...I reached the halfway point on Kickstarter thanks to roughly 14 donors, and without them I couldn't have reached this point, and I'm truly grateful, but we still have $600 to go in roughly 9 days so I'm still worrying....I'm asking people to just make a small pledge and I don't expect a miracle.
I'm definitely watching to see who actually does support me because I've went out of my way for a great deal of people the past few years, and I'm beginning to think they're just the usual types who want, but never give back or show appreciation....they'll be dealt quid quo pro from now on
Now....Century Media....this is a label that has a staff and services available, but they use that creative accounting process as an excuse, or in my case they outright do not pay publishing royalties due to me, at least because I've yet to receive anything from them after Shadow's Fall recorded Mark of the Squealer....more on that later...
The first time I heard of this label was when Leeway first went to Europe in 1991....a band they signed from New York signed on to the label, and one member who was handling their budget and advances came close to bankrupting them....I wish now that it actually happened because maybe my time and energy would not have been wasted with them and they would've just dried up and turned to dust....but, they didn't...like most labels in Europe I guess daddy had some deep pockets to support you Holly-Hobby ass.
My first true experience with them came with Merauder around 1998 when Jorge left for El Nino(the first with this name) and SOB asked me to join since Leeway was out of commission at the time after Open Mouth Kiss for close to 2 years
As we started to rehearse I asked the guys to give me a copy of their contract so I could have my lawyer at the time translate it into easier layman terms to see what they were tied to, and it looked to me pretty much like the usual chattel-type deal and prepared me for what was ahead.....Gordon's dad was giving me that memorable quote then in my head as he still does today.
Despite the difficulties I endured during rehearsals trying to work harder, and the necessary changes on drums that I felt were imperative we went into Fast Lane Studios to record a demo so we could show Century Media which direction we were going at the time....nothing was set in stone on my end I was simply laying down particular ideas towards making a stand out album and to hear what was working and what wasn't working.....this would become the Merauder demo which was shared and copied over a 10 year period, and today has an actual following besides it's controversy and opinions from both Merauder and Leeway fans....the purists and the open-minded, and I'm glad everyone got to listen to it and download it for free due to the fuckery of Century Media
After being charged $1K to read the band's contract and their obligations contractually, I was told that Century would not compensate me for the monies spent on said contract...but they also wanted me to just sign away half of what matters to ALL artists in contract, MY publishing....sign half away for nothing?! I told them to get under my scrotum as I ejaculated....but in a more street term, of course
They held the majority reason why I stepped away.....I already went through this with Profile Records, but at least they offered something back....if I did this it would stand on me to just look like a desperate fool who's willing to settle for nothing just to get a label to put me on....this is when it all started throughout the industry and bands/artists started to settle for NOTHING but a box of CDs or vinyl just to have a label put them out, and without any compensation or budget....this is when the majority began to cheapen themselves and a solid reason why we are where we are today, currently
Eight years later...the guys in Shadow's Fall (members of Stigmata with singer Brain Fairy) wanted to record Leeway's "Mark of the Squealer" and we allowed it....Brian Fairy would contact me, and blow smoke up my ass as I gave him the lyrics, and you can find the recording online to listen....we did one good show with them up in Mass. and me and AJ went up and did the song with them, and that was pretty much it from then on....we never received, or at least I haven't received what is every artists right, and that's my publishing royalties from ASCAP....I tried to make contact 5 years ago through SF's management, and they directed me to some asshole with CM in their New York office, but he just bullshitted me the first call and avoided me afterwards.....the typical duck and cover game these garbage pails play with everyone....even Greg Ginn did it to Daryl and Doc when SST released I against I....it's scumbaggery and fuckery at it's finest, and a true definition as to what not to do if you're actually an honorable man
The band members replied, but the Fairy ignored every message I sent to him, and it shows how much of a mutt and label-HO he became....where is he now?
I never expected to get rich even though it would've been appreciative if I was able to simply get what I signed for and received the balanced I simply earned.....in example, Shadow's Fall sold close to 60-100K in units which means I should've been able to receive just an equal amount of what would've been a few months rent....everyone would appreciate that, but each and every label out there uses creative accounting just so they can itemize and nickel/dime the shit out of each and every one....this isn't the days where you could have Alan(or Allen) Klein show up at their offices and audit them into payment....EVERY LABEL knows it's pointless for you to retain a lawyer and take them to court because the lawyer fees will decimate the balance due to each band or artist....they can also just litigate you out of the box because you definitely don't have the equal resources that the label has....there's never a low-priced head-hunter or rainmaker for us....remember what Gordon's father said; "we're just the prostitutes"
This was MY REALITY, and this is why I'm seriously thinking my label should be called MY REALITY RECORDS since Reality in Belgium not only didn't provide any true service, and nickel/dimed me, and couldn't mail a box he promised in over a half/year.....and this is my FED UP moment after sacrificing everything to stay afloat....the other labels just held out what was earned....this guy expected me to pay for every dime, and sweat, bleed, and endure every obstacle in front of me as he sat behind a table instead of whatever hole he calls an office, and has lied and bullshitted his own industry overseas
A verbal and handshake deal is supposed to be man to man, and gets settled man to man....that's what's up here, and believe me when I say this is going to get handled and dealt with face to face no matter how long I wait....if I don't do this then I'm just a sucker and a HO
I need everyone to find my Kickstarter page and simply just make a small pledge towards donation because without this I cannot start my label until the end of the year because my job is helping me climb out of debt and I have nothing to pay for the paperwork and press the first run of CDs....I'm not asking for a handout I will give something in return for each and every donation....I believe in giving back, and I will publish the progress here and help educate and break down the fuckery and history of this business and I'll offer steps to bands who have no idea what to do in order to attain independence
Thanks to everyone who stops by and reads....even all you haters...y'all are still talking shit which promotes this story, and you may not realize it but you're doing just what I wanted...how'do ya like them apples
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