Cool, visited a few concerts a very few years ago (pandamonium-Vlaardingen and somewere in Naaldwijk) and these concerts really were special!!!! Great music!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still trying to get some music from this great band, but it is hard to find!!!!!
Hey peter,
Website looking good now with the new pics on..
Bet u never thought i'd leave you a post! (Jon will never believe me!)
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Fri 20 Dec 2002 [08:42:02]
name:
piet
homepage:
location:
comment:
leuke site en toffen muziek
date:
Mon 25 Nov 2002 [12:40:23]
name:
homepage:
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OVERVIEW
comment:
He`s a savvy record producer that strokes your ego. He pushes all the right buttons, he talks the talk, and has all the right moves. His pitch is smoother than a fat babies ass. He gets his foot in your door -- then empties your wallet. How does he do it? Simple. He’s the guy who makes that o-so important call every striving artist waits a lifetime to receive, "Hi -- I'm a big record producer, I heard your material and I love it! Lets get the ball rolling!"
Ever so slowly everything changes. He deflates your ego -- insults you – threatens you -- then he tells you, "Give me your fucking money, sign this, or you'll go nowhere!"
This is the Mark Berry I encountered. And why is everyone in the Toronto music scene still stroking this guy? That is the topic of this report.
His resume (according to www.markberry.com),
”Mark`s multi-platinum award winning mixing credits include some of the biggest names in the music industry such as David Bowie, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Boy George, The Killjoys, I Mother Earth, Kool & the Gang, Yes, The Headstones, Voivod, Burton Cummings, Talk Talk and many, many more. Mark, in collaboration with his New York based manager Steve Scharf of Steven Scharf Entertainment has been responsible for over $4,000,000 US worth of international production and publishing advances to the Canadian artists that they have been directly involved with… In Canada, Mark as a producer/mixer has sold in excess of 500,000 units generating $5,000,000 in revenue for the Canadian record companies he has been involved with.”
Impressive (?)
It appears that Mark Berry, originally from New York City, gone Toronto, has left the recording industry behind. His newest pursuit is the bait-and-switch con game where he has everyone’s attention – including the FBI. Berry has taken on the full time pursuit of ripping off cold cash from would-be rock n’ rollers with stars in their eyes. But it appears that at least on this occasion he pulls the Devil card.
Strategy,
Berry uses all the tactics of a classic fraudster: convoluted talk, misspelled communications and "garunteed" results. He bullies his victims, threatens them with violence, uses buy pressure, contractual strangle-holds, slanders you and other companies (NOW Magazine), and falsifies his own business references. He also rides his "partnership" with the reputable Cherry Lane Publishing like a cheap whore.
Rubbing elbows with the big guy,
About a month ago I put out a CD for my band THE RULING CLASS. I did the usual send 100 or so CD's to Major and a few Indy labels; plus lots of college radio. On that list was Attack Records and Mark Berry. I was approached by a "Pat Desmond" from New Jersey who identified himself as Attack`s "A&R" guy. “Wow” I thought, “today`s my luck day.” He told me he loves my material so, "lets do something."
And something we did.
During my Due Diligence on Attack Records and Mark Berry, I discovered Scott Andersons article in NOW Toronto (http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/19/10/News/feature.html). After reading it, I decided that rather than back off, I would go head on with this guy and discover for myself the full extent of Berry's fraud operation.
I got him to spill his guts,
The following report includes 32 emails, a recorded phone message, and 4 word.doc ("Contract") that describe Berry's current bait-and-switch, churn-and-burn operation -- from start to finish.
It appears that back in the 1990's Berry would use mostly a "joint-venture" scam to rip people off (see NOW Toronto article). Now he just goes for an out-and-out swindle of between $15,000 and $20,000 (US) -- without providing a thing in return. He starts with a $5,000 initial "fee," then bumps it up by telling the victim to send more money and more product (CD’s) to "make things happen.”