Friday, July 23, 2021

"I'll Take 'Shut Up & Play Your Guitar' For $30, Alex"

 


 "Following the PM's announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021, (who stated that starting in September, people will have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations in order to go to venues and nightclubs.) I feel honor bound to make an announcement of my own: I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show."

-Eric Clapton

Well, I guess I won't be listening to "Old Sock" any time soon.

-Sal Nunziato




In other news, if you haven't been watching "McCartney 3,2,1," either for lack of interest or because you don't have Hulu, I'd like to give you a little push. 

Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be something Beatles related you haven't seen or heard, Rick Rubin and Paul McCartney deliver six half hour episodes of mind-blowing T.V..

This isn't a documentary. It isn't chronological. It isn't an interview. It's two people talking about music and listening to music. And only occasionally do we hear something we have heard before.

McCartney is relaxed. He is not "on" or "cute." Rick Rubin lets Paul do most of the talking. And when they deconstruct the music, even the most casual fan of both The Beatles and Paul's solo work, should find themselves at least somewhat amazed. 

And this isn't a greatest obvious hits party. With the exception of the "Getting Better"/"We Can Work It Out" story, these two dig deep. The isolated bass on "Gently Weeps," the rhythm of "All My Loving," the guitars on "And Your Bird Can Sing," the melody of "Waterfalls" on Macca 2--trust me, if you are fan, your mind will be blown.





One last thing Eric.

If you wanted to take a stand, why didn't you write a bunch of goofy literal protest songs, you know, like your wacky pal Van? Believe it or not, there are people who will listen to you over the CDC. These are the same people who think you wrote "Cocaine" and "Crossroads." You and so many others like you, are putting me, and so many others like me, in unnecessary danger because for some reason, you all think you know better. 

Do you enjoy living like this? 

TAKE YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES AND GET VACCINATED, FUCKERS!

Thank you.

See you on Sunday with your Songs Of The Week, less those who think I am a dick for writing this little rant and will only secretly take the free music.

48 comments:

JAYESSEMM said...

Sal,

I'm with you on both fronts.

Enough said about Eric.

The McCartney doc is charming and not to be missed!

Jobe said...

Maybe Eric needs to get back on heroin again. And while he's at it trade in his Phil Collins guitar and see if he can get his Layla guitar back

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Sensible words, well written.

Eric S. said...

preach

Anonymous said...

I think ol' Slowhand needs to come to the hot bed of COVID in the U.S. right here in the Ozarks and put on a show for all the Republican Hillbillies that won't get a shot.

And, hey Eric - don't wear a mask.

Randy

Keith35 said...

I absolutely loved McCartney 321! An absolute must watch; I learned a lot. Oh and F#%K Eric

soundsource said...

To paraphrase Rodney when you look up PUTZ in the dictionary there's a picture of Eric Clapton

Shriner said...

I'm trying not to get *angry* at the unvaccinated (considering there are still many parts of the world where people are dying to get their hands on vaccines and it's the height of 'Muricanism to let vaccines expire because of something somebody read on Facebook...)

But it gets harder every day to maintain an even keel when I think about it.

Sal Nunziato said...

I've given up not being angry. I spent a year being afraid and not angry. Now, all who choose to not get vaccinated because of whatever reason, can simply rot in their own stench. It's arrogance crossed with ignorance. They've climbed too high up the mountain to turn around and they'd rather save face than save the lives of others. Fuck them.

Anonymous said...

I guess Clapton will have to live off his royalties.

Captain Al

cmealha said...

I am also boycotting any venues that do not admit scabrous lepers, coughing tuberculosis patients and those with active Ebola.

kevin m said...

Maybe I don't the particulars but don't people entering the U.S. from other countries (especially Britain as the State Dept just advised US citizens to avoid travelling there) to provide proof of vaccination?

Unknown said...

AMEN, Y'ALL!

Dr Wu said...

Perhaps we should be applauding Clapton’s ‘honor bound’ duty to advocate for inclusivity as he didn’t always feel this way.
https://www.newsweek.com/clapton-morrison-lockdown-single-1550863
Some people just never get on the good foot. Lol!
Thanks for the ‘McCartney 3,2,1’ recommendation. Very much looking forward to watching.
Have a great weekend!

bumppa said...

Spot on Sal!
There is a possibility that Eric the all knowing actually passed away a few years ago and no one told him.
Slowhand = Slowbrain

pmac said...

Amen, Sal.

Mr. Baez said...

Agree with your sentiment regarding Clapton. I've looked the other way on things that he has said in the past because I was younger and was enamored by his artistry and other musicians and people associated with him. But those days are over and this kind of thinking is ignorant, dangerous and selfish. It's killing people dammit, so fuck him and the hen he rode in on.
The Paul and Rick show is so good and sublime. I just wish it was a weekly show. And I'm really digging the McCartney/Beck video of "Find My Way". As one of the comments said: “this made me feel an emotion that doesn’t even exist” and yes, that is exactly what I felt. So strange to see a young Paul making those moves.
See what you think: https://youtu.be/t2Q4hAQ4fEw

Zippy said...

Applause to all of that Sal!!!

Anonymous said...


Sal:

Agree. I have seen EC live approx. 20 times or so and I am so glad I have other guitar heroes who have not turned out to massive Asshats and Wankers. That said, the Tedeschi Trucks Band version of the Layla album (Live at Lockin' 2019) with Trey Anastasio is growing on me by the hour.

Michael D.

lemonflag said...

Sad ending to a great career. Let's hope no one he cares about gets covid.

Anonymous said...

great post... and leave this one up please !!!!!

Michael Giltz said...

Very sad and I'm not even a fan of Eric Clapton, particularly. Still annoying to see someone be so dimwitted in a way that endangers others. Like garth brooks idiotically chiding other acts about not touring and telling them to "get back in the game." Oy.

As for the Paul/Rick Hulu special, I've been dying to see it and am chomping at the bit even more since reading your comments.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I wish I had TV, because the PM/RR thing sounds great, even if I've yet to see something when Paul wasn't "on" (which has always bugged me and always will, but it's obviously how he functions in public).
One of my dings against conservatives is them telling celebrities to shut up, as if being famous automatically cancels one's right to free speech (and of course they're being disingenuous, because it isn't the celebrity speaking out that bugs them, it's the celebrity NOT agreeing with the conservative's point of view and speaking out). But when the celebrity -- or, for that matter, ANYONE -- speaks out to increase harm to others, then, yeah, they should shut the fuck up. Another hallmark of conservative thinking, it appears to me, is the misplaced "pride" at their "rebel/maverick" stance, as if they want the world to know how backwards they are; thus announcements about it instead of keeping their pro-harm issues to themselves. Weird.
C in California

The Anonymous Stephen Ambrose said...

Shut up and play Eric you're just a guitarist, a God given gift for which you receive an inordinate amount of money. It's risky most times to dig further than their music as so many musicians take themselves way too seriously. This vaccination thing isn't about you it's about others. Big thanks to all who get that.

Bob Mac said...

He's a has been, a worn-out, watered-down, pale & passionless version of his former self.

Honest Ed said...

He's a great guitar player. Which is no obstacle to him being a weapons grade asshole and moron who's flirted with fascist, racist beliefs. The hypocrisy of someone who made his name plundering black music yet could publicly say “Stop Britain from becoming a black colony. Get the foreigners out. Get the w*gs out. Get the c**ns out. Keep Britain white". He's an idiot, the idea that anyone to listen to a word he says when he puts his guitar down is laughable. Fu*k him.

Joe said...

I will b turning 70 in August, so you know that I am of the age when EC and VM were making musical magic. Yes, I am disappointed and dismayed in their response to the pandemic and they need zero extra income from any of us (just google it). None of us have lived thru a pandemic before and there are a plethora of ways that, those who are still working, earn a living - - with the pandemic impacting them in different ways.

I certainly understand that struggling musicians need that income from live dates. They are among the many who suffered financially. But the question for me is what is the best approach to getting them back to work. For me, it's vaccines.

Andy said...

To paraphrase Chuck Prophet - we don’t go to them for medical advice...

Sal Nunziato said...

Andy said...

"To paraphrase Chuck Prophet - we don’t go to them for medical advice..."

Yeah. I sure don't. But then again, I am vaccinated. How about those...and there are many...who hear Clapton's woo-wooing against venue discrimination and run with it?

"Fuck vaccines! LAYLA!! LAYLA!!"

How many people would you guess DO go to Clapton for medical advice? Here's my answer--TOO MANY!

It's irresponsible and ignorant. It's bullshit. And it's dangerous. And it puts innocent people at risk.


FiveGunsWest said...

There is a department in the US government called Health and Human Services. In that department is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Last week 2,092 deaths from vaccinations were added versus 1,918 deaths from the virus. Countries with the highest vaccination rates are showing the most new Covid cases. 11,140 so far have died from Covid vaccinations, according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). They estimate that this number could be 10 times or more higher. Just so you know.

Don't be a vaccine fascist. You are more in charge of whether you get it or not. So many vaccinated people are getting the virus that it would be dangerous to, in your glorified vaccine racism, rub your body all over 70k fans to get your jollies. You're almost giddy in your glee to insult. It's cute but probably not a good optic at your age.

Think positive, test negative.

Sal Nunziato said...

Hey, FiveGUNSWest,
How many people have died after getting a vaccine?

Between December 2020 and July 19th, 2021, VAERS received 6,207 reports of death (0.0018% of doses) among people who got a vaccine, but this does not mean the vaccine caused these deaths. Doctors and safety monitors carefully review the details of each case to see if it might be linked to the vaccine. There are three deaths that appear to be linked to blood clots that occurred after people got the J&J vaccine. Since we now know how to correctly treat people who develop these blood clots, future deaths related to this very rare side effect can be prevented.

After careful review of the additional data, doctors have decided that there is no evidence at all that the vaccines contributed to the other patient deaths. Nonetheless, the CDC and FDA will continue to investigate every single report of death (and other adverse events) reported to VAERS.


"vaccine fascist"
"Giddy in my glee"

Genius.

GET VACCINATED!!

Anonymous said...

I think all of EC's substance abuse may have affected his judgement and common sense. Where is his compassion for his fellow man?

Captain Al

cmealha said...

Hey, FiveGUNSWest,

What Sal said!!!!

Shriner said...

Hey, FiveGUNSWest

So because I was curious, I downloaded the VAERS data for 2021 from today. The actual reported data in the file ends on July 16th - not July 19th. Literally *anybody* can download the raw data from here: https://vaers.hhs.gov/data/datasets.html?

For all 2021, out of over 410K reports to VAERS, 5626 reported "Yes" for death, so while you were wrong in reporting the dates, I'll grant you a total over over 6000 deaths flagged in the database since December (the files are large to parse, but I won't argue your point to add in the Dec 2020 reports.)

But -- more importantly to your point -- over the last two weeks reported -- even going back to July 1 (16 days) -- the number of records flagged "Yes" (column J -- the "DIED" column) -- is 246. Two Hundred and Forty Six. Not 2000-something. The data is *right there*.

So FGW -- wherever you got this wrong data -- they are off by a factor of *10* over the past two weeks of reported deaths in that period. Let me repeat that: A FACTOR OF 10.

The number of Covid deaths in the last week according to https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_deathsper100klast7days? 429. That's *one week*. Thankfully much lower than before the vaccines rolled out.

I skimmed the SYMPTOMS column (I) of these 246 reports. Presuming that every single one of these are accurately submitted -- some of these deaths are reported from *other vaccines* (ie, "Meningitis due to varicella zoster virus", the Pneumonia vaccine or the Shingles vaccine -- which anybody over 50 should probably get, but I digress...)

Some of the Symptoms reports indicated that people died as far out as 60 days (or 7-8 weeks) after the vaccine. But sadly a solid number of the more recent ones are described as "breakthrough" cases of Covid deaths many months after the vaccines.


Do I think some people actually died as a result of getting the vaccine? Sure I do. It would be illogical to think otherwise. Should things be looked at? Of course they should. Biology is crazy that way, unfortunately.


350 *Million* doses in the US have been reported by states as having gone into arms. Even if all 6000 VAERS reports were immediately post-Covid vaccinations deaths -- which they are obviously not if you actually read the data -- that's about a .0018% chance of death from vaccination -- if that.

But this is why it's hard to not get angry at the nut jobs. The raw data is *RIGHT THERE* (download it!) and people lie and when it takes all of 10 minutes to verify it, it's definitely moves into the GFY category.

Don't believe me? Download the damn data files yourself.

So, GFY for repeating what is obviously an obviously false statistic and whomever generated the lies that you are spreading can GFThemselves, too.


(Sorry, Sal -- back to the music!)




Gene Oberto said...

I know that Clapton is god…but don’t you think he takes it a little far? Playing with people’s lives is quite an ego trip. Sure, he had a bad experience with the vaccine but he’s erect and healthy enough to tour. He should think of the alternative.
Besides, the way things are going he may have to cancel his tour because of his principles. City, county and state health authorities may make his decision for him.

Sal Nunziato said...

First off, thank you Shriner for both the helpful data and for getting my back.

Next, is this from C in California:
"One of my dings against conservatives is them telling celebrities to shut up, as if being famous automatically cancels one's right to free speech (and of course they're being disingenuous, because it isn't the celebrity speaking out that bugs them, it's the celebrity NOT agreeing with the conservative's point of view and speaking out). But when the celebrity -- or, for that matter, ANYONE -- speaks out to increase harm to others, then, yeah, they should shut the fuck up. Another hallmark of conservative thinking, it appears to me, is the misplaced "pride" at their "rebel/maverick" stance, as if they want the world to know how backwards they are; thus announcements about it instead of keeping their pro-harm issues to themselves."

Huzzah, C!

And that brings me to this.

I had to sleep on my decision to repost this anonymous comment after immediately deleting it as I always do when my backwoods troll taunts me.
But this one is too good to hide. It has everything---racism, homophobia, ignorance--and the usual stale jokes that accompany this troll's comments. And it's a great example of how the other half lives. I have been trolled by this loser for years. He's never once shared his name, but I know who he is. 'Murica is filled with sad ignorant people just like him.

We'll get back to music tomorrow. But for now, since this space is hot with "GFYs," as Shriner so carefully expressed, I felt like adding one more GFY. Thanks for being a part of Burning Wood for so long, Anon. I wonder what kind of sad, lonely life you must be living , if you continue to waste your time, hiding behind a computer, reading the blog of someone you seem to despise as much as you do.




Anonymous has left a new comment on your post ""I'll Take 'Shut Up & Play Your Guitar' For $30, A...":

"hey, when the "boss" tells me it's time for the needle, i'll be the first in line
you better believe...his music is so good.

Whats' with Clapton and Morrison??? I thought the "musical community" was one of inclusion and now the 2 of them are pariahs? Could it be we're never forgiven Clap for racist remarks of the past and van morrison just hates everyone, especially whites...just like black people...what's the problem?

Ive said it before...Sal, mix in a date every now and then huh? even if it's with another guy."

BRAVO, putz.


Anonymous said...

A big leap forward coming from someone who used to ask blacks to leave his country in the middle of concerts. Now that is how a clown evolves.

M_Sharp said...

Like the meme says- If you refuse to get a vaccine to help stop a pandemic you're already sick. The fact deniers aren't funny anymore, they're just belligerent assholes. I'm so tired of their bullshit over the last few years. Now a few Republican politicians (and Sean Hannity!) are finally telling people to get vaccinated... is it only because they've realized that the people who might vote for them are dying?

I posted the VAERS stats at an anti-vaxxer the other day, they still don't get it. No deaths have been attributed to the vaccines, but even if all of them were, the vaccines have a 99.0082% success rate! The same Trump supporting idiots used to say Covid was OK because "only" 2% were dying from it. It's hard to believe how many dumb, ignorant people are out there.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, this guy makes me sick. Eric Clapton may be god to some but to me, he has always been a fucking addict. Only a good soul like Harrison could have be friends with him.
Roy

kodak ghost said...

Spot on re Eric. I dont need to reiterate what others have said above. But it is beyond stupidity. I read his biography some time ago, and he doesn't come out of that too well either!
Now... on the McCartney thing. It is amazing... mind well and truly blown... and Ive only watched the first two! Episode 2 includes Band on the Run... so its not just Beatles. Thanks for the heads up. and now to check on the Mr Baez link!

Here in Oz we are now locked down, having avoided the first ravages of COVID so we have this message for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnBtOPUMyqU&feature=youtu.be

Michael Giltz said...

The simplest point to make to FiveGUNSWest is that ANYONE who dies within a certain time frame after getting a vaccinated is included in the raw data. If you get vaccinated and walk outside and get hit by a truck, you are included in the raw data. Then actual experts decide if there is even the slightest possibility the vaccine contributed in any way to a particular death they look into it further. That's exactly what you'd want them to do, of course. So far, the vaccines are REMARKABLY effective and safe.

Dude, if your car broke down, you'd probably take it to a mechanic. If you get a tooth ache, you go to a dentist, someone who spent many years studying to get expertise in that area. If a nuclear power plant went all Chernobyl, would you say, "I got this?" Or would you defer to the people who studied and prepared for what do do during a nuclear meltdown? So if there's a pandemic, maybe you should turn to the people with those little letters after their names, the people who devoted their lives to this stuff for expertise and not the guy at the end of the bar who has no clue what he's talking about.

dogbreath said...

So I've found my enjoyment of both Clapton's and Van's music marred by a lot of their views over the years, and especially now regarding Coronavirus and vaccinations. It's a different view from up in the ivory towers. I read in another blog the rather pithy sentence: "Clapton, 76, is a noted medical authority and humanitarian."

drstu said...

Rubin/ McCartney Hulu program is really great!Ive watched it twice! As far as Clapton is concerned he and Van should be placed in a deprogramming chamber and maybe they will wake the fuck up about Covid. You really have to wonder!!!

Bob Mac said...

I thought this prick announced a couple years ago that he has retired. He also announced a couple years ago that he was going deaf due to inner ear damage from years of loud playing, he also announced a couple years ago that he had trouble with his hands and couldn't play properly any longer. Seems like he's a lying bastard. He's also shown that he's a nasty, back-stabbing asshole.

Christopher said...

I reserve the right to think Eric Clapton is naive, arrogant and completely irresponsible.

What does it mean when the wacko Boris Johnson demonstrates more sense than Eric Clapton.

McCartney 3-2-1 is excellent. I am only watching one episode every few days to stretch it out as much as possible.

cmealha said...

McCartney 123 has been on my list since it came out and I finally got to it/ Unlike Christoper, I blew right through all the episodes. at once. It was fascinating and I didn't want it to ever stop.

Anonymous said...

Listen to the full interview of why Clapton will not have the 2nd vaccine shot . He has had the first one and had a bad reaction to it , numbness in his hands and fingers. It is his choice at the end of the day not to have it. He is not an anti-vaxer as you make out, but a person making an informed choice , which we should all have in a free society.

Michael Giltz said...

Mccartney is ramshackle, annoyingly unstructured, Rubin's wide-eyed fanboy attitude can be grating, I occasionally screamed comments at the screen (like "You Know My Name, Look Up The Number!" which at least they had the decency to use as the perfect credits music on one episode) I wanted Rubin to say...and I loved every minute of it. Should have been six hours long. I am CERTAIN that someday the Beatles will make available every song in their catalog and we'll be able to play with the faders and bring up or bring down each individual track just like Rubin and McCartney do in this special. We'll be able to hear just the track with the vocals, just the track with the bass and drums or whatever and geek out to our heart's content. Why not? Maybe it will be an app or you'll go to the Beatles website to do it or something but it will happen. I just hope I'm still alive when they do it. On the other hand, that may be one of my ideas of heaven so perhaps I'll wait to do it with George Martin by my side answering my questions.