Mailbag

RE: SACRIFICE

I have been wondering for some time what the differences are between a Russian and an American oligarch. The only thing I can think of is that in Russia the government tells them what to do but in the USA the oligarchs tell the government what to do. But in the end is there any real difference?

Zack Schindler

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Great piece, Bob. I remember Ken Kesey once said in an interview that Americans no longer know how to forebear. He was comparing the Baby Boomers and younger Americans to earlier generations. People who lived through the Flu of 1918, the Depression, and World War II knew sacrifice in their bones because they had so much firsthand experience with loss and hardship. That hasn't been the case in our buy-now/pay-later culture for decades.

I've often wondered what kind of shock would recalibrate the scale. There was a brief moment of unity right after 9/11, and some people felt called to serve their country, but then George W. told Americans to go shopping. A global pandemic didn't do it. I shudder to think what it might take at this point.

Stay well.
Matt Kohut

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I agree with this sentiment. but young people today think they can become billionaires via crypto trading, or being on Tik tok or an IG influencer. To achieve financial independence via practicing law on my own took years and huge risks were required. The kind where you say to yourself, well if this doesn't work out I guess I will just go BK and start over. That kind of risk made me sacrifice getting married and having kids, which I don't really regret now but as a youngster, I assumed I would get married and have them. Had to break up with girlfriends I could have had a nice life because of that.

Brian Barry

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Bob, you CAN have it all.
You just can't have it all at once.

Peace,
Susan Dorsey

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RE: DON HENLEY PLAYLIST

This one was -is impossible as I love everything Don has ever done. Honored to have played on record with him a few times and he is still an old friend.
Don could sing the alphabet and make it great.
+ Eagles rule

Luke

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Some truly great songs/vocals in here. And they hold up.

Tom Johnston

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Subject: Re: Proud Mary

I played guitar for John for about a year. My first gig was in St. John, Nova Scotia in front of 10,000 people. I had never experienced anything like it in my life. I was used to a 45 minutes to an hour and a half gig, tops. These were pushing 2 1/2 hour shows easily and filled with hits! My favorite Fogerty song has to be "Long As I See the Light," but "Proud Mary" was a roof raiser as was "Born On The Bayou" (although I got relegated to congas because I was the new guy!) But, every night watching these people sing along to these songs blew my mind. Some of the greatest songs ever written and here I was playing alongside the person that wrote them. And the songs are so basic, but timeless.

David George
Moozer Music, Inc.

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Subject: Re: Elton John Favorites Playlist

I love this list… I have been ever so lucky to play almost all of them with him.
Quite a few years ago, there was a set list that Elton wrote out by hand. It was songs he wanted to play I assume, for a show where he didn't perform mostly the hits. There is about 28 albums and maybe 3-5 songs from each one. Would have been pretty cool if it ever materialized.
Lot's of them are on your list.

Thank You Bob,
John Mahon

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From: Chip Lovitt
Subject: Re: William Hurt

Wow! A great but sad tribute to a great actor. My father used to joke that you go from reading the "funny pages" pages in newspapers to the sports pages or the news, and eventually you turn to the obits...Like Paul and Artie sang in Old Friends, how terribly strange to be 70...I didn't quite get that line back when I first heard Bookends. Anyway, nice piece!

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From: Jose Sala
Subject: Re: Even More Covid

One of your readers (Trent Keeling) mentioned how orderly things were in Puerto Rico regarding Covid.
I have lived here all my life.
Mandates were generally lifted 2-3 weeks ago, and still everybody wears them in most places, especially inside. No drama.
Its just common sense and being considerate of others.

What makes us this way vs what I see wherever I go in USA? My theory:
- basic values that stem out of Family and to a degree, Religion
- that our people truly care for each other: friends, neighbors or strangers (ask any tourist)
- the reality that we struggle thru catastrophic events TOGETHER continually (hurricanes)

When you put those 3 together, you have a "cohesive society".
Pulitzer Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz used that phrase in a speech here to describe our people.
These 3 elements are visible now in Ukraine.

Joey Sala

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From: marc brickman
Subject: Re: Podcast is up!

hi bob,

thanks again for letting me be myself.
i did make a mistake when i spoke about
Lou Kellman/ NFL films.
Lou's nephew was Ed Sabol.
founder of NFL Films.
Morris Kessler was founder/designer
of SAE audio here in LA.

xo,
marc

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RE: JOHN OLIVER ON TICKETMASTER

From: Russ Turk

I paid $315 each for McCartney at MetLife stadium in NJ. Floor seats, section 14 on the aisle. I have no problem with that price and those seats. It's McCartney and even at close to 80 years old, it's Paul Freakin McCartney. I've paid about that price to see him for the past 15 years every time he plays NJ or NYC. How many more times will we be able to see a Beatle play the Beatles live before our eyes? Worth every penny.

Turk

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From: Bill Nelson

Haven't seen the J Oliver bit. I was looking for NCAA Tournament tix on Ticketmaster. Nothing but "verified resale tickets" which always reminds me of "certified pre owned" vehicles acquired in trade or at auction. I know. It's different. But it's the same. Kind of. And you're right. People will bitch and moan about high prices for tix. But they'll (we'll) pay up cuz we wanna fuckin go, like, YESTERDAY! I saw the Eagles recently and, yeah they charge what the tix are worth. But I still paid more. No regrets. And I'll pay "more" for upcoming shows cuz I like taking my youngest son, who will be seen in public with me if I pay. So I pay……all of it, merch, beers, whatever. The memories, are worth the bucks.

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Hi Bob,

The fans love scalpers? The only way to stop ticket touting is to inflate prices?

It's an interesting perspective. But there's more than one way to skin a cat.

In the UK, I've been overseeing a campaign called the FanFair Alliance since 2016. It's supported by managers and teams for many of the world's biggest artists, and won backing from the vast majority of the UK's live music business.

Our work has helped secure many important legislative and regulatory changes, and a much improved enforcement of consumer protection law.

The situation isn't perfect, but here's the upshot.

1. Unlike North America, British consumers have at least some transparency when they use sites like viagogo and StubHub. For instance, they must be told where seats are located, or if there's restrictions around the use of a ticket. They must be shown fees upfront. Pressure selling techniques are banned. Speculatively listing tickets (ie fraud) is unlawful. And if the seller is a "trader" (ie a business, rather than a fellow consumer) they must be provided that info too. In short, you need to understand what you're buying and who you're buying it from.

2. As a result, artists and promoters can enforce their T&Cs - making clear that commercial resale is prohibited, while allowing fans to resell for the price they paid or less. Technological innovation (e.g. mobile-only tickets) further enhances these strategies.

3. The UK now supports an increasing range of capped consumer-friendly resale services. Every major primary ticket agent - including Ticketmaster - offers this kind of service, alongside specialist resale platforms like Twickets. This is the direction our market is moving.

4. Consequently, artists and promoters have been empowered to disrupt and prevent exploitative online ticket touting. If they want to, they can set the "market price". They can successfully implement anti-touting strategies. And they can guide their audiences towards consumer-friendly alternatives for resale.

5. On the flip side, legacy platforms like viagogo and StubHub are in decline. These sites are entirely artificial constructs anyway, and wholly reliant on two things: a small number of large-scale commercial resellers and a dominance of paid-search on Google. Remove the touts or the advertising, and the whole business crumbles. They're also plagued with non-existent or speculative listings. These sites don't serve a demand - they simply increase scarcity, or, more truthfully, the illusion of scarcity.

6. With greater transparency, we can see that the value of "secondary ticketing" has been massively over-inflated. When the UK's business regulator, the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA), investigated the merger of viagogo & StubHub, the two Parties claimed the value of tickets resold via the UK's online secondary market in 2018 was worth up to £2.5bn.

The CMA's estimate?

£350m.

Less than 20% of what viagogo and StubHub will have potentially told their investors.

And this is a business reportedly looking to IPO with a $13bn valuation!

Best, Adam

Adam Webb
AL1 Communications

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From: "Allen S. Miller, MS, DC"
Subject: Re: Brandi Carlile Responds

Dear Bob.

I go back through my father an ex-LAPD detective, to the days when gay men were arrested in Parks. I was a bodyguard to Dinah Shore in the early late 70's and early 80"s and it didn't dawn on me at the time, how pivotal this amazing woman was in this movement. We had many guests from her show up to the house for dinner, and it was a safe haven for everyone that had been on the "couch". So many at the time were fearful of the atmosphere and could not enjoy an average evening out with their partners, or enjoy the simple act of holding one's hand in public. Rock Hudson, Danny Kay along with straight actors and actresses all under one roof laughing and enjoying Paulines cooking.

This atmosphere was unique at the time. I am at a complete loss as to why, what Brandi desires is not the rule. I don't understand the fear, and anger that exists, as this is a no-brainer. How did the paranoid few make things so hard on those that just want to live, be happy, coping with the insanity of the world that roles over us. I'm sorry, I just don't get it...

One more thing, Ms. Carlile' interpretation of Elton John's, Madman Across the water was just amazing, and it gives me chills just writing this. It was a fitting and respectful cover while adding a standalone sound of her own to this song, while showing great respect to Elton John. A wonderful tribute to him his music and hers.

Thank you as always,
Allen Miller

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From: Hugo Burnham
Subject: Re: LGBTQ Protests

In our miniscule way, not meaning shit in the bigger picture of weight to throw around - we are selling bits of smashed-up microwaves, worn/broken drumsticks (with 'These Drumsticks Fight Fascists' hand-written on them), and branded guitar/bass picks at our merch table - and donating the $ to Planned Parenthood. If someone brings us an album or a grabbed Set List to have signed, it's, "Of course! But will you please go and make a contribution to P.P. at the merch table for it?"

We also have branded condoms 'For Your Top Left Pocket' (- for those that know why…)

Hugo B

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