Below is the complete unedited, uncorrected text of a Myspace message sent to the Cass Records account from the page for the band Freer. Enjoy.
hello Mr. White Stipes Historian
I'm not a scencester fuck like you, most of your friends and the majority of unoriginal bands you support. Bands who obviously could care less about good lyrics or any kind of real emotion.(I do like a few of the bands you like though. The Sights, Terrible Twos, Siddhartha, ).
Alot of people have told me that responding to your little jabs aren't worth my time. But little spoiled brat scenster fucks like you are the kind of people who ruin music. And I would die for music.
I don't want you to start liking our music. I've never been a part of your little scene and I never want to be. But I'm not going to keep quiet when a fellow local musician(and I'm stretching to call you a musician)starts trashing my band in his blog and making clever little jabs in the MetroTimes. Especially some little shit who doesn't know the meaning of sacrificing for his art.
I can't wait to make-out with you again.
70 comments:
i love how people think that one persons opinion can influence the billions of people in the world.
im sorry to say, i dont believe one man can make a difference.
AND THAT IS MY OPINION.
I probably shouldn't get on the computer when I'm drunk, I wouldn't have bothered. Even though reading the message I have to agree with most of what I said. You got me. I'm exposed. You should have included the fact that I tried to kiss you at the party the other night and you had your goones rough me up and throw me out. It was only a kiss. I wouldn't have even have given you tongue. And that message was meant for you only. I have to say that you're a bad boyfriend. Airing our dirty laundry. Not wanting to show affection in public. You should have come to me first. We could have worked it out lover. But for some reason my lips are still yearning. So untill next time. Kisses. - Jeremy
Was that a come-on or a physical threat?
hey jeremy. why dont you do the world a favor and shut the fuck up.
Dammit, I never get invited to that kind of party. In fact, I bet no one even throws that kind of party in Lansing....
I'm not really friends with either party but I have heard rumors of homophobia in the White Stripes camp.
FUNNY AS .
Since when did this blog get so kinky?
Since when did gay become kinky?
B, why give this guy a forum to pilfer some of YOUR goodwill for his own self-promotion? He's generating social notoriety for himself by creating some bizzare association with you.
Have you learnt nothing from The Hills?
Dont even think for one minute Jeremy that your going to get your greasy lips on my little dirtbomb you sceezy scank rocker. He's all mine! He may not be much but at least he's jack white's nephew thats more than I can say for you. But if you really want to turn on the kink I'll make you my special little nephew. I'm a swinger to just like good old jackie boy.
So not liking Freer = ruining music? Huh?
That dude needs to learn that working hard and gaining fans is the best revenge.
Jimi Hendrix would've turned 65 today and it got me thinking. All this back and forth shit has gottne stupid. I didn't do this to get attention. I didn't do it because I think ANYONE should like FREER. I did it because this guy Ben Blackwell who is a member of a successful band(who's success he had nothing to do with) and is related to powerful people who will make sure he is set up for life decided he wanted to play the role of bully and start dissing FREER and other bands who don't have the luxury of his silver spoon. I didn't understand the dynamic of another local "musician" also trying to play the role of "critic" and bad mouthing people he doesn't know. I'm a musician not a critic so I keep my musical opinions between me and my friends. I respect writers and critics but I don't understand why someone who played music would even want to be a critic. I reacted emotionally because I take music VERY seriously. The message that Ben posted was NEVER meant to be public. I wrote it personally to him. It was HIS CHOICE to exploit what I said. There are alot of bands in this city I respect. And some I think are full of shit. My opinion isn't important. As far as the kissing goes I said if I ever saw Ben I'd either spit in his face or kiss him on the lips. That was in response to his intial blog dissing us. Well he happened to be at a party I was at last Satruday and I'm a man of my word so I went in for the kiss. He freaked out and I was roughed up(there was some kind of bodygaurd there) and booted out like Jazzy Jeff from the Indian Village Mansion the party we happened to be at. If I didn't play my music I'd slit my wrists. I have no choice. So it really doesn't matter if some Garage Rock elitist approves or not. This whole situation is really the first experience I've ever had being "Blog Dissed" and then getting into a "Blog Fight". I guess I got a little caught up. I feel like I stooped down to this kids level so for that I apologize to anyone who's wasted there time reading any of this. There are more important things going on in the world and more important things to do(like create the most inspired music possible). And to Ben. Your not a bad looking kid. I'd still take you up on the kiss if you're down. Besides that, I will as one earlier blogger put it "shut the fuck up" at least when it comes to this blogging buisness. Good luck with your career and all that. your emotionally disturbed friend - Jeremy
"If I didn't play my music I'd slit my wrists. I have no choice."
ahh,
and emo, gay person.
this is new to me.
~gent.
what was the point of posting this?
This is weird, now. Post something new.
Ben was in Cleveland last Saturday. Even after his drive home it still must of been about 5am or so. HMMM!
You were probably loaded when you went in for your "statement kiss" and smooched some random dude thus getting you the boot from a birthday party that you probably crashed after the bar let out.
Sounds like the typical scenester fuck night out.
Frear's words and his idea of music seem like he would be in a bad band that will toil away paying the hard dues of the local bar scene for no money or reason, maybe even playing out-a-town on weekends for no money.
Try supporting yourself doing music and quit your job. Try it...
Jealousy will make you say stupid things, nobody likes to be criticized but just remember that everyone hates a whiner.
On second thought, quit playing music and slit your wrists...you have no choice.
this is not weird. this is hilarious. we're watching some guy unravel because what someone wrote on a blog. A blog! B-L-O-G. Not Rolling Stone, or even Metro Times. But some internet posting thing. And he continually removes his foot from his ass and then directly puts it in his mouth. And he won't stop doing it! It's like watching a comedy. Hey Jeremy. Here's a little piece of advice, since you didn't take the last one when the guy above told you to shut the fuck up.
Shut the fuck up.
Do you think that you're the only band that doesn't get shit talked on blogs? Do you think you're some martyr for the cause? For all the bands that get attacked by mean mean meanie Ben Blackwell?
I mean you actually went to a party and tried to kiss him. Shouldn't you have been at home writing new songs with the music you would slit your wrists for? Yes, you should have, but instead you keep posting on this blog, trying to defend yourself for being a fucking idiot. Well you don't have to defend yourself any longer. We got the memo, the jury is in. Your a fucking idiot
"The message that Ben posted was NEVER meant to be public. I wrote it personally to him." - and he posted it on the blog to get back at you. You can't hit someone and complain if they hit back harder.
"hello Mr. White Stipes Historian" - ohhh, I bet that one cuts deep. What an insult. Nice one.
"I'm not a scencester fuck like you" - who says he's a 'scenester' exactly? you? You're putting him into a category just so you can have a go at him for it.
again.
"But I'm not going to keep quiet when a fellow local musician (and I'm stretching to call you a musician)" - you're calling him a musician just so you can say he's not a musician. If it's really that difficult for you then don't use the word.
"(I do like a few of the bands you like though. The Sights, Terrible Twos, Siddhartha, )." - so what are we saying he is correct only when they agree with you? OK, got it.
"I did it because this guy Ben Blackwell who is a member of a successful band (who's success he had nothing to do with)" - sterling use of brackets again. what's the point I don't think he ever said he is responsible for the success of that band.
"wanted to play the role of bully" - I think it's called an opinion. You know reviews, they're all like that. The author can like or dislike something, they're even allowed to make up their own minds even if they don't adhere to your strict guidelines.
I don't know Freer's music or the members of the band, but I've known Ben long enough to know that he was a writer and a critic before he ever joined the Dirtbombs. That's not to say I'm a good friend, but I doubt he would suggest that it's because of him that the Dirtbombs have been successful. (Whatever that means. Don't think any of them are swimming in cash-filled pools.)
The poster above is right, this guy is publically unravelling. It's like Detroit has it's own unfamous Britney Spears. It would be sad if it wasn't sort of funny.
I love your blog, Ben. You shitstirrer, you!
--Chicago Moose
Can you post something else please. This is really fucked up all around. I'm sure the guy learned his lesson.
I think that if we were to take all of these comments and the events surrounding them as a whole, we could distill the moral of this tale into something economical enough to fit into a fortune cookie. To wit: It's far easier to insult what you covet than to confront your covetous feelings.
Also, that nothing is more humiliating than statement- kissing the wrong person. Egads. I'm embarrassed just typing that.
That fag's not my brother!
As far as I can tell Ben and Jeremy are the only one's with balls enough to let their names be known. It's seems like the people with the most to say about this are anonymous. Why don't they reveal themselves?
my name is jake.
hows that for revealing.
YOU WANT MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TOO?
Yeah you emo gay slit your wrists!!!
WhiteStripes rule!!!
Finally someone had the balls to confront this leech wanker! After insulting just about every band (Locally) that has developed some interest (Hard Lessons, Charlie Slick, Freer, Nice Device,etc.etc.etc.)someone actually exposed themself and called you out as the knob you are with no fear of "Hipster" backlash! Fuck you Ben Blackwell. Your an ex-jock turned elitist scene creamer. I'm glad Freer reminded people that your an arrogant bastard. Fucking douche-bag. Bands like The Hard Lessons and Freer will someday laugh at your sad pathetic legacy.
The local music forecast calls for a cold front with a 100% chance of gayness.
It's funny that the Hard Lessons always get lumped in with gayest bands. No matter the season.
Detroit is in a musical ice-age, it will last forever as long as local fags think average is amazing.
CORRECTION:
"Fuck you Ben Blackwell. Your an ex-jock turned elitist weird war fan." (they are no longer called scene creamers)
Never heard Freer, but doppler gaydar is picking up that are just another metro times blowout band that was and still is unaware of its own gayness.
Ben, it would be awesome if you made a Worst bands of Detroit list.
What could go wrong?
This isn't an attack against Jeremy Freer – never met him, no opinion on his band or the veracity of his story. I just think that honest or contrived, this is a good thing for Freer. My reaction after reading this is to want to check out their music and form my own opinion. If their stuff is good, they’ve found another fan. If it sucks, well, I wouldn’t have liked it anyway, so they didn’t lose anything.
As an out of town band, we totally need a feud. There are hundreds of decent hobby bands like us (although Tom and Justin should try the next level – they have both the songs and the lifestyle), and a good feud would raise our profile.
We’ll have to wait a few weeks until we record to do it, because we don’t want the attention until we’ve got our best stuff available to hear.
The only part of my plan remaining is figuring out whom to feud with. It’ll have to be someone we don’t know, as I couldn’t make it believable with my Detroit friends and we don’t have any enemies or bands I don’t like. Whether they play good music or not doesn’t matter. It should be someone better known than us (easy enough), preferably well established but still relevant. The band should also get some blog coverage so we can get some cyber-recognition.
TAN! ? The Muggs? SSM? Maybe go newer and feud with Deastro? Deadstring Brothers might be good as they’re stylistically in our ballpark.
“I fucking hate the Deadstring Brothers!” ? hmmm…
Whats with all the homophobic meatheads?
Freer is too good for this bullshit. Jeremy, just stay away from these dumbfucks. They're luring you into their trap to make you look like an asshole, just as they are. So far it's working. Just ignore these dicks.
Homophobia is the new gay!
Turn off the Coldplay and rev up the funny.
Sensitivity is gay.
WYKKED SEPTYR didn't know they were gay either.
i can't believe people are still pulling the garage rock card. it's 2007. come on!
i cant believe people are posting more than once as anonymous!
You should keep writing about FREER because it obviously brings you way more readers than usual.
Lets not forget that Ben started this shit by insulting a bunch of people in a public way. He chose to be a fucker. He didnt have to be a jerk. This Freer dude should be irritated with him. It's senseless drama.
ive started reading long before this "arguement". i only started commenting now.
why?
i have nothing else to do.
i wonder if ben is sitting back laughing at all of this.
i would be.
jake.
He Ben. It's Your Unkle Jack. Your a bad little boy. Who told you could write a blog if it wasn't about me!
I think I re-read every entry in the blog and searched metrotimes.com, but I can't find the alleged ripping on Freer? Can someone provide a link?
Freer upstairs was horrid. Someone mentioned to me that they'd seen lots of bands lately with a piano-playing lead singer. Interested and thinking they'd meant local bands, I inquired "Really?" to which they replied, "Yeah. Coldplay, Keane..." And that's the unfavorable company I would lump Freer in with. And in a lot of ways, I love this.
I love the fact that I've been hearing about this band for God-knows how long and keep making that mental note that I still need to check them out. Even if what I've read about them has failed to intrigue me or spark my interest, I still gotta know what's up, in my own opinion, on my own terms, for my own sake. So to finally see this band and be able to say in my own voice that they are shitty...nothing beats that.
freer sucks. deal with it.
ben's a dick for going out of his way to knock them down.
everyone else here is sad for even caring and getting so worked up about their petty bullshit.
"ben's a dick for going out of his way to knock them down."
yeah posting a paragraph at home on the internet on your blog is a real effort. he certainly went out of his way, didnt he.
I bet this dude sits around posting anonymous comments on his own blog.
fucking hilarious. why don't you all kill each other. out with the old in with the new...
The ripping freer blog was posted here 9/24/2007, see the archives on the right nav.
Read it back then, but by now I had forgotten the whole thing, except the Freer reference, of course. This Jeremy guy is good at keeping his name on this blog.
Keep up the work, Ben.
Sincerely,
JOHN (NG)
http://shimmerunderbrightlights.blogspot.com/
Dear all bloggers,
Hello. My name is Jessica, and i'm Jeremy's little sister. Being related and all that, i've happen to hear about this situation. I have nothing to do with the detroit scene. Infact, i'm only 16. I can't even be apart of the detroit scene cause frankly, i'm not old enough. Hearing about this interested me so i decided to check out with the fuss is all about, and this is all i have to say...
You all sound like one big fucking high school. He said this, He did that. Wow. You all have nothing better to do then sit around and trash talk each other? Sounds like a group of high school girls at a sleepover.
And if this ever gets too out of hand and one of you assholes tries to do something to jeremy. I will kick your ass, considering you all sound like pussys anyway.
A guy writes..maybe 6 sentences about your band, and you have written an entire novel jeremy. You have now gone even as far as to make a blog in relation to this one. You continue to embarrass yourself. Blogs are for people to say their opinions and feelings etc..and thats what he did. Your upset cause somebody in the local scene didnt like your band? Get over it, get over yourself too. He really isnt in the same scene as you if you think about it. Fucking pathetic.
highschool girls ay?
i wish i was a highschool girl.
i could play with my own boobs, and get the boys to do my homework.
god dammit man.
I still don't get what he is upset about. Ben called his band 'shit', yes, but shit like Coldplay. One of the most successful bands out there. Obviously it is just not Ben's taste.
I mean if you can't take that level of criticism what are you going to do when Pitchfork discovers you?
i grew up in detroit, and moved out when bands like The Dungbombs, Brown Stripes, etc took off in the scene. too manly for me, i guess. i never liked homophobia either, and reading the MetroTimes was frustrating, because it only featured bands that i knew i was better than.
the truth is, i know jeremy very well. in fact, i've seen him write some of the most awe-inspiring classical piano music within hours, layer 4 part harmonies in a matter of minutes, and pick up any instrument as if he'd been playing it for years. he has the ability to write melodies that could make you cry.
i realize it's a lot easier for you people to just turn up your amplifier, and "rock out with your cock out", since that's what you've been doing for the last 10 years. times are changing though.. that garage rock style looks more and more ridiculous the older you get.
make fun of jeremy all you want, but just be grateful that he has the audacity to speak his mind behind the piano, when everybody else is hiding behind a facade of half-ass musicianship, loud marshall amplification, and elementary lyrics.
change. evolve. your scene is about as exciting as that "icky thumb" record. i already forgot the melody.
oh.....and by the way........all great artists are emotionally disturbed.
dealing with soul-less twats like yourself, who can't seem to write a decent song, is the most frustrating thing in the world.
There is a difference between an honest review and shit talking. That is what this guy does. He's a shit talker. And if the above message was meant to be private that makes him a shit talking coward.
If both of these guys were at the same Indian Village mansion party, aren't both of them part of the same scene.
I'm so bitter that no one invited me.
Are people still commenting on this? I think it's time to move on. It's really not that big of a deal. I don't like the way Ben does things and so I said it. Not because he doesn't like FREER but because of the way he went about expressing it. With a complete lack of respect for people who work hard at what they do. If you don't like another local band you don't have to be an ass about it. But I guess thats his schtick. And again HE posted a PRIVATE message that I sent him. So obviously I'm not the one trying to get attention. Anyway, this whole thing inspired me to start my own blog "shimmer under bright lights". It has nothing to with Ben really I just thought I'd borrow his title and change it up a bit. Hopefully he doesn't mind. If I gave a fuck about my rep or looking pathetic etc. as some poeple have commented I would't have written anything in the first place. Besides for staying up in my bed crying for the past week I've been alright. So thank you to all the people who have written in the defense of FREER and anyone else this guy has talked smack about and xxoo to all the rest. But we should just let this guy do his thing. His tour diaries are actually pretty funny. I'm gonna go blow my head off now. Goodnight.
I think it's funny how important Freer and family regard all of this nonsense. Talk about an inflated sense of self-worth.
I wonder if the guy will ever understand that people were taunting him just to get him upset.
"OFFICE said...
i grew up in detroit, and moved out when bands like The Dungbombs, Brown Stripes, etc took off in the scene. too manly for me, i guess. i never liked homophobia either, and reading the MetroTimes was frustrating, because it only featured bands that i knew i was better than."
-this is possibly the worst thing I have exposed my eyes to in a very long time. I can't count how many things are pathetic with that paragraph.
Go away already!
your still commenting back idiot...so are your friends....
Do I live under a rock or something... who is this Ben Blackwell person?
BECKY said -
"this is possibly the worst thing I have exposed my eyes to in a very long time. I can't count how many things are pathetic with that paragraph. Go away already!"
I'll make you my tambourine player, honey. Let's take this blog-core party to the next level.
awww bEn, you got all the cool people of Detroit to talk to each other on here....they're just the same on here as in person. and mr. "office" (that's his real job) is the epitome of Detroit...come back, we need your taxes and the scene isn't complete without you!
I would "die" for music? ... laaammme.
I would "die" for music? ... laaammme.
Yeah, like so totally laaame to totally like be passionate about anything. Not cool bro.
Who says bro anyways?
I listened to Freer and got what I expected.
wah wah.
Freer than.......................?
seriously, you Freer guys got some moments, but y'alls need a little work, like maybe a producer, stuff on myspace sounds a little demo-ey.
Good luck with them Von Bondies-why aren't they doing a Detroit date?
office is totes jeremy.
freer just needs to GTFO. ):
this is all so very ridiculous.
PLAY FREER BIRD!
Ben, Ben, Ben. I go out of the country for a month and you start WWIII with a local band and his 16 year-old sister. This is pretty funny, though, I must say. I liked the kid who wants a feud of his own:
"As an out of town band, we totally need a feud. There are hundreds of decent hobby bands like us...and a good feud would raise our profile...
The only part of my plan remaining is figuring out whom to feud with...
TAN! ? The Muggs? SSM? Maybe go newer and feud with Deastro?"
I'll start a feud with him. I think he should go and join the Dirtbombs! He can play the triangle using Mick's dick while wearing his glasses and reading Spiderman #2. There.
Seriously, what the hell? Freer sucks. The Dirtbombs suck. SSM is gay. Who gives a shit? The Pizazz tried this shit with me, too, and I must say I only got off on it. It relieved my boredom, you know.
I don't care either way, but if I were you, Benny, I would drag this thing out. It's fucking hilarious. Maybe hit on Freer's moms or something--or their little sisters...
"That's what I love about high-school girls: I get older and they stay the same age."
xoxo,
Sir Isaac Martin Morris Junior
PS-- Happy New Year, BB!
xoxo,
IMM JR
1) This is comment #69, so I win.
2) Re: who is right and wrong in this situation. I don't know either of them, so I think I can be objective. Ben was tough on Freer in the 9/24 post. And by "tough" I mean he was a total dick. Also, posting what was supposed to be a private message on your blog is pretty suspect as well. However, it was the Freer guy who took Ben's comments, which were strictly about his band, and responded with a harsh PERSONAL attack. I say if you can't take criticism, don't perform in public or release music. So if you're keeping score at home, both of them are wrong. Simultaneously, they both seem like OK guys to me.
3) This entire thread, including my own comment, is why the internet should not exist. As Marty "SSM is gay" Morris said above, "Who gives a shit?"
I agree with Marty, and thank you Marty for the Dazed and confused reference! haha
a
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