Features
Roger Taylor Sings To Murdoch Once Again
Earlier today a protestor threw a pie plate full of foam at Murdoch during the executive’s hearing before Parliament about the News of the World phone hacking controversy. Murdoch’s wife, Wendi Deng, reacted by appearing to hit the protestor. The protestor was later identified as Jonathan May-Bowels aka comedian Jonnie Marbles, according to the Guardian. He was arrested on suspicion of assault during a public meeting.
An announcement on QueenOnline.com says that Taylor is making his views “on the current Murdoch-gate dramas publicly heard” by re-releasing the tune “Dear Mr Murdoch.” The song was originally featured on the drummer’s third solo album, 1994’s Happiness?
After Taylor made some “subtle updates” to the track, it was posted on YouTube on Friday and will be available to purchase through iTunes sometime this week.
Sample lyrics include “Dear Mr Murdoch you’re a powerful man/You control half our media whose lifeblood is scam/And dear Mr Murdoch we’re not so amused/Just line up the people whose lives they’ve abused.”
QueenOnline.com points out that Taylor protested Murdoch’s attempt to buy the Manchester United Football Club in 1998 by funding the club supporters’ efforts to block the sale.
In other music news related to the News of the World scandal, one of the members of Parliament who questioned Murdoch today was Louise Mensch, formerly Louise Bagshawe.
The conservative MP and author recently married Peter Mensch, who is the co-president of Q Prime. The management company’s roster includes Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Josh Groban and Muse.
Mensch was in the middle of asking Murdoch her first question when he was hit with the pie plate of foam. A brief recess was called before the hearing resumed.
“My questions will be just as tough as ever they would have been, had that unfortunate incident not occurred,” Mensch said, according to the Associated Press.
Click here for the Guardian post.
Click here for Queen’s website.