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Guy Called Gerald- Drop Beats Not Bombs (April 30, Birmingham)

Author: Jonty Skrufff
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Acid house legend Gerald Simpson will be performing at the upcoming Drop Beats Not Bombs event at The Custard Factory in Birmingham which aims to mobilise anti-war protestors to vote in Britain's upcoming election.

The drum & bass pioneer remains one of dance culture's most articulate and thoughtful producers, and chatting to Skrufff recently explained that his latest album "To All Things What They Need' was created as a deliberate reaction to the "bad boys' of drum & bass and the celebrity culture that spawned them.

"It's time to sit down and think about the times we're actually living in and where and how do we go from here, are we going to let others control us and to what degree are we going to let it happen," he declared. "The album's intended to provide food for thought, without forcing the issues down people's throats and without encouraging the listeners to start a revolution," he added.

Gerald's emphasis on personal consciousness and awareness reflected his own experiences growing up in Manchester's toughest area Moss Side in an ultra-religious family, which made him turn away from religion entirely, he told Skrufff in a previous chat.

"If you look at it from a biological level and the way that neurons grow in your head, there's always room for learning and knowledge. Why-" he said.

"These things are so simple, we're almost fooled by others. Look into yourself first and ask yourself, what do you think is wrong and what do you think is right- If you're going to go and ask someone else, there's lots of people who'll even tell you for profit, but at the end of the day they'll be steering you down the wrong road," he declared.

Guy Called Gerald's 1988 remix of the Stone Roses' breakthrough single Fool's Gold is available now on Simply Vinyl.

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