Wow wow wow. This stuff is unbelievable. But, good on him and Rosie Kay and Glinner and everybody who perseveres.
Myself I have so few old friends and former confederates left it's like I've lived through 1918 or something--- except instead of being dead all the ghosts refuse to talk to me.
It’s unfortunate it didn’t come to debate, because what was said is so obviously true that any opposition falls apart - Jazz is an American art form widely recognized to have originated in Black communities, post-reconstruction, and the most important principals in the genre… are black.
I’d love for them to react to Miles Davis’s comment…
He said: If somebody told me I only had one hour to live, I’d spend it choking a white man. I’d do it nice and slow. If I got tired I’d stop, have a glass of water, and choke him some more.
I think this was not long after the infamous Birdland assault.
I work at a university and there are closed session meetings for 'minoritised staff and students' (not Irish or working class though, minoritised means 'global majority') to get together to talk about their oppression. That just can't be right. As you argue, the mind-think is so divisive. Instead of exploring commonalities it's embedding and reinforcing resentment.
That is going on at TL too. Global Majority meetings. Very divisive. There is only the human race. We have so much in common if only people realised. However I believe it is all part of the many plans to have us fighting amongst ourselves while a dystopian future for all of us is rolled out.
I agree with you completely, and I'm so sorry to hear that this has happened to you, but also happy that you have managed to get through to the other side and found out who your real friends are. It seems that many of us are going through a complete housekeeping of many relationships we've carried through the years, which is a very hard process to deal with, but the prize is true friendships with like minded people who will be there to support you through thick and thin.
Will we ever see an end to the woke mind virus which has rendered so many incapable of rational thought and has turned them into authoritarian monsters who enjoy destroying lives?
Best wishes Martin. I hope things continue to improve for you.
The impact of this ridiculous culture on performers, no matter whether dancers, musicians, or actors, is massive.
It's not just work, it's part of yourself; pouring that out to others, sharing it with the audience and colleagues and students is an experience unlike any other. The shunned don't just lose work, they have part of their soul caged.
No wonder so many in the arts daren't speak out, which makes those of you that do all the more important.
I'm glad the gigs are coming back and you have new projects to work on.
(As a side note - an interesting facet to this cultural struggle session we're all being subjected to is that I've found myself expanding my world as I support its victims - music I wouldn't have listened to, poetry I wouldn't have read, TV shows I wouldn't have watched and friends I would never have met - I'm off to look up your recordings now.)
These weak, weak, pusillanimous pricks. Have Aliens come amongst us and sucked out the brains and backbones of these people? Will they one day sit and reflect on their sheer stupidity or are we the last of a kind? I cannot fathom quite what went wrong. Can anyone?
Remember when musicians were considered free spirits, iconoclastic and open-minded? Now they see the enforcement of conformity as more important than learning or playing.
Haha! Yes exactly. The old days and that what I was originally attracted to as a teenager, this radical sophisticated music, improvised, free expression, individuality but also collective experience. Now conforming to the hive mind is more important than anything.
Rather like comedians too, as Graham will undoubtedly agree.
Reading what Martin has been through reminds me Kathleen Stock's ordeal and the institutional abuse of a Canadian professor who's sub stack, 'Freedom To Offend' I would highly recommend.
The invidious cancel culture is the reason Jordan Peterson and his like- minded intellectuals have set up their own university in the USA to do the job ours have dismally failed at: having honest, open, intellectually curious and respectful debates.
I'm so sorry that this horror happened to you. It seems to happen so often these days and I'm getting fed up with the group think that's going on. It's got to stop!
Absolutely horrifying story. The only positive is that FSU and FITA are organisations made up of excellent people and it gives one hope about contemporary human culture. Well done standing up to the bullies and for speaking out and not caving to that immense pressure. The staff and students should be ashamed of themselves.
I already knew this rather grim story from a mutual friend - and I am pleased and relieved that you have some resolution at last - and I sincerely hope that your fortunes continue to improve and continued success is due, as it is well earned and deserved.
I do think that this important story should be more widely known about - this piece on this Substack will help matters, I am sure.
My grammar school headmaster kicked me out at the end of my first term in the Lower Sixth because, he said, I was ‘far more interested in my pop group than further education’.
That was 1965.
Since then about 90% of my life and fantastic career has been in music (alright, rock n roll), much of it internationally.
What happened to you is singularly the most depressing thing I’ve heard within music as art.
But I reserve the most scorn and opprobrium for those boneless, boneheaded students. How very dare they.
I sincerely wish you every future success and clearly it’ll be in spite of those utter ovine morons.
Thank you. School offers very little for the individual and is about programming children. It is so great you followed your own path. As I did. Many children don't do that and end up doing jobs they don't like as adults because they have learnt to conform and know that is the game.
There are so many things I could (and maybe will, later) pick up on, but for now I'm just going to highlight that, in the event one if these "students" were to be asked to say what s/he is "anxious" about, there would be no clear answer forthcoming. This is because they have learned that there can be no challenge to the current orthodox, and they could not admit their own racism. Maybe I shouldn't blame them, since this is what they've been taught, but I really do.
Yes there are so many factors we could talk about that contribute to this insanity. Please do write more. The programming is so deep with this generation, having been brought up on social media and screens from an early age and victimhood being encouraged. Deep fear of stepping out of line and being ostracised themselves. Interestingly the 'anxious' term was used by TL , the student went in ranting that he was angry and disagreed with my email. And as i said in my article, he was prepared to meet and chat with me and agree to disagree. TL put a stop to that and would not let us meet. So it loos like they had an agenda to make an example of me.
It is apt that the OG of race hustle himself, Mr. Jesse Jackson, passed last week. He taught a generation that being a victim was FAR superior -- and more profitable -- than having a conversation. I am sad and angry for your experience, as I am for SO many friends, old and new, whose major crime was to expect debate, at the very least, not realizing the depths to which the new Cultural Revolution had brought the entire 'civilized' world. May you thrive in your new life!
It’s absolutely horrific what these ideologues put you through, Martin, but sadly not at all unusual. They took their moves from the Stalinist playbook.
There’s a strong taint of sadism in their censoriousness. They really do want to destroy lives. They don’t even experience doubts about the virtue of their mission when they drive people to suicide.
Their announcement is a masterpiece of doublespeak. Something unlawful happened to you, somehow, through unseen forces, yet they are blameless and “continue” to uphold the principle of freedom of speech. Orwell would be impressed.
I’m afraid so! And sometimes they reach such heights of absurdity it seems as if they’ve thrown in a splash of Monty Python, without realising it was comedy— but we plebs must never laugh.
Wow wow wow. This stuff is unbelievable. But, good on him and Rosie Kay and Glinner and everybody who perseveres.
Myself I have so few old friends and former confederates left it's like I've lived through 1918 or something--- except instead of being dead all the ghosts refuse to talk to me.
Well you know what I always say David: anyone willing to be seen with me is a friend indeed.
The new friends are the true ones.
That is exactly what I have found. Very true...
It’s unfortunate it didn’t come to debate, because what was said is so obviously true that any opposition falls apart - Jazz is an American art form widely recognized to have originated in Black communities, post-reconstruction, and the most important principals in the genre… are black.
Yes a debate would be ideal which is what I wanted all along.
I wonder why that did not happen?
I’d love for them to react to Miles Davis’s comment…
He said: If somebody told me I only had one hour to live, I’d spend it choking a white man. I’d do it nice and slow. If I got tired I’d stop, have a glass of water, and choke him some more.
I think this was not long after the infamous Birdland assault.
It is totally fine as white people are always the oppressors!!!
He also said "I don't care if a dude is purple with green breath as long as he can swing."
Where can I find your work? I play winds. Not been in a jazz group for quite some time… my speed is Paul MacCandless.
I love Oregon and Paul.
My music is here, or some of it https://martinspeake.bandcamp.com/
And my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@martinspeake/videos
Mob insanity.
I’m appalled and I’m sorry this happened to you.
Thank you Kerrie
I work at a university and there are closed session meetings for 'minoritised staff and students' (not Irish or working class though, minoritised means 'global majority') to get together to talk about their oppression. That just can't be right. As you argue, the mind-think is so divisive. Instead of exploring commonalities it's embedding and reinforcing resentment.
That is going on at TL too. Global Majority meetings. Very divisive. There is only the human race. We have so much in common if only people realised. However I believe it is all part of the many plans to have us fighting amongst ourselves while a dystopian future for all of us is rolled out.
I agree with you completely, and I'm so sorry to hear that this has happened to you, but also happy that you have managed to get through to the other side and found out who your real friends are. It seems that many of us are going through a complete housekeeping of many relationships we've carried through the years, which is a very hard process to deal with, but the prize is true friendships with like minded people who will be there to support you through thick and thin.
Yes there are actually lots of good things that come out of it.
Divide and rule.
Exactly. As in covid, the powers that be get us all to police each other.
Will we ever see an end to the woke mind virus which has rendered so many incapable of rational thought and has turned them into authoritarian monsters who enjoy destroying lives?
Best wishes Martin. I hope things continue to improve for you.
Thank you.
Just dreadful Martin.
The impact of this ridiculous culture on performers, no matter whether dancers, musicians, or actors, is massive.
It's not just work, it's part of yourself; pouring that out to others, sharing it with the audience and colleagues and students is an experience unlike any other. The shunned don't just lose work, they have part of their soul caged.
No wonder so many in the arts daren't speak out, which makes those of you that do all the more important.
I'm glad the gigs are coming back and you have new projects to work on.
(As a side note - an interesting facet to this cultural struggle session we're all being subjected to is that I've found myself expanding my world as I support its victims - music I wouldn't have listened to, poetry I wouldn't have read, TV shows I wouldn't have watched and friends I would never have met - I'm off to look up your recordings now.)
Thank you and you are so right. The soul being caged is a good way to put it. Exciting times though. My world is being expanded all the time too.
These weak, weak, pusillanimous pricks. Have Aliens come amongst us and sucked out the brains and backbones of these people? Will they one day sit and reflect on their sheer stupidity or are we the last of a kind? I cannot fathom quite what went wrong. Can anyone?
Well it is very likely there are aliens/hybrid among us us who have no compassion and empathy. Psychopaths are more common than we think too.
Absolutely.
Remember when musicians were considered free spirits, iconoclastic and open-minded? Now they see the enforcement of conformity as more important than learning or playing.
Haha! Yes exactly. The old days and that what I was originally attracted to as a teenager, this radical sophisticated music, improvised, free expression, individuality but also collective experience. Now conforming to the hive mind is more important than anything.
Rather like comedians too, as Graham will undoubtedly agree.
Reading what Martin has been through reminds me Kathleen Stock's ordeal and the institutional abuse of a Canadian professor who's sub stack, 'Freedom To Offend' I would highly recommend.
The invidious cancel culture is the reason Jordan Peterson and his like- minded intellectuals have set up their own university in the USA to do the job ours have dismally failed at: having honest, open, intellectually curious and respectful debates.
Good luck in your future endeavours.
I'm so sorry that this horror happened to you. It seems to happen so often these days and I'm getting fed up with the group think that's going on. It's got to stop!
Thank you.
Good luck in the future 😀
Thank you
Absolutely horrifying story. The only positive is that FSU and FITA are organisations made up of excellent people and it gives one hope about contemporary human culture. Well done standing up to the bullies and for speaking out and not caving to that immense pressure. The staff and students should be ashamed of themselves.
FSU and FITA have been amazing! I am so lucky.
I'm in the FITA advisor group. I'm very proud to be involved with the project. Hopefully I'll meet you at a future event. Well done Martin!
Ah good to meet you here. In person at some point I hope! Thank you.
I already knew this rather grim story from a mutual friend - and I am pleased and relieved that you have some resolution at last - and I sincerely hope that your fortunes continue to improve and continued success is due, as it is well earned and deserved.
I do think that this important story should be more widely known about - this piece on this Substack will help matters, I am sure.
Good luck to you. Martin!
Thank you. Yes I plan to talk more about it and would like to get on some youtube podcasts that have large reaches.
Yes, good call. I saw you on Andy's YT channel - How about Triggernometry perhaps?!
I have just recorded music and chat with Andy. going out soon. We played duo.
Yes and Heretics.
How do I get on? I have a list of others I would like to be on too.
I saw! I look forward to that.
How do you get on - No idea! Perhaps if several people mentioned your and your case under their YT videos?
My grammar school headmaster kicked me out at the end of my first term in the Lower Sixth because, he said, I was ‘far more interested in my pop group than further education’.
That was 1965.
Since then about 90% of my life and fantastic career has been in music (alright, rock n roll), much of it internationally.
What happened to you is singularly the most depressing thing I’ve heard within music as art.
But I reserve the most scorn and opprobrium for those boneless, boneheaded students. How very dare they.
I sincerely wish you every future success and clearly it’ll be in spite of those utter ovine morons.
Thank you. School offers very little for the individual and is about programming children. It is so great you followed your own path. As I did. Many children don't do that and end up doing jobs they don't like as adults because they have learnt to conform and know that is the game.
There are so many things I could (and maybe will, later) pick up on, but for now I'm just going to highlight that, in the event one if these "students" were to be asked to say what s/he is "anxious" about, there would be no clear answer forthcoming. This is because they have learned that there can be no challenge to the current orthodox, and they could not admit their own racism. Maybe I shouldn't blame them, since this is what they've been taught, but I really do.
Yes there are so many factors we could talk about that contribute to this insanity. Please do write more. The programming is so deep with this generation, having been brought up on social media and screens from an early age and victimhood being encouraged. Deep fear of stepping out of line and being ostracised themselves. Interestingly the 'anxious' term was used by TL , the student went in ranting that he was angry and disagreed with my email. And as i said in my article, he was prepared to meet and chat with me and agree to disagree. TL put a stop to that and would not let us meet. So it loos like they had an agenda to make an example of me.
Thanks, Martin. It really does look like your card was marked early on.
Yes I questioned their covid policies of closing the college down and putting music classes online. They finally got got rid of me in round 2.
The plot thickens...
I believe there is much more to this story. And it will come out eventually.
It is apt that the OG of race hustle himself, Mr. Jesse Jackson, passed last week. He taught a generation that being a victim was FAR superior -- and more profitable -- than having a conversation. I am sad and angry for your experience, as I am for SO many friends, old and new, whose major crime was to expect debate, at the very least, not realizing the depths to which the new Cultural Revolution had brought the entire 'civilized' world. May you thrive in your new life!
It’s absolutely horrific what these ideologues put you through, Martin, but sadly not at all unusual. They took their moves from the Stalinist playbook.
There’s a strong taint of sadism in their censoriousness. They really do want to destroy lives. They don’t even experience doubts about the virtue of their mission when they drive people to suicide.
Best of luck in your court case!
Yes doesn't seem to be unusual but the first case in my sector of jazz. It seems they want to destroy me, yes. The lack of empathy now is huge in much of society. No court case anymore. We reached a settlement and they posted this announcement. https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/blog/announcement-regarding-the-employment-tribunal-of-martin-speake/
Their announcement is a masterpiece of doublespeak. Something unlawful happened to you, somehow, through unseen forces, yet they are blameless and “continue” to uphold the principle of freedom of speech. Orwell would be impressed.
Yes 1984 and Brave New World are manuals for TL and many others now.
I’m afraid so! And sometimes they reach such heights of absurdity it seems as if they’ve thrown in a splash of Monty Python, without realising it was comedy— but we plebs must never laugh.
Yes at least we have humour.