-Caveat Lector-
This is a small taster of the extreme political crap that goes on in
Scottish Folk music.
Management, clientelle and Spooks - [some spooks have learned a bit
of drum and can sit in on music sessions and bang along usually out
of time !!] - have cynically made folk music and the joys of playing
a thing of the past in Scotland. Spooks disturb and destroy the peace
spouting their political agendas and censoring the kind of folk songs
sung - [sometimes with good reason, mostly for bad reasons]
Sometimes the cynical behaviour of these government agents can spoil
the innocent pleasure of playing music - I cannot remember the last time
I went to a session in Scotland that was not coloured by the political
pressure of government agents and police.
The following is a current complaint which illustrates exactly what
professional musicians have to put up with on a nightly basis in Scotland
to pay their bills and buy their food.
cc: to -
Managing Director Bass Breweries
Ian Smith Musicians Union in Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland, Scottish Office
Andrew Hennessey
LEITH Edinburgh
17/3/99
We were told tonight 17/3/99 that we would never work for O'Neills Bars or
its Brewery chain again or indeed any other pub in the city of Edinburgh,
by one of your doormen.
As I suppose that you will fully endorse your employees, I therefore expect
that that will be the case.
However in the interests of having a balanced account to set against my
good name and reputation, I write to present the fiasco that took place on
St Patricks Night 17/3/99 at O'Neills, South Bridge, Edinburgh.
We were booked at short notice for an agreed price by telephone of �240 but
may have been extended to �260 [�10 over budget] in the event that we would
hire speakers. [in the event we charged �250]
We pulled up outside and parked our car out front of the pub and were
greeted by the doorman who tried to sell us an ex-post office diesel van
for �400, plus a second one for spare parts.
I asked for cordial and water as a 'hospitality' offering ie, free, and was
informed that it was not company policy to supply drinks - fair enough.
We set up our gear and were approached by a military man on active service
from the Ulster Defence Regiment, who presented his ID Card to both myself
and my partner and he suggested, as much expected, that we be cautious with
our material and content - ie. To avoid political and rebel songs.
We would find that reasonable.
We had invited friends, and one of them in good party spirit, herself a
good singer and known musician got up to do a female vocal spot/song.
We played two sets, and after the second set, a fight broke out between
three individuals at the front of the stage. Punches to the head were
exchanged, and by the time pub security had arrived, the fighters had
broken up.
We were next approached by the front doorman who informed us that two of
our car tyres had been let down by hooligans who had hurriedly made their
way off before they could be stopped.
Gayfield Police who later examined the vehicle noted that the hooligans had
had time to replace the dust caps on both wheels.
I then approached the bar to inform them of our timing for the last 2 sets.
During this break both my partner and I were approached by several men in
their early twenties with shaven heads, one of them a youth - and they
threatened us that things would happen if we did not sing Fields of Athenry
- a popular Irish rebel song.
As they had been directly involved in the earlier fight that the security
staff had failed to stop and they literally pushed their way onto the stage
to let the youths commandeer the microphone - we were put in a dangerous
predicament eg. my personal gear has a replacement value of �2000 and being
aged 41, I currently have an achilles tendon problem, a worn jaw joint -
due to 30 years of violin playing - have received physiotherapy for my back
- an occupational problem connected to violin playing, and currently am
carrying a minor injury to my right elbow.
The reason why I state my current physique will become clear when I say
that I am a professional musician, not a trained 'fighter' as has been
suggested.
We had sung one song of our third set and had had to give way to these
extreme 'nationalist' people, when the manageress walked up to me and said,
'make that your last number, I don't pay you to do Karaoke.'
I explained to her that we felt coerced, but she stood by to make sure that
we stopped playing.
I offered an explanation to the crowd that was enjoying our contribution
that we had been asked to stop playing by the manageress - who had not
appreciated our efforts - the pub music had been turned off and happy
people were expecting another substantial live set.
And I was then approached by the frontdoor man again, saying that what I
had said was wrong and that I would never work for O'Neills or anywhere
else in the city of Edinburgh again.
I was invited to go downstairs to the office by the manageress, another
security guard and another employee.
It became clear that the manageress
1. only knew of the fight that took place at the front door that night
2. had no knowledge of the group of people involved in the fight at the
back of the bar.
3. Did not recognise my legal rights when she said 'You are not afraid of
an 18 year old boy are you ?'
And I then pointed out that there were thugs involved and I felt life and
limb to be in Jeapordy and yes, that I was afraid..
4. although there were three 'hostile' witnesses in the manageresses room -
a security guard said that he didn't like my attitude - and would 'show me
some attitude.' I then informed the manageress that I was simply stating
the facts when I said that she appeared unaware of half the things that had
transpired in that venue and further appeared unaware of the sensitive
and brutal issues involved, only a few feet from where we were playing.
I also informed her that a man from the UDR had presented his ID and
had
urged sensitivity.
He was in the locality of the fight near us.
She seemed oblivious to the politically sensitive issues and; after I said
that I did not approach management when the Youth was put onto the stage
by the thugs because they could have lain in wait for us outside - she said
eventually, 'I don't care what happens to you outside'
5. She claimed that any 'Irish Nationalist' problems were of my own
invention.
6. She alleged that we were in breach of contract for 'allowing' karaoke
and we had 'spoiled' the evening by revealing that we had been asked to
stop playing prematurely by the management, and as such, I had to present
a very good reason for being paid.
When my partner and I dealt with our vandalised car, we had to return to
the locality, and noted that three drunken doorman came out of O'Neills at
4.30 am and spotted us hailing a taxi - and they became very loud and
drunk, - shouting 'bastards', then, banging on the windows of the pub, they
then returned inside where the staff were still assembled.
Although I appreciate that my opinion in these matters may be of no concern
to O'Neills, I would like to note the following complaints for the record.
1. The manageress inferred that I should have been able to deal without
fear with the physical aspects of what was really a dangerous problem.
2. In total I was threatened/coerced by 5 thugs and, two O'Neills doorman.
One of the doormen said that he felt that I was a bit 'out of order' in my
conversation with the manageress.
3. The manageress failed to deal with my problem in a sensitive manner.
4 I was vindicated in giving way to the unmanageable thugs given; that we
were, by admission, 'on our own' outside the venue with disabled
transportation, and, that not enough attention had been given to our area
of the pub by security - ie. to allow a fight to go unnoticed and a large
area of floor to clear to make room for the fighters. This was not - quote
'a man falling over a table'.
5. This has been the worst experience of my career, and I object strongly
to being treated in such a manner by Employees of your company - whose
manner, and attitude towards my character, professionalism and safety was
an absolute disgrace.
Andrew Hennessey
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