Crows: “Listen to the Records”
Posted on 19th Jan 12 by Drop-d Collective | 
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“…The music and our lyrics are the real protest, the t-shirt is just a textile representation of it…”
It surely can’t have escaped anyone’s notice in the past 48 hours that Dublin Hardcore band Crows have garnered attention in the mainstream press for the release of a T-shirt tying in with new track Suburbia Nervosa, as well as upcoming album Better Off Dead. As we all know by now, the T-shirt bore a huge picture of radio personality Gerry Ryan, underlined by the legend: “JUST ANOTHER DEAD JUNKIE”.
To say it’s sparked debate is an understatement of vast proportions, with the internet ablaze with arguments for both sides. On one hand, mainstream media have by and large reacted with shock at the use of such a public figure to reinforce their point. On the other, defenders of the band have stated that it isn’t a personal statement or shot, but rather an illustration of hypocrisy in Irish society’s highest reaches. Chances are, if you’ve stumbled here, then you’re here to leave comments taking either side of the fence. You don’t need us to tell you what to think or how to feel about it (although the inevitable debate piece is coming).
What follows is an explanation by the band’s vocalist, Andrew, for the reasoning behind the shirt, its message, and their reaction to the media frenzy surrounding it.
My name is Andrew and I am a vocalist in a band. It has become increasingly clear over the last two days that my band Crows’ new t-shirt design needs to be explained in length. Also, the need for it to be presented in unedited text, “straight from the horse’s mouth”, if you will, became increasingly clear, and this website is kindly providing a platform for us to do so. Our intent with the t-shirt and it’s explanation hasn’t appeared well at the hands of manipulating tabloid journalists or conservative radio spin doctors. However, it would be against these institutions’ interests to understand and propagate a fair balanced report of our criticisms, as they are criticisms of these institutions exactly.
Let me explain – the “Gerry Ryan: Just Another Dead Junkie” t-shirt is not an attack on drug-abusers. This is not an anti-drug t-shirt. Whether or not the members of the band or anybody willing to wear the t-shirt takes an anti-drug stance is completely arbitrary. The t-shirt is an attack on the stiflingly conservative and docile state in which modern Irish society exists, a state which is utterly perpetuated by popular media every minute of the day. Our lives are controlled by the news media – whether radio, television, print or on the web. However, despite supplying us with all of our daily information, the media does nothing to ensure unbiased, objective reporting. Sensation has become a mainstay in capitalist society. Sensationalise, shock, to sell more papers, to get more viewers, more listeners. The treatment of Gerry Ryan‘s death was much like this in the news media – one day a national hero, a loss to us all; the next slated and defamed by tabloid media as a junkie coke-abuser. Oh yes, we were never the first to point it out, but I must admit, I would be shocked as well that in the society of today five twenty-something men have articulated a point of view which is opposed to that of the right wing media base of Ireland, and articulated it to such a large base.
The hypocrisy, general inaccuracy and total disregard for objectivity in Irish news media is only perpetuated further by Ryan’s own show, his own condemnation of drug-abusers, and the news station he worked for. RTÉ is in fact a semi-state-owned broadcasting station.
Here I must mention that it was never a goal of ours to reach the public to this extent. We were not responsible for contacting The Star, The Independent, Spin 1038, Phantom FM or FM 104, and if you need to confirm that, contact them. Crows, as a band, play hardcore punk music, a genre which has always, except in America during the 1980′s, struggled to blossom in any sort of public sphere. An entirely underground musical genre, in the most authentic sense of the word. We play to crowds of thirty to seventy people in tiny bars, we all know each other to see and, on the most part, talk to. Hardcore punk is not made for the general public, because it articulates a dissent which doesn’t fit the normative conservative conventions of capitalist society. Therefore, it goes to say that the t-shirt was not made for everyone, but I sure am glad that, although opinion is viciously divided, a lot of the Irish public agree with our politics and observation.
This t-shirt is, in essence, only a miniscule part of what is a bigger concept. The t-shirt is to be consumed in relation with our new record (not yet gone to press) Better Off Dead. To quote our guitarist’s post on our blog from late last year, “For anyone who doesn’t know, Better Off Dead is the name of Crows’ new concept album, which focuses mainly on the types of people who have played a role (big and small) in the degradation and collapse of Irish societal values and cultural identity, and as a result are better off dead. Bankers, socialites, overpaid broadcasters, corrupt politicians, property developers blah blah blah.” I beseech you, that if you are in anyway interested in anything we’ve said, to listen to the records.
The music and our lyrics are the real protest, the t-shirt is just a textile representation of it.
We have a split record with another Irish band, Drainland, coming out, it will be released on March 1st at a gig in the Lower Deck, Portabello. Our gig listings can be found on our blog at crowshc.tumblr.com. If you are interested or even only slightly intrigued, please come along to a hardcore gig. There is large group of extremely exciting bands emerging in Dublin at the moment. It might be the place for you. And to you bankers, socialites, overpaid broadcasters, property developers, the bullies from school and the hypocrites from work, listen to the record too. We might’ve written a song about you.
It is up to you now, having taken in both sides of the argument, to make up your own mind on the situation. The comments field below is open, all we ask is that people play nice and articulate themselves well.
Tags: Crows, Dublin Hardcore, Gerry Ryan
Brilliant..
Mike, meant to mention this a few days ago, but this is showing up almost entirely blank for me (as do bolded names in other articles) in Chrome. It’s fine on Internet Explorer. Might just be a problem on my end but I thought I’d point it out.
We’re having issues with Google Chrome at the moment, our apologies. The site still views in Safari, Explorer, etc., while we work on a fix for it.
That is a well written piece, fair play to Andrew.
Plus, there is no such thing as bad publicity, so kudos to the band on this stroke of genius (intentional or otherwise) The launch date for split record with Drainland will hopefully get the numbers through the door (although most will be trendy mongos only there in the hope of getting their picture in a tabloid)
Your explanation is weak.
You come across as petulant.
Being horrible about a dead person is not justifiable because you “dislike mainstream culture and the media” (do u like the way I summed up ur bullshit essay of an explanation in 6 words there?)
The next step is you -what- go in and fucking shoot up a school because they are “better off dead”.
all I will say is you fuckers are lucky that I am not one of Gerry Ryan’s kids, because I would track you down, -metal bar, -dark alley, -no witnesses.
You would deserve it.
Eoin Jackson go fuck yourself you uneducated cock muncher.
Eoin you are completely and utterly correct in everything that you say.
I hope that this uneducated boy band get what’s coming to them. You’re a disgrace to yourselves and your parents-I hope they are proud. How brave to single out two deceased people to use as bait for increased publicity in the same media about which you are complaining- now that’s hypocritical.
Hiding in the confines of Internet blogs when asked to participate in radio interviews giving you the opportunity to deliver your ‘message’ – you’re an admirable group!
Metal bar, dark alley, no witnesses- please God.
Eoin Jackson, and West Nile Virus, has it occurred to you that there is no more insensitivity in that tee shirt than there is with the media raping peoples privacy and forcing bullshit opinions and half-truths on others?
The Indo’s coverage on Kate Fitzgerald – that was a disgrace. A band fighting against bullshit media, is not.
Eoin, are you aware of the hypocrisy in your own comment? Stating that being horrible to a dead person is not justifiable because he dislikes main stream culture and the media, and yet there you are, threatening to physically attack him? To me, that seems rather unjustifiable; threatening someone with violence because they stated their opinion.
And also, the fact that you decided to call Andrew petulant based on his own personal opinion, and yet it is you stooping to lows such as threats and bad language seems to highlight your hypocrisy further.
In the end, this has nothing to do with you. It barely affects you and your life, or the people around you. If you don’t like the t-shirt, don’t buy it, don’t look at it, don’t read about it, don’t waste your time commenting about it, don’t waste your time sending useless threats.
Eoin/Virus – the band play gigs all the time, perhaps you should put your money where your mouths are and show up with your metal bars, instead of hiding on the internet. I’d love to see you deliver your own particular brand of justice in real life. I’m sure noone would stand in your way.
Eoin, I think selective reading has assured that you have completely misinterpreted my essay.
If, however, you completely understood it and still hold that opinion of my writing, I am sorry. I am sorry that you are a fascist.
Eoin, your comment made me laugh. Thank you.
Frig sake Eoin, what have I told you about trying to act the hard lad on the internet? You can’t go around calling people petulant and then act more petulant than them, it makes you seem like an idiot, and that reflects poorly on your father and I.
Now get on up to bed, you’ve been on the computer too long, you’ve got the dentist in the morning.
You’re welcome John, glad I brightened your day.
Yep, there are threats and bad language in my original comment.
The threats weren’t about something I would do, or would neccessarily like to see happen. However it reflected something that would *definitely* come to pass if I were one of Gerry’s children, that’s all. Personally I’m glad I’m not… because stalking and beating people isn’t one of my talents, and is also something I wouldn’t look forward to, if I had to do it.
The bad language reflects a strength of feeling. Using “fuck” in an argument doesn’t negate the validity of the content of the argument… rather it flags that the person using it is either a foulmouthed little bollix, or is particularly pissed off (in my case, the latter).
I realize that it is pretty stupid for me to be so annoyed about this, because as someone rightly pointed out, it doesn’t really affect me or my life. But it did hit a nerve… especially when I read Andrew’s BULLSHIT explanation here.
The actual truth here is the band courted controversy, looking for notoriety. -And then they have the cheek to claim the move was a condemnation of the tabloid nature of society… when this little stunt is as tabloid and sleazy as it gets… makes my blood boil.
If ye wanna make statements, and you truly care about fighting the evils of todays society… go after targets that deserve it, not some girl’s dead father (whether he be famous, hypocritical, loathesome… or not …plz let him RIP now)
If you really want your band to do something good for society… late at night when no-one’s there -burn a radio station or insurance company to the ground. I’d recommend the Broadcast centre in Waterford. They are a truly corrupt institution…
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