In 2006 I, alongside Steve Wicked and my very good friend David Picklesworth, founded The Ill-Fitting Garibaldis. I never expected to be fired from this musical friendship and indeed did not think this possible, yet, I believe a cabal was forged over the past year which saw me being ditched from the band whose name I established.
In 2008, Robert Heart joined myself and Wicked, together the three of us produced a selection of the finest albums to be released this decade. However, as the friendship between Wicked and Heart grew, I was pushed more and more into the background. I think this all came to a head earlier this year when they sent me to London to record with some special guest vocalists (a trip incidentally I had to fund myself). Upon returning, under the guise of Steve + Rob, they had recorded and released original material together. I'm convinced they went out of their way to ensure I wasn't about for these sessions: they clearly hated me. Things only went downhill after this.
If it were not for the online attacks the two have directed at me over the past weeks, I would not want to divulge the following facts: Heart got Wicked into class-A drugs several years back. This was the turning point for mine and Steve's friendship. I always suspected I could NEVER be friends with someone who does drugs, and now I know it for sure. Having very few friends and no contact with my family throughout my time with The Garibaldis', the band became my all. I was thus prepared to put aside all the things that went on between Heart and Wicked - from drugs to (particularly seedy) sexual intercourse parties - as they were the closest thing to family I had at the time. I am not embarrassed to admit that when, in summer 2012, Steve was out of the country for a month, it through me into the depths of mental instability. I was convinced he would never come back and this made me very depressed. Robert around this time tried enticing me into taking heroin as a way to cheer me up. I am grateful that he never succeeded in this venture however he did get me started on drinking alcohol, an addiction I am currently battling with.
On Steve's return to the country he seemed awkward in my presence and spent all his time with prostitutes at Robert's house parties. When he went to rehab I once again spiralled into deep depression, endlessly worrying about him. Luckily a very special man came into my life soon after this and lifted my spirits for a time - although the details of that particular relationship have been blown out of all proportion by both Wicked and Heart.
The disastrous Garibaldi UK Tour this year was really a low-point for the band and it caused me to lose hope in the future of the group, if I'm honest. This disappointment has helped in coming to terms with - after much confusion, anger and sadness - no longer being a member of The Ill-Fitting Garibaldis. After many turbulent weeks between then and now - that saw me arrested, homeless and on the verge of death - I may now be a recovering alcoholic but I am still alive. With the aid of the Nature Gods, whom I have accepted as my personal saviours, I know I can overcome all troubles.
I would like to make a heartfelt apology for the unlistenable "Catharsis" album I rush released several weeks back. There are currently contractual issues I am trying to work through with my current label, tifg_projects. As it's co-managed by The Garibaldis, I am trying to arrange for future work to be released through the BOTB Records label. As you may have noticed, my first two albums were recently erased from the labels catalogue due to, I am informed, copyright infringement. My artistic output remains unwavering despite the ongoing troubles, thus I am pleased to announce a brand new solo album "Tory Boys (Recreated)" will be released tomorrow! It is a re-recording of the album I intended to be The Garibaldis' seventh, however for copyright reasons I have rewritten all the songs. You will perhaps notice a slight drop in production value as, with no studio access, I am currently working with very limited musical equipment. This is but a minor quibble, as on reflection, not only do I feel the eight numbers are better than their Garibaldi counterparts but the stripped back sound has really helped the songwriting shine through - hopefully any continuing fans of TIFG will agree. Any (kind/positive) comments would be appreciated!
Life has made me a firm believer in whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Despite all the troubles I am in a better place than ever before and hope for your continued support as I embark on life post-TIFG.
Peace and love,
Rory.
PS. Should any troubles arise in the releasing of Tory Boys (as I foresee they may), you'll be able to stream it here.
PSS. A huge thanks to Eileen at the Thurso Community Centre meetings for opening me up to my new spirituality. May God be with you <3 x
PSSS. The future: although nothing's yet confirmed, I've been in contact with a certain Mr. Picklesworth and it looks like a Rory-David reunion may be on the cards! I'll keep you all updated.
An open letter to Mr. Glenn "Steve Wicked" Glenson and Mr. Robert "Bob" Heart.
Hardships you've afflicted, in no particular order:
- Without discussion or good reason I've been kicked out of a band, that, if loyalty, commitment and quality of contribution were deciding factors, would be mine.
- Since Hope And Monet I have received no money from music or merchandise sales (of which, you informed me, there had been none... I can't believe that for one second.)
- Whilst inquiring into the legal issues surrounding firing me from my band, it turns out you conned me into signing away all my royalty rights earlier this year; thus legally I will never see any financial benefits for anything I've contributed these past seven years. You know this is wrong.
- On the 2013 TIFG album you chose to release (under a title I would NEVER have approved, with shoddy cover-artwork and flawed early mixes of tracks minus my vocal overdubs/re-recordings) , I am credited only as an additional musician which I find grossly unfair. Not only did you erase all my recent input, you inserted skits humiliating me and making me sound possessive and deranged.
- On reflection, neither of you supported me when I was wrongly arrested for sexual offences during the 2013 Tour. Salt in the wounds was being forced to hitch-hike home after that disturbing incident as you two were both more interested in being intoxicated than helping a friend in trouble.
- I was repeatedly bullied, emotionally manipulated, intellectually belittled by both of you; two recent examples being dressing me up to look like an overt homosexual in the Speechless videos, and cutting my hair in the shape of a penis (before a major photoshoot) - you even uploaded the footage of this incident online.
- Endless slander claiming I'm gay and using my relationship with a man this year as justification. I hate gays, I always will, and I am not one, and this isn't self-denial as you claim.
- My artistic decisions were regularly mocked and rejected, forcing me to erase all emotion from my vocal takes, change emotive lyrics and refusing to allow me to build up operatic vocal harmonies - specifically Heart banning me from singing falsetto: the equivalent of telling an opera star like L. Pavarotti or P. Potts not to sing loud. When someone does something so well why interfere with that? Unless of course (like Heart) you have severe jealousy issues or (like Wicked) are a megalomaniac determined to always have the limelight.
- My drumming was constantly mocked. The wrist strain I sustained over a month back shows signs it may never heal resulting in the fact I may never drum ever again; the last thing Heart said to me when I told him this was "good." That sums up what a nice man Robert ISN'T.
- In truly democratic form, the three of us were meant to have a single released each from the 2013 album. Mine was supposed to be "If You Only Knew" however with no consultation you instead released "Texas is Friggin' Great" - a song far too jovial for my liking. To make matters worse you turned my magical fantasy piece "Rory's Rocking Rock Song" into an absolute joke; with clearly improvised vocals and talking over the drum solo; and then whacking it as a b-side(!?!) when it was meant to be the high point of an album [like how "Chronicles of Shreve" was to Hope And Monet].
- I am offended that you continue to persecute my musical output without any consultation. Understandably From the Wonderous Mind... and And Again rely on material we produced together however I am hearing on the grapevine that you're both out to block any future material of mine? Hopefully this is but tabloid fodder, if not, I warn you: I shan't be contained. You want war? You'll get war. Check out Tory Boys if you don't believe me; make sure that's the last reaction you provoke from me.
- Despite neither of you having ANY skills at production, you forced yourselves on the process throughout all our time together; resulting in the public having put up with sub-standard sounding recordings for many years now. Luckily my solo career will show what The Garibaldis' sound could have been (my last single "Tzuke Magik" is already a hint at what's to come. You're going to regret firing me you plotting, scummy twats).
- The vandalising of my image across all the TIFG social media sites is vile. At least remove my image outright.
- Also you know I have never worn aftershave and the smells accompanying me were related both to my alcohol issues and ongoing urological condition; don't play stupid.
Just so you know, I begrudge neither of you and thanks to my new found spirituality don't believe in anger so I wish you luck with all your future pursuits and look forward to seeing you destroy a legacy I so masterfully contributed to.
Yours respectfully,
Mr. R McButt
You talentless cretin, you have ignorance to the extremes of possibilities. We'll be watching you. Nobody wants your inferior music. WATCH YOUR BACK!!
ReplyDeleteYours truly,
ANONYMOUS
(almost obe)