Die-hard Crim fans will hate the next step - hooray! New approaches, new music, new terrors, new joys - yes! Next time round, catch it while it flies. Then, in 20 years' time we may not have endless requests to hear music about-to-be played for the first time in 2000.
The main excitement for World Central today was a visit by an Inland Revenue inspector. This concerns matters which two accountants failed to resolve since 1991 & the EG debacle, and which I have been trying to settle since.
The first of the two former accountants was the same accountant used by EG themselves, & who had been instructed in how to approach my affairs by Mr. Alder (Good Guy That You Can Trust - What Has He Done? He Has Nothing To Hide!). This accountant knew the details of how EG moved money (£4,000,000) from the Music Group into (the former) EG Management (renamed Athol & Co.) during 1989/90. Surprisingly, EG were unable to pay artist royalties on January 1st. 1991.
Bill Bruford once said to this accountant: "Come on! You knew what was going on!" & got a very tetchy response. The accountant was also reported as increasing his alcohol intake. I returned from a month in Europe with the RFSQ & received an unexpected bill for £50,000 tax payable by 10 am the following morning (it was 19.15) on a matter this accountant was "settling" 6 months before.
I moved from this unfortunate to another accountant, at a leading firm of London music biz accountants. Over 3 years, he appeared utterly unable to grasp our affairs but equally proficient in sending large bills. Over a period of 6 months, I sat behind David Singleton in the Music Room & on 3 occasions heard David give the same answers to the same questions asked by the same accountant. We had to redo nearly all his accounts, & even found errors of simple addition along a straight line of figures.
Our third accountant, a gift from Guardian Angels & Richard Chadwick, is now bringing us up to date. And at last.
I explained to our tax inspector that, while accepting my legally responsibility for company accounts, a working musician who spends six months a year working abroad, who was engaged in High Court litigation over a period of 6 1/2 years, & who saw his Mother fly away in the same period, normally seeks professional help in their financial affairs. Which I did, & paid very high fees to have my financial affairs put fully in order. If the advice is poor, negligent or simply inaccurate, what happens? And If Sting couldn't rely on his accountant (he's still doing time) what hope for lesser mortals? (In court, Sting said: "I read music, not figures").
In principle, it's an interesting commentary on contemporary UK society that a reasonably intelligent individual with a competent working knowledge of the English language, moderately numerate & with a grammar school education, is unable to handle their own financial affairs. I look at Inland Revenue communications with the same confidence that I bring to reading Japanese-language versions of DGM contracts with Pony Canyon.
But, at last, we are within sight of the end.
Our inspector saw The League of Gentlemen in Leeds (1980). He confessed to having been taken by a friend and "found it a bit avant garde". His last words to me were: "I expect it'll be an old-fashioned compromise - neither of us will get what we want". My reply: "If it's fair & it's settled after 8 years of trying, I'll be a happy man". 18.00 Back to ProjeKct Four. "This stomps along" - a verbatim quote from David Singleton. Hugh is upstairs working on the artwork, which is based on a photo sent by Pat the Beast.
"Money is not a problem, only a difficulty."
