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Stand and Deliver

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Van and Eric have become comrades in arms in this age of coronavirus, lashing out at what they view as an oppressive regime imposing lockdowns, and making them take vaccines against their wills.  They imagine their latest song, Stand and Deliver, will become an anthem to the oppressed, in which they liken their lost freedom of choice to slavery.  This was the last straw for Robert Cray, who refused to open up anymore shows for Eric Clapton.

The problem with all this grandstanding is that it will probably help Van and Eric sell their anti-vax albums and live shows.  They are fast becoming the darlings of the MAGA crowd.  Who knows, Donald may even add "Stand and Deliver" to his campaign play lists.

All this has left a bitter taste in my mouth, similar to when Neil Young dumped his wife Pegi,  after 30 years of marriage, to run off with Darryl Hannah.  I didn't want to listen to anymore of Neil's music but made an exception for the Buffalo Springfield years.  Same goes with Van's great album, Irish Heartbeat.  Eric, I don't miss so much.

Slowhand claims the AstraZeneca jab rendered him incapacitated for 10 days.  I suppose it is possible.  We all react differently to the vaccine, but it seems kind of odd to fly off the rails about it, when we see that the vaccine has greatly reduced hospitalizations and deaths to near zero.  It is the unvaccinated blokes who are suffering the most these days, filling hospitals around the world and continue to die in droves.  So, Eric should count himself lucky.

Instead, he and Van are furious that all the rules and regulations are cutting into their gigs.  Initially, Eric said he wouldn't play any concert that required vaccinations or a negative COVID test, but has since backtracked on that statement.  Van called out the Northern Ireland health minister at a recent show in Belfast, only to find himself saddled with a lawsuit.  The funny thing is that Van has long been known for his stage fright and often canceled shows at the last minute, simply because he couldn't bring himself to perform that night. I was a victim of one of his cancelled shows many years ago in Boston.

Most musicians are fine with the regulations.  Gene Simmons has come down pretty hard on anti-vaxxers and COVID deniers, calling them the enemy.  Gene is not a liberal by any stretch of the imagination. So why have Eric and Van chosen to take up a cause that leaves them running with a pretty weird crowd?  Eric was caught posing with Gov. "Wheels" Abbott after an Austin show. That's Jimmy Vaughan with them, who I guess filled in for Robert Cray.

I have no idea other than he and Van are trying to pad their pension plans.  If that is the case, why not sell their catalogs like so many other musicians are doing?  Bob got over $300 million for his catalog of 600 songs.  No, they seem to be trying to make some kind of point.

Van even released a two-album set of songs in which he vents his frustration. The titles alone tell the story, ranging from "Where Have All the Rebels Gone" to "Why Are You on Facebook?"  I wonder if the former is sung to the tune of Pete Seeger's famous song about flowers?  The album was met with a combination of befuddlement and scorn as to why he would stoop to this level in his autumn years.

I think part of the problem is that Van has simply gone mad.  He's long been prone to conspiracy theories, so it was no great leap for him to fall prey to the COVID conspiracy theories circulating in the social media, and in particular facebook, which has since clamped down on them.  I guess this is why Van is pissed with facebook.  Alas, he has just become a "toxic menace," according to The Independent, who should not be rewarded for his bad behavior.  

Many feel he has trashed his reputation in the process, but you can still listen to Van's old songs and feel a longing for his old self.  Same with Eric before he became so preachy and whiny.  It's OK to like their music even if you don't like them as persons.  I just don't have any intention of paying $300 to hear them ranting and raving on stage as to how all these rules and regulations are cramping their style.   



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