Terror police quizzed guitarist over Clash lyrics

[emad]

Snip from London Evening Standard

3 June 2004

The guitarist in a rock tribute act was quizzed as a terror suspect after sending a text message containing lyrics from a song by punk rock act the Clash to the wrong person.

Band member Mike Devine, 35, the bass guitarist in a Clash tribute group called London Calling, intended to text the lyric from the band's song Tommy Gun to singer Reg Shaw - but sent the message to the wrong number.

Avon and Somerset Police said a Special Branch officer visited Mr Devine after the person who received the message on April 30 became concerned and contacted police.

Mr Devine, an engineer at the mobile phone company Orange, admitted he was worried when an officer from the Special Branch confronted him at his office on May 24.

More:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/11134997?source=PA

Mmmmmmmm.........the power of The Thought Police!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[seemslikeadream]

1. Very funny --- very very frightening!

It read: "How about this for Tommy Gun? OK - SO LET'S AGREE ABOUT THE PRICE AND MAKE IT ONE JET AIRLINER FOR TEN PRISONERS."
The bass guitarist, from Birchall Road, Bristol, said he was asked to explain what the message meant.

Mr Devine said the detective looked "puzzled" when he was told they were the lyrics from the 1970s song Tommy Gun by The Clash.
"We were having trouble working them out but I found them on the internet," Mr Devine explained. "I was just texting Reg our singer to see if he thought that they sounded right."

The Special Branch officer seemed "a little embarrassed" when he left, Mr Devine added.

The bass player said he was told by the officer that intelligence agencies were "on a higher state of alert" due to the present climate.

His partner Becky May, 37, said Mr Devine was "shaken up" by the incident.
"He was a little shaken-up and shocked at first," she said. "But I think it is quite reassuring intelligence agencies are on top of these things."

[emad]

2. Nobody expects...........

the Spanish Inquisition......

[theboss]

3. I think this was handled well

If I received a message about guns, airlines, and prisoners from someone I did not know, I would probably have notified the authorities. And I love that song (though I have no idea what the lyrics are). He was questioned, it was explained, and everything was squared away.

[CaptainClark23]

4. When they kick at your front door

how you gonna come - with your hands on your head, or on the trigger of your gun?

When the law break in, how you gonna go - shot down on the pavement, or waiting in death row?

====

Here come the Clampdown. I wish Strummer were here.

[tigereye]

6. that is also a great song

don't totally agree with the sentiment, but it always makes me think of this quote, which was easy to find by the way. I love that aspect of the Internet!

Some might remember seeing this paraphrased quote by Pastor Martin Niemöller, from testimony he gave to Congress back in 1968:

"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me
and by then there was no one left to speak out for me."

[mmm]

8. I can see it's gonna be The Clash review day

I don't recall those lyrics

[CaptainClark23]

12. Guns of Brixton

I performed a cover once, replacing Brixton with Brooklyn for local relevance!

[AP]

5. Ah yest, lyrics as true today as they were almost 25 years ago.

(strummer/jones)

Tommy gun
You ain’t happy less you got one
Tommy gun
Ain’t gonna shoot the place up
Just for fun
Maybe he wants to die for the money
Maybe he wants to kill for his country
Whatever he wants, he’s gonna get it!

Tommy gun
You better strip it down for a custom run
Tommy gun
Waiting in the airport ’till kingdom come
An’ we can watch you make it
On the nine o’clock news
Standing there in palestine lighting the fuse
Whatever you want, you’re gonna get it

Tommy gun
You’ll be dead when your war is won
Tommy gun
But did you have to gun down everyone?
I can see it’s kill or be killed
A nation of destiny has got to be fulfilled
Whatever you want, you’re gonna get it!

Tommy gun
You can be a hero in an age of none
Tommy gun
I’m cutting out your picture from page one
I’m gonna get a jacket just like yours
An’ give my false support to your cause
Whatever you want, you’re gonna get it!

Boats an’ tanks and planes, it’s your game
Kings an’ queens an’ generals learn your name
I see all the innocents, the human sacrifice
And if death comes so cheap
Then the same goes for life!

7. you have the right to free speech

as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it

[Nevernose]

14. Do you have the right to free speech in England? (n/t)

16. I'm quoting Joe Strummer

get it?
Your question is irrelevant.
This is a public service announcement
With guitar
Know your rights all three of them

Number 1
You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a CRIME!
Unless it was done by a
Policeman or aristocrat
Know your rights

And Number 2
You have the right to food money
Providing of course you
Don't mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation

Know your rights
These are your rights
Wang

Know these rights

Number 3
You have the right to free
Speech as long as you're not
Dumb enough to actually try it.

Know your rights
These are your rights
All three of 'em
It has been suggested
In some quarters that this is not enough!
Well..............................

Get off the streets
Get off the streets
Run
You don't have a home to go to
Smush

Finally then I will read you your rights

You have the right to remain silent
You are warned that anything you say
Can and will be taken down
And used as evidence against you

Listen to this
Run

[sidpleasant]

9. a dead Joe Strummer is more dangerous than most living musicians

On the subject of Joe the wonderful Stiff Little Fingers have included a moving (and rockin') tribute to him on their most recent album Guitar and Drum. Here are the lyrics to Strummerville:

You lit a flame in my heart
And it is burning still
And every time I hear you shout
It still gives me a thrill
I can see you up there
With your right leg pumping

Goodbye inspiration
Voice of a generation
Goodbye Inspiration
I won't be playing Strummerville again

You wore your heart on your sleeve
With honesty and pride
You gave me hope,made me believe
That what I did was right
You brought out a passion
That had long been missing
Yeah you brought out a passion
That you never stopped giving

And if music seems mundane
It's cos the companies get their own way
And all the young bands seem to say
Please turn our rebellion into money

So thanks for giving me my creed
I'll try to stay onside
Y'or helping me to dare to dream
After all this time
Cos I still see you up there
On a stage and playing
Yeah I still see you up there
I still agree with what your saying

[CaptainClark23]

13. Thank you, really.

"a dead Joe Strummer is more dangerous than most living musicians"

how very true, and I hadn't considered it that way.

And thanks for the SLF lyrics...fucking beautiful and on the money..will pick that release today.

I still wish like hell Joe were still with us though.

[sidpleasant]

17. You're welcome

If you liked those lyrics wait until you hear the song. Jake Burns sings it with great passion and the song has a clever Clash quote toward the end. The album is out in the UK now and will be released in the US on July 13. By the way, Stiff Little Fingers will be doing a US tour in August. Even though they're a bunch of middle aged geezers now they still absolutely kill as a live act. Details on all things SLF at http://www.slf.com/

[Westegg]

10. Somewhere, Strummer is laughing. Or crying. Or both. (n/t)

[Occulus]

11. this says a LOT

"He was a little shaken-up and shocked at first," she said. "But I think it is quite reassuring intelligence agencies are on top of these things."

I mean, WOW.

[markses]

15. Thank God he didn't sing "Spanish Bombs"....

O my corazon...

He should get a pass for holding up a picture of Giuliani and singing Rudy Can't Fail in a falsetto...