Fuelling Fear

   So the petrol pumps are running dry. It’s hardly surprising when people descend upon the forecourts, en masse, like a pack of vultures picking the carcass clean. Anybody would think that this is the last we will ever see of petrol. The problem is that in the back of their minds, people do entertain notions along these kinds of lines. The question is why?

   Somebody once said that mass social structures function in a kind of “three meals away from revolution” mentality. Of course, those controlling the game take advantage of such scenarios in a gleeful manner.  In most cases, such scenarios aren’t simply high jacked by the agenda players… they are orchestrated and guided by them.

   Today has seen the most ludicrous ruminations on display by the mainstream news. These agents of chaos have tied the fuel problem to the ‘peak oil’ and ‘climate change’ myths, the need for greener energy resources, the sanctions on Iran, the global economic meltdown, the petro dollar system, and so on. Press-titute anchors and guests have talked about the ways to solve this problem: release more oil into the market, get the army on the streets ready for more ‘rioting’, bomb Iran now…

   I believe we are only a stone throw away from Santa Claus somehow being implicated and the resulting cry to nuke his evil lair in the South Pole.

   Who knows what is truly at the heart of these situations, although we (who try to look at the broader picture) know that there is always a hidden narrative. The damning aspect of this is the exposure of the levels of naivety in the mass population. Whilst it is clear that TPTB have played a large role in trying to fuel yet another “Problem – Reaction – Solution” scenario, let us not forget that the public at large is equally as complicit.

   How can we ever change these flawed and corrupt systems that control us, if we are going to continue being willing slaves?! The level of ‘panic buying’ proves that so many still believe the hype of the information machine. It also shows how easily people are still vulnerable to manufactured and co-opted fear mongering.

   The simple truth is that the fuel will only run out when there is none left in the world… and that is a long time off. It’s also worth bearing in mind that much of the control system created by the agenda players is ‘oiled’ by the black gold, without it they lose their grip on the reins.  There may be something hidden in the half truths propagated by the media (regarding this situation), but for now it remains vague. The rest of the control mechanism exists because of our own willingness to be controlled, whilst letting fear get the better of us.

   We live under the illusion that we are in complete control of ourselves and the contents of our psyches, and our ability to choose freely. This illusion makes it possible for us to be manipulated.

Please think about this anytime you are encouraged/or feel the urge to “panic”…

I will leave you with two interesting observations from Thomas Jefferson and P. T. Barnum (respectively):

“The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors”.

And,
“There’s a sucker born every minute”.

Till next time,
The Truth Seeker’s Guide.

Back Very Soon...

Apologies for my absence, I know I haven’t posted anything new for a few weeks, but I have been snowed under with various truth related and musical projects. The musical aspects are actually related to the sort of things I cover here, so I hope to start incorporating them into 'The Guide' at some point soon. Watch this space (on that matter) anyway!

Thanks again for all the continuing support, comments, messages and readership. It’s truly appreciated. I hope to post some new articles in the next week or so, so please keep coming back!

Until then, All the best.
The Truth Seeker’s Guide

The Dying Days of Independent Trading

   This week I read an article in a local newspaper that gave me cause for concern. The item (entitled “Row Over Car Boot Loophole”) was featured in the Wednesday 15 February edition of the West Midlands based, Express & Star. It seems that South Staffordshire authorities are looking at ways they can seriously limit the amount of Car Boot sales in the area, following “numerous complaints".

   This is by no means an isolated account of authorities taking umbrage with the activity. The story is the latest in a string of national news items that dates back a couple of years. You might say, “What does this have to do with anything?” I’m always wary when those in positions of power protest loudly and repetitively about something specific and they really do seem to have a bug with Car Boot sales. However, what is happening may be an indication of a larger agenda…

   Car Boot sales are a much bigger deal than you might expect. They are becoming a means for people to make a little extra (tax free) income, by selling on their unwanted goods. Many individuals are actually making a viable living out of the practice (buying & selling), allowing them to earn money (again tax free) outside of the established work system. Some sales have become glorified markets: including, not only individuals but, market stall traders, craft stalls, caterers, service providers, etc.

   One of the main reasons for this can be traced back to the recent decline in Trade & Craft Markets. This was not a result of the economic climate. Believe me when I say that there has been a tangible strategy (orchestrated by local councils and authorities) to remove stalls from the streets and marketplaces of town and cities across the whole UK.

   I used to sell my own artwork on various craft markets in the area, on a regular basis. It was a great way to get a little extra income, as the stall would usually only cost about £30 a day. After including the cost of my materials, I could make anything from £50 - £200 (profit) per day of trading. In time, local councils stopped making the areas available to event organisers and began leasing stall time on an individual basis. Added to this was the requirement of a trading license – a blanket license that could cost thousands of pounds. Under the original system, the event organiser would be the owner of the license. As you can imagine, many markets became akin to Ghost Towns and eventually stopped altogether.

  Some craft markets have continued, but they are now the province of niche and whimsical locations. Such events are extortionately expensive to trade at. One of the last art sales I did was at a famous castle in the midlands. The weekend craft event cost me over £300 to participate and I subsequently made little (if no) profit. It seems that you now pay for the privilege of attending a prestigious event… something only affordable to those doing it as a hobby.

   It seems that Car Boot sales are the last bastions of truly independent trading. The threat this poses to the power structures that control our everyday lives is tangible. Police will turn up with regularity at the sales, patrolling the area like Roman Centurions presiding over a bloated province. The news media has played a huge role in demonising the sales and discussing what MUST be done about them. The reasons for their vilification range from illegal bootleg DVD and tobacco sales, overcrowding, safety, traffic congestion on nearby roads, large scale market trading and noise pollution. These may all be valid causes for concern, but I suspect they are more likely excuses to garner public support to close them down… excuses that hide the true reasons for concern on the part of TPTB.

   If you think about it, these sales are very similar in nature to the old barter markets. Many times, I’ve witnessed people trading in goods rather than currency, people buying cheap food and goods, the events are regularly frequented by those buying gold, silver and other precious commodities, it all happens outside of the control structure of the establishment and (most importantly) it’s all tax free! This kind of exchange and mart terrifies the Agenda Players. It threatens every economic system of control in society and (in their eyes) must be stopped. A means to trade independently, that could easily evolve into a goods and service based barter trade, would be a huge threat if it spread. It is even possible that numbers of people might even realise the redundant nature of a FIAT paper currency of no intrinsic value.

   The nature of our modern life is obvious. Most people now work for the big faceless corporations. Most of us can only buy food and goods from big faceless corporations. We can only get services from the big faceless corporations. These organisations want to use our credit cards and chip & pin means, doing away with the last of our sovereign means of trade and leaving us with the nightmare scenario: a system policed and controlled totally by them. Next would be RFID chips and we all know where that would lead…

   I can’t tell you how rage inducing an experience it is for me entering a corporate super market. The trite and subtle subliminal beckoning, the all-seeing eyes watching down on the customers, the “Do you have a Clubcard, sir?”…  Sometimes I really feel like flicking the middle finger at the security cameras or kicking in the screen of the self-service scanner, every time Mrs Stephen Hawking speaks at me! Of course I don’t… but you know what I’m getting at.

   Car Boots preserve the community spirit and retain the human factor. They are a place where people gather, talk, laugh and reaffirm their togetherness. They inspire ingenuity and imagination. It is also curious to note that Car Boots are free of the curse of bank cards, scanners, cameras, loyalty cards, chips, etc. When you look at the bigger picture, it seems obvious why the Agenda Players would want them gone. Independence and non-compliance with their systems of control SHOULD threaten them. If we want to preserve the last of our civil freedoms, it is crucial that we support those things that the upper echelons cannot influence.

They are our charge to protect... For when they are gone, what will we have left?
Peace Out, Folks!
The Truth Seeker’s Guide.


Books available from Carl James:
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume One - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-one/paperback/product-23209429.html
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume Two - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-two/paperback/product-23209433.html
What Really Happened at the London 2012 Olympics - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/what-really-happened-at-the-london-2012-olympics/paperback/product-23221527.html

Ridley Scott, Prometheus and Post-Modern Theories of Evolution

   The “Alien” franchise is huge and, despite the ill-advised “AVP” spin-offs, has always been a guaranteed ‘bums on seats’ phenomenon in the movie industry. This Year, Ridley Scott will be returning to the space-horror genre that first made him a household name – with the release of “Prometheus”. The film will be dealing with a subject that is far reaching in the truth community – the idea of extra-terrestrial involvement in the creation / evolution of humanity, genetic manipulation and terraforming.

   Despite the feverish levels of secrecy surrounding the film, Scott has been open about one aspect: the inspiration behind the story. “It’s the story of creation, the gods and the man who stood against them…  NASA and the Vatican agree that [it is] almost mathematically impossible that we can be where we are today without there being a little help along the way... That’s what we’re looking at (in the film), at some of Erich von Däniken’s ideas of how did we humans come about.”

   The Greek mythology of Prometheus – who was cursed after stealing fire from the gods to give to mankind – has not escaped the attention of many and set internet forums alight. Is there something deeper going on with this film? From the poster artwork of the possible ‘all-seeing eye’ (also an ancient monument), to the similarity between the alien race (glimpse in the first “Alien” movie and christened the “Space Jockey”) and the various images of alleged “Nephilim” remains, discussion and speculation has posed the question: Is “Prometheus” trying to tell us (or mislead us about) something? Why this particular subject? And why now?

 

   The idea that “Prometheus” could be an exercise in public perception might be considered a coincidence or ‘flight of fancy’. However it is based around three central notions that have a basis in fact:

1. That the mainstream media lies, misleads and manipulates public opinion
2. That the mainstream media is intricately involved with clandestine programs of perception management and psychological control
3. That there has been a (very) longstanding doctrine of misinformation regarding the existence of creatures in Earth’s past (in varying forms) that are either:

• Terrestrial in origin and are no longer apparent in nature (or “natural” anyway)
• Or non-Terrestrial in origin

   In relation to the film industry, it is extensively documented that Hollywood has forged deals of convenience with the military, intelligence agencies and NASA in order to produce any number of films. Whilst these arrangements have been made to procure assets (vehicles, soldiers, bases, technical expertise, etc.), it seems that the price of these deals usually involves said agencies having a lengthy say in the nature of the production’s scripts. Changes are made in order to seal the deal and usually involve casting the agencies “in a wholly respectable light with nothing but good intentions.” PR exercises, in other words.

 

   A curious result of these changes, often involves the re-writing of a period of history. It may involve an individual (ironically, see: “Black Hawk Down” – Ridley Scott) or a specific event (a good example would be “Windtalkers”), that results in the Cinema going public exiting the theatre with a misaligned perception of a fact based event. This is the unavoidable nature of the “magic” of film (Hollywood = Holy Wood = Magic Wand…), however it is troubling when it relates to historical accuracy. It is a job well done, when individuals decide to base their entire historical knowledge on a media drip feed and never bother to research further. Of course, for many people, this is an accepted practice.

 

   The use of the media as a perception filter (and a tool of PR) is an old tale. It dates back through countless civilisations and has certainly blossomed in the last hundred years through the accessibility of radio, film, television and aspects of the internet. The early work of The Tavistock Institute and associated profiteers of perception (such as Edward Bernays) is a testament to its effectiveness. The Radio Research Project and the programmed radio broadcast: “War of the Worlds”, showed how a simple exercise could be so successfully applied to a malleable public. Many will so say that it could never be so worthwhile today, simply because people are not that naïve anymore! This might well be true if it represented the total extent of the practice.

 

   The damning truth of such affairs goes much deeper though. The study of psychology and social science is part of the bedrock of modern civilisation. It is integral to the effective functioning of industry, business, finance, governing bodies, the military, etc. An organisation’s mere existence rests exclusively with the ability to predict, steer or (dare I say) control public opinion and demand. The media is the machine that drives this process.

 

   Further still, one must consider projects like Bluebird, Arti-choke, Chatter, MKDelta, MKUltra, etc. I could write extensively here about these projects, the evidence for their existence, the depths of the research and experiments, and the implications therein. The evidence is readily available for anybody prepared to take the time to look at it. In relation to this particular subject, there is an almost invisible line that continually associates these and other on-going projects with the media sector. With this in mind, the implications become all too clear…

 

   We live in troubling times and the program of mass manipulation, through such forms, is in full swing. Countless people will accept the fed idea of an international bogeyman, looming catastrophe or terrorist plot without question. They will accept the laws, rules and mandates created to keep order and keep them safe. They will fixatedly stare at their respective screens of ‘knowledge’ and ‘life style suggestions’, turn it off at the end of the day, tuck themselves safely into bed and count sheep…

 

   At such times, others look outward for meaning. It is then that many ask about the nature of existence, our origins, the hidden secrets of energy and suppressed technology and the possibility of an untaught (at least in academia) terrestrial timeline.

 

   With regard to the latter, there is a problem with the vilification of existing source material. It seems that anybody who poses an alternative theory of evolution (or, heaven forbid, an intervention theory) is considered a crackpot! The subject has become a hotbed of controversy and debate. You could read pages of literature and truly feel that you had stumbled onto something significant, only to suddenly find an opaque undercurrent of religious dogmatism. In no time you would read phrases like “the Anti-Christ” and “The Rapture” and realise that you had been hoodwinked!

 

   This has happened to me once or twice and infuriates me. I know what to discard at this point, but do I throw the baby out with the bathwater?! There could be one crucial nugget hidden within the rest of the garbage. I’ve now increased my workload by a factor of ten, if I want to find more credible references elsewhere. All this is thanks to a totally irresponsible “researcher” and all the other people that refer to the original source.  Incidentally, this happens a lot in truth research in general. My crap detector is pretty damn good these days, but it doesn’t help those who’ve just started to realise the bigger picture and want to learn more. For all the good it does, I implore those responsible to STOP IT!!

 

   It is not in the least bit surprising that the subject can be steered so effectively. Erich von Däniken and Zecharia Sitchin are consigned by many to the science fiction, bargain bin, references to the curious creatures in the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Book of Enoch, Jared, etc., are dismissed as religious extremism, and so on. The association is tangled and unfortunate because it does appear that there may very well be some truths within the material.

 

   That said… the evidence is not entirely that of mystical leanings and historical speculation. There is an abundance of ancient texts, glyphs, cave drawings and stone carvings that refer to creatures and races that don’t appear on the Earth today. They also show the possible existence of advanced technology and methods being employed by said beings.  The references are numerous and (despite the circulation of forgeries that taint the validity of the genuine articles) remain a fascinating source of research.

 

   Then we have the discovery of artefacts (specifically bones) that don’t fit with Darwinian (and certainly Creationist!) theory. There are a sizeable number of huge bones that some suggest are remnants of an oft-referred species labelled The Nephilim. These relics have been photographed, catalogued and studied to various degrees of authenticity. As before, fakery is also rife and taints the study somewhat.

 

   Finally there is the work of Lloyd Pye and the Starchild Skull to consider. I personally find his work to be one of the most credible and tirelessly researched sources on the subject, largely because of the process of investigation that he has utilised. The work also poses the intriguing hypothesis that there may be a degree of genetic intervention at some point in our evolution. It may also be possible to suggest that such intervention was non-terrestrial in nature. If such a theory were proved to be even remotely true, the implications for humanity would be unimaginable. Such a realisation would be the single greatest revelation in the whole of human history.

 

   It is here that I return to Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus”. With so many people investigating, studying and discussing far-reaching concepts such as a hidden evolutionary history, ancient astronauts, advanced genetic engineering, free energy, hyper-technology and the possibility of having to rethink all we know and believe, would it not be prudent for the mainstream perception bureau (the mainstream media) to have a handle on how this information is disseminated?

 

   “Prometheus” could serve as a perfect vehicle for such a task. Like much science fiction, it can be referred to as the source of such wild speculation. If it is an attempt to expose a greater truth, it can just as easily be dismissed as another example of “tapping into the zeitgeist”. If it fails at the box office, it will be largely forgotten.

 

   As always I occupy the middle ground and try to remain as sensible as I can with regard to such issues. It is important to remember that not every film is a tool of a darker mechanism. The PR agenda of many a Hollywood production is simply to sell a slew of new merchandise, or recruit a certain skill set in society, dose-up our personal or national pride, or to just mindlessly distract us with frivolous social mind-sets for a few hours. I’m not excusing this, but it is what it is.

 

   Never the less, history also shows us that not everything is as black and white as it always appears... that sometimes, certain agendas (or even certain truths) can and will be hidden in plain sight. What greater secret could there be to hide, than IF it turned out that great swathes of accepted human history were a big fat lie? Is “Prometheus” playing a minor part in this? We’ll just have to wait and see!

 

Prometheus is released worldwide in early June 2012.

Books available from Carl James:
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume One - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-one/paperback/product-23209429.html
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume Two - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-two/paperback/product-23209433.html
What Really Happened at the London 2012 Olympics - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/what-really-happened-at-the-london-2012-olympics/paperback/product-23221527.html

Exopolitics Great Britain 2012

The UK Exopolitics (GB) Conference 2012 is in the planning stages. The conference is hugely important as it is a platform for some of the most respected researchers in the field and an opportunity to spread the word about issues that really should be in the public consciousness.

Exopolitics is the study of "the art or science of government as concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy towards extraterrestrial phenomena and extraterrestrial beings" (Stephen Bassett)

The conference has been held in Leeds since 2009 and has played host to the likes of Ian R Crane, Richard D Hall, Andrew Johnson, Anthony Beckett, Nick Pope, Lloyd Pye, Stephen Bassett, Richard Dolan, Mary Rodwell, David Griffin, Steven Jones, Alan Foster, Bryce Zabel, Gary Heseltine, Richard C Hoagland, Gerard Aartsen, Richard Lawrence, Max Burns, Robbie Graham &  Bridget Barclay.

Supporting this event is crucial in allowing the conference to expand in 2012. Please show your support by visiting the following links and maybe buying a box set of DVDs featuring lectures from the three annual events. Exopolitics GB needs as much financial support as possible so please do what you can.

All The Best!
The Truth Seeker's Guide

WEBSITE
http://www.exopoliticsgb.com/

DVDS
http://www.richplanet.net/more.php
http://www.exopoliticsgb.com/catalog/conference-dvds

Richard D Hall interviews Anthony Beckett & Andrew Johnson on Richplanet TV -
includes highlights of the 2011 Conference and what to look forward to in 2012
http://www.richplanet.net/starship_main.php?ref=86&part=1
http://www.richplanet.net/starship_main.php?ref=86&part=2
http://www.richplanet.net/starship_main.php?ref=86&part=3


Books available from Carl James:
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume One - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-one/paperback/product-23209429.html
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume Two - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-two/paperback/product-23209433.html
What Really Happened at the London 2012 Olympics - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/what-really-happened-at-the-london-2012-olympics/paperback/product-23221527.html

Tribute To A Tribute

   Not my usual Truth Seeking subject today, rather something close to my heart that I thought I’d share with my fellow travellers. After 14 years, I’m saying a bitter sweet goodbye to my alter ego (in the form of Roger Daltrey of The Who) and my association with the UK tribute band Who’s Renown. So far as it goes, it’s not unexpected. The individual members of the band have become involved in numerous individual projects in the last 18 months or so (including myself) and it has become harder to get everybody together at the same time to perform any shows. For my own part, The Truth Seeker’s Guide has taken on a life of its own and I hope to spend a lot more time, this year, expanding my horizons and seeing where it leads. In order that the music doesn’t get stale or we look like we’re going through the motions, we’ve unanimously and amicably decided to put the band to bed, as it were!

   For better or worse though, it’s been one hell of a ride and one I’ll find hard to top again in my life. So if you'll indulge me, I'd like to share my story.

   I joined the band in late 1997, thanks to my friend’s husband. Pete Hawkesworth was a bass guitar player, who along with his school mate Mick Bowen (a lead and rhythm guitarist), had performed together in bands since the late 70s. My friend had heard me cat wailing at various karaoke’s during my more hedonistic days and she dropped my name to Pete and Mick who, after a lengthy musical sabbatical, had decided to “put the band back together”!

   Those early days were a riot of practices. We auditioned dozens of drummers, week after week… one chap (who looked like Buddy Holly, glasses and all) turned out to be almost blind, another lad (despite being a brilliant drummer) suffered incredible stage fright and informed us that he could only play on stage if his dad stood at the side of him… we relied on an old Bontempi drum machine for the longest time!!

   Finally, we met John Starling who settled in behind the pots and pans at the back of the stage. The name “Renown” (oddly after a steam engine) stuck after a while and we started playing some local music venues. The gigs were a mix of disinterested drinkers, bar fights and pubs with barbed wire around the windows… no exaggeration! I recall one venue where some nutter with a knife decided to smash all the windows while he waited for the police to come and arrest him.

   On another occasion a huge fight kicked off at the end of the night. It was chaos with glass flying everywhere and me, Pete and John flaying equipment around to keep the fight away from the gear. Mick, who seemed to be on another planet much of the time, sat deadpan, nonchalantly rolling cigarettes at a table. The fight moved toward him and, like the cat and dog fights in the old cartoons, finally engulfed him. After a moment, the fight dispersed revealing Mick with his clothes and hair dishevelled, drinks knocked over, yet still rolling his fags with the same blank look…

   We fought amongst ourselves a lot in the early days. It seemed like the band was always on the brink of ending. There was always something to prove to somebody else. Ego is often the hallmark of musicians, although we’d never admit it. I remember a particularly bad night, when you could cut the atmosphere (amongst the band) with a knife. We were even arguing over the best way to put the gear away at the end! Pete’s bass playing had (unbeknownst to him) been scrutinised all night by a chap at the bar. During our post gig, gear arranging barney, he had shot to the bar to get a drink and the man coolly motioned to him.

“Great stuff mate. Really great stuff.”Pete briefly said cheers, but shot straight back to the stage… clearly wanting to put his penny worth into the tussle. Later, as we were leaving, the landlord said to Pete,
“Do you know who that was that spoke to you earlier?”
“No mate”
“That was Jim Lea, the bass player from Slade! He lives round here.”
“Oh right!”

   The irony was that we’d played a couple of songs by the 70s Glam Rockers during the set! Pete has never lived that one down…

   The other problem was direction. At the time we were a jobbing covers band and the style was always an issue. I had my Prog Rock, Post Punk, Talking Heads, Eno, etc. Mick was dedicated to Merseybeat. John was a dyed in the wool folk and blues man with a love of Rory Gallagher. Pete was an overgrown Mod, obsessed with The Who, who rued the day that synth and New Romanticism had come along and killed his beloved Ska and Two-Tone.
We needed focus and direction.

   We talked about the need for a show… a performance, rather than a string of greatest hits. Every band looks for the edge it can achieve over the others and we wanted something special, yet familiar to the audience, whilst still representative of us. The decision took a bizarre route though. Pete wanted us to look at Live At Leeds – the infamous live gig by The Who. What got our attention was how songs from Tommy (built around orchestral arrangements and heavy synth) had been stripped down to the core instruments. The Who had subsequently done this with Who Are You, Baba O’Riley, Won’t Get Fooled Again, etc., in other live shows.

   This was only to be the example though… not the source. Laughably, our intention was to overhaul Jeff Wayne’s War Of The Worlds! We’d convinced ourselves that it was a ground-breaking idea! To get the ball rolling, we learned the stripped down Who stuff (all synth, violin and piano sections were played on guitar and blues harp) and played it endlessly at gigs.
More and more, The Who took over the sets and always got a good response from the crowds. We didn’t realise it but we had our ‘hook’. Out of the blue, we had a call from a musician who had seen us recently and wanted us to play at an event in Burton On Trent. The catch was to play only The Who and (ahem) ‘dress like them’….

   We were billed as a tribute band. This hadn’t even remotely occurred to us. We weren’t fans of the term, simply because of the implications: being (somewhere) like the real thing. We weren’t. We were just us doing “our own take on things”. The costumes were made in a few days. Cheap and shitty, fake beards, wigs and moustaches were brought from the fancy dress shop, we practiced some poses…. It was a riot! Like Osama Bin Laden meets the Carry On films. John’s wig kept falling off whilst drumming, half of Mick’s moustache fell off (and the other wouldn’t shift at all)… We looked like a bunch of first class idiots!

   We must have done something right musically because the gigs rolled in afterwards, but always as a tribute, so we gratefully went with the flow. Mick and Pete adopted the early Townsend/Entwhistle look (sans hairpiece!), I purchased an expensive real hair wig (a vicarious experience for me, given that I was as bald as a mule by then), vastly improved costumes were made and the “Who’s” moniker was added to “Renown”.We went about three years playing all over the Midlands and surrounding area and things were going good. Unfortunately, good things never last.

   The first problem became something of a recurring one… a la Spinal Tap!... Drummers. John was taking a very early retirement to travel with his wife. Despite no hard feelings, we rapidly found ourselves one man down and the gigs had to stop. We spent almost a year with a drummer called Spence and then a chap named Simon Hassle. We accomplished a lot in the period and really raised the profile of the band, playing at Carmarthen Castle in Wales, Trent Bridge Cricket Grounds in Nottingham, the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, to name a few.

   We started to realise that we had another problem and it is something that has never been discussed outside of the band until now. Somebody was trying to undermine us. We had phone calls arranging events  that we’d turn up to and find that we weren’t on the billing. Dates were being changed at the last minute. Accusations were being made about the band (and individual members) and the paranoia was getting to us.We suspected that it may have been fellow bands, certain agents and representatives.

   The threat we mainly posed was not how good (or bad!) we were… rather our independence. AND the fact that the music circuit functions on the principle of monopoly: there can only be one type of something. We collectively managed ourselves, sought no sponsors, 95% of our gigs came via our own hard work and word of mouth, and used only one or two agents on a few occasions. A number of anonymous individuals had all but confirmed this, but it didn’t explain the level of information they had about us personally. There were a number of people on the periphery of the band that also gave us cause for concern.

   Eventually (and this is where I have to be careful), one or two individuals clocked part of what was going on. The band was never really the same after that for a good while. The fun died down, we kept our enemies close and closed ranks. It all sounds very macabre and fanciful, but we had no choice if we were going to continue.I lost a lot of my exuberance with the music game during this time also. Despite the arguments, we had always stuck together and that had gone by the end of the troubles. Many practices and gigs would be hard graft, rarely punctuated by a bit of piss taking or banter. The period saw the departure of Simon Hassle and the recruiting of an excellent drummer called Jason Griffin.

  The period wasn’t all bad though. In terms of performing, we returned several times to The Cavern Club, showcased Tamworth’s  Modrophenia event, performed in York, Sheffield, Leicester, Manchester, followed thousands of mods on scooters down to Skegness for their annual scooter rally, performed on the beach at Southport and the banks of The Thames in London. There are too many to count.

   By 2007, things started to go really pear shaped. This time for different reasons. We had worked bloody relentlessly to overcome the obstacles and I think we succeeded. We had been criticised for not looking like The Who, (myself) for not sounding like Daltrey, for publicising ourselves as a tribute (something forced on us by venues and organisers), Pete for not standing perfectly still and looking bored (he pounced like a graceless gazelle sometimes) and Mick for not jumping around and smashing his guitar up!

   By the end of the year, the proverbial had hit the fan. Jason had the opportunity to join a band on the verge of signing a deal (we never blamed him for taking it), Mick reacquainted himself with his ex (and by extension, his family) and my kidneys decided to blow up in my face! I suffered a lot of problems with my health for the next  12 months, so my role in the band was haphazard. An old school friend, Adrian Sharratt replaced Mick for the duration and Jason was replaced by our first drummer John (who, after his travels, was looking to get back in the saddle). By now, though, the cracks were obvious and Who’s Renown was a shell of its former self. I might be overly anthropomorphising here, but a band is an entity in its own right. Sometimes it needs a little TLC to get better.

   I certainly did anyway! For three bloody months I had to practice sitting down. How can you find your groove if your arse is sat on it?!!

   In time my health returned and so did Mick. The band was in demand again, we played a lot, made connections, started other projects and the nature of the band changed yet again. In form it felt like the early days.
The camaraderie started to come back, we sounded better than we ever did and people no longer seemed to care that we were never going to look like The Who. We even did a couple of gigs dressed as ‘us’! 

 I had the chance to go home and perform in front of the people I’d grown up around at Lichfield Fuse Festival, we even did a mini tour of dates that gave us a holiday on the sun kissed beaches of… England! Actually it was a heat wave summer… just doesn’t sound very exotic.

   2010 sounded the beginning of the end. Now involved in numerous other escapades, our other commitments continually got in the way. Half a dozen high profile gigs a year if we were lucky. I think we all knew that the finishing line was in sight, especially when we were approached to join the Modfest stage at Liverpool’s, annual Mathew Street Festival for the August bank holiday weekend.

350,000 people descending on the birthplace of The Beatles for three days of solid music. In our minds, we knew this would be (for better or worse) our swansong.

   We took the train in the early morning to Liverpool, signed ourselves in at the town hall, received our all-access passes and trundled off down to the stage, nestled beneath the Liver Birds. The city was quiet and we mucked about, took the piss, had a nap, joked a bit, hid our nerves… just like the good old days. There was even a bit of angst and aggression, when it appeared that the opening act was going to do our entire set list! A good omen, in retrospect. I’m not really sure what we were expecting at the time. The band before us had performed to about 700 - 800 people, but this appeared miniscule when you consider that each of the collective six stages had huge open areas in front of them. We were escorted backstage to the dressing room porta-cabins, so we couldn’t see in front of the stage and had no idea what awaited us. Would we still have the 800? A few more? A lot less?

   Security came and lead us up the covered side gantry to the stage. The events co-ordinator patted our backs and said, “Good luck guys!”

   Walking onto the stage was singularly the most surreal experience. All I could see was people, as far away as could be seen, left, right and into the distance. All looking at me with my stupid wig and stupid tassels. I looked at John who looked like Casper the friendly ghost. Pete fiddled with his bass and pretended not to notice: The Iceman Cometh! Mick smirked like a kid in the candy store!

   My recollection of the next 45 minutes is vague. I know I jumped and swung the mike with everything I had. I shook like a leaf, but sang every note like my dying breath.

 I cannot express in words what it was like. I knew that all the years had been worth it. I was hugely proud of myself and my mates and it was quite simply the greatest day of my life to that point….

   Nobody said much afterwards. You know that warm content feeling you get sometimes… something like that anyway.

   For posterity I asked the co-ordinator to radio up and get the head count. Our audience was in excess of 20,000 people. You know something… people have laughed when we’ve told them that. They don’t believe it or say it’s nothing compared to O2 or Wembley! Life is like that. Experience is singular and exclusive. The experience is always our own to define. I know that there is something greater in that notion that transcends being on a stage or whatever, I'm just not entirely sure what though right now…

After that, we did a few more gigs about the place. You know how it is! Trying to recapture the glory... But looking back is never a constructive emotional state.

Today I’ll allow myself a quiet one. After all, 14 years is a long time.

And then tomorrow… who knows. Onwards and upwards!

Thanks for taking the time to read and support my posts. Wherever you are today, I hope you have a good one my friends.

The Truth Seeker's Guide

Is The UK Government Backstepping On Swine Flu?

   An interesting set of developments occurred in the last few days that grabbed my curiosity. I was minutes from heading out the door, when I caught a MSN bulletin (a rare thing I might add) suggesting that the UK government ‘may’ have got it’s tactics wrong with regard to medicating the population in anticipation of 2009’s false flag, “Swine Flu Pandemic”. The announcer also stated that, in doing so, the government had subjected groups of individuals to “potential health risks”. I remember shouting at the TV: “I could have told them that obvious fact 3 years ago!” Trying to keep an eye on the various mainstream outlets for the next few days was also interesting, given that there was little further coverage on the matter. Despite this, I did manage to find a few articles drifting around the net shedding some light.

   It seems that the story revolves around the so called ‘wonder drug’ Tamiflu which was used to prevent and treat influenza in the past and mass distributed to hundreds of thousands of people (if not more) in the UK during the scaremongering period of 2009. Tamiflu was discovered in 1999 by the Californian biotech company, Gilead Sciences and is currently manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche.

   Roche’s studies on Tamiflu suggested that it reduced the number of patients who needed to be hospitalised after becoming infected with swine flu. These findings have been recently called into question by Sir Iain Chambers (founder of The Cochrane Collaboration, “a non-profit group who analyse medical evidence through results from the world's best medical research studies”). He says, “We have invested millions of pounds on stockpiling Tamiflu on the basis of a paper that presented the results of 12 trials, only two of which have been published… the investigation shows Roche refused to provide data to evaluate these trials.”

   Both Gilead Sciences and Roche have a colourful history regarding pharmaceutical development that deserves a thorough examination (no pun intended!). As for the health risks, the reported side effects have included nausea, nightmares (in children), and narcolepsy… although many others have been cited.

   The truth about Tamiflu goes much deeper than these adverse reactions though and it seems that here is where the MSM will not dare to tread… for to discuss it would invoke a public scandal. The subsequent Swine Flu vaccination (and many other vaccinations) proved an even greater risk to the public. The treatment contained the deadly adjuvant Squalene (which wreaks havoc with the human immune system and was listed in the EU as a bio-
weapon), the vaccine had been sitting on the shelf for an eternity and was shipped out with virtually no trials on humans, it created huge profits for Big Pharma, it had already been shown to potentially trigger auto-immune diseases and famously highlighted government ineptitude during the 1976 Swine Flu outbreak when the vaccination killed hundreds and left others with the crippling Guillain-Barre syndrome.

   Most disturbing of all were the attempts by several western governments (in tandem with the fear tactics of the mainstream media) to create a mandatory vaccination programme. Although this never extended as widely as they hoped (due in thanks to a surprisingly large number of well-informed individuals and a lacklustre uptake), the UK Government’s own documents show that large scale, mandatory treatment was well into the advance planning stages.

   The callous nature of the TPTB continues unabated even now. There were many unreported deaths, not from Swine Flu, but rather as a reaction to the treatment. These statistics were bundled in with ‘official’ number of Swine ‘FLU’ fatalities. During the 2011/2012 winter period, numerous seasonal flu deaths were reclassified as Swine Flu deaths. Why?!! Examples of government thinking can be witnessed in the documents “Draft Strategic National Vaccine Plan” (11/26/08) & The House Of Commons Swine flu vaccination - Standard Note: SN/SC/5164 - Author: Dr Gavin Colthart. The UK NHS Swine Flu Survival Guide pamphlet also makes for interesting reading (between the lines, of course!)

   There is a much more important issue here though. The media, huge corporations, medical institutions, the government… all colluding to try to get all of us to expose our health to potentially life threatening risks. What the hell are they playing at?! You only have to due any peripheral research into a company like Monsanto to know that it ain't good anyway! The rhetoric, after the Swine Flu ‘Pandemic’ amounted to nothing was “prevention and luck saved the day”. Quite frankly this is a cover story on the scale of a steaming great pile of horse manure! It's possible that this recent touch of truth regarding Swine Flu will open the gate to larger exposure, but I doubt it. Disclosure would raise far to many uncomfortable questions.

   As for you, I can only make a suggestion: If they ever tell you vaccinations are good for you and that you need to have one, I suggest you run for the door as fast as you can. This might sound like scare tactics from the flipside of the coin but don't take it from me... Do your own homework, get informed and make up your own mind. You’ll be glad you did.

Namaste Folks!
The Truth Seeker’s Guide.


Further reading:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-16607097

http://thetruthseekersguide.blogspot.com/2011/07/un-natural-war-part-four-vaccinations_23.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2087760/Tamiflu-Side-effects-effectiveness-wonder-drug-microscope.html?ito=feeds-newsxml


Books available from Carl James:
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume One - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-one/paperback/product-23209429.html
Science Fiction and the Hidden Global Agenda - Volume Two - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/science-fiction-and-the-hidden-global-agenda-2016-edition-volume-two/paperback/product-23209433.html
What Really Happened at the London 2012 Olympics - http://www.lulu.com/shop/carl-james/what-really-happened-at-the-london-2012-olympics/paperback/product-23221527.html