Steve Ignorant

It's disappointing. He's certainly "selling out" to a degree.
I won't crucify the man for it, he's free to be as commercial or as non-commercial as he likes.
But it does affect my respect for him.

 

is crass merch licensed?

 

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=1799&p=2472&hilit=penny+rimbaud#p2472

UNGOVERNABLE posted this interview with penny rimbaud, and in it he says they do not, but Steve does some of his own licensing... which I do find kind of a bummer if he is not sharing the proceeds with the band.

I also heard (don't know if it's true but wouldn't be surprised) that stores like HOT TOPIC here in the states tried to copyright the CRASS logo and those of some other bands that didn't do so here for whatever reason...


-The Anxietist

 

guy needs to eat.everything is spinning around the money in these days.lot of bands are sellin out now.if they wanna sell out that s fine but earn money for living not millions.money fucks up people mind

 

Okay just a quick comment about the merch as Crass didn't copyright their artwork and logo fashion designers and fashionistas have taken advantage of this

I think that something similar happened with a Sedition Tshirt design in Japan

 

I spoke to Steve at the Feeding of the 5000 show - you can read some of his comments, as well as those by Flux, Zounds, Conflict, Restarts and Disruptors etc in back2front #4 zine- there's a post here: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=2983 with info.

Just to correct a few things mentioned above. Penny was the only member of Crass to object but he gave Steve his 'blessing'. All the other members of the band were there with the exception of Eve who wanted to go but couldn't make it. It was a one-off event. How is playing one gig a year a sell-out? I thought the gig was great especially Flux whom I missed first time around. My only objection was that political stalls were not allowed - it could have been a very political event, a rallying call , a reminder of what this was all about - as such it was a wasted opportunity. I think that's what Penny was objecting to. I have a few other minor quibbles about the venue. As far as Steve was concerned it was a one-off celebration. What's wrong with having fun and celebrating? (One of Steve's guitarists, Steve Whale, was a show-off and looked about as out of place as a one-man mosh pit at a ballet, but it was otherwise a good gig).

Crass never registered or licenced their music and art. You could get stencil designs and make your own shirts and that, DIY was what it was about. Of course many have capitalised on this since producing all sorts of crap. This annoyed Steve so he has sanctioned some official shirts after seeing the likes of Angelina Jolie and David Beckham wearing Crass shirts. Crass could have sued but they're not capitalists. Now I won't be buying a shirt but I don't see the problem with Steve doing this either. He has the right to earn a living from what he created just as anyone else does. Apparently a US company has recently registered the Crass logo at the Patents office so isn't it fair that Steve does this even if the rest of the band don't care about it? Steve is a sound bloke and very down to earth and has no allusions about cashing-in. Recently Penny pointed out that Colin Jerwood of Conflict had allegedly licenced several Crass songs from their "Turning Rebellion Into Money" (perhaps an appropriate title) which featured several Crass songs and has received considereable royalties since. Colin hasn't replied to this latest accusation.

I was surprised to hear about Steve playing in Durham with all those bands who were a million miles away from what Crass was but again it was a one off event. I've seen a DVD of it and again the show-off guitarist is back and it seemed a disappointing show.But I don't think these 2 events can justify anyone calling Steve a sell-out. The Feeding DVD will be out in Feb 2010 and Steve is currently working on a theatrical piece telling the story of his life and politics. The HUGE Bullshit Crass book should also appear this year and hopefully the Crass remasters will be released if they can all agree to it.

Steve and Crass are ordinary human beings who had a go, no more and no less...

 

Wait...so I can't make Crass stencils anymore?

 

Steve will probabaly always be an anarchist just not named one, anyone against govt even partly is an anarhcist in my eyes but ya don't have to be one to become one as its about the peoples of this world and i bet ya he still holds alotta the same values, Penny an x rich boy comes acoss as an egoist even if a lovely person, it's a long way to fall when your up so high and the class system in england sucks arse, it'll fuck up anyone, life huh, lotta trollers on here dismissing the basic premise of anarchy, fuck off! ooh scary, where did u get your information, the back of a crass album, i'm sorry

 

Crass playing in California and charging $23?

This pisses me off.
What do you guys think about this.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

Crass isn't playing, It's Steve Ignorant with a backing band that includes no other Crass members....either way it's ridiculous... personally though, I think there are far more important things to be pissed about.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

I don't think it's that big of a deal, I mean no one is forcing you to go. What is fucking ridiculous is that shitty bands like Black Eyed Peas are fucking charging $100 for tickets, when they suck! I'd rather pay $2 to see a local Punk band.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

He's sold out. hate saying that. But it's true. Punk music isn't a job, and you shouldn't earn money on playing and spreading message. sorry Steave, but you suck today.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

yeah the show's at the fox in pamona.....fucking working class ripoff...i paid less to see the germs reunion when i was like 16 and that's saying something.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

what did you expect

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

This is so true, I'm sure you guys have seen one of the crass documentaries where steve ignorant talks about how he needs to get his hand on the income of all the internet merchandise that crass has been selling.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

So, what you are saying is that Crass tried to make some money but couldn't successed so they critiszed other bands to get famous, and now he's earning "his" money ?

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

Haha, I'm not condoning his behavior. I'm just saying that it makes sense Steve would charge some bullshit price to see something that is not even crass. Hes money hungry.

 

Re: Crass playing in California and charging $23?

Yeah yeah, I know that but :
I was referring to ungovernable's "he want to make money out of his fame because he couldnt profit of his celebrity during the 80's".