Harry Paterson

Photographs reproduced by kind permission of Sue Paterson Photography, www.suepaterson.co.uk

Unless you’ve been cryogenically frozen or holidaying on Mars, you’ll know, by now, that one of the region’s most loved bands, Isolysis, have called it a day (full statement below).

As the statement makes clear, there is no one reason for the split, rather an assortment of factors, both personal and professional, that forced the lads to take the unfortunate decision to go their seperate ways.

However, one can’t ignore the ugly truth that for a band as talented, committed and high-profile as they were, the lack of support they received from within the music industry and from the wider public, was nothing short of an absolute disgrace.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, simmer down, OK? I’m not having a pop at you or the loyal band of Isolyfans that turned out to most gigs and lent their support.

No. I’m aiming my polemic at both the music industry and the general public so let’s start with that “…cruel and shallow money trench” as the late, great Hunter S Thompson famously dubbed it.

Yes, Isolysis had great support from the lower levels of the biz, the scores of dedicated local and regional promoters, licensees and festival organisers, not to mention the fans. But where were the record labels? The name producers? The A&R men? And what about the music press, too? Metal Hammer? Classic Rock etc? Where were you guys? What did you do to nurture, promote and get behind home-grown, organic, British talent?

In a cruel irony, Simon Hall, Beholder front man, Metal To The Masses supremo and well-know champion of grass-roots talent, had confirmed the band for a slot on the acoustic stage at the prestigious Bloodstock Open Air bash, later this summer, on the day the band split. The band’s statement appeared, further cruel irony, on the very day Metal Hammer made the announcement of their BOA appearance.

But where are the Simon Halls on the big record labels? Where are his counterparts among the ranks of A&R men supposedly on the lookout for bands and musicians that can be developed with a view to sustaining a profitable and long-term career?

The sad fact is that there are far too few Simon Halls and far too many Simon Fecking Cowells. What chance do any of the current crop of bright young things stand when the industry is geared entirely to the get-rich-quick-next-big-thing phenomena of reality TV shows, manufactured  pop puppets and the latest shiny American import?

Recently, Isolysis travelled hundreds of miles to play a gig to less than a dozen people. I saw Toxic Federation playing The Flowerpot to four people, excluding myself, Mick Moonshine and the band’s management. Captain Horizon played a pub in Digbeth recently that wouldn’t be allowed in the Long Eaton Pool League, such were the smallness of its dimensions. Ditto Dakesis and many others.

The blame for that state of affairs, however, lies firmly with an apathetic, unappreciative and lazy gig-going public. You can wriggle and whine and duck and dive all you like but the harsh reality of supply and demand drives the music industry as much as it does any other market.

If punters are not willing to get off their arses, go to the venues and support local bands, they, along with the venues themselves, will eventually become so worn down and dispirited by the sheer pressure and financial hardship endured, that they’ll go the route of Isolysis and split.

When you consider the lengths our unsigned bands go to to promote themselves and try and build a viable career, it brings a lump to my throat. Literally. Videos that look as good as anything you’ll see on Kerrang or Scuzz, T-shirts, merch, websites, the whole shebang. All on their own with nothing but love, good will and commitment to the music to sustain them. But it’s not enough. They need you and you and you and, yes, you!

If the next time, Toxic Federation, say, play a gig and the fire limit is reached and punters are queuing around the block, what do you think will happen?

If Grand Ultra has to book bigger venues because the demand is so great, what do you think will happen?

The record label suits and bean counters will have to pay attention and give these bands a break if for no other reason than they see the £ signs flashing before their avaricious eyes. And the only people that can make that happen are us. Me, you, our mates, our families. Us and nobody else.

Get off your arse now, scan the gig listings and go and support our local talent. Take your partner and a friend. Don’t be a lazy, apathetic sod, trot out your bullshit excuses and then weep crocodile tears when the next great young act disintegrates in a morass of despair, hopelessness and broken dreams.

People write history. People topple governments, sweep aside entire civilisations and build new worlds from the ashes of the old. How easy could change be it if that indomitable force of human will was applied to the music industry?

Get off your arses and make the change. Do it now. Or forever allow Simon Cowell to spoon-feed you his latest monstrous creations while the musical cream of our generation throw in the towel and go clean windows and drive cabs instead.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you…