So after the Dallas show I’m at the Airport when I get tapped on the shoulder. Low and behold it’s my boy Sean Penn. We get to talking and I tell him I’m trying to get down to Coachella to see Prince and Roger Waters . He then Tells me he’s headed down rto the festival for a project he’s spearheading called the “Dirty Hands Caravan”
Needless to say we made plans to hang throughout the weekend and I must say it was a blast . It’s been a long time since I went to a concert never mind a festival as an observer only. Prince was amazing unfortunately Sat. night I didn’t have the camera charged. But the absolute highlight of the weekend was definitely Roger Waters . He played every conceivable hit then took a break and came back to play “Dark Side of the Moon in it’s entirety … plus an encore of “the Wall” & “Comfortably Numb” . I was floored and also volunteered to help the Caravan …. here are some flicks from sunday at Coachella …. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that graffitti Legend Slick and our own Danny Boy were tapped to paint the giant inflatable Pig for Rogers show Peep Game …..
I recently was invited to UC Irvine to watch the documentary film above. I was outraged by what I learned . I would like to introduce you guys to Dr. Sami Al-Arian . He is a Pro Palestinian activist and was a Professor at University of South Florida . He spent a lot of time working on Capitol Hill trying to help the Palestinian people within the system. He as far as I’ve been able to research has always been about trying to find a legal and peaceful solution to the plight of the people of Palestine . He has met with both George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton along with MANY other top level senators and congressmen. He was constantly harassed by the government for his efforts .
After 9/11 in 2003 he was arrested in grandiose fashion and touted as ” The most dangerous Terrorist in America” . They made such a big deal out of it they even had U.S. Att. General John Ashcroft hold a national press conference to claim Dr. Sami was the leader of P.I.J. ( Palestinian Islamic Jihad ) a fact which he has stated was false from the beginning and further stated his condemnation of people who would harm innocent civilians as a way to make their points. He was held for 2 years before he could go to trial . When they finally got to trial Dr. Sami and 4 associates of his were charged with a combined 200+ counts of Terrorism and such . When the trial ended after 13 days of deliberations, the jury acquitted him on eight of 17 counts, while remaining deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquittal on the other nine. Out of the 200+ charges against the 4 men there was not one “guilty” verdict . When asked what it would have taken to convict these men one of the jurors said “EVIDENCE” ….. Despite being acquitted he was still held without bail . The man was acquitted!!! Why is he still in jail?? The FBI tapped his phone for close to 10 years(not just his calls but his wife and childrens conversations) and had been investigating him for longer and still had not been able to convict him.
Then after 4 years of being kept from his family the government offered him a plea. If he plead guilty to a charge involving him donating to a charity for women and children somehow loosely connected to P.I.J. they would drop the remaining charges and let him go if he left the country. Now if this man was such a “HUGE” threat to the US why would they offer to let him go??????? After being worn down for so many years the Dr. wanted to return to his family so he signed the plea only to have the government illegally break the written agreement . No matter how you feel about the Israel Palestine conflict this man had broken no laws and was acquitted. The system worked but the government is holding this man illegally . He has now been on a hunger strike for nearing 50 days and has been put into solitary confinement for no apparent reason . If you want to see more heres a link to a 55 min. version of the film the version I saw was 2 hours and I am trying to get permission to put the full length up on the website .
P.S. I have been informed that yes indeed Willie Nelson has Laid down some vocals and a few guitar licks on “My Medicine” I have been called in to do a new mix of it early next week …. It was a gas to write a country inspired song for Snoop to blow everyones mind but to actually have Willie Nelson singing my lyrics and playing along with my music is kind of and awesome thought. He has long been one of my favorite artists and a living Legend. I have not yet heard it as of yet but I will update you guys as soon as I get back in the Lab with the song . Oh yeah for the people who read the SA blog I have not been replaced by Willie on the track. From what I’ve been told he sings one of the verses with Snoop . My the track will remain as I originally cut it just with the addition of Willie.
Haven’t been around in a few days rehearsing hard for a Dallas gig coming this Fri. night . Got some designs for merch together finally ( honestly it wasn’t my first priority) but I like what we got should be up on the web page in a couple of days …. I’ll try and get some flix at rehearsals this week ….
Ill Bill is on the Fire and Ice Tour with Tech 9 and Paul Wall . They came through L.A. last night and we decided to give the crowd a little surprise in the form of La Coka Nostra ….. heres some picsCrash Mansion was the scene of the crime …The youngest LCN fan Ill Bill’s daughter Rya ….The crowd waiting for their fix … Mr. White takes control of the building ….DJ Lethal getting so funky he’s gotta hold his own nose ; ) ….“You know what I like about high school girls ? I get older but they stay the same age” Wooderman - Dazed and Confused
P.S.I just want to say the crowd was the shit felt like an old hip hop show … glad to see there are youngsters at least trying to keep it authentic … Thanks to Tech 9 and my boy Paul Wall for having us out ….
Just a little more from the mind of DB ….
By the way if you”re in L.A. Tuesday night get to the Tech 9 , Paul Wall , Ill Bill Show … there may be a few surprises in store…
A construction worker’s bid to curse the New York Yankees by planting a Boston Red Sox jersey in their new stadium was foiled when the home team removed the offending shirt from its burial spot. After locating the shirt in a service corridor behind what will be a restaurant in the new Yankee Stadium, construction workers jackhammered through the concrete Sunday and pulled it out. MORE HERE
It’s good to see people willing to put their words into action . I don’t know if the torch is coming to L.A. but I expect more of the same maybe even worse …
