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Author Topic:   Letter from John Frusciante Regarding Mickey Avalon
Heart--Shaped Cross
Knowflake

Posts: 7676
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted May 05, 2008 11:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
From: John
To: xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mar 13, 2007 5:43 PM

To the Oklahoma audience,

I feel love for everyone who supports my band and our music.I play music to spread light around the world and those who are open to the light we spread are as much a part of our music as we are.

To the few of you who booed my friend Mickey Avalon,I must say that I agree with Flea that you were also booing my band and yourselves.Because in booing another man,in the first place, you show no regard for humanity.And you show that you have no concept of the amount of courage it takes to open up in front of anybody,much less 10,000 people.Because anyone who knows what it feels like to open up to even one person would never attempt to abuse a person who was doing so in front of a crowd. I happen to feel that Mickey is a great rapper,a great performer,and a natural born star.Though all my friends agree with me on this,it is obviously a matter of opinion,as with any artist,and I certainly don't expect every member of my bands audience to agree with me,especially with such limited exposure to him. But imagine if you were 10 years old and you spent a year putting a play together, and charged 50 cents and you and your friends really decked the place out and worked hard to make it fun to come to, and you knew a five year old dancer who was great and asked her to dance before the play.If some people came and booed her, would you want to perform for them?

Would that kind of abuse be what you had in mind when you were working so hard to create an environment where people could have fun,party and be entertained? Anybody who has the guts to get on stage and bear themselves deserves to be respected for having courage.Anyone watching is free to leave or go to the lobby. But by staying,though you don't like it,and preferring to boo rather than leave,you are showing that you derive pleasure from attempting to hurt others, and that is always the result of dissatisfaction with yourelf.Anyone who trys to make others feel bad,in an attempt to feel good themselves,will never feel true happiness as long as they do so. Not to mention,in the case of a great man such as Mickey Avalon,you only make him stronger,because he has actual self-belief,something which cannot be faked.And you who booed gave him the chance to demonstrate that he has that admirable quality. By the way,the Chili Peppers got booed opening for people in the early days,as have many of the all-time greats.Standing up to that **** is part of getting stronger when someone knows they are good,and it is just taking the world longer to catch on. In this sense I thank you for booing because you have served as a steppingstone for a strong performer to get even stronger.

And I also realize that those of you who booed have probably been spoken down to consistenty by your parents,your teachers,your bosses,your older siblings,older kids,etc.I know that **** is frustrating and it probably feels good to take it out on someone who has confidence you wish you had.But the truth is we are all here together.One of us is here because all of us are here. If you don't respect other peoples feelings you can't expect to ever have others respect your feelings. As long as you attempt to humiliate someone who is opening up to you,you will never have the courage to truly open up to others.

I knew there was a chance that Mickey would get booed by those of you who resent what isn't familiar, and I also knew that he is of strong enough character to stand up to it, and perform as great as he does in a club in L.A. where people absolutley love and adore him. There is very little I admire more than that ability, which last night he clearly showed he has.A strong sense of self is what we all want,and so we should respect those who have it. Whether we like what they are doing is beside the point. If I see a performer who I think is terrible,my heart bleeds for them.The thought of trying to humiliate them is unthinkable.

I am very grateful to be able to share the music that comes through me and my band with each and every person who attends our shows. It means a great deal to me. But when I see that some members of my audience enjoy hurting others,I must speak up and say what I feel is right. If you are using the arena we all rented together to attempt to hurt a mans feelings, I must use the microphone to get across that that is not why we are gathered there.

Thank you to all of you,including you who booed,and I honestly hope you got something out of the experience.I hope you who booed someday have the beginnings of true confidence,whereby you derive no pleasure from humiliating others,and can then have the courage to open up to the world and be yourself unashamedly.

What we share with music is a celebration of the infinite possibilites the universe has to offer. I love all who share in this celebration with us.I recommend that you use the experience to inspire you to be yourself, and to let it all hang out. What the **** do you think is so cool about Flea and Anthony in the first place?Or Jimi Hendrix or David Bowie?Or Little Richard?They waved their freak flag high! We should all follow their lead! Have respect for those who do this(whether they're famous or not)and you will develop the courage to do this yourself. Everyone of you is a star.Its just hiding inside of some of you.That part of you will come out if you treat others as you would like to be treated,and when you can't find it in yourself to do so,if you just leave others alone.

All of you who we play to have given me so much and I write this in hopes that I can give help to some of you(who were clearly the minority) where you clearly showed yourself to be in need of help. If people try to push you down,don't conform to their ******** .Stand up to it,with courage. Make 'em threaten you with death before you even consider backing down.Be how you want to be. **** 'em. Then you will develop inner character whereby you would always support those who have the guts to be themselves openly,for you would know that you and they are on the same team. We are actually all on the same team but some of us seem to know that and others do not. Thanks especially to the majority of you,who opened up to MA.I know he's different.It always takes a second for us to comprehend things that are unfamiliar.
Lots of love to all of you.That's what this is all about.

Love,
John Frusciante

PS. I know I don't know you personally and couldn't possibly know if you only buy and listen to what you're force fed. I was so mad last night,when Fleas mention of MA received some boos, that my words were led by my emotions, and I am not used to verbally speaking to large crowds. I wrote this letter to make my position clear. Thank you for hearing me out.

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Heart--Shaped Cross
Knowflake

Posts: 7676
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted May 05, 2008 11:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message

mr. right http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvYy22J_yBc&feature=related

romeo and juliet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ZzCsZu95E&feature=related

my dick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNgWQfOd-1M&feature=related

waiting to die http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRCRajb4VY&feature=related

so rich, so pretty http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=wvlbZqF6fDA

roll up your sleeves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjStSrcgA78&feature=related

jane fonda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4rCfRDyZFQ&NR=1

friends and lovers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qMna5Yl8fc&feature=related

sweet surprise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkU9nVR02Iw&feature=related

people talk about mickey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th3yogBOVhE



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blue moon
Moderator

Posts: 1533
From: U.K
Registered: Dec 2007

posted May 06, 2008 02:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for blue moon     Edit/Delete Message
Well I tend to agree with him ~ I think booing is bad manners, like he says the man has put himself up there at least give him a chance.

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Heart--Shaped Cross
Knowflake

Posts: 7676
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted May 06, 2008 04:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message

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Heart--Shaped Cross
Knowflake

Posts: 7676
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted May 06, 2008 04:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
I think there is a lot of "deceptively simple" wisdom in this letter.

I see a lot of humility and clear-headedness, and that is always a winning combination.

Shows what an ex-junky can do, right?

God Bless John Fruciante, Mickey Avalon, and Everyone.


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ListensToTrees
Knowflake

Posts: 4548
From: Infinity
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 07, 2008 12:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ListensToTrees     Edit/Delete Message
quote:
What the **** do you think is so cool about Flea and Anthony in the first place?Or Jimi Hendrix or David Bowie?Or Little Richard?They waved their freak flag high! We should all follow their lead! Have respect for those who do this(whether they're famous or not)and you will develop the courage to do this yourself. Everyone of you is a star.Its just hiding inside of some of you.That part of you will come out if you treat others as you would like to be treated, and when you can't find it in yourself to do so, if you just leave others alone.

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26taurus
Knowflake

Posts: 13767
From: *
Registered: Jun 2004

posted May 07, 2008 12:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
quote:
and when you can't find it in yourself to do so,if you just leave others alone.

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ListensToTrees
Knowflake

Posts: 4548
From: Infinity
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 07, 2008 01:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ListensToTrees     Edit/Delete Message
I'm glad John Frusciante wrote that letter to stand up for what his heart believes in.

If I had been a member of that ignorant, booing crowd, a member who was at least willing to listen to reason, I would be touched by such a letter and it would make me think again, and maybe change such behavior.

There comes a time when someone must speak out.

I think that's what treating others as we'd like to be treated really means.

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26taurus
Knowflake

Posts: 13767
From: *
Registered: Jun 2004

posted May 07, 2008 02:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message

tee

hee

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ListensToTrees
Knowflake

Posts: 4548
From: Infinity
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 07, 2008 02:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ListensToTrees     Edit/Delete Message

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgdSOxaCGI

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26taurus
Knowflake

Posts: 13767
From: *
Registered: Jun 2004

posted May 07, 2008 02:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
cant view the Tube right now, LTT.

i can say I have taken part in some laughing yoga though.

laugh from your belly baby.

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Heart--Shaped Cross
Knowflake

Posts: 7676
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted May 07, 2008 04:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
Also,

His music is da bomb!

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Heart--Shaped Cross
Knowflake

Posts: 7676
From: 11/6/78 11:38am Boston, MA
Registered: Aug 2004

posted May 07, 2008 05:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Heart--Shaped Cross     Edit/Delete Message
Why would they boo someone who was only trying to entertain and inspire? Thats what I don't understand.
I'm not saying the solution is to "boo the boo-ers", but I can certainly understand Fruciante's willingness to speak out,
in the name of common decency, rather than just train a myopic focus on the good qualities of the people in the crowd, and walk away.

In the case of our little GU adventure, I would only suggest that sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice one person for the sake of the collective.
One bad apple often spoils the bushel. I'm not saying you need to throw the apple away, but maybe just have another basket ready for the good apples?
I think that is a very fair, reasonable, and pragmatic solution. At the very least, it is nothing to stand in the way of.

Metaphors aside, I'm not going to be bullied into silence, and I'm certainly not going to convince myself that it makes me spiritual to do so.
I may not be the best fireman for the job, but, sitting back and watching Rome burn while Nero fiddles, is just to fiddle in another way.
But as long as you are happy, and able to block out the screams, and to sacrifice another city to the dogs, I suppose you cant complain.

I just dont know why you would sit in lotus position at the gates of the city, blocking the entrance so that the firefighters cant get in,
and, involve yourself in the very conflict you say ought to be ignored or answered only with love.
Not to see the irony here, and not to admit your error, is inconceivable to someone like me.

Why you would overlook obvious,
unprovoked negativity in someone else's posts,
and, then look for negativity in posts
clearly showing concerted efforts at diplomacy and tact
(in response to angry attempts at provocation),
and then tell me I have "mars dribbling down my chin"
(as opposed to spewing out of my mouth, I guess)
is so far beyond me, I dont even know what to make of it.
I just know I dont want it in my inner circle.


To anyone reading this who has no idea what I'm talking about... please, dont ask.


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