savinfg the world, getting the girl

[Tugger2k]

Its fantastic that their playing

its not fantastic that it seems their only playing the thursday night in the queens head. it will be rammed in there and unless your there all day theres no chance of being able to actually see or hear them.

im sure with the return of the leftfield there will be a performance from them there, but is there no chance of a little performance on a slightly bigger stage, say the avalon, from them?

[ramragon]

like to think they'd make another appearance as well, saw them last week in newcastle and they were excellent, the new stuff sounds just as good as the last album.

[Tugger2k]

like to think they'd make another appearance as well, saw them last week in newcastle and they were excellent, the new stuff sounds just as good as the last album.

[greenfairy43]

They're playing at Bearded Theory, I can't wait to see them there

[olly!olly!olly!]

Saw them support the specials a few weeks ago- not bad

Hopefully they will be around elsewhere across the weekend seeing as I only arrive on the friday

[glasgowpete]

yeah, great wee band live. Seen them a few times and last year whilst on the way to see bruce they were playing the stage just along from it where the leftfield used to be.. Queens? ended up watching their whole set, bloody brilliant, before going and watching the last 50 minutes of bruce.. i think this was a contributing factor to how much i enjoyed bruce as it was the last part of the set and not the whole show.

glad they are playing, but as you say with very little music on the thursday i think it will be packed out as well.

[niceandfriendly]

saw them at the avalon last year and they were one of my highlights of the weekend. delighted that they're playing again.

i'm sure it won't be too difficult getting to see them in queens. one of our group last year was absolutely certain that we wouldn't be able to see maximo on the thursday in queens because it would be too busy - we ended up about 10 rows from the front.

[ukslim]

Have a listen to the Dan Le Sac / Scroobius Pip remix of "What if Punk Never Happened" here: http://soundcloud.com/danlesac

Bloody fantastic. Worth waiting for Pip to chip in.

[Tugger2k]

Have a listen to the Dan Le Sac / Scroobius Pip remix of "What if Punk Never Happened" here: http://soundcloud.com/danlesac

Bloody fantastic. Worth waiting for Pip to chip in.

[finchey]

I first saw them supporting Bedouin Soundclash in Cardiff about 3 years ago. They completely stole the show!

Their first album was amazing, not as keen on the follow-ups, seems to be losing their rebellious stance a bit.

Without question a much better live band than on record, SEE THEM NOW!

[Cardboard Box City]

Sound like a right pair of w*nkers:

Fruitbag's Departure

On Friday 9th April, Mike (formerly Fruitbag) posted the following statement on punktastic.com

I said it wasn’t an easy decision to leave the band at the time but, it really was. I’d simply had enough of being treated like a second class citizen, I’ve never felt that low or been spoken to with such distain before. I was depressed and on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I was made to feel unwanted, useless, unappreciated.

I was in the King Blues for 5 years, we’d been friends for years and we were making music with pure hearts and good intentions. As soon as we signed the record deal with Universal, everything changed. I was naïve to think that my friends would remain friends. The first year wasn’t too bad, but after the release of “Save the World, Get the Girl”, certain people realised how much money there was to be made, and the whole agenda changed. Making music that was original and inspiring wasn’t a priority anymore. We had made music that would sell, make money and get played on the radio. Our beliefs about equality and peace became publicity stunts. Anything about the bands character that we thought could sell, we sold.

I was no longer in a band with my friends, they became my bosses. They had no respect for me and wanted to control every aspect of my life. If I went on holiday, I was a slacker, if I wanted to get everyone together for a night out, I was a slacker. If I wasn’t “working” for them for just a minute, I was a slacker. And when it came to writing the third album, I couldn’t win. Everything I wrote Itch didn’t like, I offered to go to his every day for a week so we could jam and write together but he didn’t want to, Jamie spent a little time writing with me, but also said that he had his own songs to work on and “shouldn’t have to hold my hand”. Silly me for thinking that bands should write music together and attempt to work as a unit. But after making “Save the World…” and they saw just how much money you get for writing the music, it was like everyone was in it for themselves.

I’ll admit, I’m not the brightest guy around and I’m not particularly good at writing music, but when it comes to learning music, keeping time, rhythm, and performing, I’m pretty competent. And I love being on tour, it made being treated like shit worth it. It didn’t matter if I was tired or ill, I always hauled my arse on stage and played with all my heart.

In November I was so sick (not just fed up, but close to a complete mental breakdown), from threats and abusive phone calls from Itch that I asked to be taken off the contract which meant that I didn‘t get a monthly wage anymore (£750). I thought it would straighten things out and we would all get on better as they wouldn’t have a hold over me anymore. I got some manual labour work from a friend for 3 days at the end of November - and I got screwed at because I should still have been “working” for them, it didn’t matter that if I didn’t do those 3 days work I wouldn’t be able to keep a roof over my head.

I got a bar job shortly after as it was flexible for touring and paid my rent, just after my second weeks rota was written I was told that I couldn’t work that week because we had to go to Devon to record. I couldn’t give just 4 days notice to a job I just got and tried to explain but they couldn’t see how it was an unreasonable request and they came to the conclusion that I just didn’t care about the band or the recording. I did care, but I also had to care about keeping a roof over my head. It was being made financially impossible for me to stay in the band and I was so sick of being treated like shit anyway I just didn’t see the point.

In the space of 2 days, John, Jim, Al and I, all left for pretty much the same reasons. And I have to say now that they are all exceptional musicians and they weren’t always in the pictures but, they were just as important as anyone else in that band. It’s hard to perform with someone preaching about equality, peace, tolerance and social harmony. when backstage he couldn’t care less about the people at the bottom of the heap, as long as you’re making him a star and making him money.

There will probably be some well worded retaliation to this - perhaps some kind of “I was under so much pressure from the label I didn’t realise I was becoming the embodiment of everything I hate”, or “it’s all lies, he’s just bitter because he wasn’t good enough”, or “he‘s playing the victim“, or “he‘s using us as a scapegoat“, or “fair play, I’m all for free speech” or perhaps a dignified silence, they really are an amazingly manipulative pair.

Please know I didn’t write this to be petty, it’s just the truth. I hate the fact that people are saying I left because I got a girlfriend and a flat and settled down. I’ve had all of those things for over 3 years, no matter what people may think it didn’t change a thing and I know it’s a pretty harsh thing to say but, before everything, the band was always the most important thing to me. I left because I hated the segregation and hierarchy in the band and the lack of respect for me as a person. I’m not saying we all should have had the same money etc., if you work hard and earn money then good on you, but that doesn’t make you better than anyone and it doesn’t give you the right to treat people like shit.

To be honest, I wish there had never been a contract, no record label, no greed and no egos. I wish we had just stuck to things like playing outside the Good Mixer in Camden, having a laugh and being honest with ourselves. I might not have a lot of money and no more guest list for festivals and shows, but I have a great family, great friends, my guitar and a good heart and that‘s enough for me.

The band stated, in an interview with Kerrang! magazine that Fruitbag decided that he'd had enough, people get a girlfriend, get a flat and get settled. They don't want to travel around for nine hours a day to play a gig. He lost some of that hunger his passion was starting to fade. [This lifestyle] is strenuous and not everyone is built for it.

[LondonTom]

I think i am going try see them thursday but it would be brilliant if they did have another set somwhere else a bit bigger given peoples descriptions of it being rammed. Terrific band

Maybe it won't be so rammed as Maximo park though? If there on at night and the bars and late night areas are providing entertainments?

[CrispyRed]

Their set in the Avalon was definately one of the highlights last year for me and I remember their brilliant performance in the Left Field in 2007 (I think) which was on a Thursday.

I reckon it will be rammed as well but worth the fight. Great way to start the weekend!!

[niceandfriendly]

Maybe it won't be so rammed as Maximo park though? If there on at night and the bars and late night areas are providing entertainments?

[mike46]

I love the king blues! Saw them for the first time at the Last Astoria gig and then a few more times since then, awesome live and cant wait to see them again

Anyone heard much of their new stuff?

[darrenbha]

heard a few tracks if you text king to 81088 you'll get a code for a remix of headbutt. i believe the text will set you back 10p

[smiley4999]

saw them at avalon last year was part of a brilliant afternoon of lancashire hotpots and king blues, punctuated with a fine pint of ale.

Pretty sure I'll be there on thursday night.