‘Why Does Russell Crowe Get The Benefit Of The Doubt?’…A fan responds to defend.

Over the last couple of weeks I have read a lot about Russell Crowe and what allegedly happened in a hotel suite one weekend in October, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.

So it was with interest I read an article in an Australian newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald by a journalist/columnist Naomi Chainey who asks the question ‘Why does Russell Crowe get the benefit of the doubt over Azealia Banks?’ published on 21 October, 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald is a newspaper based in Russell Crowe’s adopted home town Sydney, Australia. The article to be honest has bothered me.

The journalist/columnist formed the opinion based on reading comments sections of I assume of a variety of media that “Crowe appears to have been gifted the benefit of the doubt, while Banks' version of events is being denounced as the crazy ramblings of an habitual attention seeker."

She then goes on to state “Frankly, it's an excellent example of public opinion being shaped by the perception filter of white patriarchy – because, really, how else can the adamantly assumed innocence of a man with a long history of violent outbursts over mild slights be explained? Violent physical and verbal altercations are hardly outside Crowe's repertoire, but this is conveniently forgotten in the face new accusations from a young black woman with a mouthy reputation.

Witnesses (Crowe's friends) back his version of events, but as Banks describes Crowe dropping the n-bomb subtly, and any alleged spitting and choking may have occurred out of view as he manhandled her out of the room, there's certainly room to believe either party here.

But whilst Crowe's history of physical violence appears to have no bearing on how his actions are perceived, Banks' history of inappropriate tweeting is apparently proof positive that she is not to be trusted…

I won't defend Banks' use of homophobic and racist slurs or her habit of wishing graphically described violence upon public figures who offend her; but when one person's behaviour is considered a permanent mark against their character, and another can operate free of prejudice regardless of their past, surely we must note the double standard.”

The journalist/columnist then goes on to attempt to disprove this gift.

“Frankly, it's an excellent example of public opinion being shaped by the perception filter of white patriarchy – because, really, how else can the adamantly assumed innocence of a man with a long history of violent outbursts over mild slights be explained?”

“Public opinion or being shaped by white patriarchy”…Being Australian and following Russell Crowe on Twitter and for fans we don’t need to be reminded about who Russell Crowe is. Yet prior to this incident people like me would have asked who is Azealia Banks and yes I used Google to find out. It is not double standards to assume that people know about who they are reading about or can find out using Google.

It is interesting this journalist/columnist made allegations against Russell Crowe of having physical and verbal altercations without referring to any direct evidence in her article or doing any substantial research from quality sources expected from a journalist/columnist who writes for a well-respected newspaper in Australia. The decision of whether a reader wanted to know about Russell Crowe’s past history was left up to the reader to follow links two to articles or just left to make assumptions and believe her because she was a journalist/columnist with a well-respected newspaper.

When I followed the links provided they are to articles from dubious and biased sources such as celebrity gossip webpages, feminist webpage and the Daily Mail newspaper in UK all written and researched by young women. According to one site she provided a link to the article titled ‘A timeline of Russell Crowe’s history of violent outburst’ by Janelle James (who happens to be African American) at revelist.com there were a total of 6 alleged physical and verbal outbursts between 1988 and 2016 the last one being over 11 years ago, which was the famous phone throwing incident. People are usually presumed innocent until proven guilty under the law in Australia and America.

The journalist/columnist states “In attempting to be true to herself and refusing to play the game of politeness and compliance…With all this in mind, it's easy to see how being told to "pipe down" might have been the last straw for Azealia Banks on Saturday night. As someone with an expressed awareness of the tedious, ongoing silencing that comes with oppression, Banks may, in that moment, simply have reached her limit”. I would be interested to know where Azealia Banks thought she was going on that night with RZA. Yes, Russell Crowe and his friends are white and are old enough to be her father.

While I don’t know anything about African American culture, I do know about Anglo-Saxon culture in Australia, the culture in which Russell Crowe has spent much of his life in. It would be considered rude and disrespectful to walk into an older person’s home and start criticising their choice on anything. Anyone who knows anything about Russell Crowe and follows him on Twitter, knows he has a wide taste in music which he regularly shares with his followers. The journalist/columnist states “Banks arrived at the event as a plus one, laughed at the music choices, called Crowe and one of his guests "boring white men" and was told by an unnamed female guest to "pipe down".

There are also several other things about this story. I don’t think Russell Crowe would get physical with anyone unless he thought there was a genuine threat. From past experience Russell has learned that being aggressive in the US could not only be expensive, if charged and found guilty may result in jail time but also in never being able to work in the US again. While Russell continues to be married to an Australian which allows him certain rights, and to the best of my knowledge he is not a resident or a citizen of Australia. If Russell was charged with a criminal offence he may have to declare it every time he came back through customs as a New Zealander visiting Australia. That would certainly make it uncomfortable coming back to Australia and he may even be refused entry or the ability to work.

The journalist/columnist states “Witnesses (Crowe's friends) back his version of events, but as Banks describes Crowe dropping the n-bomb subtly, and any alleged spitting and choking may have occurred out of view as he manhandled her out of the room, there's certainly room to believe either party here”. It was reported in the media Russell said the N word and was reported as saying that he was racist. I have lived most of my life in Australia and I have never heard an Australian or a New Zealander use the N word. Australians do have a collection of racist words for a large group of minorities who live there, but the N word is not one of them. As a consequence I doubt it would be part of his vocabulary, even though it is well known he has African American friends.

From everything I know about Russell and one of them is I don’t believe he is racist and is actually quite the opposite. His actions at South’s rugby league club he part owns in Australia support those claims through who the club contracts as players, to the history and tradition of supporting Indigenous people in the team and local community. It would be very hard to be a racist sporting club employee or owner in Australia, for as long he has without it being found out and reported.

Finally, it is interesting what I have found out about Russell Crowe using Twitter. My understanding of Russell is he is a family man who loves his children, a talented and critically acclaimed actor, passionate sports enthusiast, a generous, loyal and supportive friend, smokes and drinks, likes a good time and likes the ladies in particular young pretty blondes. He is a wheeler and dealer, supports any sporting team over an Australian sporting team and is still a Kiwi despite living in Australia in for many years. He also plays guitar and sings a bit. For anyone who follows Russell on Twitter knows he has an interest in lots of different music which he shares with his followers. He is also known to have volatile temper and frequently uses the f word. To his credit Russell Crowe shared on his official Twitter site articles that supported his statement and moved on.

The journalist/columnist talks about Azealia Banks Twitter use “Azealia Banks has cultivated a reputation for picking fights with the press, politicians and her fellow artists. The controversial rapper has both gathered fans and fame and turned many off with her brash contrarianism and tendency to take Twitter trolling too far”. Ten days on Azealia Banks is still talking about this to anyone who will listen followed up by the release of new music.

No copyright infringement intended on these articles. 

“Why does Russell Crowe get the benefit of the doubt over Azealia Banks?” by Naomi Chainey published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 21 October, 2016.

Azealia Banks has cultivated a reputation for picking fights with the press, politicians and her fellow artists. The controversial rapper has both gathered fans and fame and turned many off with her brash contrarianism and tendency to take Twitter trolling too far.

But now it seems she's finally questioning whether cultivating a self-described "crazy girl" public image was worth it.

After an altercation with none other than Russell Crowe on Saturday night, Banks filed a police report alleging he assaulted her as he threw her out of a small gathering in his hotel suite. According to witnesses, Banks arrived at the event as a plus one, laughed at the music choices, called Crowe and one of his guests "boring white men" and was told by an unnamed female guest to "pipe down".

Banks allegedly responded by dropping n-bombs and threatening to stab people with a broken wine glass. Banks' own (very different) account suggests the wine glass comments were in jest, but all present agree that Crowe then grabbed her in a bear hug, removed her from the room, and called security. Banks claims Crowe also tried to choke her, quietly called her the n-word and spat at her. Crowe denies this. On Sunday, when Crowe refused to apologise, Banks filed a charge of battery against him with the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Now, I don't presume to know what actually happened in that suite. It's a "he said she said" situation and we only have snippets of what really occurred. What I do know – having spent last night in the grimy quagmire of comments sections – is that, generally speaking, Crowe appears to have been gifted the benefit of the doubt, while Banks' version of events is being denounced as the crazy ramblings of an habitual attention seeker.
Frankly, it's an excellent example of public opinion being shaped by the perception filter of white patriarchy – because, really, how else can the adamantly assumed innocence of a man with a long history of violent outbursts over mild slights be explained? Violent physical and verbal altercations are hardly outside Crowe's repertoire, but this is conveniently forgotten in the face new accusations from a young black woman with a mouthy reputation.

Witnesses (Crowe's friends) back his version of events, but as Banks describes Crowe dropping the n-bomb subtly, and any alleged spitting and choking may have occurred out of view as he manhandled her out of the room, there's certainly room to believe either party here.

But whilst Crowe's history of physical violence appears to have no bearing on how his actions are perceived, Banks' history of inappropriate tweeting is apparently proof positive that she is not to be trusted. I won't defend Banks' use of homophobic and racist slurs, or her habit of wishing graphically described violence upon public figures who offend her; but when one person's behaviour is considered a permanent mark against their character, and another can operate free of prejudice regardless of their past, surely we must note the double standard.

Coincidentally, news of their fight broke on the same day that the Evening Standard published an interview with Banks, who declared that "maybe it's time to stop being a crazy girl."

In the article, the rapper reflects on the backlash against her tweet war with Zayn Malik, which turned many of her fans against her. "It finally reconciled these two conflicting thoughts I had about being real and being professional," she says.

"I realised you're not keeping it real by being a crazy girl. You don't lose anything by keeping your mouth shut. So maybe it's time to stop being a crazy girl."

This moment of self-reflection illustrates a certain bind in which young women, especially young women of colour, can find themselves. In attempting to be true to herself and refusing to play the game of politeness and compliance, Banks has made a habit of shoving hard at expectations wherever they exist. Operating from a position of "f--k you and your opinion" can be liberating, but Banks now finds herself facing the consequences (perhaps unfair) of rebellion often taken too far.

To that point, it's worth noting the cultural context of Banks' more outrageous comments, as the anger she expresses so vehemently is almost always rooted in the perceived appropriation of her work or cultural identity (particularly in her public grievances with Iggy Azalea and Zayn Malik).

The problem of cultural appropriation has been explained eloquently by Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg here (recommended watching if you haven't seen it already). Banks' frustrations over the appropriation of her music and style are legitimate, however offensively expressed, and to dismiss them as "crazy" or "attention seeking" is to embark upon a slippery slope.

Throw in the stereotype of "the angry black woman", ripped apart here by Cynthia L. Dorsey, and Banks is in a triple bind. Stay quiet about your oppression, become stuck in "respectability politics" or have your legitimate anger dismissed as an inherent "crazy" trait.

As Dorsey says "we are living in a world where my attitude discredits me no matter what I do, I might as well lay my anger out on the table for you to see."

While Banks struggles with these questions of identity and expression on a world stage, she is being judged and held to account by gendered and racialised expectations of perfection.

Unlike Crowe, Banks isn't given much room to make mistakes.

With all this in mind, it's easy to see how being told to "pipe down" might have been the last straw for Azealia Banks on Saturday night. As someone with an expressed awareness of the tedious, ongoing silencing that comes with oppression, Banks may, in that moment, simply have reached her limit.

But her response has been described by various witnesses and news outlets as a "rant", "erratic" and "an insane speech", with little attempt made to glean her perspective. She was consistently rendered unrelatable, and inherently untrustworthy, within the media narrative.

Nevertheless, Banks' conclusion that "you don't lose anything by keeping your mouth shut" may be a tad misguided. It's not a simple dichotomy of silent or "crazy" after all, and I, for one, hope this woman who deliberately defies the status quo finds a way to speak her truth.

I really don't know what happened in that hotel room. I don't know whose account is correct. But the assumptions we make about whose perspective is reliable in the absence of proof reveal our biases, and it's worth taking a minute to step back and self-reflect.

A timeline of Russell Crowe's history of violent outbursts by Janelle James published on www.revelist.com

On Sunday night (October 16), rapper Azealia Banks claimed she'd gotten into an altercation with Oscar-winner Russell Crowe in his suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel the night before.

"To recap my night, I went to a [party] at Russell Crowe's suite, at which he called me a n----r, choked me, threw me out and spat at me," Banks wrote in the now-deleted Facebook post.

"Last night was one of the hardest nights of sleep I've had in a long time."

According to TMZ Crowe invited 10 guests over to his suite for dinner and to listen to music. Banks accompanied rapper RZA to the party. Eyewitnesses explain that the trouble began when Banks started to make fun of Crowe's taste in music and called him and another guest "boring white men."

Another female attendee reportedly went to defend Crowe and insisted that Banks quiet down. Instead, Banks began threatening Crowe.

"You would love it if I broke my glass, stabbed you guys in the throat, and blood would squirt everywhere like some real Tarantino shit," Banks supposedly yelled.

TMZ reports that Banks then took her glass and cocked it back, and in response, Crowe grabbed her in a bear hug and forced her out of the hotel suite. Hotel security guards were called, and Banks was escorted off of the property.

Sources later told TMZ that Banks went to the police on Sunday after Crowe refused to apologize.

As of press time, both parties' accounts of the night aren't matching up, and details are hazy at best. While we are still finding out what really happened, we have to take into consideration that this isn't the first time that Crowe has been accused of violence. Not by a long shot.

1988: Crowe head-butts his "Blood Brothers" co-star Peter Cousens.

According to the Daily Mail, while starring with Cousens in the musical “Blood Brothers” in Sydney, Australia, Crowe got into a fight with his co-star in the dressing room.

"Yes. He was screaming at me at the time," Crowe told CBS News. "He was calling me all manner of things. And all the other cast, or the three other principle guys that I worked with or that I shared a dressing with, were holding my arms. So, that's all I had left to hit him with and he fuckin' deserved it."

November 1999: Crowe gets into a fight outside of a nightclub in Coffs Harbour, Australia.

Entertainment Weekly judge threw out the case due to a lack of evidence against the defendants.

November 13, 2002: Crowe argues with the owner of the New Zealand Warriors rugby team, Eric Watson, at a London restaurant.

Police were called to an alleged brawl at Zuma restaurant in London. The Sun reported that Crowe and Watson began arguing in the bathroom, which led to them physically fighting. The fight eventually moved to the bar area, and was then broken up by former "EastEnders" star Ross Kemp. An onlooker claimed that Crowe was apparently throwing plates like something out of the movie ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’

"Police were called at 0042 GMT on 13 November to reports of an altercation involving two men believed to be in their 30s," a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman told BBC News Online. "No allegations of a crime were received, there were no injuries and there will be no further police action."

August 2004: Crowe fights his bodyguard Mark "Spud" Carroll on the set of "Cinderella Man."

According to BBC News Online, the altercation took place at a party on the set of "Cinderella Man." Crowe got upset when he thought Carroll was insinuating that something was going on between him and a female extra he had been talking to at the party. Crowe, being a married man, was offended by the accusations.

Crowe later wrote a letter to The Sunday Herald Sun saying, "The misunderstanding arose when Spud came over to tell me what he thought other people in the room might have been thinking of my conversation. Spud was passing on other people's 'perceptions' and I shot the messenger."

He continued, "It doesn't surprise me that I'm overly sensitive to gossip and speculation and heartily sick of other people's 'perceptions.'"

Carroll also discussed the situation in a separate letter to The Sunday Herald Sun. "He did take a nip at my chest — I was trying to smother him at the time, so I can understand the move," he wrote. "As for calling it a fight, believe me, we have done much more damage to each other playing touch footy."

June 2005: Crowe throws a hotel telephone and hits a hotel employee in the face.

The actor was charged and arrested in New York City for throwing a hotel phone at the Mercer Hotel's concierge. According to CNN, Crowe was booked into the First Precinct, while the victim was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital.

"This arose because he was trying to get his wife on the phone in Australia. He was in his room. He couldn't get a line and there was a disagreement," Crowe's lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, told reporters, according to The Associated Press.

CBS News reports that he eventually pleaded guilty to third degree assault, paid a fine of $160, and reportedly paid the desk clerk a $100,000 settlement to avoid a civil lawsuit.

October 15, 2016: Crowe allegedly assaults Banks at a hotel.

LyndaHere, Bootlegging, Piracy, Twitter And Me….The fan debate on piracy continues.

“Amusing = Someone who’s harassed you for YEARS over “pirated” concert videos re-posts vids from a person who always films the entire show.” 24 October, 2016… LyndaHere on Twitter.

As fans who follow Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies know they played a concert in Ithaca, New York after spending several hours trying to get through US Customs. With great determination Alan Doyle, Cory Tetford and Kendel Carson made the show with borrowed gear and by all accounts did not disappoint their fans. The rest of the members of the band and their gear didn’t make it and will arrive later on for the rest of the concerts.

How do I know this as I was not there? A well-known concert goer and bootlegger had caught the entire concert and put it up on YouTube within a couple of hours and shared it via the Great Big Sea Online Kitchen Party Facebook page. The bootlegger (a male) was not intimated by LyndaHere’s position on this fan page as the main creator and distributor of fan content including photographs, bootlegs and pirated content. That in itself has got to be admired in any music fan regardless of their bootlegging history.

So I was curious (yet torn) and I watched a couple of these bootlegs. I admitted in my Twitter feed about being torn to watch them as I have resisted in the past, especially any new material. But after viewing these and if I were to be honest I thought they were well totally awesome, so I shared these on my Twitter feed. What I was really impressed with was the love and humour in which Alan Doyle, Cory Tetford and Kendel Carson shared their unique brand of music and entertainment with the audience and I was a wee bit jealous I was not there in person.

LyndaHere must had read the Twitter posts in Alan Doyle’s Twitter feed (or my Twitter feed) and made the comment on her Twitter feed (with no names of course and not to my face) that she found it amusing she had been harassed about her “pirating” by this person who was now sharing bootlegs of entire concerts. I am assuming (but could be wrong) she was tweeting about me.

It is kind of a shame she missed the point of my tweets and sharing these bootlegs and that was the Alan Doyle trio and their determination to bring music to the people who paid was awesome and to be admired and their performance not the bootlegs and the method they were collected.

I have admitted in my blog I watch fan created bootlegs just to see what they are creating and after much research and thought I do recognise them as part of the genuine concert experience and have shared many. I had written a review of this bootlegger’s work before in a post titled ‘Concert Bootlegging Visited…the good, the bad and down right dreadful’ published on 6 October, 2015 about concert bootlegging in our fandom. I reviewed some of LyndaHere’s bootlegs also in this post.

I did raised the issue I did not like concert lovers who bootlegged whole concerts and what I considered to be good bootlegging as part of the concert experience. Although I still don’t like whole concerts being bootlegged it was great to see how much the concert lover had improved. The bootlegs were of something unique, so I shared them on Twitter and on my Google + page. I feel sorry for LyndaHere being stuck in place where she and others can’t seem to change their minds about anything. And there lies her problem. Her unwillingness to change her ideas on the business of creating and distributing fan material.

From reading the Great Big Sea Online Kitchen Party Facebook Page I know that this bootlegger had run into copyright issues with YouTube and one of his sites had been brought down for bootlegging. As I remember from the posts LyndaHere entered into a conversation with the bootlegger about this but did not raise the issue of him bootlegging whole concerts to his face.

LyndaHere’s YouTube sites Between The Rock and A Passionate Kisses are full of bootlegged and pirated content from Great Big Sea and Alan Doyle including full concerts. LyndaHere has bootlegged entire concerts multiple times. The Indoor Garden Parties and a list of concert specials come to mind. LyndaHere was also a champion of a recorded concert in Denver last year that was distributed via the Great Big Sea Online Kitchen Party Facebook page. These bootlegs were eventually brought down.

“Harass” is kind of a strong word to use for my treatment of calling her out on her bootlegging and pirating career. I call it standing up for someone I care about and the work they do and that is Alan Doyle.

For LyndaHere and others these are a list of reasons why I don’t like her bootlegging at concerts and pirating…

· LyndaHere makes decisions about the distribution of copyrighted content and records and distributes pirate content regardless of the wishes of the creators on her YouTube sites. This usually isn’t done by her her housemate in St. John’s Newfoundland.

· LyndaHere has put up bootlegs in direct competition to professionally made material before it has been aired on television undermining it’s original value through advertising content and interest.

· LyndaHere has bootlegged and pirated without any consideration to what material exists already in it’s various forms on her sites. Some songs have been recorded as many as 20 to 30 times and they offer nothing new. As a consequence some material may get devalued and is left out of professionally made specials.

· LyndaHere has a history of making and distributing poor quality bootlegs, especially the sound and many of her bootlegs are overexposed. They are taken from the same position at every concert and are often exclusive of the entire cast of the concert. After 10-15 years of sitting in the front row of concerts you think she would have got the technical issues in her equipment worked out.

· LyndaHere has bootlegged and distributed new songs and entire albums and released them before their official release. She also bootlegged (and pirated) Alan Doyle’s Live At Revival special and planned to shared it on social media before the Boy on Bridge album was released and the special was aired on television. This was later taken down due to fan pressure. There is also a pirated copy on her site.

· LyndaHere bootlegged the So Let’s Go album immediately after it was released. I have grave concerns for Cory Tetford’s new album as there is a show on the day of the release in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She bootlegs any new music without regard for the wishes on the musicians or artists.

· LyndaHere also bootlegged multiple copies on entire concerts for example, the Indoor Garden Parties and she is probably solely responsible for there not being a professionally made DVD.

· LyndaHere has a total disregard for the wishes of the musicians, artists or venues she goes concerning bootlegging. For example, at one of the Indoor Garden Parties in New York there were no cameras allowed and patrons were bagged searched. She snuck her camera into the concert, bootlegged and was rewarded with social media shares by those involved sending mixed message to fans.

· LyndaHere has bootlegged at events without sharing her knowledge of events to fans so they could go so she had exclusive bootlegging rights. These have included events at Mallard Cottage in St. John’s, Newfoundland, unannounced pub gigs and public appearances and a post funeral event for a much loved Newfoundland musician.

· LyndaHere has bootlegged entire concerts and put up videos that were for a charity event and album to help a struggling Newfoundland musician. She has sat in the front of a funeral and bootlegged in competition to a professional organisation already filming the event.

· LyndaHere’s constant need to be first to record anything and bootlegging and social media usage spoils any surprises for concert goers concerning new material who participate on fan sites.

· LyndaHere very rarely shares any other fan created material on her social media sites. She doesn’t share any posts in their own right without her own photograph or comment on it from fans and celebrities.

The list is a lot longer but I really don’t have the time or willingness to go on. Rather than being glad fans were getting to see the brilliance of Alan Doyle, Cory Tetford and Kendel Carson despite their trying day through these bootlegs she found fault with fans.

LyndaHere has a reputation for being mean and nasty when things don’t go 100% her way at the big events and concerts. Today she was pipped at the post by someone who was faster than her at putting up material. LyndaHere usually has the power to decide what fans see at concerts but this bootlegger decided to let fans decide for themselves.

I was glad to see the bootlegger who I reviewed in a post was interested in improving his craft even though it was a full concert and against copyright law. There is also the possibility those finding offence at their material being copyrighted may go there again.

I don’t believe in getting material for free without there being something in it for the musicians and artists. So for Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies I am happy to buy another copy of an album even though I have one hard copy and one digital of both his for watching these bootlegs.

Alan Doyle And The Way Forward…

Although I am huge fan of Newfoundland, I am the first to admit I don’t know anything about Newfoundland politics. I was really interested to read about the recent Newfoundland Government’s project ‘The Way Forward’.

Recently the Government decided they needed the assistance of a group of diverse hand-picked residents to brain storm ideas that could be implemented to make a difference to the lives of the people in communities throughout Newfoundland.

Alan Doyle was one of the participants selected to attend. He shared his response to the discussions of the day on his official Twitter account. A copy of the tweets are below.

‘The Way Forward’ webpage provides a number of documents for the public to view that include an overview of the Government’s agenda, a list of the attendees, responses from the groups of attendees and the Government’s final report.

I was interested in two things about the participant’s feedback. I was interest in what the issues were that are important to Newfoundland who shares a similar geographical isolation to my own community from the rest of the mainland and other capital cities and the role of the arts, music and tourism in the future development of Newfoundland.

There were only three points made about the arts and music that I could see and these were…

· Invest more in the art/tv/film industry.

· Support for the Status of the Artist Legislation and the creation of a minimum wage for artists.

· Need artists and musicians to revitalise NL.

Although it is not my place as a person not from Newfoundland to say what should and shouldn’t be important for their community, I did find it interesting as someone who has been to Newfoundland more than a couple of times for the arts, music, culture and tourism they were not considered an important part for the future development of the Newfoundland for some groups.

I have copied Alan’s Doyle’s posts from his official Twitter account below. No copyright infringement intended.

Alan Doyle And A Fan’s Very Happy Birthday…

One of the really nice things that seem to make many fans very happy is when their birthday is acknowledged by their favorite celebrities on social media.

At a recent music festival in Ontario, a reviewer and photographer for an online magazine took a gorgeous photograph of Alan Doyle wishing one very lucky long-time fan a very happy birthday from the stage. This photograph and others were shared via social media.

The concert was the Magna Hoedown was on in Aurora, Ontario on the 16 September, 2016. This event was particularly special as they raise a lot of money to give back to the local community through charities and non-profit groups.

The online music magazine Canadian Beats was there and their reviewer and photographer took some totally gorgeous black and white and colour photographs of some of the artists and musicians who performed there including Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies.

The Canadian Beats reviewer and photographer wrote about the concert “The headliner for the evening was Alan Doyle & The Beautiful Gypsies. This was second time this year we at Canadian Beats have had the opportunity to see Alan and his solo band. It was a fantastic 2-hours show that was non-stop energy! The crowd loved every minute and even called them back for a 3-song encore”.

I have posted a copy here because it was a pretty special moment for that fan, but also to remind fans how generous and kind Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies are to them and how much the band can mean to the fans.

I am sure this birthday will be a birthday the fan will never forget.

As always no copyright infringement intended. I was unable to share a link via my Google + page so they are available from their webpage. 

Cory Tetford And In The Morning…A new album.

The news many Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies fans were waiting came recently. Band member and accomplished musician and singer in his own right Cory Tetford announced on his official social media sites that his new album is nearly finished and would be available on 24 November, 2016.

I love researching for this blog and I never fail to find things that totally blow me away including articles, photographs and videos taken by fans and professionals.

I found this really great article from last year in Newfoundland’s Telegram newspaper. Cory talks about his appearance with the NSO, creating and performing music and his new album which I thought was really relevant now.

I was also looking for some great photographs of Cory to include in this post. There are hundreds taken as he performed as part of the Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies by the professionals and fans. 

There was a great collection of photographs that were taken by a fan Benjamin Reed and distributed on Flickr at a concert earlier this year on the 16 March, 2016. I have provided a link to the site as I am unable to share on my Google + page https://www.flickr.com/photos/rangerrick/albums

This weekend Cory was in Toronto with his Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies band mates for a private show and they found time to shoot some photographs for his album. Cory shared this totally drop dead gorgeous photo by fellow Beautiful Gypsy band mate Shehab Illyas. Shehab also took one of my other favourite photographs of Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies the group selfie, which is now used to promote concerts. I have included copies here because to be honest I thought they were the best and most relevant.

I have also circulated two bootleg videos of Cory doing what he does best playing music. The first video is of Cory singing Proud Mary in a local pub before his days with Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies. Even though the bootleg video is couple of years old I just love this of Cory and his guitar being totally awesome. After I first saw this bootleg video I realised what a very talented musician and singer Cory really is.

I have also circulated a bootleg video of Cory, Kendel and Alan doing Shine On at more recent Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies concert.

I have copied the article and photographs here for those interested. As always no copyright infringement intended.






‘Cory Tetford to close NSO’s current season Saturday night’ by Tara Bradbury published in the Telegram 16 April, 2015.

Musician Cory Tetford is in town to perform Saturday night with the NSO in “How Sweet the Sound,” a concert encompassing his musical life.

Breathtaking, says Cory Tetford. Jaw-dropping. Incredible.

So amazing, there have been times in rehearsal with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (NSO) when he forgot to sing at the parts where he was supposed to come in, he was that much in awe of what he was hearing.

“It’s absolutely moving, and I don’t say that lightly,” Tetford said. “To have something you pen, usually for me on an acoustic guitar in my living room or in my studio, come to life with such beauty and creativity is very moving and fulfilling.”

Tetford is helping the NSO close its 2014-15 season Saturday night, by joining them to bring an audience on a journey through his musical life called “How Sweet the Sound.”

A native of Newfoundland now living in Nova Scotia, Tetford began singing and playing gospel music as a toddler, touring the province with his father, a Pentecostal preacher, and two brothers.

His first solo CD, 1999’s “Grace,” earned him the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s award for Emerging Artist of the Year for 2000, as well as the local music industry association (now MusicNL) award for Male Artist of the Year.

A year later, he formed the duo Crush with Paul Lamb, releasing two albums, which earned them a JUNO nomination and eight East Coast Music Awards, as well as tours across the country.

These days Tetford works mainly as a composer, producer and engineer, as well as a side musician. He has toured with Damhnait Doyle and Ron Hynes, and just come off a North American tour with Alan Doyle.

Led by conductor/composer Greg Hawco, Saturday’s concert will feature Tetford and the NSO in a wide-ranging performance, encompassing Tetford’s gospel roots, tracks from “Grace” and Crush material.

“I’m doing a Ron Hynes song that I’ll be doing on my next record because I just love it, ‘Shines Like Diamonds,’ and I go into another large influence musically for me, the gentleman of the country music scene, Vince Gill,” Tetford said. “I’m doing another gospel song with a guest performer that I can’t name yet … and I’ve got another special guest that I just came off tour with, so it’s going to be a lovely night. Man, I’m excited.”

Also performing in “How Sweet the Sound” are Critical List: Paul (Boomer) Stamp on drums, Paul Kinsman on keys and Byron Pardy on bass.

Tetford is working on a new CD, and says he’s been busy writing songs and figuring out how to go about recording them, potentially live off the floor.

“Basically, I want to gather a bunch of musicians of like mind that get that I want to go in and capture a moment, a bit of magic, if you will,” he said. “I’ve released records in the past and I’ve been very invested and interested in them, but for real, this record will be just for me. I’m not recording this for anybody else, no offence to anybody. I feel the need to record it and do it just for me, because I’ve taken a big break.”

Bob Hallett, Fiddle Player And Municipal Revolutionary…

Bob Hallett recently circulated on his official Twitter account the cartoon published in a local Newfoundland newspaper and with the comment “Bob Hallett, fiddle player and municipal revolution.”

I thought the post was totally awesome and decided to keep a copy on my blog. The tweet and cartoon speak for itself.

Great Big Sea And Hockey...Throwback Thursday.

Recently Alan Doyle posted a photograph on his official Instagram account of an early Great Big Sea from 2002 playing street hockey against the Barenaked Ladies in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

In a search to find out more about this story I found a wonderful webpage at the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame discussing music, musicians and their love of hockey including Alan Doyle and Great Big Sea. 

Of course fans who follow Alan on social media know about his love of hockey through his comments on the game during the regular hockey season and building a rink in the backyard for skating. He has also sung the Canadian anthem at a hockey games on a regular basis too.

I have copied some of them here for those interested from the webpage below.

No copyright infringement intended.

“Joining Jim Cuddy's All-Stars at the Hall of Fame is Alan Doyle, guitarist and lead vocalist of Great Big Sea. Doyle grew up playing hockey in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. "Playing hockey was, by far, the most popular pastime," he reveals. "With the exception of the one paved road that went through the town, when I was a little kid, the only flat piece of pavement was right next to the fish plant down at the wharf. It made for a good surface with one obvious shortcoming —: the ball constantly went into the Atlantic Ocean! We devised several ingenious ways to get the ball back. In true sports form, we became very good at throwing large rocks just past the ball and the waves would float it back in. One of the local fishermen donated a rodney (small fishing boat) so we could go out to retrieve the balls. Then we devised several intricate netting barriers to keep the ball from going out there in the first place."

Alan and Great Big Sea joined a select group of musicians who have recorded songs about hockey. On their most recent CD, 'Something Beautiful,' is a hockey song titled 'Helmethead.' But outside the studio or stage, Alan enjoys strapping on the pads to play goal. "I wanted to be Ken Dryden," Doyle begins. "When I was 19, I tried out for one of the junior teams in St. John's. At that time, I was working full-time, I was playing in two different bands and I was attending university. There were eight goalies trying out and I was probably number seven at the first practice. They had five practices a week and three games. I thought, 'I can't do this!' I had to either give up university or give up playing in the bands or give up playing hockey, so I stopped playing hockey for almost eight years. In my late twenties, I started playing again, but during those years I didn't play hockey, I really missed it."

Alan will be one of the many All-Stars joining Jim Cuddy at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 6. He recalls another time he appeared at a high profile hockey event — the 2001 NHL All-Star Game in Denver, Colorado. "The NHL gave us a call and said, 'Alan, we want you to come down and play in the All-Star Game.' So I said, 'Wow! That's awesome! Should I bring my goalie gear?' and they said, 'No no no. We want you to play some songs!' But it was a big thrill to open the All-Star Game. It was something you don't forget! I took my brother and a couple of the buddies from back home. They really thought we'd made it when we were backstage at the All-Star Game!" 

From the official Instagram account of Alanthomasdoyle. No copyright infringement intended.