BADMOUTHING BILLY
The following is a copy of the correspondence received after the last site update which seems to have caused a bit of a stir.
On 15.8.00 at 15:39, Ulla Assarsson ulla.assarsson@swipnet.se
wrote:
Hello Billy!
First of all I have to say that I'm a great fan of yours since you've been playing in the band which became my favorites years ago, (read Nazareth). You also seem to bee a funny and "down to earth" kind of guy.
One thing I don´t understand though!
I read the "Big Noise" article under the "press" icon, and I was surprised over the fact that you were quite sarcastic and rude over your former bandmates. Nothing strange about that if you wouldn't have choosen to avoid the questions about your departure from the band due to "non gossip manners", which have been asked to you on this forum. You should have went on that line all the way!
Cheers, Thomas!
On 16.8.00 at 09:38, Pål Lund rampant63@hotmail.com
wrote:
Good Billy.
Let us know who you are. A losy middle good guitar player. Now driving trucks for living. What will Naz be remembered for? The Rankin-albums or the Charlton-albums? I can tell you that I do like your guitar-playing with Naz, but why do you keep on talkin shit bout Naz? If your music is so good, why didn't you make it with your own albums? Maybe because you are 1 of 1000 middle-good-musicans. No, Billy, the only sucsess you've had is with Naz. And you know it. And you also know that the sucsess you became a part of was based on the original Naz-albums!
Judas
On 16.8.00 at 14:05, Rob r.fasey@cableinet.co.uk
wrote:
Hey Judas
Billy is not a lousy,average, guitar player, (If Zal thought he was good enough to play with him, then that's ok with me). Billy played his part in the "original" Nazareth didn't he? The band's commercial decline was not down to Billy (who wrote Dream On?) it continued through the 80's, after he had left Nazareth. Who did Dan, Pete,and Darrell, turn to after Manny was no longer in the band? Who was the bands most prolific songwriter in the 90's? Billy doesn't talk shite about Nazareth, hey sometimes the truth hurts pal! If you think that Billy's lack of solo commercial success is based on talent, or the lack of it, then you are sadly very ignorant of the music business.
Take yer Rose tinted specs away from your eyes and see what's really goin on.
Rob
On 16.8.00 at 07:56, Jason Pohlman pohlman@usa.net
wrote:
I was about to retort to the badmouthing of Billy, but Rob beat me to it. In case you haven't noticed, he does have a new CD out and I may not make too many friends by saying it, but I listen to it and enjoy it much more than Boogaloo. It isn't a Nazareth album, but if it was I wouldn't respect it. Billy has carved out his own territory and very fine territory it is. I find his forthrightness quite refreshing, actually. He's not a bullshit politician - he says what he thinks. I may not always agree with his opinions but he certainly has earned the right to them and it makes for much more entertaining reading than mealy-mouthed asskissing would. He has a fun site that is worth visiting and revisiting.
By the way, I don't think you can really blame Naz's commercial decline on any one person. The corporate rock beast is an unfair monster at times and eventually eats anyone alive that tries to keep producing honest work. The bands making recent "comebacks" are doing so by slavishly aping their past successes and mixing it with current styles where it will work. This isn't art, it's commerce, and I'm glad Naz and Billy pursue their own reckless muses, regardless of commercial acclaim.
If I were to blame Nazareth's commercial decline on any one thing, I would point to their first album to not hit the charts in the U.S. That would be "Sound Elixir," and it seemed to me to be their first album to lose the art vs. commerce battle. I personally thought the opening songs on each side did seem to be attempting to pander to then-current styles, and came up quite short, producing second - rate copies of second rate NWOBHM bands. For me, the rest of the album seemed to be full of half-assed, predictable songwriting and the production was lackluster, at best. There are many who disagree, but I thought it was a dishearteningly second - rate album and you don't get away with too many of those before the buying public moves on to something else.
To be fair to Nazareth and the people who like that album, MCA didn't know how to handle them and effectively killed any chance the album MIGHT have had, even if it had been a classic along the lines of HOD or No Mean City.
I'm sorry, what was the subject again?
On 16.8.00 at 15:46, Stuart Munn munns@bp.com
wrote:
Folks
I agree with Jason's thought's on bad mouthing Billy. I think that these comments of Billy's were written before Darrels death, and shortly after Billy's split from the band so no doubt were said in the heat of the moment. Let's not get involved in slagging people off 2nd or 3rd hand. It usually ends in someone looking foolish. Billy's lack of success is certainly not due to any lack of talent, and the same can be said about Manny and Nazareth. They are all writing and creating new and vibrant music, I'm enjoying it all, we now have 3 sources of music from the Nazareth stable, so in that sense the fact that the band has split into 3 is a good thing.
Cheers, Stuart
On 16.8.00 at 12:20, Charles Vanics julcsa@cgocable.net
wrote:
I've noticed that statement on Billy's site too! It'd certainly be a good question for him. After his last answer I don't feel like asking anything. What he means is - probably - that Darrell did very little drumming on "Move me", or not as much as he would wanted. Thanks for Billy's and Manny's site: the "history" IS there, we only have to understand it. Dan, Pete, Darrell are "boyhood" friends, like brothers, really. They (correctly) understood, that they have some gold-making talent, but to maximize it they need a fourth person on guitar & songwriting. That they found in Manny. But I don't think they ever accepted him (or later Billy) as a fourth "Brother". So Naz was always the 3 + 1. And if that "1" was getting tired of being the "bag-man", they just let him go (or even "helped" him to go). That's it, in a nut-shell. I'm always for Naz- with 2 guitars! Manny & Billy, what a great strength to any band! But can anybody tell, how the group would end up, if these two guitarists stay?! They DO have quite different style of writing & playing, aren't they...
On 16.8.00 at 15:46, Pål Lund rampant63@hotmail.com
wrote:
Hello folks
Well, what can I say. First: Sorry to those of you who feels hurt by my comments about Billy. But, I've seen these comments from Billy around for some years now. And I think: Why can't you just shot up? Why not tell us the funny stories from your time with Naz. When putting your words out on the net, you spread those bad words to all Naz-fans and others. As I wrote in my last e-mail, I do like Billy. I think his Growin up to fast-album is good (well, his guitar is better than his singing), and I like the Naz albums from the 80's too. But what I said, and still mean: Naz's sucsess was founded in the 70's - and Billy became a part of a well known and good-selling band at the beginning of the 80's. Even if he wrote Dream On and some others, he (and the rest of the band) can thank the classic songs for people coming to their shows and buying their numerious compilations.
I know I'm LOUD, but I'm also PROUD to start discussions here at the list.... Hope thats OK for you. Have a beautiful weekend!!!!
Expect no mercy---- Judas
On 17.8.00 at 11:03, Ed Jenkins ed@planetc.com
wrote:
Stuart, there has never been anything said on this list that has been better put. Let us enjoy all those boys great music. Thanks again Stuart........
On 17.8.00 at 23:30, Antti Hangasmaa naz.rock@swipnet.se
wrote:
About the Billy Rankin discussion. I think ol' Billy is joking (he MUST be!) when he says that Darrell Sweet didn't play any drums on the "Move Me" album. But he's right in sayin' that the album is (almost) a Billy Rankin solo-platter with Dan on song. And that's the BIG problem with the album me thinx. Billy Rankin has his own "sound" and it ain't exactly the hardest o'rock'n'roll, but he is more leanin' to the AOR stuff. As you Naz fanz might remember when we had the voting for the greatest Naz album of the century back in 1999. Then the highest placed Nazareth album(s) with Billy Rankin, "2XS" and hrmm....."Move Me" was placed at the (joint) ninth spot in that ranking. And considerin' the fact that Naz has released twenty studio-albums that ain't a high rating. And don't think it was just a single Naz fan who thought so, but there were well over twenty fanz voting in that list. But I still think you're an cool guy Billy Boy. And you play some MEAN rock'n'roll guitar on that "Gatecrashin" bootleg!
On 17.8.00 at 21:04, Tony Vallorani TVallorani@aol.com
wrote:
Hey Dude,
Even though some of us may disagree with certain posts on this discussion list, that is the beauty of this group. You can always voice your opinion! A few weeks back, I went toe to toe with Tony Piller about how I felt about today's rock n roll. I think rock is alive and well, and he thinks today's music sucks! I have no bad feelings towards him and am glad he participates in our group. It is my sincere hope that everybody here can be free to speak their mind and not suffer any alienation because their opinion is not popular.
On 18.8.00 at 20:48, Charles Vanics julcsa@cgocable.net
wrote:
I'm reading every word of this Billy-thing and I don't know... Some people can only blow hot or cold -nothing in between. Fact: Billy contributed immensely during his double-stay with Naz. If Manny is Mr Heavy, than Billy is Mr Light. Both of them recognized songwriters and exc. guitar players. The band CALLED him back! And 'cause he was there, whatever he says, there must be some truth to it. After 1990 there was a trend to play Manny down, like if he never exsisted. After '95 it's the same trend about Billy. I don't like either. Though Pete said once: "never look back!" Yeh, he's in the band, it's good for him. But if we -the fans- stop looking back, we gonna end up empty handed! I've seen them twice few weeks ago and liked their shows. But the days after I've played the concert-bootlegs with Billy. Presently I'm very much into Manny's works. (what an exc. album is "Drool"!) The name of the game is: MUSIC, and these guys sure know a few things about it!
On 21.8.00 at 15:39, Emil Gammeltoft emil.gammeltoft@scandic-hotels.com
wrote:
About the recent talk about Billy Rankin's website information....Well, first off it took a long time untill this debate started, reallly! But this is a sensitive thing, loads of bitterness etc.etc. I hope everything will go well for Billy, he's a very talented songwriter/singer. About his second coming in the band my oppinion is this: Billy brought back the "sparkle" in the band again. Listen to No Jive and most of Move Me, you can hear that Dan is screaming again and the band sounds hungry again - something had happened there. Billy lightened the band again. What must be said though is that the songwriting really didn't suit Nazareth. Dan's voice was in good form, but the songs didn't suit his vocal style 100%, compared to before. Billys songwriting is first class but I felt in the wrong band. Then Boogaloo came and Naz was back like a fist in the face - total inyourfaceangrylikehell rock'n roll. Like they should be. If the single "Move Me" should have been PROMOTED with a video and played on MTV, Nazareth would have had a new hit. Now Polydor didn't really know what to do with the album - so it flopped. I want to thank Billy for his input in Nazareth - making the band survive. I hope he and Naz can be friends again. We the fans have much to thank Billy for. I'll support him when he release a new album for shure. But about all the information you can get on Billys homepage: well, it may be true, but I would like to know more from Naz themselves. Keep on rockin' in a free world, Manny, Billy - everyone on this list. Would be nice with that dream though....playing on the same stage as a one off....
Boogaloo rocks,
On 23.8.00 at 12:41, Charles Vanics julcsa@cgocable.net
wrote:
Zal's got the highest remarks from both Manny & Billy, and the few recordings left after him shows: he really was TOP. (I still don't have the "No Mean C." conc.) The "second best" alternative to that could have been the Manny/Billy-couple. Just imagine the two extra-talented guitarist-songwriters start influencing each other! Of course for this to happen they should have had a manager with a skill to keep the band together. Instead they had (by bad luck) a manager, who wanted to destroy the band! (Imagine: you paying a guy to destroy your act!!!) So the classic story again: the bad manager and all the lawers around the Band got rich, but the Band lost big money AND Billy! It's easy to understand if they quiet or bitter... Yes, I would love to see a Naz on stage with Manny & Billy chewing the strings -without the keyboard! Never happens though... But now, we all (I hope!) can have the proves, that the two guys still have the sparks and all what it takes to rock! Their latest solo-projects tell the whole story. So, let's not blame the "givers", but the "takers": diligent managers & other destroyers... (The only exception is our Tony V.!!!)
BILLY
SEZ Rob, Jason, Stuart, Tony etc. BADMOUTHING BILLY 24.8.00 "Sometimes the spoken word, written, may appear somewhat pompous." - EDDIE IZZARD Off to Florida, normal service will resume 20th September.
I don't talk shit, I don't take shit!
You guys get it, others just seem to get hooked n'reeled in!
Keep gettin' it guys, there's plenty more fish in the sea (get it?)!!!
Thanks sincerely
Billy
"Is that your new nickname?" - Mary Rankin, Aug 2000
"Went on the web site today", she said, hinting of more to follow.
Shouldn't reply with "Yeah?", really.
"Yeah?", I reply regardless.
"Using the F-word a bit, aren't we?" (Is that all? Thank fuck!)
"Sorry dear."
"Hmm, what's all that about writing the songs, playing the drums....a touch pompous, no?"
(Here we go!)
"Well, I did, darling, you know that and..."
"Oh, I know alright", she continued, looking bored already, "til 3 or 4 in the morning, mostly."
"Huh? ..yeah, that's right and with the band's appreciation..."
"Doing", she mused loudly, "The Demos."
"Aye, The Demos, that's right, Mary-doll." (Forgot about them, hmm.)
"Stop that at once...getting ideas...I see you...Stop It Now!"
"Yes, dearest." (Hmm.)
"Upsets's people, you know, being pompous!" she appeared to drone.
"Suppose so, yes", I think I said.
"Anyway, next week we'll be in Florida", chiriped the wise woman "and you'll forget about it."
"Forget about what, sweet-knees?"
"Oh, go to your room, Now!"
"Can't I go to your room?"
"Certainly not!", she asserted, "It isn't Tuesday."
Forthcoming "Out Demos Out" release.
Watch this space!
Love, Billy
Aye, THAT interview!
The response you guys have been giving here is similar to the one I got when I first published the article. To be honest I had my doubts about using it- there's legal stuff for a start, and I wasn't sure how much Billy was joking or not. But Big Noise was aimed at musicians and people seriously interested in music, and I felt Billy's comments were
insightful and useful to that audience. Those of who have been in situations like that understand what was Billy was driving at. I thought he
was open, honest, entertaining and humourous, and I know he felt the
interview was reaonably fair-play to him. And besides, it was funny... If I
live long enough I might even publish the stuff I crapped out of using
first time round!
If nothing else, it might start another fight!
BILLY
SEZ Martin, Love ya Martin.
Good to hear from you....eventually!
I've had to carry the can, no, the entire crate for this, ya bastard.
But do I mind? Not a jot.
Your comments, which we now publish without any due care are spot on. Your interviews were a joy to do, none of that "What's your favourite lesbian folk duo?" stuff I'm prone to being subjected to, merely the achievement many forget (Billy Sloan take note) is the whole point of an interview, ENTERTAINMENT! As for the stuff you crapped out of publishing, publish and be damned, with my blessing. Let's talk again soon, mmm, therapy!
Billy
