- A x-post from the Boycott the Birmingham blog. And since when were goths so reactionary? Did I miss the vampire bat or something? Check the conversation among some of the locals. Like Bart Simpson once famously stated, “We need another Battle of Nassius to thin out their ranks a little”.
As has been customary for the last 20 years or so, the last Saturday in September is when the Melbourne Punk Pub Crawl takes place. The kick-off point is The Arty, while the final destination has varied. Most recently, it’s been The Birmy.
On Saturday, September 29, 2007, as on Saturday, September 30, 2006, a number of punks crawled to The Birmy to drink and to watch punks perform on- and off- stage. This year, four bands were scheduled to perform:
Sewer Cider; Social Suicide; Suicide Kings; and The Worst.
Sewer Cider and The Worst have played at The Birmy on a number of previous occasions. Both bands were contacted prior to the gig to ascertain their attitude toward the boycott. Sewer Cider did not reply, while The Worst, in the person of Chunga, their lead singer, replied that he wasn’t a racist and that anarchists were faggots.
In 2006, on white supremacist website Stormfront, a local member of the Hammerskins, agreeing with Chunga, recalled the ISD gig the week before the 2006 Melbourne Punk Pub Crawl as follows:
Some tool rang up the owner and said he was some construction union boss and had 200 union members in the city that were going to come and picket outside and alluded to maybe doing more than that.
They also rang the owner all night and hung up and harassed him.
There was even the gig’s address/details/map/location/phone number on ‘the site we aren’t allowed to talk about here’ on the day of the gig.
Well we waited all night to ‘say hello’ to these scum and NOT one person turned up.
It’s amazing how these cowardly dirtbags can even stand up without a spine. Gutless fags.
The gig was brilliant: great bands, great people and a good time was had by all.
UP YOURS FAG ANTI-RACIST VERMIN!
GOD FORGIVES, HAMMERS DON’T!
Following the gig, Jason Bastard of Bastard Squad wrote (September 24, 2006):
It’s about time we find out where our friends really stand. This is something that can no longer be ignored. The annual punk pub crawl happens this Saturday (September 30), and it usually finishes at The Birmy. I cannot believe that punks will still go to The Birmy after something as significant as this. Hypocrisy seems no longer an issue in today’s ‘anything goes’ apathetic punk scene. If punks go to The Birmy, even the fundamentals that we all share become null and void. It would be nothing less than ridiculing ourselves.
This is not the case of ‘oh shit, boneheads were at that pub last week, we better not go there’.
This is much more than that. This is something well organised and deliberate. This is blatant support of Blood & Honour because it is providing a venue for their gigs and meetings. To all extents and purposes the Birmy can justifiably be called a Blood & Honour pub.
I will not be going to The Birmy at the end of the pub crawl or at any other time in the future. I will also be reminding others of what happened there and asking them if they are still going. It will be interesting to hear what reasons punks give for still going to The Birmy. If the answer has anything to do with having no heart or no backbone, maybe I will ask myself ‘what is this all about then’.
So what’ll it be, punk?
Fuck off if you don’t want to help, that’s the message loud and clear
From the con men you once labelled, you bastards just don’t care
Just who the fuck are you to talk? You even sell yourselves
O.K. you’ve got your own opinions, well now have ours as well
Shut your mouth, because you don’t understand the way things are
The way we live, the role we play is not a superstar
For you to use, build up, smash down as you see fit
You dozy jerks you write such shit
If we sound like a bad phone call then you’ve got a crossed line
If we tell you the same as yesterday, well, did you think we would change our minds?
You say we look too violent, say our message is forgotten
Well, if you don’t like that tough, because that’s the only face I’ve got!
Shut your mouth, because you don’t understand the way things are
The way we live, the role we play is not a superstar
For you to use, build up, smash down as you see fit
You don’t know shit… you make me sick
What the Fuck? Jason Bastard was not only happily drinking his fill there on Saturday night, but his band played there also! Did you not know he sings for Social Suicide? So it’s a bit rich for him to go on about “never going there again in the future”, and then getting up on stage and performing. A tad hypocritical, one might say.
“Hypocrisy seems no longer an issue in today’s ‘anything goes’ apathetic punk scene. If punks go to The Birmy, even the fundamentals that we all share become null and void. It would be nothing less than ridiculing ourselves.”
And where did Jason end up that pub crawl?
The same place his band Social Suicide played this year.
Hypocrisy does seem no longer an issue in today’s ‘anything goes’ apathetic punk scene.
Uh-huh.
Yeah, I read Jason sings for Social Suicide, but that was from only one source. Plus, as with other gigs, bands don’t always play, so I was waiting on confirmation. And yeah, after making that statement last year, Jason also ended up drinking at The Birmy. He was called on it, and this is what he said:
“Yes, I’ve been expecting a comment like this. If I could remember how I got to the Birmy I would have been conscious enough to remind myself not to go there. I still stand by what I said. Pity there were no Nazis around earlier in the day, coz as it turned out I attacked the ‘wrong fellas’. Mistaking ‘oi skins’ for Nazis, declaring that I wanted to kill all racists to non-racists, turning up at the Birmy and passing out there. I did have good intentions, just got things arse about. My perception was in order? I don’t think so. I could have easily turned up at a Nazi meeting without realising it. As if I would want to go to the Birmy after what I said. It wouldn’t make sense…”
In other words, he was too pissed to remember his earlier vow of chastity.
As for what Jason has to say now, I dunno, but I’ll email him and ask. The fact that his band actually performed there suggests one of two things. 1) He’s had a change of heart and a complete about-face on the issue. 2) What Jason says and what Jason does are two very different things.
Maybe he’s got multiple personalities, and is fighting an inner war with himself. “I WILL go to the Birmy”. “No, I WONT”. “Yes, I WILL”, etc etc etc.
Or perhaps he’s just a cunt who’s full of shit. I’ll let the good people decide.
Jason Bastard is an old friend of Fascist and alcoholic Patrick O’Sullivan. Jason Bastard frequently bad mouths Patrick but when Patrick got up on stage at the Arthouse a few months ago, Jason Bastard did nothing to stop him.
Do you know if the Good Reverend has come out of the closet yet Mister Anti?
Still continuing with the homophobic insinuations, ey @ndy?
No, I do not know if Patrick is homosexual or not.
Of course! Btw, when did you stop beating your wife Mister Anti?
And yeah, O’Sullivan is a descendant of Ernst Röhm. You obviously don’t know as much as you pretend to…
Jasons been known to drink with nazis and i know this for a fact because ive seen him doing so. Ive even heard him go and on about jews etc, so hes full of shit. A fucking hypocrite.
Then again, what more could we expect from a [nasty pastie such as Jason].
G’day “Ron”,
Uh-huh.
I don’t mean to be rude, but you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t take the word of a pseudonymous stranger who provides the email address [email protected] all that seriously, mmmkay?
I’ve never had a good fortune to find a wife @ndy and regardless of any rumours you may have heard, I do not beat anybody, regardless of their relationship to me.
It’s a sad, sad day for Anarchy when a so-called activist admits to having homophobic tendencies. I wonder if Patrick will go down the same way as Röhm? – Shot by his own side!
(Notice I stole your little “ö,” haha)
You’re a very clever boy Mister Anti. Fancy being able to cut and paste! If you send me your address, I’ll send you a little silver star in the mail.
Hmm, I have two but I don’t want you to come gay bash me…
Oh well, GenQ Angels will protect me 😉 Source
My first address is: 123 Fake St, Pseudoville, Aliasity, 0000.
Alternate address: 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, North Tacoma, USA, 49007.
Mate, if I were you I’d be more worried about the Troll Patrol. In fact, it’s under their instructions that you may now gaily dispense your pearls of wisdom elsewhere…
Hasta la vista, Mister Anti.
i’d like to point out that most of us on crawl this year didn’t go to the birmy, alot (sadly) went to see sewer cider at the espy, and to the arty (where me and my puppy nessie called it a day)
adam, by ‘espy’ you mean ‘birmy’ yeah?
no i mean espy as in the [esplanade] (yeah i can’t spell it) hotel down in st. kilda, i thought thats where sewer cider were playing? … my memories of the day are a little sketchy but my house mate was saying that heaps of people were going to the espy to see them play??? maybe i got the name of the band wrong but even if i fucked that detail up there was still a serious contingent of crawlers that went to the arty at the end of the night to see the gig there.
nah man, sewer cider played the birmy on saturday night after the pub crawl, along with social suicide, suicide kings and the worst. they got a gig at the espy later this mth…
work is the curse of the drinking class.
guess my housemate fucked up on which pub it was … at any rate him, my mates and dog all went to the arthouse, which was not short of punks at the end of the day. i get that you want to be provocative dude, but punks that still give a shit and hold true to the basic ideals in melbourne have a hard enough time cause of all the mtv punk fucks without getting painted with the same brush by someone who knows better then to think there isn’t a difference.
I’ve seen Patrick at the Arthouse a couple of times and at the British Crown. I’ve seen Dane Sweetman at the Tote. Gospel of Horns did their album launch there. Destroyer 666 members have played in bands that have played at the HiFi bar. So by your reasoning, they must be Nazi pubs as well. I reckon we should boycott them all and never go out side our homes cos Nazis breathe that air. Nazis use the internet you’re using now. So in fact we’re all guilty by association.
People of right wing persuasion held a gig in a free function room at the Birmingham Hotel. I drink there and I’m surprisingly guilt free for the Holocaust. Who would’ve thought.
The Birmingham Hotel has done more for the punk scene than anyone and anywhere else. More than you and your piece of shit webpage. I, like most, am into punk for the music, not the politics. If I was more interested politics I would stay at home Saturday night and watch the ABC.
Stop trying to create an enemy in your non-existent political war. It’s Australia 2007 there is no fascist threat and there is no chance of overthrowing the Government (which will remove all welfare, public health and education systems) which you lot seem so dependent on. You’re attacking innocent people with no political agenda with half-truths, hearsay and innuendo because of some bullshit problem you have with the Birmy.
Your guilty by association reasoning holds no weight. Create a feasible argument and maybe I’ll change my mind. ‘Til then, go fuck yourself.
“The Birmingham Hotel has done more for the punk scene than anyone and anywhere else.”
Never mind other venues like oh i don’t know THE ARTHOUSE! with an open mic every monday with the only real restriction being no drums. or that 5 outta 7 days there are gigs there mostly with punk and hardcore bands. but more to the point where is the credit for the bands?
not to mention that the birmy is owned by a (ex)nazi, that it is a consistent venue for them that more recently has lead to drunken bonehead scum assaulting an uninvolved innocent woman after the ian stuart (another, thankfully dead nazi prick) memorial gig… and when approached the owner refuses to take responsibility saying he can’t tell the difference between punks and nazis (he truly is helping the punk scene with an attitude like that) and hell you wanna propose a boycott of the hi-fi bar then go talk to the management of the hi-fi if they ever try to have another nazi gig there, and if they let it go ahead anyway then i’m in. problem with the net and nazis being on it contact the isps/hosting companies that host their webpages if the company refuses to remove the site from its servers organize a boycott, i’m in. the air well unlike nazis i’m cool with letting them breathe which is more consideration than they give to me.
while you may not want to be in politics, being involved in a scene that is supposed to be contrarian is an inherently political statement, politics isn’t just “isms” the way you conduct yourself is inherently political and yes your pathetic apathy is a political side, it’s just not that interesting.
G’day Ben,
“Give me time
To realise my crime
Let me love and steal
I have danced inside your eyes
How can I be real
Do you really want to hurt me
Do you really want to make me cry…”
On a slightly less serious note, and in response to your well-reasoned argument:
“I’ve seen Patrick at the Arthouse a couple of times and at the British Crown. I’ve seen Dane Sweetman at the Tote. Gospel of Horns did their album launch there. Destroyer 666 members have played in bands that have played at the HiFi bar. So by your reasoning, they must be Nazi pubs as well.”
Logic not your strong point eh Ben?
So Patrick was at the Arthouse at some point in the past. And the British Crown…
But as a matter of fact, Patrick has been seen at The Tote too. In fact, Patrick used to drink at The Tote with Sweetman. I guess you must’ve been too busy doing whatever it is that you’re doing when you’re not being ‘political’ and scribbling down your thoughts on other people’s blogs, but you’ve singularly failed to note that in January 2006, Sweetman was banned from the Tote when he and O’Sullivan (allegedly) assaulted one of its patrons:
======
“Patrons at the Tote Hotel alleged Sweetman headbutted and punched a man in the hotel in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Collingwood earlier this month after the man questioned him about swastika tattoos on his neck. Hotel co-owner Bruce Milne said the incident was reported to police. “This person has been barred from the hotel,” Mr Milne said…
Sweetman created a sensation at his trial when he pulled a knife from his boot as he was sentenced and plunged it into a wooden dock rail.
He kept a diary in prison in which he boasted of having bashed two Asian men, a Caucasian woman with an Asian boyfriend and a homosexual, although he has a conviction for sexually abusing a boy under 16. His convictions include attempted murder, malicious wounding and assault with a weapon…”
======
Greg Roberts, ‘Outcry at neo-Nazi’s ’soft drink’ parole switch’, The Australian, January 24, 2006.
Note that in addition to being banned from The Tote, Sweetman had his parole conditions altered to ban him from drinking alcohol. (Note that the case never went to court as the person allegedly assaulted chose not to pursue charges.) Further, following this incident, a number of people met with Tote management (there was something like 20 people at the one meeting I attended) regarding the issue of neo-Nazis in pubs, and, among other things, a policy was formulated. As a result, if you look closely (and if they haven’t removed it in the meantime), on the wall of The Tote next to the main entrance you’ll find a small piece of paper with words to the effect that management is committed to providing a venue space free from displays of racist, sexist and homophobic attitudes and behaviours.
And as with most stories, there’s more to this one, but given that you’re obviously so knowledgeable about the issue, I’ll leave it up to you to discover.
http://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/?p=90
And yes, I do understand that GotH had their album launch at The Tote. In fact, FDB! contacted Tote management at the time, and if you search my blog, you’ll find I’ve written about this issue too…
Your point, however, in raising the spectre of Patrick, the Arthouse, the British Crown, Dane, the Tote, Gospel of the Horns, Destroyer 666 and the HiFi bar, appears to be based on the patently erroneous assumption that a call for a boycott of The Birmy is somehow at odds with the facts regarding the behaviour of these individuals and bands (or at least as you understand them — tho’ even on this count you fail miserably).
And I mean shit man, I dunno — maybe all that loud, non-political punk music has damaged your brain? — but the basis of the boycott is not that ‘a bonehead once happened to drink at The Birmy’, but that for the period that Gary has been managing the pub — about 10 years or so — neo-Nazi organisations such as Blood & Honour Australia and the Southern Cross Hammerskins have been holding regular gigs and meetings there. Thus, for example, The Birmy has served as the regular venue for the annual ISD Memorial gig; most recently in 2006. (Further, in 2002, The Birmy hosted a gig organised by these groups to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday.) And on the night of the last ISD gig, a local black woman was assaulted by a group of men attending the gig. Further, despite it being common knowledge among locals (and police), Gary has LIED about all of this.
Now, the way I see it, a bald-faced LIAR who has for YEARS allowed NEO-NAZIS to use his premises DESERVES TO HAVE HIS BUSINESS BOYCOTTED. On this point I am joined by ABC Weapons, Final Warning, Pisschrist, Schifosi, Speartackle, The Focus, The Resignators, Vae Victis, Vents and Yidcore, among other groups and individuals reluctant to ‘go public’ for fear that they’ll be subjected to the kinds of mindless abuse I am and that you and your friends seem to specialise in (not to mention the numerous threats of violence made by ‘anonymous’ sources).
Finally, and as a matter of fact, the issue has been raised before with Gary, in 2002, following Adolf’s birthday party. His response then, as now, was ‘fuck off’. For myself and a number of others, 2006 was the last straw…
I’ll respond to the rest of your rant later.
jason bastard used to sing in a white power band called ‘no remorse’ before he was in ‘bastard squad’. nice guy, but mixed up.
1)
People of right wing persuasion; I’m surprisingly guilt free for the Holocaust…
Ben, have you ever thought of running for public office?
Do you know the meaning of the term ‘mealy-mouthed’?
======
mealy-mouthed : Over-modest or backward in speech. (Definition taken from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.)
mealy-mouthed : Not brave enough to say what you mean directly and honestly. (Definition taken from the 1998 Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms.)
======
You, Sir, are mealy-mouthed.
The ALP, the Liberals and the Nationals are composed of “People of right wing persuasion”; Blood & Honour and the Southern Cross Hammerskins are composed of NEO-FUCKING-NAZIS.
Members of the ALP, the Liberals and the Nationals denounce the Holocaust (Shoah); members of Blood & Honour and the Southern Cross Hammerskins WANNA REPEAT IT.
Blood & Honour and the Hammerskins are international neo-Nazi networks.
B&H are banned in Germany and Spain.
Members of both networks have been assaulting and MURDERING punks, skinheads, leftists, homosexuals (and people perceived to be homosexual), the homeless, trade unionists and other people who oppose them and their neo-Nazi political agenda FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.
As for the gig itself, like every other one which has taken place at The Birmy over the course of the last TEN YEARS, the 2006 ISD memorial gig was intended to be conducted IN SECRET. As you and I both know, the location of ALL events organised by these mobs are kept secret from the public: this includes the gig scheduled to take place somewhere in Melbourne on Saturday, October 13, 2007. Had it not been for a number of individuals involved in FDB! and outside of it, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Further, Gary LIED about the fact that the gig took place!
2)
Complete and utter fucking nonsense.
To begin with, punk has its origins in the mid- to late- 70s. That’s about 30 years of history. Over that period, there’s been numerous venues, bands, gigs and projects, and all over the fucking place. If you seriously maintain that The Birmy has done more for punk than anyone or anything else, you truly are a fucking ignoramus. If you wanna educate, rather than embarrass yourself, check Regression zine for just a sampling of Melbourne punk history:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~chelton21/index.htm
As for myself, who cares? My blog isn’t and doesn’t claim to be in competition with The Birmy as a source of entertainment for ‘punks’, and I’ve never claimed to be anything other than just another face in the crowd. But if you must know, I’ve been listening to punk since I was in primary school. I started attending gigs in the late ’80s. In addition to a range of rock ‘n’ roll and later ‘grunge’ bands (before the term ‘grunge’ was even coined) the first ‘punk’ bands I saw were bands like Bastard Squad, the Seminal Rats, the Silent Lunatics, the Two Year Olds, the Walsh Street Cop Killers and Warpspasm, and at venues like the P.O.W., the Richmond Club and the Sarah Sands, backyards and scout halls.
As for ‘punk’ and ‘politics’… despite what the drunk at the corner pub might say, ‘politics’ is not sitting at home watching the ABC! And pissants like yourself have been complaining about there being too much ‘politics’ in ‘punk’ for about oh, I dunno… 30 years or so? Further, I, like most, have not only ears but a brain, and I, like most, intend to use both. Fortunately, boycotting a pub ‘cos it’s a neo-Nazi venue takes very little brain power… tho’ I understand that for folks such as yourself, it requires a great deal of ‘thought’. But honestly, if you get lost while doing so, maybe that’s ‘cos it’s such unfamiliar territory?
(Btw, how old are you?)
3)
Ben: stop in the name of lurve.
Yeah, it’s Australia, and the year is 2007.
So far, so good.
But I’m not trying to “create enemies”. What I’m trying to do — among numerous other things — is quite simple: promote a boycott of a pub, and for reasons which I’ve explained, ad nauseum, for the last twelve months or so. Beyond that, I do lots of things you obviously consider to be ‘icky’ — like engage in ‘politics’ — and have done for all of my adult life. Further, I’ve no intention of stopping until I’m dead. (At which point I plan on giving up on ‘politics’ altogether.)
You’ve obviously got absolutely no fucking idea whatsoever who I am, where I come from, or what I’ve done.
“Like most”, I’ve not received one single fucking cent for any of the ‘activist’ work I’ve done…
“Like most”, I recognise that whatever rights I enjoy are the results of struggles by people the vast majority of whose names I’ll never know, whose enormous sacrifices are unheralded, and whose deaths and misfortunes are unmourned…
With regards the issue of The Birmy in particular, unlike some, I’ve made by blog available to anyone who cares to venture an opinion on the issue, and any and all errors of fact I’ve acknowledged.
You claim that I’m “attacking innocent people with no political agenda”. Who are these people, and why are they so ‘innocent’?
You claim that I’ve stated “half-truths, hearsay and innuendo”. What are these half-truths?
You’re grossly ignorant, arrogant and presumptuous, and your arguments are completely specious.
Grow up.
damn… nicely put andy
Cheers bro.
ok i admit it i was bored and tooling around myspace, i went to the worst’s myspace and found the following posted
i find it interesting that in the name of “morals” he wishes a place that has offended him personally removed from the map because of the bands it chooses for its venue, but the birmy is somehow exempt and my being pissed at its owners for its choices in bands makes me “as bad as the nazi’s” and i’m not even suggesting burning the building … shit the structure could be useful
SOURCE: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=7649249&blogID=290861173
Yeah, pretty infantile. He sounds like a spoilt little brat more than anything else, complaining when teacher punishes naughty students (“Not fair!”). The stuff about “tradition” is pretty funny tho’!
Chunga gotta lotta growing up to do I think.
laughable… thats the only word to describe the glaring hypocrisy on this page
I couldn’t give a fuck about Nazi bands. Get over it.
yeah i might reply one day, when i can be bothered reading it.
but on a more interesting note. i hear you actually attended this years pub crawl. i hope you didn’t get too drunk and stumble into the birmy by mistake. that would be terrible.
Ben,
If you’re having trouble with your reading and/or comprehension, ask Mum, Dad or another adult for help, and remember to keep the sharp end pointed away from you.
(Wrong Andy. Nice fella though. Same vintage.)
I think the time has come to just start bashing these Nazis. They deserve no place on the planet and are complete scum. So let’s just bash them, kill them, and move on to a political point that will really help the movement!
DON’T LIE ANDY. You were there. Why?
Ah, thanks for that Bozo.
JEFF, YOU HAVE MISTAKEN ME FOR SOMEONE ELSE. Believe it. Why not?
try this on for size hypocrites
substitute the word “nazi” for “convicted murderer” in your boycott arguments/scenario and will the same view points and punk rock “rules” apply?
like i said this whole thing’s laughable
The Stalinist League and I are opposed to any boycott. Does Fight Dem back, Andy and Darp know how the boycott is effecting the workers down at the shop. Would the people involved in the boycott take responsibility if any of the workers gets layed off?
Obviously I didn’t stumble into the Birmy on this occasion and unexpectedly play a few songs or whatever. The gig was organised a couple of weeks before it happened, so I did have time to think about it. I was well aware of the risks of doing this and how people might react etc, but I went ahead with it regardless.
My original post about Nazis at the Birmy was a genuine reaction to an issue which I thought was far too crucial to ignore. At the same time though, I am aware of a particular strategy for dealing with this Nazi issue which was suggested to me by Kirt from Distorted Truth. He said we should organise as many bands as possible who oppose Nazis to play at the Birmy. That way we can drive the Nazis out and therefore reclaim the Birmy. To me, this strategy made sense to some extent, but it wouldn’t of course get Gary off the hook.
So what can I say? Even though I contemplated Kirt’s strategy, I can’t use it as an excuse for playing there. Fuck it. I weighed it up. Stand virtually alone on this issue and be miserable, or play a gig with some friends and have some fun. In the end the latter won the day. Hedonism, as it does now then, overrode principle and brilliantly shone through as the attractive alternative.
To those who remain staunch and still boycott the Birmy, well, I find it commendable. They are better men than I.
However, are we occasionally over-zealous? Can our statements be too bold and too confining for our own good? Can we take this line in the sand too far? Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut and not overstretched the line. For instance, made it clear that I don’t attend these meetings or believe in what they stand for or write songs for films like Romper Stomper. Maybe that should have been the limit.
Fucking hell Jason, anyone would think you were asked to pick up a gun for the cause, not just stay away from a mediocre venue. I can see that the decision might be harder for you than it is for me, and maybe that’s true for all people who have nothing to lose by ignoring the boycott.
The strategy of Kirt’s sounds suspiciously the same as doing business as usual. A boycott is the least difficult of all the options, imho. It’s kind of funny that while punks bang on about being different and individual and not giving a fuck etc, you were too worried that you would stand alone on an issue, so you caved-in to join the crowd. The people I count as friends are the ones who support me, not the ones who disown me for having principles to be proud of. Maybe you’re underestimating your friends as well as yourself.
If you can think of something more effective to deal with a venue that continually sponsors groups renowned for bashing and murdering punks, queers, children and non-whites (and, to be fair, each other), I’m open to suggestions.
passifists who don’t run from fights shouldn’t speak so boldly, and give their identity away so freely.
King of Swamp Castle: Guards, make sure the prince doesn’t leave this room until I come and get him.
Guard #1: Not to leave the room… even if you come and get him.
Guard #2: [hiccups]
King of Swamp Castle: No, no. *Until* I come and get him.
Guard #1: Until you come and get him, we’re not to enter the room.
King of Swamp Castle: No, no, no. You *stay* in the room, and make sure *he* doesn’t leave.
Guard #1: And you’ll come and get him.
Guard #2: [hiccups]
King of Swamp Castle: Right.
Guard #1: We don’t need to do anything, apart from just stop him entering the room.
King of Swamp Castle: No, no. *Leaving* the room.
Guard #1: Leaving the room, yes.
King of Swamp Castle: All right?
Guard #2: [hiccups]
Guard #1: Right. Oh, if, if, if, uh, if, if, uh, if, if, if, we… oh, if… oh…
King of Swamp Castle: Look, it’s quite simple. You just stay here, and make sure he doesn’t leave the room. All right?
Guard #2: [hiccups]
Guard #1: Oh, I remember, uh, can he leave the room with us?
King of Swamp Castle: No, no, no, no, you just keep him in here, and make sure…
Guard #1: Oh yeah, we’ll keep him in here, obviously, but if he had to leave, and we were with him…
King of Swamp Castle: No, just keep him in here…
Guard #1: Until you, or anyone else…
King of Swamp Castle: No, not anyone else. Just me.
Guard #1: Just you.
Guard #2: [hiccups]
King of Swamp Castle: Get back.
Guard #1: Get back.
King of Swamp Castle: All right?
Guard #1: Right, we’ll stay here until you get back.
King of Swamp Castle: And make sure he doesn’t leave.
Guard #1: What?
King of Swamp Castle: Make sure he doesn’t leave.
Guard #1: The prince?
King of Swamp Castle: Yes, make sure he doesn’t leave.
Guard #1: Oh, yes, of course.
[Points at Guard #2]
Guard #1: I thought you meant him. You know, it seemed a bit daft me I were to guard him when he’s a guard.
King of Swamp Castle: Is that clear?
Guard #2: [hiccups]
Guard #1: Oh, quite clear. No problems.
King of Swamp Castle: Right.
[King of Swamp Castle turns to leave the room, both guards follow him]
King of Swamp Castle: Where are you going?
Guard #1: We’re coming with you.
King of Swamp Castle: No, no, no. I want you to stay here and make sure *he* doesn’t leave.
Guard #1: Oh, I see. Right.
A number of reliable people have told me you are the Andy from [the] pub crawl and the very same [Andy] that went to the Birmy. I find it very strange that you knew exactly who Ben was talking about. If there is some way that people have been confused (doubtful) I really hope he doesn’t end up in trouble for your handiwork.
The crawl is a time for unity, friendship and getting soooooo drunk you remember nothing but puking on yourself. The scene is in turmoil if we get the group splitting up due to politics, like getting bashed and arrested by cops because when we’re not together, they can single us out and take us down.
Jason and Kirt are right. We should drive the fuckers out.
Like Bozo said, let’s bash ’em and kill ’em and forget this issue.
I like the Birmy, cheap piss, and usually good bands.
But it’s not cool to share a pub with Nazis, so fuck sharing.
I dunno why ya’s give Jason such a hard time. I mean, two pub crawls running he played Nazi Hunter, attacking anyone wiv a shaved head (he did the same thing on the UK tour to some poor bald Irish chap named, curiously enuff, Gary)… he’s the only one who’s actually confronted Patrick when he was apparently trying to recruit kids at knifepoint… What are you lot actually doing for your cause? Sure, Jason might get the wrong guy occasionally but at least he’s giving it his best.
There are plenty of people like myself who are against racism, against nazis, against Blood and Honor, who continue to go to the Birmy. So it would be good to see a few more people on here like Jason or myself, who speak up and say that they are not racists and they don’t support Blood and Honour or nazis.
I know a lot of people that boycott the Birmy and a lot of people that don’t. I think the Birmy is a great place for punk gigs, sure it’s a bit of a dive but I’ve seen lots of great bands there. I’ve been going there for over ten years and I know Gary. I told him myself that I wasn’t happy that Blood and Honor had a gig there. I understand, some people feel it necessary to lash out at @ndy for pushing the boycott, I mean fair enough he is putting us in the same boat (or pub. ha) as nazis. I would think or hope that most of the punks that go to punk gigs at the Birmy are against nazis. It’s funny with this discussion though, some people’s true colours are beginning to show through. Maybe even mine, but I think most people who know me wouldn’t be surprised by this.
I think this boycott is drawing a bit of a line between a lot punks who otherwise agree on the politics behind the boycott. I’m choosing not to see the line in the hope that we can be a little more united. I think if Blood and Honour were to have their gig there again and people were prepared to protest against them out the front, I think you would find support from punks that still go to the Birmy.
I like what Jason quoted Kirt to have said:
Well maybe if a few more of us speak up and say we’re not racist, fascist or homophobic we will reclaim the Birmy, so to speak, not that it wasn’t ours anyway. Well it’s Gary’s, you know what I mean, he’s always been good to us. I’d like to see some more people come on here and say what they think about this. You know @ndy’s just going to analyse every little thing you say and tear your ideas and arguments to shreds. But hey I read this all the time and I find it very interesting.
So go ahead @ndy, tear strips off me, but I really don’t think it’s fair to call all the punks that go to the Birmy scabs, it’s such a harsh word! Just because we’re not with you on the boycott doesn’t mean that we support Blood and Honour. I know you don’t see it like that and I respect that. Thanx for doing this blog though.
ha, what about me. why isn’t any one taking notice of me? is any one going to answer my questions?
Because you can’t, you won’t, and you don’t stop…
Jason:
Yes, you’ve not only chosen not to boycott The Birmy, but you’ve played a gig there, on the night of the pub crawl, and in full awareness of the boycott and the issues surrounding it. In fact, your decision to do so stands in explicit contradiction to your own views as previously announced on my blog and, presumably, elsewhere.
Last year, you made two comments following the public exposure of The Birmy as being a neo-Nazi venue. In addition to the comment in the post above, you also wrote:
A week later, you admitted doing the exact opposite of what you proposed, but put it down to the fact that you were very, very drunk.
A year later, you have no such excuse.
With regards the ‘strategy’ proposed by Kirt — which is to organise a gig — I think it’s radically flawed.
Here’s why:
1) It’s absolutely indistinguishable from business-as-usual for The Birmy.
2) It does absolutely nothing to drive neo-Nazis out of the venue.
3) It lets Gary completely off the hook.
A few facts:
1) The Birmy is not owned by Gary; he manages the venue on behalf of the owners.
2) The license holders are Eighth Thelos Pty Ltd and W. Simeoni Nominees.
3) Gary is fully entitled, by law and by custom, to allow anyone he chooses to use the venue, whether neo-Nazis or fashion punks. The opinion of myself, yourself, Kirt of Distorted Truth, Carl of No Idea, or Red of Charter 77 means absolutely nothing whatsoever.
4) Gary has been managing The Birmy for the last 10 years.
5) During this period, Gary has allowed neo-Nazi groups like Blood & Honour and the Southern Cross Hammerskins to use the venue on numerous occasions.
6) Prior to the ‘Ian Stuart is Fat, Round, and Six Feet Underground’ gig last September, the last major incident which involved any pressure being applied to the venue was in 2002, following a gig to celebrate Hitler’s birthday.
7) Gary’s response then, as now, was ‘fuck off’.
EIGHT) The point of the boycott is to make the venue lose money.
9) By making the venue lose money, pressure is applied on the owners to institute new management.
10) The ultimate goal is to place the pub under new management, with a policy which bans neo-Nazis from making use of it.
I no longer care what you say. Your actions speak much louder than your words. Here they are:
— versus —
The contradiction could not be more explicit than if I’d said it myself. Further, you’re completely wrong about “standing alone on this issue” — see here and here, for example — and there are lots and lots and lots of ways of having fun other than helping to keep a neo-Nazi venue going.
Oh bloody hell, the Stalinist League if possible will be holding a gig at the place in question. Further more, the League would like to inform Andy that he is a utopian socialist because anarchists are no better than utopian socialists. Since I am a Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist (MLS) I am opposed to utopian socialism because “it is just a experiment in thought”. Viva der internationale revolutia.
Neurosis – Double Edged Sword
I know what the plan of futures are
The cry and the march of shame
Crawling to the center of what remains
Look for the path to the shelterland
Crossing paths, conflicting times
Expansion never ending
Destruction mind is sending
Signals abound around us
They plant the seed of fate
Creating the undiscovered thought
Snapping the eyes to pain
Feeding, eating, bleeding, seeing
Healing to be broken again
Standing in the crossfire
Burning in the wind
Maybe one day you’ll see what I see now
Step to the front the falling is today
Step to the front the falling is today
Step to the front the falling is today
Paul:
I appreciate the fact that many people don’t like racism, and find neo-Nazism in particular unattractive. I also understand that many have particular objections to the practices of international neo-Nazi networks like B&H and the Hammerskins, especially their targeting of punks, skinheads, anarchists, leftists, Jews, trade unionists, homosexuals and the homeless for assault and murder.
For example:
* The murder of Mulugeta Seraw in Portland in 1988 by members of Volksfront (since merged with the Hammerskins) upset many, including Poison Idea. In response, and as part of a much broader campaign, the band spoke out against boneheads, and refused to play if they were found to be in the audience. (Hard to believe, eh?)
* Just a few days ago members of the Elks Lodge in Poison Idea’s hometown asked the Hammerskins to leave their facilities after the boneheads booked them under false pretenses in order to celebrate their 20th anniversary. (Oddly enough, Douglas Schott and the Viking warriors of Blood Red Eagle, who played the gig, received a warm welcome from Gary at last year’s ISD memorial. Again, who would’ve guessed you could say no to neo-Nazis?)
* When Western Hammerskins members beat and stabbed a blackfella, Randy Wordell Bowen, in 1999 (“Bowen was struck in the head with a bottle and chased by a group of people… many of whom shouted racial slurs and Nazi slogans… [before] being beaten and slashed across the back with a straight razor”), I imagine that he, his family and friends, weren’t very happy about it.
* When in June 1991 in Arlington, Texas, three 16-year-old members of the Confederate Hammerskins murdered an African-American, Donald Thomas, I don’t suppose it endeared the group to those who knew Donald.
* The punks and skinheads of Birmingham, Alabama probably didn’t seek out the venues that hosted meetings of the Hammerskins so that they could give the proprietors $ upon discovering that two of its members, Louis Oddo and Adam Galleon, murdered a 50-year-old black homeless man on Christmas Eve, 1991, by hitting him with a baseball bat and kicking him with their boots.
* When, in May 2006, a bonehead in Antwerp shot first a Turkish woman, then a black woman and a two-year-old white baby to death (the woman was the child’s nanny), it’s quite likely many recoiled in horror rather than, say, applied to join the local branch of B&H. And when, four months later, Belgian police raided members of the local branch and discovered an arms cache, I don’t suppose punks and skinheads in Antwerp sought out the bars which the boys frequented in order to make donations…
I share those feelings.
To conclude:
1) I’ve no idea exactly how many people who, like Madonna, don’t like racism, drink at The Birmy. If I had to make a guess, I’d say several hundred.
2) I don’t have a problem with the pub’s decor, in fact, I kinda like it.
3) I don’t know Gary, but I know a handful of people who do. Most think he’s a bit of a dickhead, but otherwise harmless and, like most, really only interested in making $. Others, however, have some more interesting things to say about him, as well as the history of his involvement in groups like B&H/SCHS; things which suggest he may be sympathetic.
4) As for others lashing out at me, that’s OK, I expect it. Taking a stand on this issue, and doing what little I have to promote a boycott of The Birmy, was always going to generate some flak. That’s just life… I’m too old — and already been subjected to all kindsa abuse for my views, up to and including death threats — to care all that much.
5) The idea of the boycott (like all boycotts) is based precisely on ‘drawing a line’ — in this case, a line that surrounds The Birmy — and asking people to choose to be on one side or the other. ‘Which side are you on, boys?’ as the saying goes.
6) Being “against” Nazis or fascists or racists is, as Big Gay Al might say, “super”; much better, however, is to act in solidarity with anti-Nazi or anti-fascist or anti-racist campaigns. In this case, very simply, by boycotting The Birmy. Absolutely anyone can do it, regardless of age, sex, gender, sexuality, race, colour, creed, or ability, and it involves absolutely no risk whatsoever to (non-)participants. It is legal, and non-violent.
7) “Some people’s true colours are” indeed “beginning to show through”, in some cases for better, and in some cases for worse.
EIGHT) I agree that if “Blood and Honour were to have their gig there again”, some of those who currently drink at The Birmy might join a protest against it. And if I had the chance, I’d probably suggest, politely, that they fuck off, and for obvious reasons.
9) ‘Reclaiming The Birmy’ = getting rid of Gary. The problem with Gary is not that he’s “good” to punks — although, like a dog thrown a bone, some apparent debt of gratitude to him is obviously what motivates a number of scabs — but that he’s “good” to neo-Nazis; members of international networks that kill and maim.
10) Mealy-mouthed references to ‘unity’ are just that.