In part two of my conversation with legendary record producer Bob Ezrin we delve deeply into his production of the first Peter Gabriel album and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” and further discuss his work with Alice Cooper as well as Deep Purple, the Kings, Phish and so much more!

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Trump is breaking the number one rule of today’s media.

You don’t respond.

News outlets have already seen copies of Bolton’s book. Today they printed all the juicy elements. What are they gonna print tomorrow? If Trump were smart, and he’s not, and for someone who lives on social media he doesn’t seem to completely understand it, he wouldn’t sue, he’d let it go, it would be history and it would still be his word versus Bolton’s, i.e. Trump would have plausible deniability.

Trump does understand the speed of the news cycle, which is why he tweets so frequently. But Trump is always playing offense, he doesn’t seem to know how to play defense, at least not how to strategize defense.

Oh, Trump will roll over, like on the Juneteenth rally in Tulsa, there goes that plausible deniability once again, but when he sues to prevent publication of Bolton’s book, all he does is amplify it.

I mean come on, if Trump were going to lose his job for faux pas, he would have been convicted at the Senate impeachment trial. But his supporters in lockstep, the Republicans in that chamber, wouldn’t even allow Bolton to testify. In other words, if you’re winning the war, SHUT UP!

The Democrats still don’t understand social media. They are not aware that it’s a land of mass, that it doesn’t matter what you say if you don’t have millions of followers. Today we all live in our own vertical, and the only chance to get wider distribution is to have a team of active followers who will spread the word. Numbers first, content second.

This is the exact opposite when it comes to art, as opposed to commerce. With art, you base your numbers on content. And when people are hooked by content, they stay glued, for quite a while, especially in an era where being attached to and proud of someone or something others are unaware of is a badge of honor.

But when you’re at the top, never punch down. The only place you can go is down.

Don’t defend yourself in today’s media unless you are right. And even if you are right, there are a slew of people who still think you’re wrong, who still believe Obama was born in Africa.

That’s another thing you learn in the cyberworld. NEVER CORRECT SOMEONE! They tell you the sun was out at midnight and you correct them by not only telling them it set at 8:15 PM, you send pics, links…and what does the person say? THEY DOUBLE DOWN AND STILL TELL YOU YOU’RE WRONG!

It’s funny, but anybody with a profile knows this. But if you’re hiding behind the edifice, i.e. the newspaper, if you don’t have a name, you mean nothing.

Your name, it’s the most important element in today’s social media world. Sure, people used to have fakes, but those disappeared when Facebook wanted real monikers. Sure, there are still trolls with fake accounts, especially on Twitter, but the great thing about Twitter is it’s a bastion of data. They may be hating on you multiple times a day, but in some cases these trolls have ZERO followers. That’s right, absolutely none! So there’s no use in getting your knickers in a twist, because no one is even seeing the criticism. Furthermore, even people who have followers…most of the followers don’t see their posts.

Twitter is news, TikTok is high school and Instagram is high school for graduates, who still want to gain status. That’s another thing you learn when you leave school, no one cares about you, everybody isn’t locked down in the same tiny environment. So, when you go on how great you are on Instagram, everybody thinks you’re a chump who didn’t get the memo. But you keep believing your number of followers and likes means something! But unless you’ve got millions of both, really you’re essentially irrelevant, except for those followers paying attention. Everybody else doesn’t know who you are and doesn’t care. And Instagram is skin-deep at best.

TikTok… In junior high and high school it’s all about impressing your friends, getting ahead, but people keep moving through the system and your status does not last. Meanwhile, you’re deep in the scene in the meantime, in your petty wars, thinking you’re popular until you graduate and find out the joke was on you.

As for the influencers?

That’s just a news story.

Of course there are some people making money. But they’re tools of the corporations, the product-providers, not vice versa. Sure, the Kardashians are the opposite, they dictate to the corporations, if they don’t form a corporation themselves, but there’s only one of them. That’s today’s society, winner take all!

As for those on Facebook… They didn’t get the memo it’s history. It’s amateur hour, Facebook…with supposed gravitas that it doesn’t really have anyway. You’re sharing based on the concept that you’re connecting instead of bragging, but no one believes that. And if you live on Facebook it proves you’ve got no life.

But Trump is not on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Because he knows they’re irrelevant to his brand. That’s another thing self-promoters don’t get. Don’t be everywhere, your fans are not everywhere, every platform is not right for you, go where your type of people are. If you’re a nitwit entertainer who is just selling, don’t bother with Twitter. Twitter is about news and your opinion thereupon. If you’re not making news and you’re uninformed and are unaware of and unable to comment on others’ news…stay off Twitter!

Furthermore, other than Twitter, all these platforms are fads. Since it’s based on news, Twitter is necessary. Sure, someone could come up with a better social media news site, but since Wall Street has convinced investors there’s no money in Twitter, they don’t. As for Facebook, it’s already been superseded by Instagram, which Facebook was savvy enough to purchase. Same deal with WhatsApp. But all of these sites run on user content, based on the concept that people need to connect, which they do, but they don’t have to do it on any of these sites! As for Snapchat, it’s a sideshow, forget about it, like Second Life back in the day. A lot of ink, a small, passionate fan base, and that’s it. Everything Snapchat invents, Instagram copies. Ideas cannot be protected.

And sure, the big kahunas want to keep down upstarts, the worst offender being Amazon, which will underprice, lose money to kill competitors. This is what Warren and Sanders were bitching about, but the DNC and inside media decided no one cared about that, so they focused on milquetoast Biden, promising a return to the past as they triangulate, imposing a flawed paradigm upon an era that does not exist. People use Amazon and Facebook products all the time, but they also hate them. it’s kind of like the cable company, as soon as you get an alternative, you jump.

But having misplayed his hand with the Bolton book, give Trump credit, he understands much more of the game than the usual suspect players, said DNC and major media. Yes, by suing Trump will ensure the Bolton story stays on the front page longer than it would have. But Trump also knows that the internet runs on gossip and truth is one of the last priorities. Blame Fox News all you want, the truth is people are exposed to falsehoods all day long on the internet, have an opinion and express it, you’ll see. Which is why Dorsey and Zuckerberg have so much power. And Trump knows he’s got no power over them, not directly relative to their content, but he’s jawboning to get them to blink all the while gaining adherents who hate social media. That’s another thing, everybody who professes to hate social media is on it.

As for the content of Bolton’s book…

A nonfactor.

The truth is the election is months away, and nothing negative sticks to Trump. Sure, he might have blown Covid-19, but no one you know died and you’re already out and about, lockdown is in the rearview mirror to you.

And you…

Sympathize with African-Americans, as long as they don’t get too uppity. And you don’t like looting. And you won’t say any of this out loud, but there’s no way you’re voting for old Joe, Trump has been good for you, you don’t want any change.

And the DNC blew it because it doesn’t understand that the internet runs on passion! You win and lose elections online, few people watch TV news, whether it be network or cable. So, what you want to possess is a lot of followers who you feed with content with spreadability. Come on, is anybody spreading anything Biden says? Proving, once again, that as flawed as Trump might be in the internet sphere, the Democrats are positively clueless. The Democrats are running on an old playbook that they believe is inviolate. They’re selling CRTs in an OLED flat screen world. They believe CDs have pristine sound and they won’t trust their credit card information to Spotify.

What did we learn with Bernie Sanders this year?

The young people didn’t come out. They professed belief in his agenda, they just did not bother to vote.

And now voting is harder than ever. You might not get a mail-in ballot, you might have even been stricken from the rolls! And if you do go to vote, it might take hours and you might get Covid-19. Meanwhile, all the oldsters say REMEMBER BUSH/GORE! But these antiquarians don’t realize these young voters were not even alive then, of if they were, they were unaware.

It’s hard to discern the method in Trump’s madness. But one thing is for sure, the Democrats and the media just react to it. Constantly print the shenanigans, throw their hands in the air and expect you to agree with them. Meanwhile, so many have contempt for the talking heads and reporters, if they’re even paying attention at all. Come on, whether it be Tucker Carlson or Joe Scarborough, both think their doody does not stink and what they say is uber-important, not having gotten the memo that the internet has flattened our society. Celebs have been brought down more than one notch, a few in fact, and the hoi polloi has been lifted. So, if you separate yourself from the rest of the public, you’re a target, in a world where people can fight back and don’t think you’re any better than they are.

So stop all this b.s on facts. The election will be based on emotions. And Trumpers believe their man is unjustly attacked, that the fake news empire is after him. Meanwhile, those with a brain know the opposite is true, but they never decide on one strategy or angle to hammer over and over like Trump, which you’ve got to do in today’s world to be heard, because there are so many messages.

So, stop being holier-than-thou, believing Trump is a doofus and there’s no way he can get elected.

First and foremost, the Republicans are tilting the table, via voter suppression, saying it’s all about eliminating fraud when fraud is de minimis. Second, never underestimate the instinct of those who have not to give it up. Third, people neither like to appear dumb or uninformed, so they’ll double-down on inane positions just to save face.

So, the truly rich stay out of the fray, they pay in secret, via lobbyists, PACs…they’re smart enough to realize it’s hard to win the internet news game, even if you’re right.

And the rest of the country is arguing 24/7 on social media.

The internet allows those without money to triumph, but only if they’re organized and are clear on what they want.

Once again, the election will be decided on the internet. The news media always wants a new story and the public is inundated with messages and little sticks. So, it’s all opinion, all the time. Go online, learn the game, it’s hard, harder than ever, you can play, but you may not even be heard, never mind win. But if you do want to win, when it comes to politics, followers first, message second, veracity may be irrelevant. Remember that.

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Tune in today June 16th, to Volume 106, 7 PM East, 4 PM West.

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If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app: LefsetzLive

8:46 – Dave Chappelle

20,293,000 YouTube views.

What kind of crazy, fucked-up world do we live in where a comedian has more reach than any musician?

One in which Chappelle is trusted by his audience, because he’s never lied to them.

Chappelle’s got a long history of going his own way. Most notably when he walked away from his Comedy Central show. Word on the street was that he should continue, take those millions from the man! But it no longer felt right to Chappelle so he moved on. In a world where no one forgoes bucks…NO ONE!

That’s the country we live in, money talks and we’re the living proof, there ain’t no limit to what money can do, money talks. That’s what Ray Davies sang with the Kinks on the unheralded “Preservation Act 2” double album. Ray didn’t complain people weren’t listening, he just did his act. Diehard fans knew it, went to see the band live. And eventually, the Kinks signed with Arista and had another slew of hits. Meanwhile, Ray is as irascible as ever.

That’s a rock star.

Those aren’t musicians today.

What we’ve got is a ton of uneducated, unskilled crybabies who are pissed you’re not listening and they’re not rich. Oh, I’ll get e-mail from people saying that’s not them, with an MP3 attached…they’re too stupid to see that they are the problem, and far from the solution.

So Dave Chappelle pays his dues. He’s very good at what he does. And what he does is not exactly like what anybody else does. Sure, he’s a standup comedian, but he’s not an imitation, he’s an original. Maybe you don’t like him, that doesn’t bother him, he’s not about to compromise his act to satiate you, that’s no life, certainly not for an artist.

And Chappelle is paid the big bucks. And it’s not like he’s unavailable. And now, a few weeks after the death of George Floyd, Chappelle speaks out.

Sponsored by Netflix.

And you wonder why Netflix wins the streaming wars. You’ve got to be artist-friendly. That used to be HBO, but HBO would dither and go to pilot and then not make your show. Netflix buys the idea, sets you on your way and doesn’t interfere. And the dirty little secret of artistic greatness is it’s hard to achieve. It’s not math. You try to walk the razor’s edge but even the greats fall off. It’s kind of like baseball, if you hit .300, you’re in the Hall of Fame.

So, does Netflix put the production behind its paywall? OF COURSE NOT! As a matter of fact, you couldn’t even see it on the service. No, Netflix thought that what Chappelle was saying was so important, they had to make it available to all, for free, on YouTube.

Meanwhile, the major record companies believe YouTube is enemy #1. Because it’s about the money. Money first, art second. The labels don’t want to leave a single dollar on the table. And you wonder why they’re hated. All this testimony about black lives mattering…they’ve been screwing black artists from time immemorial. BMG said it was gonna review old contracts, adjust royalty rates, but the big three? NOT A PEEP!

You can’t give away money, what would the shareholders say, you’d make a smaller salary, the artists are fungible, screw-em.

And word on the street was Chappelle’s twenty seven minute plus screed was not funny.

Hannah Gadsby wasn’t funny, and her specials are some of the best on Netflix.

You see greats stretch the medium, they don’t conform to it.

But there are a few jokes in 8:46. But mostly it’s storytelling. Forget all the whites getting together to try to push the black ball forward. In most cases it’s a circle jerk. Best to just listen to Brother Chappelle. Because he’s schooling us in this screed. Whites have little knowledge of black history, and they believe black history is a joke, just a way for African-Americans to feel good about themselves, if it was so important they’d already know about it, it would be in schoolbooks…written by whites and approved by whites. Come on, Betsy DeVos, the queen of private schools, do you think she gives a rat’s ass about black history, no she just wants to eradicate it, along with the underfunded public schools blacks are forced to attend. No, not everybody can go to a great private school, no matter how much choice you say there is, we don’t live in Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” If you know math, you know that’s impossible!

So Chappelle starts telling a story and you’ve got no idea where it’s going. He’s talking about the earthquake, back in ’94, in Los Angeles. He ultimately says how scared he was. And that was what, like thirty five seconds long? That cop had his knee on George Floyd’s neck for EIGHT MINUTES AND FORTY SIX SECONDS!

That drove the length of time home. I was in L.A. during the earthquake. It was like the end of the world. If it had been eight minutes and forty six seconds long I would have died of fright.

So, George Floyd calls out for his mother. Chappelle says George KNEW HE WAS GONNA DIE!

Chappelle says how on his deathbed, his father called out for his grandfather.

I don’t want to give it all away, but just when you think he’s meandering, you find out he’s not, Chappelle’s ties it all together.

And the message is powerful and well-executed.

But what struck me is what I mentioned at the top. The people trust Chappelle.

Let me ask you, who can you trust?

Certainly not the President. Nor the DNC either.

The corporations? Their business model is screwing you over.

The cops? I’m white and I’m scared of the cops! They’ve never been there for me, they’ve only hassled me.

And I’ve sat down for the national anthem. Yup, people tell me to get up at the baseball stadium, the sixties were fifty years ago. But if you’re not willing to question authority, think for yourself, then you’re a lemming, a victim with no input. America is the land of the individual. And not only Republicans can be individuals, remember that.

So, we used to trust our rock stars. But can we trust Jay Z when he keeps telling us he’s a business, man! Or Kanye who supports Trump and can’t stop bitching that everybody’s against him? Oh, Kanye is bipolar, but we’d rather just watch him self-destruct than get him in treatment, embrace him medicated.

As for the whites?

THEY’RE ALL AFRAID!

They all remember the Dixie Chicks. Whether they’re in country or pop, rock and in some cases even hip-hop. You can’t alienate a potential customer. Everybody’s watched “Shark Tank,” everybody thinks they’re a business, everybody’s got a home-schooled MBA when the truth is the heart and soul of our country is the denigrated liberal arts.

And they want to open the universities with social distancing. The only reason to go to college is to interact with others, hear contrary opinions and grow up. And it’s an impossibility if there’s social distancing, which won’t be observed anyway, but the educational institutions need the bucks.

As for bucks… Even investment funds got money from the government. That’s right, they made millions but the government gives them more while you’re broke and can’t make ends meet.

But they keep dangling that carrot, you can be just like them.

But Chappelle makes a good case how slavery wasn’t that long ago. Listen and you’ll see. Hell, Hitler killed Jews who practiced other religions, he said it was in their blood. You can’t outrun your race or your religion, your background. And when you grow up Jewish like myself, you’re taught to stand up, to correct people when they make anti-Semitic remarks. You see if you don’t correct people, they don’t know any better.

As for those who need to be corrected…

Only a comedian like Chappelle can properly eviscerate Laura Ingraham. All the writing in the paper…who are these people? Chappelle has a name, they don’t. And you don’t see any Republicans standing up to her while they lionize Candace Owens. Chappelle takes Owens down too. Just because you found one African-American to take your side, to become a Republican, that does not mean the right is not racist.

So you listen to Chappelle and his message sticks with you.

Listen to today’s hit music and you’re forgetting it while you’re listening to it. Much of it is made for a good time. Well, THINGS AREN’T SO GOOD RIGHT NOW!

So we need messengers, we need leaders.

But we don’t have any in government. And we don’t have any in business. Hell, Elon Musk called for Amazon to be broken up because it wouldn’t sell an anti-Covid book. But that goes against the right of a business to sell whatever it wants to, for Twitter and Facebook to disallow speech, but forget the law, when some bozo with power and a megaphone says otherwise, people believe it.

But Chappelle is not a bozo and he’s got a great big megaphone.

He says it wasn’t time for him to weigh in as a celebrity, it was the time of the people, they were doing a great job, as for criticism for laying back, he’s been saying this stuff all along. What a breath of fresh air in an era where celebrities are using the death of George Floyd as a marketing tool.

So the only person with universal purchase in America is Trump. He’s the only one who everyone knows almost everything about. Everybody else has a sliver of his audience.

But who is number two? Who else could get 20+ million views on YouTube?

And don’t compare this with music streams. Music is made to be repeated, visual entertainment is not. And, the Chappelle video hasn’t even been up for five days!

Watch this. It’ll open your eyes. And make you think. And that’s what we need more of, thinking instead of knee-jerk opinions. Our country has become close-minded. And money is used to keep thought controlled. And those with money say they’re inviolate, that complaints against them are class warfare. Then how do we categorize the constant harassment of African-Americans?

Oh, that’s right, we ignore it.

But Dave Chappelle cannot be ignored.