Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Green Issues & Festivals

SPIZZENERGI are perhaps the greenest original 70's punk band still gigging. How come you ask? Well to date, the number of flights taken by any Spizz fronted band since their first flight in 1980 is six. Yep you read it right SIX (06). Many festivals are now falling over themselves to emphasize their green credentials such as Glastonbury. Now imagine by booking SPIZZENERGI, they could considerable offset the carbon footprint of such a festival as Glastonbury.
So why is it that SPIZZENERGI have yet to appear at any outdoor festival since Deeply Vale 1979?
It is largely to the lack of effort made by bookers to see beyond what managers, agents and record companies throw at them. Spizz it must be said, since 1985, has continued without either a manager or agent. However recent mail shots and emails have had little response from festival organisers despite that SPIZZENERGI are a name band with a history and close ties to The John Peel Show at its peak. Factor in that when the inaugural official Indie charts were formed 'Where's Captain Kirk?' was already at No.1. The song held the top spot for two months and remained in the Indie top 30 for the entire year. Record Mirror running the stats commented at time that "Spizz is probably the biggest selling artist of all time never to have charted!" 'Where's Captain Kirk?' is also one of the few songs released by a UK artiste covered by stadium rockers R.E.M.
SPIZZENERGI's earlier material is now available through Cherry Red Records, one of the first carbon neutral record labels. Manufacture of newer Spizz material is only produced to meet individual orders thus completely eliminating unnecessary waste. Another example of SPIZZENERGI's green credentials is that the band's last three London shows have been FREE. No tickets to print or post!
The next London show the band return to Filthy MacNasty's 68, Amwell Street EC1 on Saturday 24th May 2008 and again entry will be FREE. The event is called the Summer In The Greenhouse Filthy Free Festival 2008. Because SPIZZENERGI have plenty of offset carbon footprints, it understandable therefore that the band are hoping to perform at as many festivals as possible over the next 18 months, as the band reaches its 30th Anniversary year in 2009. SPIZZENERGI also travel light, no equipment (use locally provided instruments) and take only hand luggage. Only for very big gigs do they take a sound engineer.
In a recent statement Spizz said:
"I'd like to get out and perform at some festivals and remind people why we were set to be the next big thing back at the end of 1979. But because the environmental writing is on the wall am reluctant to see myself performing much beyond 2009. I feel it would be both irresponsible to others and feel it would be like stealing the future from my own children."
Finally Spizz has penned three 'green' songs Energy Crisis (1979), We Want The World (1989) and Summer In The Greenhouse (1990) Below Energy Crisis
(lyric: Spizz © Ababble Of Songs/Notting Hill Music)
POISONING GASES TEARING UP THE SKY
DISRUPTION OF WEATHER CAUSING US TO FRY
BURNING RADIATION SEVEN MILES HIGH
CANCER TISSUES FORMING 'CAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO DIE
Chorus:
ENERGY CRISIS THE TEMPERATURE RISES
TOO SHORT OF RESOURCES TO MOBILIZE FORCES
WHEN THE OZONE LAYER IS GONE
WE WILL HAVE TO RUN FROM THE SUN
THE HUMAN RACE IS ONLY SAFE AT NIGHT
WHEN THE ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURE'S RIGHT

Links:
spizzenergi.com
myspace.com/spizzenergi news
myspace.com/spizzenergi music