hello
i’m writing this as a personal note, to add onto this email, to help clear up some questions with regard to the anti-war shows being organised. i was invited to take part in the concerts a few weeks ago. for me the concerts are a coming together of people who wish we could have more peace in the world. it’s as simple as that.
i love being a musician and i have loved all the touring we’ve done in the world. i have many dear friends both here and abroad and it’s a personal desire of mine to help encourage peace, in whatever way that i can. i love that the world is wonderfully diverse.
i am hoping that these concerts can be a ‘positive’ celebration of that diversity.
thank you, damien x
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the irish anti-war movement have added a second date
Sunday, 20th June - Vicar Street, Dublin
(damien rice, the walls and other acts)
(tickets on sale now at usual outlets)
(Saturday, 19th June – Vicar Street, Dublin – SOLD OUT)
Tickets on sale now from http://www.ticketmaster.ie / Tel 0818 719390
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damien’s recent interview with http://www.rollingstone.com on his upcoming single with christy moore
and on this weekends ‘irish anti-war movement’ gigs in ireland
INTERVIEW
i understand you teamed with christy moore to write "lonely soldier".
how did that come about and what was the impetus to write the song?
i wrote ‘lonely soldier’ in bologne in italy one morning when i woke up on the tour bus. i had been asked to write a song for a movie which is based on a story of 2 boys (around 10 years of age) growing up during the troubles in belfast, northern ireland during the 70’s. they form their own little gang for protection and eventually run away from home in search of a better place, to eventually be caught and brought back home where one of the boys fathers has been killed in a bomb explosion by the other ‘religion’. the whole notion of what it must have been like to grow up like that was really hard for me to even try to comprehend, but somehow the sentiment of the song just poured out of me that morning in bologne. so much trouble has been caused recently and so many of the people causing the trouble are throwing around the word ‘god’ a lot. but i can’t imagine a ‘god’ of love ever wanting to shoot someone. that’s where i got the line ‘good eyes see nothin to shoot’ and it flows on from there..
how would you describe it for people who haven't heard it?
i don’t like describing songs, but all i’ll say is that it was a spontaneous decission to record and release the song with christy. i called him up, sang him the song over the phone and we recorded it the following day..
you're going to be playing the "when bush comes to shove," gig on june 19th. what are your feelings about the iraq war?
my feelings on the iraq war are pretty similar to my feelings on any war. whether you’re fighting with yourself, or fighting another person, or whether it’s a fight between nations, it very often has a similar energy. an energy of desperation. a sense of losing our temper. a sense of losing in general. losing control. and when we feel like we lose control, we freak out and go mad and start smashing things. it’s just a pity, because it’s such a destructive energy. i love creativity. i love when people use their creativity to solve a situation. that inspires me in life. i love people who are intelligent, wise and kind and have a way of handling situations with a clear head and an honest heart.
i heard a story while on tour in the states recently that sometimes native american indian tribes would solve their battles by having the two leaders or chiefs go into a sweat lodge together, and the one to stay in the longest, wins the ‘battle’. that’s an inspiring way to have a ‘battle’ where the 2 ‘leaders’ (who are supposed to be the strongest and bravest) come forward and have it out, and, there’s no need for loss of life. just one man’s will against another.
how do you feel bush's presidency has impacted ireland's relationship with the u.s.?
i don’t like making sweeping statements about how bush’s presidency has impacted ireland’s relationship with the u.s., as i am only one irish person and wouldn’t like to speak for others. however, bush’s presidency has impacted ‘my’ relationship with the u.s... i feel it every time i make a trip to the u.s. to tour and come play music.
it feels like such a pity, but, it’s become so strict recently. it doesn’t feel nice having to give your finger prints and have a security photograph taken when you arrive off a plane from ireland. we all have to do that now, even though we have working visas for our music. every foreigner coming into the states now gets their finger prints and security photo taken, every time. it’s a pity. it’s just not very welcoming.
and then when i get into the country i see how everyone is bombarded with the news on war and more war and more war. the tv. the news. the papers. magazines. everywhere. but when i get home it’s quite different. the news is different. the stories are different. the footage is different. i sometimes don’t know who to believe anymore, which feels quite sad.
it’s easy to judge, but i don’t want to get lazy and just get angry. what i would like is to understand more. what causes all this fear? what causes all the trouble? perhaps fear causes the trouble and the trouble is that people fear? i don’t know, but there are so many irish decendants here in the states (i’m in new york as i’m writing this). there are so many decendants from all over the world here. it’s almost like a microcosm of the world. which makes it odd that the usa should go to war with any other country as the usa is made up of people from just about every country on the planet!
i’m sorry i’m not really answering your question, instead i’m coming up with more questions. still, i’m hopeful and excited that we can learn something from all this recent upset and bring about some pleasant changes
what's the general feeling about bush in ireland?
again i wouldn’t like to generalize if that’s ok, as i don’t wish to speak for others or assume i know how they feel.
i’ve noticed that george bush’s administration have done a number of things that weren’t very popular thoughout the world. the united nations exists ideally, in my understanding, to keep nations together, in communication, in a democratic way. going against the wish of the united nations is not a very popular thing to do and doesn’t inspire a ‘good’ feeling, as i imagine you might understand?
how do you think a "regime change" in the u.s. could make things better?
personally, i wish people in the usa would travel abroad more. the usa is an amazing country in many ways and i think it could make things better, if the people who lived here, travelled a bit more, and saw a bit of the world outside the usa, to get a perspective on the world we all live in and, especially, to see the effect that the usa has on the rest of the world. so few usa citizans have ever left the usa, which is funny as their decendants were people who travelled a long long way.
travelling can be so enriching and encouraging sometimes. it’s inspiring to go out and visit the world. so many amazing people to meet. so many beautiful places to visit. so many things to do. so many ways to be. so many things to learn from other people. so many things to share and exchange....
i once heard the words of a bearded man: ‘it would be difficult if people are really living their life, truly, to send them to war’
http://www.damienrice.com
Can't wait to get my hands on that CD single. A Christy and Damien duet? Ahhh, this boy's going to be in heaven, hearing that one.
Cheers, Kevin from AZ
