ideologies are but constructs of the naive young mind, shredded by the realities discovered with age - this summed up by the chap above who comments "When you are young you are angry but don't fully understand it!"Congratulate yourself! You are an upstanding citizen of the capitalist society!
Thank ye gods for Chomsky, Zinn, Herman etc. Lets just hope they never "experience a little more of real life" and become "middle ground libertarians"!
"I sing about being a normal person trying to find their way in the world. Please don't try and make me a flagpole for whatever it is you want to salute. I will make the choices I feel are right for me, and it is not now nor ever will be anyone else's business. If you find that disappointing, it's your problem I'm afraid, not mine."
Nicely put. It's always nice to see musicians themselves taking their time and writing out their thoughts on these sorts of blogs. I myself am still young and angry but i'll learn soon enough haha.
See you in Finland later on this year, amirite!
Ethel, fair point, my apologies, I'm not trying to imply anyone's viewpoint is more valid or mature than anyone else's here. Believe what you want.
Frank come back to Y-Not festival this year, twas an awesome set last year!
Can't wait till the new album.
Thanks for the discounted tickets for Cheltenham...there was no need to as far as Im concerned but its appreciated all the same
Well I think you're a nice bloke. And I like your music. Opinions don't have to have labels like essential libertarianism - you think stuff, you write and sing it - and you do it so well. And it makes lots of us happy. :-)
nice words frank. although you made a typo in a critical place (the link to your tattoist's website).
what I always loved about your lyrics whilst you were in md was that there were references to politics, without preaching about politics. (a theme you have largely kept - with only a minor thatcher based excursion...)
I do have to agree partly with ethel's point though - many a time I have had people tell me (normally when they are losing an argument) that when I 'grow up' or 'get older' I will see their point of view / abandon my principles / vote conservative.
As someone that you referenced in 'I am the party' once said "idealists foolish enough to throw caution to the winds have advanced mankind and have enriched the world".
I suppose the vast majority of them were just pissing in the wind though. and maybe one day I will 'grow up'.
keep making the good music, ignore what people on the internet think, they (or should I say we) are all fickle twats.
see you in oxford in two weeks...
David
Your lyrics are personal and represent your feelings and emotions at a certain point in time. They are yours, not anyone else's. If they want something to validate and confirm their own collective existence, because they're too insecure to form an opinion of their own, they've got the wrong guy.
It's odd reading someone break down the myth of celebrity. Normally I imagine artists advocating people following their beliefs, but I'm glad you have shattered that misguided belief. It makes you more real and down to earth, and I respect that. Can't wait to see you play in Leeds in October, but it's a shame you haven't got a Portsmouth show in this tour.
Can't wait for the new album...Keep on rockin'.
Wedding Calligrapher - you have summed it up. And ok, fair point indeed Ethel, but despite the thoughts and words of those clever people, nothing changes does it? People are still horrible fucks to each other. But we must have ideals and people like Chomsky to express them. Keep writing the songs and making the music Frank.
Love.
If music is an expression of the self, then FT is truly an awesome chap!
Keep doing what you enjoy and do bloody well and most of us (which I'm sure is an increasing number) will enjoy listening and when we can seeing you live!
WTF some idiots are doing trying to analyse everything is beyond me! Keep rockin Frank, your music is ace and means what it's meant to!
Dooge ;-P
Ginetta, of course things change - and if they have not, you are living in a different world than me. I think you would be hard pressed to deny the myriad of social changes that have occurred over the last few centuries (as a starting point).
It is unfortunate, and again brutally ironic, that people like yourself who I'm sure are completley genuine and honest and beautiful people - continue to believe and propogate the myth of subjugation that says "nothing changes, does it"... because it is this myth itself, and the belief in it, that constitues one of the most serious barriers obstructing the prospect of emancipation.
Well said, Frank.
There's a lot of love for you out there.
Your music is honest. No one should be asking for more.
Don't worry about the Internets, just keep doing what you're doing.
Good tattoo place by the way, I got my last one done there :)
People making comments like what you just said they have are pretty lame to be honest.
We'll always love you!
Also, cheers for playing Sonisphere, it's gonna be intense! Love it!
Does playing Sonisphere mean you won't be able to play reading/leeds?
=(
I hope not
Ethel, I'm just wondering what emancipation would constitute for you? Who is it that is being subjugated, and by whom? Sorry if I've got the wrong end of the stick here, but so often when you hear the old neo Marxist analyses being trotted out, its based, by definition, on an ontology (and more particularly a specific view of human nature) that's fails to resonate with most people these days. And there is a good reason for that. Its an interesting and sometimes useful intellectual tool, but for the most part its horse shit.
Herbert Spencer
I dont agree with the whole my dicks bigger than your dick intellectual shit going on who can use the longest words, also i dont agree with people preaching at others what eachother reprisent.
What i will say is Frank Turner (and band)are some of the best musicians i have ever ever seen live and certainly 3 of the best cds i have ever bought, however, the whole what i write about/do is my business thing, if your a musician your writing about things because you want people to listen....thus making it other peoples business to be interested in it. I agree you are your own chap but if your in the music industry what you write about/do is not just your business now because of the industry your in.
Its a sad state of affairs to be in but thats my view on it, you have an ever increasing fan base and your business will slowly become more and more peoples business as you get bigger.
Anyone good to see your on tour in October and PLEASE FIT IN A GLASTONBURY PERFORMANCE!
Well said Frank!!! Your music is amazing and that's the most important thing what with being a musician! I cant wait to see you in Bristol and Sonisphere Festival!Keep it up man!
Hi there Hebert,
'Emancipation' in my above post was essentially - but not wholly - referring to the freeing of one's self from the burdens of a hierarchically structured, ridgidly class based society - essentially we're talking here about the mechanics of capitalism.
I understand your hesitance and healthy scepticism of any such Marxist sounding talk, but let me assure you I am not a Marxist - although I do see huge value in much of his work.
I would also like to point out that you should remember that the 'view of human nature' to which you refer is shaped and conditioned within the confines of a capitalist society - so it is only natural that any counter-ideologies are balked at by the majority of the population who so often believe that this is 'the only way it can be'.
Ah it should all be about the music. Can we talk about guitar chords or something instead now? Good YouTube interview Frank, and the comments over there made light reading in contrast... (for anyone else with brain ache)
Claire x
i'm sorry to say frank but i think you have brought this all on yourself. if you weren't so fuckingliy brilliant at what you do then you would have less fans and less people who cared.
I would like to point out that i am totally on your side, your views are up to you and its highly unfair for us youngsters to pin our hopes on your next move. However as you agreed it will come with the territory.
Cant wait for album 3. Cambridge and London shows for me this year and reading hopefully.
Frank, thank you for being accessible and as someone has already stated "shattering the myth of celebrity". I fear for your sanity and your me-time, but hope that this continues as long as it can in a practical way without delivering yourself to an early grave! ;)
Comments on your blog are increasingly becoming healthy and respectful debates. Long may it continue in favour of the undeserved mudslinging that plagued previous posts.
Can't stop listening to your music.
xx
Frank; you are an amazing musician, and I respect you possibly more than any other. Your opinions and any causes you represent will always be your own business and, at least in my eyes, second to your obvious gift for music. Love, Ire and Song is one of my favorite albums, and one that has lifted me up on so many occasions. I really can't wait for Poetry of the Deed, good luck with everything. :)
Forget the haters they are just jealous they can not do what you can - write fantastic music and share it with the masses. Do what you have to do and hold no regrets.
Keep up the good work, you are a legend and yes people will still be listening to you after you die, not that that will be any time soon.
Roll on the summer, I'm keeping my fingers crossed you'll play Reading.
Bloody hell.. there's some awful big words being used here, ain't there? Brings back bad memories of sitting baffled in tutorials.
Anyway, I think the most important point here is this one; touring with The Offspring! Fuckin' A!
x
It's all about the music man!! People should get so serious about this... Like Frank said, he's expressing his opinions in the form of a normal citizen in this country and that's all it should be taken as. Personally i think his views are genious and before listening I had no interest in politics...
E.g Thatcher fucked the kids - it's not just about Thatcher / politics, also about comunity, how kids are today and the general current mentality of people today... it's what we all think, Frank just sings it!
Oh and Modern Body art is the best tat place in birmingham, i want my next one there very soon and hopefully will book Matt! Lets see your tat now Frank, get your pic up! ;)
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