http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/17/mick-jagger-two-cheers-for-an-aging-frontman/ :nooslajaleisk

Slash piece by the newspaper owned by The Reverend Sun Myung Moon and the Church of the Unification...

Not a well respected paper in the US or DC...however...they have they most up to date Housing foreclosure
and car repo auctions  listings for the DC / VA/ MD area  every Wednesday.

The author references that he has a you tube page featuring Stones guitar tutorials recently featured in Rolling Stone.

Mel Belli, is this you?

I liked the piece.  The sidecar analogy worked, but calling Keith a parasite?   :whydontcha

Yup, that's me. "Parasite" might be a little harsh, but the overall sentiment is nothing I haven't expressed around here for the last few years.

Kudos, in any case.  Like I said, I like the piece a lot.  I'm a journalist myself, but I don't get paid to write about the Stones or music at all, unfortunately.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/17/mick-jagger-two-cheers-for-an-aging-frontman/ :nooslajaleisk


" Jagger will always stand as rock’s paradigmatic frontman in my book.

And he is not merely a “frontman.” Not by a long shot.

Mr. Jagger is hugely underrated as a songwriter in his own right. The catalog of Stones classics he wrote with little or no input from Mr. Richards — including “Brown Sugar,” “Sway,” “Moonlight Mile,” “Dead Flowers,” “Sister Morphine,” “Shine A Light,” almost the entirety of “Some Girls” and many more — is extensive and formidable.  "


A  --- FRIGGIN    ---  MEN !!!!!!

Jacky Cakes ! ®

Very good work, Mr. Belli.  It's refreshing to read something about the Stones which is factually accurate, and which does NOT refer to anyone as a "wrinkly rocker".

In order to be a parasite.....don't you need something of substance to feed off from?......Just sayin

Mel Belli you have PM

gimmekeef wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 8:30am:

In order to be a parasite.....don't you need something of substance to feed off from?......Just sayin

I'm saying Mick is still ... substantial.

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 7:50am:

Yup, that's me. "Parasite" might be a little harsh, but the overall sentiment is nothing I haven't expressed around here for the last few years.

you're credentials are very substantial.... far to the right of myself, but still impressive.

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 9:08am:

gimmekeef wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 8:30am: In order to be a parasite.....don't you need something of substance to feed off from?......Just sayin I'm saying Mick is still ... substantial.

Mel I meant Stones wise.....Keith could hardly be seen leaching off of Mick's solo endevours.....

gimmekeef wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 10:16am:

Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 9:08am: gimmekeef wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 8:30am: In order to be a parasite.....don't you need something of substance to feed off from?......Just sayin I'm saying Mick is still ... substantial. Mel I meant Stones wise.....Keith could hardly be seen leaching off of Mick's solo endevours.....

Yes, but I'm saying that Keith leeches off of Mick *within the Stones*.

Pdog wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 10:13am:

Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 7:50am: Yup, that's me. "Parasite" might be a little harsh, but the overall sentiment is nothing I haven't expressed around here for the last few years. you're credentials are very substantial.... far to the right of myself, but still impressive.

Actually, I think you'd find our views on a lot of things -- empire, civil liberties, the need for a safety net -- are more simpatico than you might think. Conservatism is a house with many mansions. The current lot of mainstream GOPers are not the only game in town.

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 7:50am:

Yup, that's me. "Parasite" might be a little harsh, but the overall sentiment is nothing I haven't expressed around here for the last few years.

______________________________________


I really appreciate your journalistic talents. Very well done, chap. With that said, I would agree for a hard-core Stones fan to call Keith Richards a "parasite" is indeed a bit harsh. He had a rough time with his misses as you know. He took a horrible fall and had a slow recovery. He did manage to write a major book on his life, which in itself takes quite some time and work. He has been there at the Exile and Some Girls things.

We don't know how much he contributed to A Bigger Bang.. the theory in which it were all Micks songs is only that... a theory. Nobody knows but them and Don Was. In fact he mentioned writing a few songs on there and folks were suprised in thinking they were certainly Mick songs.

He has been the one to try and bring The Stones together this time out. He says he's got lots of material and demo's written. He says he gave them to Mick in hopes they could create a Stones project out of them.

Appreciating Jagger in your article was great. I liked reading it and your very much a literary and music devotee. I think many (your not the only one believe me) sell Keith far too short these days. As well, at times he really needed it, nobody cut him a "break". After all, for what it is we know of it, he's the one trying to wrangle them back together about now.


Ian

They're going crazy on this article over in IORR land. lol  :forfucksake

http://www.iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,1612105

MEL BELLI ,HSHS CLASS OF 94?KNOW JOHN MACMANUS?THAT'S MY HOMEDOG.

Ian Billen wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 11:02am:

Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 7:50am: Yup, that's me. "Parasite" might be a little harsh, but the overall sentiment is nothing I haven't expressed around here for the last few years. ______________________________________ I really appreciate your journalistic talents. Very well done, chap. With that said, I would agree for a hard-core Stones fan to call Keith Richards a "parasite" is indeed a bit harsh. He had a rough time with his misses as you know. He took a horrible fall and had a slow recovery. He did manage to write a major book on his life, which in itself takes quite some time and work. He has been there at the Exile and Some Girls things. We don't know how much he contributed to A Bigger Bang.. the theory in which it were all Micks songs is only that... a theory. Nobody knows but them and Don Was. In fact he mentioned writing a few songs on there and folks were suprised in thinking they were certainly Mick songs. He has been the one to try and bring The Stones together this time out. He says he's got lots of material and demo's written. He says he gave them to Mick in hopes they could create a Stones project out of them. Appreciating Jagger in your article was great. I liked reading it and your very much a literary and music devotee. I think many (your not the only one believe me) sell Keith far too short these days. As well, at times he really needed it, nobody cut him a "break". After all, for what it is we know of it, he's the one trying to wrangle them back together about now. Ian

I appreciate the kind words, Ian. ... I tried to account for Keith's injury; I argue that Keith's creative decline began before all that. As far as I can tell, the last time Keith was really, deeply involved in the writing/recording process was on "Bridges to Babylon," when he and Mick basically made parallel solo EPs.

Three of the four songs they did for "Forty Licks" were prefab Mick/Matt Clifford vehicles. We'll have to agree to disagree on this, but I think much the same was true of "A Bigger Bang."

Yes, Keith was "there" for the "Exile" and "Some Girls" reissue projects. My point was, Mick did most of the work! New lyrics, new melodies, new vocal tracks, etc. Sure, Keith said of the "Exile" stuff that he prefers not to mess with a masterpiece. But, per usual, Keith gets to play the "purist" while Mick does the heavy lifting.

Look: I love Keith as much as anyone here. He's my musical hero, and always will be. If he chose to do nothing but play blues or Hank Williams covers for the rest of his career, I'd be the first to lap it up. What I refuse to do is pretend I'm happy with toss-offs like "Losing My Touch" and "Infamy" every seven or eight years.

BILL PERKS wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 11:57am:

MEL BELLI ,HSHS CLASS OF 94?KNOW JOHN MACMANUS?THAT'S MY HOMEDOG.

Johnny Mac was a year behind me, I think. Good guy. Tell him I said hi!

Bingo wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 11:32am:

They're going crazy on this article over in IORR land. lol  :forfucksake http://www.iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,1612105

Mel, they're lighting the torches and gathering up farm implements over there. Take cover! ( Tried to compliment your guitar playing for context but they weren't having it!)  

I'm out of that thread! But it's just what they needed, something to divert them from Jagger's hair (or lack thereof) and Keith's ethnic origins.  They love a ruckus.

LOL, thanks. Comes with the territory. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

WHO KNEW WE HAD AN INTELLECTUAL IN OUR MIDST?
:smilebrian

BILL PERKS wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 12:19pm:

WHO KNEW WE HAD AN INTELLECTUAL IN OUR MIDST? :smilebrian

Now, *that* I take offense to  [smiley=happy.gif]

Bingo wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 11:32am:

They're going crazy on this article over in IORR land. lol  :forfucksake http://www.iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,1612105

OMG!! That is hilarious!!! ;D

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 12:22pm:

BILL PERKS wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 12:19pm: WHO KNEW WE HAD AN INTELLECTUAL IN OUR MIDST? :smilebrian Now, *that* I take offense to  [smiley=happy.gif]

Compared to most of the people on IORR, Joey is considered an intellectual. :whatapostronnie

sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 1:40pm:

Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 12:22pm: BILL PERKS wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 12:19pm: WHO KNEW WE HAD AN INTELLECTUAL IN OUR MIDST? :smilebrian Now, *that* I take offense to  [smiley=happy.gif] Compared to most of the people on IORR, Joey is considered an intellectual. :whatapostronnie

Holy F.
Now I'm ready to jump in and defend our Mel and I take offense to Keith being referred to as a parasite; although I get the point.
Good job Mr Belli.

ps. I enjoy the Washington Times!! Don't tell anyone though.

Good article. Refering to Keith Richards as a parasite, however, is absurd.

The key modifier of my "parasite" characterization, remember, is "lately." I'm talking about the last 15 years—not the entire span of the Stones' career.

"Name me someone who's not a parasite and I''ll go out and say a prayer for him."--Bob Dylan :keithpunky

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 2:13pm:

The key modifier of my "parasite" characterization, remember, is "lately." I'm talking about the last 15 years—not the entire span of the Stones' career.

Unfortunately,like the person on IORR who started the thread about this. The word parasite is what most people will remember from that article and not in the context that you used it either.

Hey "Mel Belli", maybe you should start a PR agency for Keith Richards, to keep fans of him happy.

Words are words. If some readers don't like them: good, it's their problem; and it's always nice to know about somebody shaking up some things a little bit.

sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 2:32pm:

Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 2:13pm: The key modifier of my "parasite" characterization, remember, is "lately." I'm talking about the last 15 years—not the entire span of the Stones' career. Unfortunately,like the person on IORR who started the thread about this. The word parasite is what most people will remember from that article and not in the context that you used it either.

That's too bad. Maybe it wasn't the most well-chosen of words ... but notice I never said one word about Keith's decline as a player. That really would've been unfair; it's out of his control. My beef is with his productivity, or lack thereof. A handful of songs in 15 years? Nothing but the periodic tours and catalog reissues that Mick spearheads? What else do you call that, but parasitic?

Maybe all those years of being wasted & out of it is finally catching up to him, he just wants to spend his golden years (which to keith would feel like a hundred) drinking & giving interviews as opposed to playing, I guess he's earned his rest.

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 11:58am:

Ian Billen wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 11:02am: Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 7:50am: Yup, that's me. "Parasite" might be a little harsh, but the overall sentiment is nothing I haven't expressed around here for the last few years. ______________________________________ I really appreciate your journalistic talents. Very well done, chap. With that said, I would agree for a hard-core Stones fan to call Keith Richards a "parasite" is indeed a bit harsh. He had a rough time with his misses as you know. He took a horrible fall and had a slow recovery. He did manage to write a major book on his life, which in itself takes quite some time and work. He has been there at the Exile and Some Girls things. We don't know how much he contributed to A Bigger Bang.. the theory in which it were all Micks songs is only that... a theory. Nobody knows but them and Don Was. In fact he mentioned writing a few songs on there and folks were suprised in thinking they were certainly Mick songs. He has been the one to try and bring The Stones together this time out. He says he's got lots of material and demo's written. He says he gave them to Mick in hopes they could create a Stones project out of them. Appreciating Jagger in your article was great. I liked reading it and your very much a literary and music devotee. I think many (your not the only one believe me) sell Keith far too short these days. As well, at times he really needed it, nobody cut him a "break". After all, for what it is we know of it, he's the one trying to wrangle them back together about now. Ian I appreciate the kind words, Ian. ... I tried to account for Keith's injury; I argue that Keith's creative decline began before all that. As far as I can tell, the last time Keith was really, deeply involved in the writing/recording process was on "Bridges to Babylon," when he and Mick basically made parallel solo EPs. Three of the four songs they did for "Forty Licks" were prefab Mick/Matt Clifford vehicles. We'll have to agree to disagree on this, but I think much the same was true of "A Bigger Bang." Yes, Keith was "there" for the "Exile" and "Some Girls" reissue projects. My point was, Mick did most of the work! New lyrics, new melodies, new vocal tracks, etc. Sure, Keith said of the "Exile" stuff that he prefers not to mess with a masterpiece. But, per usual, Keith gets to play the "purist" while Mick does the heavy lifting. Look: I love Keith as much as anyone here. He's my musical hero, and always will be. If he chose to do nothing but play blues or Hank Williams covers for the rest of his career, I'd be the first to lap it up. What I refuse to do is pretend I'm happy with toss-offs like "Losing My Touch" and "Infamy" every seven or eight years.

________________________________________


But Keith wrote plenty more than what people give him credit for when they (Don Was, Keith and Mick) spoke of who actually wrote what Mr. Mel Belli. You mentioned him writing Infamy on A Bigger Bang... what about Rough Justice (arguably the best rocker on the album along with "Oh No Not You Again"). Keith claims to have wrote that in his sleep (as Satisfaction). I doubt if Mick wrote the better half of that song as Keith would be so bold as to claim he wrote most of it in his sleep. As well there were others on there he wrote. Sure ..it may of been 60 / 40 for all the rest or even within select songs but still... that's not shabby or ridiculous. Keith was very much an integral part and it wouldn't of been able to be written without him right there with Mick.

There are others as well. Everyone thinks Keith sat there and did nothing. The two wrote very close together for ABB from what I understand and how Don Was, and others described it.. still everyone thinks Mick wrote almost all of it single handidly... ? I don't know why everyone thinks that when there was no idication that Mick wrote almost everything in those sessions. They wrote starting on a couch with acoustic guitars, Then Mick even took over on drums while Keith wrote on guitar. Mick may of wrote a bit more... but from what they both said (and Don Was) the two of them were very much involved together in the writing process.

Everyone labeled ABB as a total Mick written album and I never understood that because although many of the songs from it may initially sound Mick based, from what they said, it was very much them writing it "together". As well, Keith did give credit where it was due saying Mick basically wrote Streets of Love on his own.

Keep Writing (as I am sure you will). One thing is for certain... you cause quite a stir. Whether they agree or disagree... you my friend, have captured a major key to a writers success (as you already know). People are talking about your article and it's making a stir. Good work either way, mate.


Ian

Mel Belli wrote on May 18^th, 2012 at 3:38pm:

sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 2:32pm: Mel Belli wrote on May 18th, 2012 at 2:13pm: The key modifier of my "parasite" characterization, remember, is "lately." I'm talking about the last 15 years—not the entire span of the Stones' career. Unfortunately,like the person on IORR who started the thread about this. The word parasite is what most people will remember from that article and not in the context that you used it either. That's too bad. Maybe it wasn't the most well-chosen of words ... but notice I never said one word about Keith's decline as a player. That really would've been unfair; it's out of his control. My beef is with his productivity, or lack thereof. A handful of songs in 15 years? Nothing but the periodic tours and catalog reissues that Mick spearheads? What else do you call that, but parasitic?

Not neccessarily saying your wrong. But, that's the word a lot of people are hanging on.

Mick can have ABB......Anyone even play it anymore?....Every time I put Exile on..its majesty grows

I still like ABB.   :aimama