WITH THE CURSE PRONOUNCED; the loud drumroll of the devas sounded. We could’ve been friends; now you’re banned from life.

WITH THE CURSE PRONOUNCED; the loud drumroll of the devas sounded. We could’ve been friends; now you’re banned from life.

WITH THE CURSE PRONOUNCED; the loud drumroll of the devas sounded. We could’ve been friends; now you’re banned from life.

Back in 2004, near the beginning of Sheiks of Sheba, I met a man named Gordon Raphael. He was the producer on the first two albums created by the band ‘The Strokes’.

I liked their gritty, lo-fi, no-nonsense style, and I discovered he was the one that made them interesting enough to get my attention. He seemed to take a liking to me, even writing an article about me on rockfeedback.com, and I spoke with him on a fairly regular basis.

However, upon the release of The Strokes’ third album, I heard from Raphael directly that they decided they no longer needed his assistance, and dropped him as a producer.

This being said, when I heard the album he was no longer involved with, I was in awe at how it in no way compared to the previous album, and simultaneously wondered what made them decide to change their sound, and more specifically, wondered why they were creeping up the alley towards elements that were similar to my style of music.

Erratic drum beats, bizarre guitar tones, spiritual elements, strange chord progressions and visual concepts instead of just regular, cool, New York City rock in roll.  What made them enter my territory so soon after their producer had been introduced to me?

After this, a few things caught my attention, sent to me by friends of mine.  The things The Strokes were beginning to do were really starting to resemble my own musical and visual activities.  But, I thought I was just being crazy, and I wasn’t worried, as the album in question did not succeed.

BUT NOW. Julian Casablancas, the lead singer of The Strokes, has decided to release a solo album.  I now find a very obvious, almost mocking portrayal of an artist stealing from another artist.

I realize that this “happens” in the music industry, however, Julian Casablancas is rich, successful, and blatantly stealing art work, music styles, photography, and basically all things encompassed in my solo efforts with no regard or acknowledgment.

I may be crazy, but here is proof. I am not doing this to promote legal action, I am merely pointing out my abilities to create and his abilities to copy, rape and steal from someone in a less fortunate position.  Feel free to create your own opinion, but look at these first;

My “gold ringed belt” was a trademark image for me, something I inherited from my mom’s closet.  I’ve tried finding a similar one in thrift stores everywhere with no luck.   To find a rare belt like this, so specific, would take a deliberate search.  Also, notice the jean jacket?  Why pair these two together?  I dismissed it as a coincidence at the time, though.

Years later, nothing is to be heard from The Strokes.  However, out of nowhere, more than half a year after the creation of my new solo project” Leone of Sheba”, came a “trailer” for Julian Casablancas solo album, using an ominous, gold logo that filled the screen, with random abstractions, blending spiritual imagery with futuristic concepts.  Notice on my website in the visage section how my music “trailers” predate his, in both content and style.

Then came this.  The “Phrazes for the Young” album cover.  Notice the guitar, the wood type, the pose.  Who are they trying to fool?  Did they think I’d forget my own photography 5 years later?

And so on…

This one really made me sad.  My “Lion’s Credo”, a storybook filled with my artwork, lyrics and “credos” that were quotes I had been developing for myself for self-motivation.  This artwork is displayed prominently on my website in conjunction with the lyrics.  This is a concept I have been utilizing since 2004.  However, how blatant can you get when you use the same type of “classically bound” book?  I am willing to bet they are even the same proportions.  Why???

All in all, I am very disappointed.  As I said before, I am merely posting this so everyone knows who did all this first, and to publicly express my disdain for this type of activity from people who are successful enough that they can be more sportsmanlike with their “competition”.  If you are going to so blatantly rip off someones ideas, at least offer them a hand, at least show some respect, at least show some acknowledgment while you do so.

I know that may be an old-fashioned, naive concept, but hey, tell that to this gentleman who is falsely portraying himself as such!

*UPDATED*

Looks like he’s at it again. I’m not going to link his sub-par video and give him more publicity, but I’ll post some screenshots so you can see what I mean.

Looks like he’s a Sheiks of Sheba fan — if so, why not give a hand, a shout out, show some comradery? Instead, rich snobs like this want to take credit for everything so they can appear talented and creative, when really they are empty, fearful, soulless vessels who live off harvesting other peoples ideas. How pathetic!

- G

THE SPECTRUM OF INFLUENCE, or the sharing of ideas:

1) The lower status emulate the higher status to find similar success. Acceptable. It benefits all parties; the higher status appears influential, the lower status learns lessons. Cycle of apprenticeship.

2) The higher class emulates the lower class out of greed. Unacceptable. It benefits nobody. The higher class guarantees their own fall from grace, the lower class loses its identity. This is plain and simple rape and theft.

These two scenarios in mind, there is only one situation in which the second scenario is appropriate — and that is when the higher class party lifts up the lower class party whom they are “emulating”.

For example, The Beatles emulated Bob Marley and the concept of “reggae” in several of their well known songs. Reggae grew out of a mixture of things, INCLUDING The Beatles, which is difficult to tell for most today, but nonetheless a great example of scenario 1 in effect — the lower status emulates the higher status to find success.

The Beatles, in an equally incredible example of scenario 2, did the classy thing and acknowledged Bob Marley’s influence on them, even billing the wailers as “The Jamaican Beatles” because of their powerful melodies and poise for iconic stature. This was when rock stars were classy and legendary.

Today, unfortunately, rock stars have become the epitome of apathetic, pompous rich brats who have forgotten the origin of rock and roll — coloured people of lower class. Every TRUE revolution begins at the bottom of the barrel, with the odd man out. Do you really think you can fake that and last in history?

You; you know who I’m talking to. You have been dully warned. Did you think someone of my character would sit down and allow this to occur? You will be a mere footnote in my career as a result of this injustice. You are a rapist, a thief, and a swine. Don’t you dare ever call yourself a gentleman or present “old-fashioned ideals” when you don’t have a sportsmanlike bone in your body. You are mere prey for me and I cant wait to sink my teeth into your flesh. You will be devoured. The lion is coming.

The Seven Symphony Regatta;

“A musical challenge come high-seas vimana race between two or more individuals.

It’s purpose; to strengthen ones musical skills to the point of mastery by overcoming difficult barriers.”

Yes, great-grand-father Tone would be proud. . .