International News
Prydz on Swedish House Mafia
“I always really wanted to go my own way. I’m not part of the collective known... [more]
Mixmag have started campaigning to free Dance Academy owner Manoucehr Bahmanzade and his club promoter Tom Costelloe after the pair were sentenced to nine years and five years in jail respectively, under British ‘crack-house- style laws. Mixmag branded the case ‘‘the most blatant attack on dance music and its culture since the Criminal Justice Act declared war on repetitive beats” in an editorial posted on their site this week.
“Both sentences are several years longer than the drug dealers who were caught on the night of the raid, some of whom got off with community service. And the really frightening thing is that neither Tom nor his boss sold a single pill,” said the magazine. “Even the judge admitted that Tom was not involved in drug dealing in any way,” they added.
Mixmag campaign coordinator Duncan Dick told Skrufff they consider the case to be “worse than the Criminal Justice Act,” adding, “we’re hoping that this is just one judge completely overdoing things and not the beginning of a concerted campaign. But that’s what makes it so important that we bring attention to this case.”
He also suggested DJs could now find themselves being jailed ‘simply for the crime of playing records in a place where drugs are being taken’. “Tom Costello was sent to jail for five years for being the promoter/resident DJ and ‘de facto floor manager’ of a club where some people were taking drugs. If the law continues to be extended in this way, yes, this could conceivably happen,” said Duncan.
“Join the campaign or start your own to free the guys,” Duncan added. “Email your MP, write to the newspapers, and join the Facebook group. And if you are, or know a legal expert or someone with experience in this area and think you or they can help directly, then please get in touch with us. Support your local independent clubs and nights,” he urged.
Smileyesque says...
It's what I would expect from THE NUMBER ONE MONTHLY UK DANCE MUSIC BIBLE MIXMAG