Trajectory of Mr. Eldritch’s career has groovy integrity

[Edmogirl]

I was introduced to The Sisters of Mercy during Christmas vacation. So, I am a comparatively new fan.

I’ve been listening to the old recordings…and the new songs off of the SOM website. It’s all good music with intelligent lyrics.

After reading through some of the UTR issues uploaded on this site, the reasons for Mr. Eldritch’s decision to abstain from a recording contract seem really clear.

He is not willing to sign on unless he can be taken seriously as the versatile musical artist he is
.
I think this is great. Personally, the limiting labels must be a bit like being taken hostage…with a piece of duct tape over one’s mouth and a fabric sac being thrown over one’s head. And then having images projected on to the sac and people interacting with those projections as if they were you.

No artist should have to deal with that. Correction: no human being should have to deal with it.

I don’t travel in the world of rock or pop, but my sister is an opera singer. In that corner of the music industry, businessmen with an ignorance of music and twisted thinking about bodies and image have taken the helm. Overextended schedules, inhumane touring demands, and a massive amount of pressure to defy nature and torture one’s body into an impossible aesthetic ideal have led to suicides, radical surgeries, and rampant drug abuse amoungst the singers.

The art form is suffering. There has been a sharp decline in the quality of Wagnerian and verismo singers because young voices get stretched too thin from overuse and the women physically capable of making stentorian sounds are not cast in the roles because they are too large. So the performances are blowsy, insipid, and uninspiring.

It is an insult to all of the composers, as well as the audience who have taken the time to learn how to listen critically.

So, it is from this perspective that I look at Mr. Eldritch’s stance…and I love it!

We live in world where the popular music industry has become so lazy it now holds karaoke auditions of malleable neurotics on television. A person the caliber of Simon Cowell actually has input in to the popular taste…and we take it. He makes no attempt to disguise the fact that he is a factory foreman and that he is just sifting through raw material for the machine.

Artists need to protect themselves on several levels. Leonard Cohen’s manager stole almost all of his money when he was taking a break. At the time, I was one of the many people who received occasional poems and pictures by him in our email inbox. He was in the ebb part of his process and his trickle of art revealed that he was in a delicate place. This is natural for artists. But, it is a time when they are vulnerable to crooks. When they are in flow (or producing), they are vulnerable to parasitic manipulators. I’ve seen my sister’s management try to wear her down into accepting a tour schedule that would be both soul destroying and physically dangerous to her instrument. They are relentless and have a plethora of tactics.

I think Mr. Eldritch’s refusal to participate in this crap is admirable. There are a lot of statements on The Sisters of Mercy website that are entertainingly defiant.

His insistence on controlling his life like a free person and an artist is inspiring.

The fact that he does it with enormous style and panache makes it delicious.

So, I have joined the ranks of his rabid, cheering fans. Thanks to all of you who assisted in my SOM education. It's been fun.

To all of you who are going to the upcoming gigs…I hope you have a great time!

[Silver_Owl]

I thought your personality was too flippant for this forum?

[MadameButterfly]

troll?

[LouLou]

troll?

naaah, just overenthusiastic

[Big Si]

troll?

http://www.myheartland.co.uk/viewtopic. ... ht=#546650

[James Blast]

disillusioned EMO

actually, now that I scan* it I think is from the pen of none other than the once self proclaimed 'Raspberry Reich'!

*I never read that much text on here

[MadameButterfly]

you know me...

once, twice, then off with the head. just smells bad all over it.

[Izzy HaveMercy]

IZ.

[weebleswobble]

Unmitigated drivel.

[Being645]

... yeah, time flies ... ...

[Edmogirl]

Don't worry. I'm not going to write thousands of posts like you guys.

Since our last exchange I have been happy to learn about The Sisters of Mercy from long time fans who are willing to impart knowledge and guide me toward some music and old fanzines.

I find it amazing that there is any need for discussion about what Mr. Eldritch is doing now...or why he is doing it. He has made himself very clear.

Certainly I don't understand why there are people on here who are willing to spend vast amounts of time discussing minutia over and over again.

The Sisters of Mercy website has all of their new songs and he has opened up the door and is asking you all to help yourselves.

If that is not enough for you...he has provided a list of books, music, and film to nourish you.

What else can he do?

He has demonstrated that he is not interested in playing the role he is placed in by his obsessive super-fans. His music is art and entertainment...not an integral part of your identity.

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

The meta-narrative of this story arc is interesting...but it really doesn't warrant perpetual re-hashing.

I suppose it never occured to you guys that this amount of attention, scrutiny, and judgement might be a bit scary for the artist?

[Bartek]

Dear Sir or Madame (Soon-to-be-) über-psycho-fan,

since you're new here, please use "search" button or just dig this section in a old fashion way, page-by-page, for a dozens of that kind of threads.

And don't act like you discover America.

your etc.

[centurionofprix]

Nice post.

I don't get the attitude here - plenty of other topics seem to get repeated, and this at least is well thought out. If the TS wants to talk about it/state an opinion, why not? (even if it isn't the "edgy" "hardcore" "fan" whining about the state of a band you haven't seen for years)

And I agree, Eldritch doesn't have any responsibility towards the fans beyond what he promises. He doesn't have to enter into a deal that doesn't satisfy his requirements - no crime there. It's not as though you've paid for a new album, and if the rocking gigs aren't to your taste, you don't have to go.

[Silver_Owl]

His music is art and entertainment...not an integral part of your identity.

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

These statements are very presumptious and slightly offensive.
People are members of this forum for all different kinds of reasons - some because they worship the ground walks on admittedly. Others because they have made friends over the years because of the happy memories of The Sisters of old.

Whatever reason it doesn't give you the right to assume...

[Being645]

Anyway, don't worry, edmogirl ... plenty of us have been all through this ourselves ... for decades ... ...

... ehm, did I say through? ... ...



btw, one more day, one more day, only one more day ... ... ... ...

[weebleswobble]

His music is art and entertainment...not an integral part of your identity.

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

These statements are very presumptious and slightly offensive.
People are members of this forum for all different kinds of reasons - some because they worship the ground walks on admittedly. Others because they have made friends over the years because of the happy memories of The Sisters of old.

Whatever reason it doesn't give you the right to assume...

you forgot to mention it's drivel

[Silver_Owl]

His music is art and entertainment...not an integral part of your identity.

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

These statements are very presumptious and slightly offensive.
People are members of this forum for all different kinds of reasons - some because they worship the ground walks on admittedly. Others because they have made friends over the years because of the happy memories of The Sisters of old.

Whatever reason it doesn't give you the right to assume...

you forgot to mention it's drivel

..and your comments are drivel.

[Quiff Boy]

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

i thought this was quite good advice actually

[Being645]

absolutely ... ... ...

[Silver_Owl]

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

i thought this was quite good advice actually

I would heed the advise - but it's raining outside. The book would get drenched.

[theparadox2010]

It is good advice, I'm going to go to Leeds tomorrow.....

[Silver_Owl]

It is good advice, I'm going to go to Leeds tomorrow.....

Ooh - you don't want to go there. It's rubbish. The bloke at the airport said so.

[Quiff Boy]

Turn off the computer. Find a good book. Get out a bit more.

i thought this was quite good advice actually

I would heed the advise - but it's raining outside. The book would get drenched.

and it would cause havoc with kindles & ipads

[Debaser]

I suppose it never occured to you guys that this amount of attention, scrutiny, and judgement might be a bit scary for the artist?

Only if 1) he reads it and 2) he cared (if it's being posted on here at least the 'fan' is behind a keybaord and not behind a hedge )

Turn off the compu....*yawn*

I love people who are obviously far more wordly-wise than I. I shall endeavour to take your esteemed advice, you are obviously far more 'hinged' than myself.

[James Blast]