2 society. What happened? Once upon a time, the Rolling Stones were the most important rock band in the world. They may not have been as groundbreaking, musically, as The Beatles, or as important lyrically as Bob Dylan, but sociologically at least there is no doubt at all that they were the most important rock and roll band in the universe. Now, and one has to admit, for at least three decades, they are seen as a sophisticated, massively popular cabaret act; entertainers without equal. In 1970, when – arguably – the band were at their commercial peak, having left Decca Records with the worst possible grace, having replaced Brian Jones with Mick Taylor, the young and hugely talented guitarist who was – arguably – the best musician to ever play with the band, and were working on an album called ‘Stick Fingers’ which was to come out the following Dear Friends, year. When all this was happening the misanthropic science fiction author Edmund Cooper wrote one of his Welcome to another issue of Gonzo Weekly and, peculiar dystopian fantasies. Peculiarly prescient, therefore, another couple of pages of my musings upon Kronk told the story of a sexually transmitted virus life in the Gonzoverse in general. which would change the human race, initially for the better but then, very much for the worst. It opens with I’ve been thinking about the concept of ‘intention’ a scene set on the Thames Embankment when Gabriel after my long and convoluted editorial last week. And Chrome, a failed book sculptor, was drunk, and that got me thinking about a related subject – that of contemplating suicide underneath the statue of Sir st ‘context’. This week saw Mick Jagger’s 71 birthday. Michael Phillip Jagger. The popular newspapers treated it as an ‘event’, but it was not that many decades ago that the same man was Oh how we laughed. What a witty man Cooper was. seen as a villain, responsible for many of the ills of Mick Jagger getting a Knighthood? It would never 3 happen! It made a perfect introduction to the cynical landscape of the book. Fantastic! In 2002 Michael Phillip Jagger was appointed a Knight Yes, Geoff Downes, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Rick Batchelor in the Queen’s Birthday honours list. This is Wakeman, Jean-Luc Ponty, Judy Dyble, Rolling Stones, the man who said: Sex Pistols, Peter Gabriel, Goldfrapp, Ted Nugent, Damon Albarn, Pussy Riot, Daevid Allen, Michel des “Hey! Think the time is right for a palace revolution” Barres, Carol Hodge, Mick Farren, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Steve Ignorant’s Slice of Life, Judge Smith, And: Strange Fruit, Sub Reality Sandwich, Friday Night Progressive, Jon Driscoll, Dick Wagner, King Robbo, “I'll shout and scream, I'll kill the king, I'll rail at all Manny Roth, Idris Muhammad, Hugh Hopper, Clearlight, his servants” Xtul, Lou Stein, Hunter S Thompson, Sleepyard, Jethro Tull, Troy Donockley, Ian Abrahams, The Waterboys, So what the fuck happened? Was it always just a Mike Scott, Morrissey, The Flaming Lips, Osibisa, Crass, sham? Did Jagger never have ‘sympathy for the devil’ Hawkwind, Beatles, Kiss, Rod Stewart, Justin Bieber, or feel that as a ‘poor boy’ he had no other option but Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Weird to ‘sing in a rock and roll band’? Was it just another Weekend, Majestic, Metal Mirror, Parzival’s Eye, symbol of post Diana vulgarity from the egregious Nocturnal Breed, Kanseil Tony Blair? Or did he just grow up? In my opinion at least The Rolling Stones ceased to be truly dangerous, groundbreaking, and even consistently good after 1974 when Mick Taylor left the band. His IT’S A LEGAL MATTER BABY replacement, Ron Wood, seems a nice enough geezer but was always more interested in hamming it up on A lot of the time the pictures that we include stage, shagging celebrities, and shoving the Gross in this publication are unique to Gonzo National Product of a small South American nation up Weekly, and used with the photographer’s his nose. Whether this was a conscious decision or not permission. However, this magazine is free, I have no idea and I very much doubt whether we shall and at least at the moment only available ever know. online, and so in our opinion we are covered by a recent decision by the European The Rolling Stones have made several entertaining Courts of Justice. albums since then, and there has been the occasional spark of genius. The single they released for their 50th anniversary was brilliant, but I can’t find anybody who Websites can link to freely available content actually remembers its name. without the permission of the copyright holder, the European Court of Justice says. The whole issue isn’t whether Jagger should have accepted a Knighthood or not. There’s nothing The court's decision came after a dispute in inherently wrong with that. I have to admit that I Sweden between journalists and a web would rather like to be honoured in this way; I am, company that had posted links on its site to after all, the only male member of my family for god knows how many years not to have been. And it would online news articles. amuse me to have achieved what they did without having compromised myself to ‘The Man’. But, A Swedish court had asked the EU court to although I have written songs and books highly critical consider whether this broke copyright law. of both the British and American governments over the years, I have never written anything against the royal Some of the pictures in this magazine are family. In fact, if I may paraphrase Stuart Rene hotlinked to other websites where they are LaJoie, as a rational anarchist I believe that they are freely available. It is our opinion that we are quite a useful institution if only because they keep us covered by this ruling. So there! from having a politician as head of state. But we’re not talking about me. Of course if someone objects to our using their material we will be good fellows and How, in only thirty years, did The Rolling Stones go take it down, unless (and this is a big from being scabrous pariahs to national heroes? I have unless) we feel that it is not in the public an idea that if we could understand the social interest to comply. But normally we shall not mechanism that made that possible then we would stand on ceremony. If you want to read more know a hell of a lot more about the workings of society about this decision go to: than we do now. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology- 26187730 4 Richard Freeman, THE GONZO WEEKLY (Scary stuff) all the gonzo news that’s fit to print Dave McMann, (He ain't nothing but a) Newshound-dog Orrin Hare, (Sybarite and literary bon viveur) This is quite simply the best magazine you Mark Raines, will ever find that is edited by a mad bloke (Cartoonist) (and his small orange cat), and produced Davey Curtis, from a tumbledown potato shed on the (tales from the north) outskirts of a tiny village that nobody's Jon Pertwee heard of in North Devon. The fact that it is (Pop Culture memorabilia) published with Gonzo Multimedia - Dean Phillips probably the grooviest record company in (The House Wally) the known universe - is merely an added Rob Ayling bonus. (The Grande Fromage, of whom we are all in awe) NAMING THOSE RESPONSIBLE and Peter McAdam (McDada in residence) This issue was put together by me and Captain Frunobulax the Magnificent, (who is, in case This is the nearest that you are ever going to you didn't know, an insane orange kitten on the get to a posh weekend colour supplement from verge of adulthood) ably assisted by: the Gonzo Daily team. Each week we shall go through the best bits of the week before, and if Corinna Downes, there aren't any we shall make some up, or (Sub Editor, and my lovely wife) simply make our excuses and leave (you can Graham Inglis, tell the editor once did contract work at (Columnist, Staff writer, Hawkwind nut) the News of the World can't ya?) Bart Lancia, (My favourite roving reporter) This weekly magazine is free, and will remain Thom the World Poet, so. It is published by Gonzo Multimedia in (Bard in residence) conjunction with CFZ Publications, or is it the C.J.Stone, other way round? We’re actually not that sure. (Columnist, commentator and all round good Contact us with bribes and free stuff: egg) Kev Rowland, Jonathan Downes, (Kiwi Reviewer) Editor: Gonzo Daily (Music and More) Editor: Gonzo Weekly magazine Lesley Madigan, The Centre for Fortean Zoology, Photographer par excellence Myrtle Cottage, Douglas Harr, Woolfardisworthy, (Staff writer, columnist) Bideford, North Devon Jessica Taylor, EX39 5QR (PA and laughing at drunk pop stars) Telephone 01237 431413 Fax+44 (0)7006-074-925 5 It is simple; my name is Jon and I'm the editor of the Gonzo Multimedia daily online bloggything, and wot what a long, strange trip it is gonna be… I keep on thinking that I ought to have some sort of a mission statement in each issue, but it is more than a little difficult to do one. You will have certainly noticed that it has all Basically, (if you don't mind me sounding changed. In fact there is no certainly about it. more like a wishy washy old hippy than my But if you haven’t noticed I would like to know haircut in the photograph on the previous page what you have been smoking , and can I have a would imply) I think that books and music are large packet of it please.