charlie sheen - riches to rags

Carlos Irwin Estevez also known as Charlie Sheen, is currently hitting all the headlines and not for the right reasons. This has seemed to have countries hooked on the public breakdown of this TV and film star. Fans and followers have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the saga that has been unfolding before all of our eyes. The question that needs to be asked is “is it right for the media to keep publicising this breakdown?” the answer to this question will differ from one person to another, some say they have the right to know what is going on, others state that he should have the right to be able to deal with his problems in private.

Sheen’s career has spanned over 3 decades with accomplishments such as Wall Street in 1987 to both the Hot Shot’s! Films. On top of the films came the TV career such as spin city, which was on from 2001-2002, where he won a golden globe for best actor. After this he shortly landed the role of Charlie Harper in Two and a half Men that has won a hole handful of awards, which started in 2003 and is currently still running although filming, has ceased since the sacking of Sheen due to his breakdown, it is not clear whether filming will resume with a new cast or when Sheen is better. In 2010 Sheen was one of the highest paid actors in business raking in £1.6 million per episode.

So what has caused this fortunate mans breakdown for the entire world to see? Was it a case of too much too young? Was it a cry for help? Attention seeking maybe? Or is it that Sheen is it just that sheen is a troubled soul who needs help and looking after. Whatever the problem is deep down the huge following that he has acquired at the moment is down to nothing but people finding happiness and self-contentment with other peoples downfalls and problems in life. The Media have kept the show wagon that is Sheen’s life alive, by following him around waiting for his next crazy comment to be captured, to then put out to not just the nation but to the world.

Some parts of the media will give Sheen the ammunition he needs to flare up and give the world something else to talk about. This was evident a small radio station who was desperate for some publicity thought it would be a good idea to hire a plane and have a sign trailing a banner that announced their love for him and included the stations phone number. It also read, “call us 4 ur nxt role” Charlie being in his current mental state did this. With parts of the media doing this it’s no wonder that he carries on and plays up to them even more.

So who will sort out Charlie Sheen and help him out of this web of mental destruction that he seems intent on keeping going. If the media carry on one of the worlds most loved comedy actors will no longer be with us, only a distant memory and what will be left will be the bad memories and the crazy comments he has recently come out with.    

bringing the sound of folk to the youth

Some say that the age of folk music is dead; whilst others will disagree, it is hard to ignore the new wave of folk that is coming through the current music scene, such as Mumford and Sons. It is not something that you will read about often unless you buy the specialist publications but it is still a very popular type of music genre here in ol’ blighty. Although two of folk’s most renowned performers are from across the pond (well one and a half John was born in England and moved after attending university) they do like to spread their wings and come to England and do a tour.

 The current tour of Debra Cowan and John Roberts has got the attention that is needed. The pair are not duo, but they do perform together on stage. They have been in the UK doing a small tour that see’s them going all over the country entertaining people who appreciate the sound of folk music. With 15 dates under their belt in the UK getting the sound across will be easy for this pair. Although Debra very rarely works to a set list (only when she has other instrumentalist with her) and John never works to a set list, John says that “at least one of you must know what you are doing”. This only brings more spontaneity to the show that will be happening right in front of you, giving you value for what you paid for.

This was ever so more evident when the pair descended on the Leeds City College Technology campus for a small press call. Whilst giving the audience a captivating interview where they learnt about how folk came about and how they both got in to it, they gave an “experimental” performance where Debra was playing guitar to “where the drunkards roll” and John suggested going up a fret whilst picking up his concertina. Although they were put on the spot and the key change came in to play they pulled it off with ease, giving the students and other faculty members a very good show. Throughout the remainder of the press call, students were given the opportunity to ask questions, questions hat would give them more insight in to this old genre of music that was different form today’s current chart toppers.

Debra also does not write any of her own songs as she has set the bar too high for herself, also she says there are “better writers out there.” When she does take on a new song she makes it her own she “see’s the movie” when she sings it. This is ever more so when she sings “alcohol” by Ray Davies from the Kinks. The performance she gave to the college was both entertaining and enlightening, for if you have heard the original then you will hear how Debra has made this her own. You can hear her own influences run high all the way through her album version, which again creates her own folk sound and takes it away from that Kinks sound that it originally had.

It is important that today’s youth still get to hear this type of music as in theory it is what inspired today’s chart toppers to get inspired and make something unique, that will get people interested in and talking. This is what Debra and John will go on doing over and over, year after year as it is what they love and feel passionate about. By giving this gift to the youth will get them heard by new potential fans, to them though this is about making people realise the power that folk music holds, whether you write your own songs or not.           

Muse - Overrated or justified of their place in the rock and roll hall of fame

I have been an avid fan of Muse for many years. I first heard their unique sounds and astonishing riffs on the origins of symmetry album in 2001, I was hooked instantly. I soon wanted to know more about this so called “posh” British band and went and purchased the debut album, showbiz and yet again I was blown away. From that moment I was soon eagerly awaiting more news and music, from the band that had me fairly excited about the new sound that was breaking through the music at that point.

Although I am a major Muse fan I can only say that I have only had the opportunity once to see them live, this was more recently on the resistance tour. When I seen them live I was even more blown away than normal. In my own head I have always had a list of bands that have out done themselves at gigs, and in my own opinion I couldn’t even put Muse into that list as they were just too good. The stage presence and energy that they put into giving their loyal fan base a good time, is just immense. They have always been known for their stage shows and crowd interaction but until you actually see them live then it is actually to hard to understand what it is like.

The size of the resistance tour shows how such a small local following can turn in to world domination. This is mainly down to the fact that they are always changing what they set out to do and defy what is expected of them. They change from album to album but still keeping that Muse theme running strong through them all.

So to me whenever people say that they do not like Muse or don’t think that they talented then, as an avid music fan I feel the need to challenge them, find out why they feel that way. Some people find that they don’t differ live to what they do on their albums (something I strongly disagree with). More recently with the confirmation of a headline slot at Leeds festival and the announcement of playing Origins of Symmetry in its entirety think they are over rated, some even feel that it’s a waste of a headline slot. Upon hearing all of these comments it still doesn’t deter me from seeing them play again or buying their albums (good or bad).  To me it shows that Muse can be described as Marmite you either love them or hate them and for me I will always love them and many other Musers will agree. Muse certainly deserves their place in the rock and roll hall of fame if not for their music, then their live shows alone.