Monday, December 13, 2010

Class of 88 - Amazon Traders

Hey folks, i know i've spoken about secondhand books somewhere else on my blog but this weekend i found one of the most expensive editions yet on Amazon ($437) . I know someone in the UK paid £500 from E-Bay once and this i know because one of my cousins was in a pub and his pal came in with the £500 copy. Cuz called immediately thinking something fishy was going on but it was legit. I don't receive any royalties on the secondhand copies though i do commend the sellers for getting so much cash for a book and not some history book or rare fiction book but my book Class of 88. So Im proud of it really. Many well written books were published on Acid House, most of which can be acquired on Amazon for less than £10. Im not knocking the books, why would i, they mention my name and Genesis. My name is mentioned in no less than 18 books at the last count. Amazing, Im honored... I still find it quite unbelievable as i never written more than two pages since school.  

You know what irritates me though and please tell me that Im wrong...







I've contacted numerous vendors on amazon selling my book to congratulate them on earning some vast sums on my book and I wish them luck, no malice, pure love. You know not one of them has ever answered my message, not one of them, how mad is that? I even found one chap on E-Bay selling the PDF of Class of 88 for £3 when i was giving it away FREE and allowed everyone else to list the download on their sites. E-Bay did move fast and swift though, shut the chap down immediately. I wasnt expecting them to do that but i still couldn't allow him to sell that free PDF.

What's even worse than all that is the fact that selling books on Amazon is more profitable than actually writing books. If you join one of their affiliate programs you could sell my book Class of 88 and receive a commission greater than my royalty for writing it. So yes amazon is great for buying books but in reality there are also hanging writers...


When Class of 88 (updated) is re-released next year I'll be offering anyone with the original book to send back to me and i'll send them a signed updated new edition...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Acid House Flash Mob - Wayne Anthony Interview

We did some random Acid House flash-mobs a couple years ago and was contacted by someone writing a paper on this urban activity. He sent some questions which i answered and thought i'd include them here...


1) In what ways have you been involved in "flashmobbing" or similar public interruptions?

Public interruptions? Its all a matter of wordplay. On the one side they call it public interruptions while on other-side they'd probably call it a matter of necessity. We didn't make the rules nor did we have any involvement in their creation, and so as society goes about its daily routine, some rules stand out as pointless acts of control. After all, Admiralty Law has no place on land or in the domain of human beings. Have i been involved in public interruptions? No. I've facilitated a desire to live outside the construct of regulations, terms and conditions enforced by captains of the high seas. Public interruptions are nothing more than human beings expressing a deep urge to be free.

I was one of the pioneers of Acid House and what was later deemed by the media as the rave scene. So i've been involved in countless acts of random activities. I was also at the very blunt end of governmental disapproval during this period so have much experience in this field. Acid House defines an entire generation of people that stood up for something they believed in. It was against the rules but absolutely necessary for the growth of the country. At times such as that the rules have no bearing on the human condition and something should be done to change it. 


2) What were your reasons for doing so, and to what extent were your objectives achieved? Was it pure entertainment or were there deeper, artistic and philosophical reasons?

First and foremost its completely about entertainment, a break from the norm, an opportunity to do something you wouldn't normally dream of doing. That's what its about random acts of performance conducted by strangers in very public locations. I didn't personally set out to create any form of disruption this has and will always be about the movement of people, ideas and perceptions. This is measured by sheer numbers on the specified day of event and the feedback received byway of the marketing campaign.

3) What was the relevance of the location?

Flashmobbing is mainly about location, the more central the better. People attending still have to get home in a timely fashion. So its important for access to public transport to help get the people on their way. We also want to create maximum impact and where better a place such as Liverpool Street Station.

4) What means of communication did you utilise?

In an age of electronic communication we optimise all forms of viral marketing including real world and online campaigns. We create videos, graphic flyers, online groups / communities, message forums and all new technologies on release.

5) Are your events "interruptive" in that they significantly change a particular urban space for a certain amount of time?

I don't care for the word interruptive as on given day my life is 'interrupted' by things out of my control and that's the point, your dealing with a generation of people that deep down wish to be free in every way possible. So yes we stand in mass on a space allocated to us by sheer proxy of being human. No laws, regulations, terms or conditions apply. 

6) What is your name and occupation, and could you please indicate as to whether you are happy to be named in the paper or if you would prefer to remain anonymous?


I am Freeman, a human being, a pioneer, a spiritual provocateur, a visionary and humanist with deep felt love and conviction for all humans and lifeforms in the universe. I am you, they are us and we are them...

7) Please detail any additional information which you may wish to share: your thoughts, experiences and opinions about flashmobbing and public performance in general.

Wherever you find humans you'll find that urge to breakaway from control. Flashobbing provides an arena for complete strangers to shed their anonymity for a short period of time that allows the burden of distrust to evaporate before your very eyes. We all want to trust, love and be loved. Events of this nature temporarily suspends the preconditioning of humanity allowing for that much needed mass empathy. No matter where in the world you are right now when reading these answers. You too have that desire to break away from what you think you have to do in order to survive on this great planet. Just one memory can last a lifetime. So what do you have planned for tomorrow?  








Its just a ride...Bill Hicks