Page 43 - Black Velvet Issue 97

BV97 pg43_BV97 pg43 29/05/2018 20:13 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 43

A (Musical) Note From...

Polly Phluid (The Idol Dead)

For the last few months I have been tra- music again and he was taking us with him! It was challenging but the pledgers were
versing the highways, byways and venues of ‘HPC’ was a delight to make, a party up for the challenge. They didn’t want ‘HPC’ 2
this beautiful country of ours – both as a singer album with serious themes running through it – they wanted music that came straight from
in an underground band and as a tech for and a whole crowd of people cheering us on. our hearts – and that’s the beauty of making
Danny Wildheart’s band, The Main Grains. When we finally released it online, the music for people who love music enough to
During one of these treks Ms Black Velvet pledgers were waiting in the new Idol Army pay, support and live it. These people matter,
asked me to pen about 800 words on my ex- group for us to drop it. One fella even said it we matter, the whole thing is beautiful chaos
periences as a travelling vegan and a crowd- reminded him of waiting outside a record store and I’m so glad we get to do it.
funded rock ‘n’ roller – so, button yer shirt, pull for it to open so he could get his hands on the In the 90s, grunge waved its plaid flag and
on yer pants and come with me on a journey latest release from his favorite band – made claimed to be the music of the people, like
through stress, elation and perpetual hunger! us feel like a million dollar band with million punk before it. But, the truth of the matter is
Crowdfunding was first brought to my at- dollar fans. the grunge bands were no different to the poo-
tention by Ginger Wildheart’s 555 PledgeMu- Then, album four was looming. We had a dle-haired rock stars they claimed to despise.
sic campaign while, at the same time, our pocket full of tunes and a producer chomping They all signed to majors, all got drug habits
guitarist, KC, was watching his hero, Dave at the bit – we were a bit more worried this time and all spouted boring clichés in interviews –
from INME, doing the same thing on his web- as the songs were longer, more complicated at least the glammers that preceded them
site. We got together at rehearsal one day and and waaaaaay more depressing. I had had a were having a good time and were
decided we could do the same thing, albeit on breakdown, resulting in a split from my unashamedly living every minute.
a much smaller scale. So, we headed over to wife/partner of 23 years and I was struggling What Pledge delivers is what grunge
WeFund and asked for a very modest amount. to cope – music, along with the band and a promised. It breaks down walls, kills the rock
We talked to our producer, Carl Rosamond, couple of amazing people, was my outlet and star/fan divide while still keeping the magic of
about how it would work and, though skeptical, I poured my heart into it. making music alive. It’s a connection, it’s re-
he was down for a new experience. We set up We contacted PledgeMusic, they were spect and it’s family – I love it. I have made
a Facebook group to add pledgers to – as We- happy to have us back. We launched Pledge friends of fans, have a large social circle of
Fund didn’t provide great communication for 3 – hitting 100% in 36 hours and, for one glo- like-minded people who still think, when I hit
the fans. And, it worked! We limped towards rious hour, being the most popular pledge in the stage, that I’m a rock star; the only differ-
our target, communicated with fans and even- the world! We were above Willie Nelson and ence is, they also know I’m a father, I work and
tually made ‘Dark Little Hearts’. Erasure! Fuck! This also meant we had to de- I am a daft drunk who’ll say owt for a laugh.
The second time we were emboldened liver – and this album was no walk in the park. I would love Pledge to be the future of
and asked Pledge if we qualified – Pledge look Doing a pledge brings you closer to the music. I would love to see bands earning a liv-
at your social media, email list and attitude to fans, it makes you think about them more as ing from making music for people who love
see if it’s worth your, and their, time - they said they are, in effect, the record label and execu- music. No piles of coke, no Jacuzzis and no
yes and the journey really kick-started for tive producers. What you can’t do, as any pretense – just honest artists pouring their
album 3 - ‘Hollow Point Curses’. ‘signed’ band will tell you, is write an album heart and soul into their work and getting paid
We were blown away with the response; that you THINK will please the record label and a living wage.
we hit 100% in 8 weeks and fans were buying executive producers. That leads to a sub par It’s a dream, but it’s a very possible dream.
backing vocal experiences, live gigs in their album, too many compromises and disap- Oh, bugger, that’s 954 words … er, did I
homes and all that good stuff. Carl was loving pointed fans. But our producers are the fans mention I’m vegan? ;-)
it, seeing a new way of making music after … shit. So, we took the belief and respect our Polly Phluid
being in the industry for 30 years and having fans (hate that word) had for us and made the
worked with the biggest names, labels and album we were most proud of. Part 2 coming next issue!
managers. Basically, he got all fired up about It worked. Photo By Neil Vary

THE IDOL DEAD