Newspeak in the Press
| The Steel Press, Issue 17,
23/04/99 by Guy Adams Grand on an Ego-Trip. |
The Steel Press, Issue
18, 07/05/99 |
| Sheffield's student-band community is at
war, amid claims of vote-rigging at a Union music
competition. Furious musicians say soft-rock group Grand
fixed the result of the Union's prestigious "Battle
of the Bands" competition, and have called for the
event to be re-run. The contest, which was held at the
end of last term, attracted ten bands and an audience of
more than 400. Each band had fifteen minutes on stage and
was allowed to play up to three tracks. The audience voted for their favourite performance by putting entry-tickets into a polling-box. First prize was the chance to play the Octagon at the end-of-year carnival, supporting celebrity musician Rolf Harris. A row erupted after Grand, who won by just fourteen votes, were seen taking tickets from people leaving the event early. It is alleged that they used the tickets to vote for themselves. Cheating The band denies cheating, and says they were only taking voting-slips from friends who had lectures the next day. "We didn't cheat. No way. We won it fair and square" said first year dentist Sam Bedford, lead singer for the five-piece group. "What happened was that we were third on. All our mates came down to see us and after we had played they wanted to go home, so they gave us their tickets to vote with. Every band was at it, so I don't see why we should be accused of cheating. "Ego Trip, the group who came second, have been moaning about this for ages. They're just jealous because they are big style on an ego-trip." Despite Grand's denials, observers maintain that the group were taking tickets from anyone they could find. "I saw them cheating and, frankly, it pisses the hell out of me" said Nick Wright, lead guitar and backing vocalist for losing group Newspeak. "They were running around trying to blag voting tickets off anyone. It's typical of a band as unimaginative as Grand. They were never good enough to have won that competition. They were rubbish - and you can quote me on that. Sour Grapes "This is not born out of sour grapes: I just like to see justice being done.It's nothing personal, and we wish Grand all the best in their future career supporting Rolf Harris." Union entertainments manager Matthew Wollenscroft - who organised the event - last week said that he was aware of the situation, but that no action will be taken. "There has been a little bit of controversy surrounding the competition, but as no-one has made an official complaint we aren't going to do anything about it," he said. "I know that Grand were very upset by the allegations - they take their music very seriously and don't like to be accused of cheating. "Anyway, they are all right by us: the practice of collecting up your mates' votes is fairly common and I can't see anything wrong with it. After all, it is a long night and some people have lectures the next day." *Note - most of Nick's quotes were made up. That's journalism folks...* |
Dear Sir, |
Sheffield Telegraph
Friday 15/01/99 |
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Newspeak/ Super Van City, Newspeak are not to be confused with the band of the same name from three or four years back (which spawned BabyBird guitarist Luke for one). This lot are an indie outfit with an "original twist". They have just released their second EP (but are yet another band who don't seem to want free publicity). Support from Super Van City, a Cast/Suede type outfit with three part guitar work, The Deep End, Hillsborough, Thursday, 8.30pm (free) |
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