Tuesday, 6th January 2009

09.29

DGM HQ.

A butcherly accent of the landlordly variety came through the wall at 08.37.

The DGM Park is frozen.

write a song:: Posted by drumkit on January 05, 2009

Perhaps instead spending time reading his own guestbook answering un-straightforward questions, mr. Fripp should take the time and write another song as his wife recently said.

Actually, that’s not what my Wife recently said. The Minx’s comments were descriptive & informative, not imperative. T reminded me of the choice I was making, not that I should choose differently. And I didn’t answer the recent series of  Mr. Sporkfly’s interesting & unstraightforward questions.

So, a question for Mr. Drumkit, assuming my behaviour is not entirely arbitrary: why might I respond to direct question/s (of whatever degree of straightforwardness) on the Guestbook?

The greatest distraction from the musical life in the past year or so has been debt collection from Pony Canyon, UMG/BMG & EMI. The current major distraction is dealing with Sanctuary UMG; this includes their illegal use of providing KC/RF copyright material for downloading, even though this was excluded from the contract. A poorly-asked question on the Guestbook is nothing in comparison to the time & energy expended in dealing with a Second Tier Lawyer at Sanctuary UMG (or EMI for that matter). The function of a Second Tier Lawyer is to block. They do not seek resolution & reconciliation; and their effect is to increase conflict. The STL at Sanctuary UMG single-handedly disposed of 5 years’ Sanctuary – DGM goodwill without even exerting himself. While he was at Virgin EMI, we met him during the first extraction of huge-underpayment of royalties (2004-5).

What does it take for a return to the musical life? Over to Guestbook visitors to consider that one, and I don’t believe it will take anyone very long to find a simple, direct  & straightforward answer.

Off to Wimborne Minster.

14.47  Today was the Commemoration Service for Tony Jones, my Father’s business partner I…

II...

… in Wimborne Minster…

The Minster was packed & the service very moving, with a reading by daughter Libby & an informative & amusing eulogy wonderfully delivered by son Stuart. Tony left Poole Grammar School in 1946 to work with my Father Arthur at Welch & Lock in the year I was born, 1946. Patricia & I grew up with Tony a constant presence, and my Sister learnt stories from Tony, of our Father, that we had never heard before; and Tony was my immediate superior when I worked as a Junior Negotiator under him (1962-65). A countryman at heart, a pillar of Wimborne life & institutions, a significant force on the Wimborne scene, the turnout was entirely appropriate to celebrate Tony’s flying away.

Alan Cosgrove, Tony’s partner & my own pal of 47 years, also gave a reading. Alan’s office is directly opposite the Minster…

… where Cozzer & I / we / me / us met after the service. Then off to Pig Oak Farm, the Jones family home, where the family had erected a pavilion behind the farmhouse to meet friends, family & all manner of local pals, acquaintances & players to further celebrate. I acknowledge: it was hard for me to keep it together.

Returning to DGM HQ I…

II...

… and the DGM Kitchen: kitchen discussions with David covering the future, which holds exciting & positive prospects; along with the wholly negative of dealing with Sanctuary UMG. The three key areas are reversion, downloading & dumping.

17.57  Early evening falls on the valley I…

III...

IV...

Mr. Stormy has been in DGM SoundWorld I, working on Frippertronics from Washington Square Church in 1981 I…

II…

… later joined by David, to work at The Vicar’s behest…

A day of decision, reaching to embrace the available future.

22.10  The CD prepared by Mr. Stormy, of Frippertronics from Washington Square in 1981, have been playing all evening. Alex has done an excellent job of matching the solos to their loops.

A day of continuing reflection on Tony’s flying-away celebration, my third funeral in a month. I felt had said goodbye to Tony some 3 years ago, when his illness advanced. Clearly, there was more that might have been said.

23.08  The floor is waiting.

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