Patrick Wolf Announces His Final Show
Although this year has been the best in young Wolf's year to date, sweeping NYC off its feet and inspiring the NYT to cite LiveJournal entries, it appears there was deeper significance to Patrick's drummer-bashing tantrum, and that at 23, he's already had enough. A user by the name of "patrickwolf" posted this message to his fanboard, later authenticated by the board moderator.
Re: new interview and firing his drummer
« Reply #75 on Yesterday at 1:12pm »dear all...
I should never have read this.. I really shouldn't.
I dont think when I was 16 and dreamt of releasing records there would ever be so much crazy speculation about the person I am and that you want me to be. I have become so tired of this behaviour, sometimes I wake up and have to do six hours of interviews before doing a show, then go straight to bed to sleep a couple of hoursto fly to a new country to be cross examined in the same way.. I dont know what is left of me sometimes, some mornings i dont know how i get on the flight or even open my mouth to sing that night. If I choose after working since the early hours of a day and then pouring my heart out for an hour and a half that I really have nothing left to give.. that I cannot be a fake politician and sign autographs for an hour.. does this make an asshole?
because my drummer was causing arguments within my road family, taking sedative drugs before an important show in a city i really love, so much so he could not play the music I wrote, the songs that I have survived on in the last six years... because I had to slap him to see if he was even CONSCIOUS on stage.... the fact that the only thing that got any reaction out his corpse happened to be made of metal.. because all of this.. does this make me seem like I was on cocaine, or on some power trip? I was pissed off because this was just one more musician or businessman taking my good nature and generosity for a ride... trust me, that moment onstage was the end of a long line of bad behaviour that it would unfair to go into in public. Yes I was drunk, but It was one oclock in the morning after seven hours of interviews.. i had been running on about four hours of sleep a night for about two weeks... such is the joy of promoting a record. Anyway, I was having FUN until that moment. So was the rest of my band until we realised my drummer was taking the piss out of all of us and our hard work. I dont work with liars and I dont work with thieves.Much as we'd like to write off his write-up as an impetuous rant, our forensic team insists this to be a calm and premeditated epistle from a prematurely burnt-out prodigy. Let's hope it's not true. P. Wolf, we hardly knew you and your sequined ways.I dont want to have to share this information with you but so many seem so interested...
I have made a decision, my final concert will be this november, a retrospective with an orchestra in London. I am not sure wether there will be anymore public communications after that, Infact I am pretty sure there will be none. Of course, this has nothing to do with my drummer.. but a creative clock is ticking and I have many many projects to be creating with my time left on this earth. I hope to share my last shows with you this year.
I have enjoyed making and performing music for you all, I have enjoyed trying to give a little hope and inspiration to the world. But I feel, especially when I read all this and I go about my days that I have failed. Im not seeking sympathy or empathy, god, I have to go find something I love and am inspired by in this world again. Many of you will never know the amount of work and emotion that goes on behind the scenes for me and many of your other favourite artists or musicians and why should you? I wanted to give you disneyland.. I wanted to give you a world at the back of your wardrobe, now im just feel a fool for bothering. I am in berlin today, i know I should never have read this, I dont know who any of you are, just strangers talking amongst themselves, and I wish I was stronger minded today, but i have to take enough bullshit from other parts of the world for what I do and who I am without getting it from here.
Im going off for a walk now.. clear my heart and head. Thanks to all you with the intelligence to see past the superficial chaos of the media and the various ridiculous personalities and characters that have been painted around me over the years, the problem is, unfortunately many of you will never get to know the truth, but many will still speculate, and play chinese whispers with interviews and opinions from the friend of a friend. This is nothing new to me, unfortunately, luckily I have always had a close set of dear friends that will always know me for who I really am, just as I do.
If I can give any advice, is, if anything, just listen to the music, watch the videos, read the lyrics, see the artwork, these are my communications, not others.
still love x patrick
[Pic from Patrick's set at Hiro Ballroom 4/5/07.]
Posted at 8:31 AM
Tags: Patrick Wolf
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This makes me really sad, but somehow I like him even more. I'm a sucker for the disillusioned types. Hopefully he coems around though.
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PLEASE say it aint so!
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I'm not surprised.
He has been a respected alternative artist for many years, and now he's been transformed (in a way he didn't want, it would seem) in to a mainstream pop star.
It's a completely different form of musician, and i personally have never like the pop star that he was turned into. He never seemed comfortable with it, and it didn't seem to suit him at all.
I'm glad he's walking away from it, because it shows he has the integrity and character to turn down fame and fortune in order to maintain his true self.
Good for him.
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I don't even listen to this guy, but does this mean he's going to just stop performing (a la Beatles) or stop making music for public consumption altogether?
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Nooooooooooooooooooo!
He gave me a world at the back of my wardrobe!
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what a whiny little bitch! Suck it up.
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Good riddence.
That drummer should press charges and/or sue.
Buh Bye Pat!
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what a fucking baby....
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i suppose it's true that, due largely in part to his signing to major labels, that he was sort of being turned into a pop star, but that was his own choice, wasn't it? it's not like anyone held a gun to his head and demanded that he sign to a subsidiary of Universal.
in any case, it's always seemed like his music is too close to him to just up and quit. maybe the situation is really that bad. i hope he changes his mind. it'd be a shame and a loss if he walked away.
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wow. a diva who put out one good record is quitting music.
yawn.
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Patrick Wolf wishes he were a big enough pop star to pull this kind of shit. Instead it just comes off as a little sad.
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the only words he'll need to memorize from here on out: "would you like fries with that?"
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Man, what an ego. It's kind of sad how naive and un self-aware this kid is.
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but i was waiting for him to teach me exactly which position is the magic one!
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I think he'll be back. He's an emotional artist in the heat of an album launch. I would not classify him as a "mainstream pop star" though!
Wonder what his label thinks? This is drama with a capital D.
PS: The drummer was a cock. Good riddance.
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He'll get over it and make a comeback in a couple years. Just wait...it'll happen.
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Don't you need to be established before you can make a "comeback?"
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Temper tantrums aren't very becoming, P-dub.
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I really couldn't stand his overt homosexuality as a singer. At least be quiet about it. Good riddens.
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oh for god's sake. you people are ASSES. good for him, indeed. his life's purpose isn't to please you guys, you know, and everything he said seemed pretty reasonable. i've never been a huge patrick wolf fan, but i have to respect him for this.
and miles: wtf?!
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He seems to be very worried about what a bunch of dickheads that he'll probably never meet think of him.. maybe if he's that thin-skinned he shouldn't be in the music industry. On the other hand, if he's just decided that he hates the grind of constant touring and interview work, that seems fair enough. Miles Q: what a stupid thing to say.
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Have some of you people lost their FUCKING MIND?
The man is writing that he is done, empty, exhausted, because of all the criticism that this shit world has thrown over him. AND YOU GUYS JUST GO ON AND CONTINUE DOING THE SAME? How can you kick a person who's on his knees already, you goddamn pricks? Just shut up - your words really aren't worth a fucking dime.
Patrick, I hope you read this. Or actually I hope you don't, because so many words on this page are empty. Just remember mine. You are one of the most beautiful and sincere human beings. I'm glad that I have gotten to know you. You're too much for this world, they just don't understand you. I hope they haven't disappointed you too much.
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Anyone who claims he isn't established enough to be walking away from music, is very naive to this guy. He has already estabished himself with his previous work, just not to a mainstream audience.
A lot of people don't realise that he has been around for quite some time. He just hasn't been exposed.
I think he lost a lot of creative control when he signed to Universal, and that's included everything from his music to his lifestyle. Maybe it was, therefore, a mistake on his behalf to sign to a major label, and he wasn't prepared for the affects it would have on him, but i can point out a million musicians who have just allowed themselves to be defamated for the sake of their labels. Glad to see he's not one of them.
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Funny. Ru posted the same comments on the American Idol message board re: Sanjaya.
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He's not on his knees. He's doing quite well. The problem is, a lot of famous people are assholes. They shouldn't be upset when it's revealed that they are. He just happened to slip up early on. And it's not that big a deal- he's overreacting. That's what I mean about ego. Just cool out, buddy.
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I'm not even a fan of Patrick Wolf, but I just happened to read his statement today on this site, and wanted to let everybody know a few things, because a few of you were hatin' on this guy:
First of all, the guy is obviously stressed out. Secondly, dealing with musicians in your band who are fucked up on drugs is like the most dis-heartening thing ever, especially when you're the one who writes all the shit. It's like somebody taking a crap on your work, who's supposed to be there helping out the entire project.
Never under-estimate the music industry, and what it does to artists......even on an indie level. It turns perfectly good, hard-working, creative people into robot zombies. Writing good music takes a lot of privacy, patience, and peace of mind. Touring is not conducive to solid work getting done, and a good artist always cares about their material, and falls apart when it's not getting done well.
Touring, rehearsing, constant interviews, having to deal with drunk people at loud venues, being on the road constantly, having your friends get mad at you because "you haven't been there for me", and constantly hearing feedback (negative and positive) from the public can really mess with an artist's head. Most critics and fans want to be the first to make or break that "next big thing".
Ironically, everyone is a critic these days (thank you, blogcore!).
Sometimes creative people just need to stay at home and work in a balanced environment, and keep evolving. Playing shows should be something that an artist wants to do.....not something he/she has to do in the name of promotion and keeping the hype alive. We live in an era where people are very quick to judge the artist. We hold our underground and mainstream stars up on a pedestal, and forget that they are humans.
In an ideal world, the artist could just put records, play 1 or 2 huge shows per year, and never have to talk to your drunk asses ever again. haha.
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I think it's good that he takes some time apart. I also think that some peopole take it to seriously. He is still going to write music and produce it. I think it's great. And it is the most important thing. Yes I am a "fan" of his songs, but I will not shoot myself because he is going to stop interviews/and concerts. I hope he will continue to be as creative as he is, and that his future albums will be as great as the other 3!
Love, Joy.
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