Gama Bomb's Philly Byrne: "I'm A Filthy, Swindling Downloader"
No stranger to speaking his mind on issues he believes in (like his band's campaign to "stamp out inferior metal"), GAMMA BOMB frontman Philly Byrne spoke out recently in favor of downloading on MTV Headbangers Blog. Byrne's comments mark the first time that an artist has written Headbangers Blog to support downloading in the face of a vocal majority of artists who do not condone it.
The outspoken GAMA BOMB frontman goes onto explaining why downloading is such a vital part of the experience of "the music fan of the 21st century" and why artists shouldn't be completely against it, either:
"Reading MUDVAYNE's Chad Gray's blog on illegal downloading on this site, I couldn't help feeling like I'd heard his spiel about musicians getting shafted before. Chad's analogy of a man (read: band) making a fine wooden chair (read: record), only to have the chair stolen (read: downloaded) out from under him, was a striking one, but it's an oversimplification.
If a musician's job was as simple as "make disc, sell disc, win," record companies wouldn't have latched onto the "360 degree record contract" (that's the one where they get a cut of t-shirt sales, licensing and live fees, kids) more than 10 years ago. Nor would they have released CDs, which allowed people to get their hands on their masters in movable file form back in the mid-'80s. That was an admission that music business models now mean more than just money from wax.
Chad made a good point when he mentioned Radiohead's "honesty box" experiment. When one of the world's most popular bands' fans will only pay £3 ($5) on average for their album, what's the use in fighting people who want your niche, indie label, corner-genre product for free? As long as they hit the shows and buy the coasters, who cares? Let them have it!"
You can read the entire entry on downloading written by GAMA BOMB's Philly Byrne on Headbangers Blog here.
GAMA BOMB appears on EARACHE's WORLDWIDE METAL compilation, the ultimate collection of the fastest, heaviest and most brutal metal tracks to rock this planet. Offering 5 CDs of pure metal mayhem, plus a fully playable "Earache Extreme Metal Racing" PC game - all for the price of one CD - this collection consists of over 5 hours and 80 tracks from some of the most legendary and inspirational bands of all time, as well some of the best new talents to hit the scene.
Released on November 24th in the UK and Europe, WORLDWIDE METAL can be ordered online from Earache here.
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30 Comments on "Philly Byrne: 'I'm A Filthy, Swindling Downloader'"
Supporter
3. writes:
Or you can do like me. I only download. If a CD is good, I send a donation to the band. (Most bands have some sort of Paypal thing set up on their websites.) This way I don't get DRM or any other stupid bullsh**. And I have a ton of CDs and no cases cluttering my space.
Also, I understand that someone like Gama Bomb should get money, but does Ozzy really need my $5? I think not.
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8. writes:
Go Philly! When I used to download music (back when it was legal) if I liked the music enough, I'd go out and buy the CD.. I'd go to the shows. But now I don't really get a chance to check out a band without just forking over the money for a CD, so I don't get a chance to check out a lot of new bands..
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13. writes:
BOO this man!
Illegal Downloading is killing rock and roll! I have NEVER "downloaded" an album and never will.
If music is even 1/4 as important to you as it is to me, you would have no problem paying for it.
I guarantee, by this Philly guy's attitude, he is not older than 25. That is about the cut off age for people who respect the musicians enough to support them, and the current generation that thinks they are entitled to music (and everything else) for free.
And don't pull that, "I go to the shows," bullsh**. The number of people that attend rock concerts decreases every year. Check out the Livenation numbers over since 2001.
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14. writes:
BrunoHockalugie writes:
And don't pull that, "I go to the shows," bullsh**. The number of people that attend rock concerts decreases every year. Check out the Livenation numbers over since 2001.
maybe if bands were not being so gay with the way they make their music and present themselves, the numbers may be higher than they are now!!!
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16. writes:
wasnt trying to piss any1 off on that at all, just an observation as to the line-ups that have been put together lately. it seems that so many bands that people love to hate have been put together to kill metal!! STAND AND FIGHT FOR METAL!!!!! KILL ALL POSER BANDS!!!!!!
if the labels would put good bands that draw good crowds on the same bill, then im sure the crowds would be large and loud!!
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18. writes:
I have downloaded songs too...but the downloaded versions usually sound pretty sorry.
I prefer to pay for the album online...such as IT. Also, it is lot of cheaper to buy the album, then attend some band's shows...with the price of concert tickets, lately. I still love concerts, though.
MERRY DOWNLOADING everyone!!
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26. writes:
^If I believed in god, Ide pray for you both.
I download entire discographies weekly, so I think you all pretty much know where I stand on the downloading thing. :)
The point is, times are changing. While I don't like it, the age of the cd will be over within a decade, maybe more, but it's coming.
the massive ease of making a band, and releasing your own music to the world via myspace, youtube, and itunes, means there are too many bands in existence to afford all the music kids these days listen to. The most recent ipod that just came out has 160 gigabytes. That's almost 32000 songs. (50000 if you listen to 30-second grindcore songs lol). Just the possibility of there being that much music in existence for one person's personal tastes demands that a person obtain as much as they can for as little as they can; ergo, free.
Listen to the band. If you respect them, buy a cd. I own In Sorte by dimmu borgir and Sacrament by Lamb of God. DO they need my money? most certaintly not. but i think they deserve it. I like everything by Rage against the Machine, but why would i pay those commi bastards a cent? Download ftw.
I frequently buy local or underground band cd's as well, in that it's impossible to download their music anyway, and they actually NEED my support. Also the reason why i go to their shows. and buy their t-shirts. Ted Maul, one of my favorite bands in the world, just posted that they were going on hiatus due to financial trouble's with some of the band member's rent payments. Coincidentally, I just ordered their album White Label overseas a few days before. When I saw the bulletin about their money woes, I ordered a t-shirt.
This gama bomb guy is alright. I'm gonna download his album now lol.
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1. metalheaddrummer101 writes:
wow...a musician who is not anti-downloading:)