Once upon a time … we were asked to take a stab at doing a Soft Cell remix for their upcoming HEAT album. From the get go it was a dicey situation at best. The UK mail system “lost” the master tracks, and we had to get them resent at the last minute. We had about a week to come up with something in the hopes (yet another carrot on a stick) that it might generate some interest and play, and if accepted might make it onto Soft Cell’s HEAT remix album … along with 300 pounds … someday … maybe. We came up with what we felt was a good mix true to our mad sound, but respectful to the original artist’s work.

And … to make a long story short, we were “advised” to add in more squeeky toys and insane sound effects that in the end sounded more like a Spike Jones comedy number. In short … to fuck the whole thing up. Our preferred mix was never played for the artist … and the “goofy” mix was (we suspect) pretty much a ploy to have a particular notorious producer to use as leverage. As we understand it, Dave and Marc pretty much dropped their jaws when they heard the fucked up version we were told to make … which is understandable … cuz it was pretty over the top even by our insane standards, but you-know-who INSISTED we do it that way. “They’ll LOVE it!” we were told.

NØT!

And it was obvious that it was never intended to ever go anywhere except to be used as an insult and a wedge. Sorry guys … we were played big time. Live and learn ya know? Sooooo … needless to say the “mental mix” never saw the light of day, nor was it accepted by the artists … (that’s an understatement we’re sure) but we were disappointed that our original “Mondo Mix” was never presented. So, here it is. (and here’s a little MORE fuel to feed the fire):

HOW SOFT CELL REALLY FEELS ABOUT SOME BIZZARE RECORDS:

This is quoted from Marc Almonds official homepage in the UK.

“You may have noticed various re-issues of some of Marc’s albums being made available. The Jacques/Absinthe re-issue is of great disappointment to Marc. Marc had offered exclusive new tracks, live tracks and brand new special artwork and packaging to make this an exciting double album with new interest to fans. Although he was led to believe this would happen, even to the point of having the new sleeve designed and recording three new Brel songs, he was messed around so much by Some Bizzare that, frustrated with his efforts, he told Some Bizzare to just go ahead with the normal releases. The extra songs (The Desperate Ones, Amsterdam and a new studio recording of If You Go Away) will be made available as downloads in the near future. The albums have been remastered and are albums that Marc is proud of (particularly Absinthe). If one or two of you out there haven’t yet heard them, check them out.

Marc would like to state that the constant re-issues by Some Bizzare are nothing to do with him although he tries as much as possible to see that correct B sides are included but is often frustrated in his efforts. He is most unhappy about the constant scraping of the bottom of the barrel with Soft Cell demos and re-issues and wishes it to stop. He will do everything possible to stop further demos to be re-issued through Some Bizzare if at all. There are no more Little Rough Rhinestone compilations but it is possible that the existing albums could be available via download soon.

Regarding the All The A’s compilation, Marc has battled for over three years to have this released in a format that would include all relevant videos to make a complete, never before released, quality collection. He has come up against nothing but problems with Some Bizzare. It has been time and energy consuming and, once again, frustrating. We can go as far as announcing imminent releases only to come up against another brick wall, usually with Some Bizzare creating more problems that really don’t exist. Having released tracks under many different labels it has been a fight to get the rights from all the different companies involved and Marc is now on the point of giving up on this compilation. He still hopes that a DVD collection will be released at some point in the future but it is unlikely to be a complete collection of all his singles. Marc has even considered giving up on having anything to do with any of his back catalogue owned by Some Bizzare as working with them in any capacity is a complete nightmare. Marc would rather think about future ideas than waste his time on the past.

It is important that past albums are re-issued, to have them available in the shops. Too much of Marc’s vast back catalogue has only been sporadically available. Marc would like them to be available at all times in good pressings with decently printed covers and the correct, relevant B sides and extra’s included. This hasn’t happened in the past. Marc apologises for what must be frustrating to some fans but despite Marc’s good intentions, it really is out of his hands.”

Yeah. That’s right. I am OFFICIALLY SLAGGING YOU OFF Stevo

assuming you call THE TRUTH slagging …

I had the task of working directly with Stevo for several months on redoing the covers for his back catalog – in addition to our work as GL1TCHG0R3. I can definitely tell you that the label is operating on the shady side of ethical conduct.

The double album … was a total nightmare to work on. It took MONTHS dealing with this guy while he maniacally SCREAMED at me and demeaned his assistant Lara. Seriously .. Stevo is beyond a doubt one of the biggest assholes I have ever dealt with in my entire create career.

Dealing with Stevo for hours on end over the phone everyday … is not a job for the timid, I assure you. What’s really sad is, I thought he was our friend. I guess we thought wrong. Very wrong. As time went by, I heard Stevo rag and slag on many of my fellow Some Bizzare artists … some of which I knew personally. He’d rave on for hours before getting to the point of why he was even calling me – and god forbid you interrupt his tirades or you’d get an ear full. I have a very low tolerance to people talking shit about my friends and colleagues …. and an even lower tolerance to people taking my professional patience for granted. Definitely one of the most unprofessional, uncultured, uncouth, illiterate and abusive pricks I have ever met in my life.

It was never necessary for me to hear about Marc Almond’s or Dave Ball’s personal life to do my design job.

It was never necessary for me to hear about his paranoia plotting against Einstruzende Neubauten, or his grudge against COIL and Jim Thurwell to make the covers for their albums.

Nor was it ever necessary for me to hear him rag and rail against Kontour, The Dark Poets, Pedro INF, COIL, Lucid Sketchmaster, Farmacia, Satanicpornocultshop, First Aid 4 Souls, Fear of Dolls, ZGA FIGS or Dirty Baptist – though I am glad I did because it told me the type of person he really is.

These people are our friends. They are artists. They are PEOPLE not PRODUCTS or PETS.

And it didn’t take long to realize he was doing the same thing about us … behind our backs.

I think the final straw was when Stevo started talking shit about me to Rev.Spook. Above and beyond our professional relationship – we’re best friends – tight as brothers in fact. Trying to convince him to “lose me” as a musical partner … was a big mistake. And Stevo talking shit about Rev.Spook to me was even bigger.

Live and learn … such is the price of being naive … and hungry.

As far as us ‘leaving’ the label, there are various legal and technical ramifications that need to be sorted out before we make our exit. We are hopeful we can come to an agreement where we will be granted our freedom as artists. That’s a bit difficult when Stevo refuses to answer our calls or emails. So we’ll have to sort this all out.

We’ve definitely been thinking about making an exit, that’s for damn sure. Not so much a matter of “IF” …. but rather “WHEN and HOW”. As far as I am concerned … I’m done kissing his ass and I;m dumping the whole thing. If he didn’t know how to market us – then he should have never signed us. And if just intended on using us … then he picked the wrong people to fuck with.

We were getting 1000 hits a day collectively at one point on our pages … and Stevo wouldn’t give us the time of day to help promote our shit.

We got ONE review in some snooty “goth/electro-pop” online magazine. ONE. You’ve heard our music. Why the FUCK would anyone in their right mind market us as electro-pop dance music? But I’ve already said my bit on that.

The answer points clearly to TWO alternatives:

1) total incompetence on the part of the label to properly market us.

2) intentional use of us (and other ‘new’) artists to extract excessive fees out of the distributor – with no intent on EVER using the music to its full potential.

We were Stevo’s electrical and phone bill to him and nothing more – just a means to collect advances from the bank and plastic head … and a means to gain leverage over the distrubutor in my opinion.

We worked on a Soft Cell remix that I am certain he never intended ever seeing the light of day – he just used us just to piss off Marc Almond and Dave Ball … so he could get what HE wanted on the latest Soft Cell remix album.

Then Stevo has the BALLS to say he can’t market us because we don’t write commercial music when he himself encouraged us NOT to – and said if anything that WAS our appeal.

It’s not that we are incapable of doing that. Hell I can whip out techno-pop, country western, commercial jingles, classical, heavy metal – whatever – in my sleep. I just don’t to like to – it’s boring to me.

I think it all because clear when he told us we would have our albums in stores all over England and Europe, but not to count on getting a rack until out third album. And based on evidence – that was a total lie.

Also, our stuff “suddenly” shows up on the black market in Russia BEFORE our release is even in STORES or on iTunes … along with the Dark Poets and Kontour. Gee … how did that happen?

All in all it would not surprise me to learn someday we (and by WE … I mean ALL the NEW Some Bizzare artists signed since 2005) may have been inadvertently involved in a money scheme for Stevo to extract cash to live on from whoever he can – in the UK or other countries – to fulfill his own agenda. He was often quick to accuse everyone else of the same ‘conspiracy’ in his fits of paranoid rage. In my experience, people with a guilty conscience are usually the first ones to scream the loudest. Add to this miserable set up, a sympathetic distributor who has eyes on his back catalog … with no real interest in signing or promoting new acts … and a LABEL of their own to promote … and it has the makings of a soap opera gone sour. Or I could be wrong in my opinions … but I really don’t think so.

Why do I belive this?

Because when I contacted the distributor DIRECTLY to get paid for my album cover artwork … he got pissed off at me. He got pissed because he had no intention of ever paying me the full amount he owed me, I went over his head, and tapped his account. And he STILL owes me money – but I know I’ll never see it – nor a dime for the GL1TCHG0R3 album. And I also would say to every other Some Bizzare artist that it is likely they won’t either – or will see a fraction of what they were told they would. They only reason I saw a dime was because I went over Stevo’ head … or kissed his ass.

I STORNGLY SUGGEST EVERY SOME BIZZARE ARTISTS REQUEST AN AUDIT FROM COLLIN YOUNG when it comes time for their royalty checks. If there is ever any doubt on what the design fees REALLY cost for the album cover’s … I’ll be more than happy to set the record straight. If you are ever  told it cost 6000 pounds or something ridiculous to do your cover design – you are being lied to.

And if any Some Bizzare artsist cares to know what Stevo is been saying behind their back – I’ll be glad to let you know as well … but you probably don’t realy want to know. A word of advice … never tell him anything you don’t want repeated.

All I know is – we were were lied to plain and simple and we want out. We’ll start over, find another label that wants to promote us and move on. We got signed once. We’ll get signed again. We’ll make our own label if need be – but I can promise you this – Stevo will NEVER get another song out of us ever again … and I’ll sooner starve than give him anything I create ever again. Especially my Bubble Chamber project.

So why does Stevo have it in for us?

Because we tell it like it is … that’s why.

~Dr.Tedley

NOT THE SAME

If anything we say or creates offends you – then go somewhere else – and squirt your puritanical goo in your own corner. Not ours.

Can you hear us in the back?

Personally – I think if we got deleted – then it only shows we are doing something EXACTLY right – because that type of action runs contrary to everything we believe in and stand for. Chaos reigns. Reality is uncensored. Life happens. Everything and everyone is different. And that’s OK. Deal with it – or move on. ART IS MEANT TO DISTURB.

Anyway – please re-add the GL1TCHG0R3 page. And if your are offended as we are that we got deleted – then tell mySpace what you think of their censorship policies.

Mister twinkles has his own opinion about this incident …