Steven Morris
Thursday January 27, 2005
The Guardian
Markus Aitken has few vices. He does not smoke or drink and is a careful driver. A lover of the quiet life, he stays away from nightclubs because of the pounding beat.
However, a weakness for a certain type of Irish folk music landed Mr Aitken in trouble with the law after he cranked up the soundtrack from the show Riverdance too loudly on his car stereo for the taste of a police officer.
He was issued with a £30 fine but has been fighting against the penalty for 10 months, denying he was playing the music which made Michael Flatley a global superstar too raucously.
Following the case of the uneaten apple this week in which a woman was fined after 10 court hearings for holding a piece of fruit while driving, Mr Aitken is demanding his day in court.
The saga began in March last year when he tried to take a shortcut to his home in Manchester after visiting his parents. He found himself in an industrial estate and pulled up next to a police car to check his route.
Mr Aitken, 30, said: "She put me right and then asked me: 'Don't you think your music is a bit loud?'"
Mr Aitken told the officer he did not think the music was too loud.
Though his car is a specially adapted Nissan, the stereo system is not particularly powerful and only has speakers in the doors.
However, Mr Aitken, who is setting up a car valeting business, was issued with a fixed penalty notice, which carries a £30 fine. He refused to pay and the fine was increased to £45. When he refused to pay that, the bailiffs were sent round, but he continues to hold out.
Mr Aitken said: "I want to take this to court. I want someone to tell me how loud you are allowed to play your car stereo and no one seems to know that." He has now written to the government demanding clarification of the maximum volume.
Greater Manchester police declined to speak about Mr Aitken's case in detail.
Honest, this is a true story.
I was stopped by a cop for speeding in my new car. I explained to the officer that the radio gets louder the faster you drive and "I really love this song". Fortunately he let me off with a warning only telling me that I needed to change my tastes in music to something like easy listening.
By the way it was Johnny Cunningham's Fair Warning CD I was listening to.
Had he been playing Brian Rooney or Mick Mulvey or Helen Roche or the Healy Bros or Johnny Doherty or ... any one of a host of decent musicians, I'd have been outraged.
But Riverdance?
String him up! It's the only language these guys understand!
It's interesting that the article refers to 'a weakness for a certain type of Irish folk music'.
This suggests to me that the boys in blue are clued up enough to recognise a criminally bad musical sub-genre, and that, had Mick O'Brien been blaring out from the 'specially adapted Nissan', Mr Aitken might have received naught but compliments on his immaculate taste ....
When I was a youngER lad, we used to have a FLATLEY in the kitchen. For the uninitiated, a FLATLY in the kitchen was NOT a "Round the Kitchen and Mind the Dresser " hoedown at home. No, it was the brand name of an old fashioned clothes dryer which doubled as a very effective heater in the winter months; especially if you sat on it.
For all intents and purposes it was a large tin box with a heater element installed in the base. point is, you could whack the sides with your hand or with a stick while sitting atop it , which produced a very satisfying BOOM BOOm BOOM sound.
Many's the session i took it to after it had been decommissioned as a clothes dryer at home. The other musicians loved it so much that they would stop playing just to listen to it. It always brought tears to their eyes.
HHmmmm must go see if we still have it in the garage.
"a weakness for a certain type of Irish folk music" ... a weakness indeed ... very judicious use of words ... had it been decent music the journo might have said "a fondness for ..."
My point exactly, Aidan.
And what was his Nissan 'specially adapted' for, I wonder?
Maybe it had a parquet roof-rack, dancing for the use of?
Joe, we had a Flatley in the kitchen. My Grandmother would steam spotted dick in it, suspended in a muslin bag from the slats across the top. It always tasted faintly of soda.
"denying he was playing the music which made Michael Flatley a global superstar too raucously".
I've always argued that Michael Flatley was made a global superstar too raucously!! God ... I see so eye-to-eye with this Steven Morris ... he isn't a closet sessioneer by any chance?!
Soda, ottery? Top marks to grandma for imaginative use of the Flatley. Those slats made great wooden swords for playing Robin Hood. (Must donate the surviving slats to a Morris troupe) The middle slats were grand later on for stirring pots of paint when decorating.
Uh oh... a family friendly site? Really? I just characterized you as a dominatrix on that other thread, Kerri. Will I get extra punishment for this? (raises eyebrows again)
Mary, I've never been pulled over by a cop for playing trad music too loud, but I did have a customer start dancing when I was listening to "Fair Warning" in the shop. It was a hoot.
Then there was the time John, our office supply sales rep, came in to introduce his replacement to me. I had a Kevin Burke cd on. The replacement commented on how nice the music was and John, who came from Ireland, got a beatific smile on his face. "It's Irish," he said, glowing gently. "It's Irish."
(We talked Irish music instead of office supplies. Made my day.)
Kerri, you realize, don't you, that I'm not so far away from you that it would be *entirely* unreasonable for me to come up and give you a kick in the derriere (London or otherwise)?
Getting back on thread, don't forget that Flatley won two All-Irelands back to back on the flute in the seventies - no mean achievement for any musician so let's give credit where credit's due!
The police weren't interested in his tastes in listening, it was the fact he was driving with both hands down by his sides.
It might also have been the tapping noise that continued when the driver jumped up out of the driving seat
I was trying to watch the Riverdance Video with friends when the reference was made of Flatly as the Liberace of Irish Dance. We were then enjoying a ballet piece from the video when the comment was made that it was a fella in drag.
This degenerated into pointing to a need to shave closer and lumps in the leotards. All of my attempts to learn about Riverdance have been ruined.
If anyone wants to try it, the trick to a lump in the leotard seems to be a good size Toootooo. I suppose if you get a ticket for Flatly and you are paying for the experience, -what the heck- go for it.
That Flatley again
That Flatley again
From Today's Guardian:
Motorist in standoff over Riverdance
Steven Morris
Thursday January 27, 2005
The Guardian
Markus Aitken has few vices. He does not smoke or drink and is a careful driver. A lover of the quiet life, he stays away from nightclubs because of the pounding beat.
However, a weakness for a certain type of Irish folk music landed Mr Aitken in trouble with the law after he cranked up the soundtrack from the show Riverdance too loudly on his car stereo for the taste of a police officer.
He was issued with a £30 fine but has been fighting against the penalty for 10 months, denying he was playing the music which made Michael Flatley a global superstar too raucously.
Following the case of the uneaten apple this week in which a woman was fined after 10 court hearings for holding a piece of fruit while driving, Mr Aitken is demanding his day in court.
The saga began in March last year when he tried to take a shortcut to his home in Manchester after visiting his parents. He found himself in an industrial estate and pulled up next to a police car to check his route.
Mr Aitken, 30, said: "She put me right and then asked me: 'Don't you think your music is a bit loud?'"
Mr Aitken told the officer he did not think the music was too loud.
Though his car is a specially adapted Nissan, the stereo system is not particularly powerful and only has speakers in the doors.
However, Mr Aitken, who is setting up a car valeting business, was issued with a fixed penalty notice, which carries a £30 fine. He refused to pay and the fine was increased to £45. When he refused to pay that, the bailiffs were sent round, but he continues to hold out.
Mr Aitken said: "I want to take this to court. I want someone to tell me how loud you are allowed to play your car stereo and no one seems to know that." He has now written to the government demanding clarification of the maximum volume.
Greater Manchester police declined to speak about Mr Aitken's case in detail.
Any comments?
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Ottery
Re: That Flatley again
they say that flatley will get you everywhere...
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by RichardB
Re: That Flatley again
Honest, this is a true story.
I was stopped by a cop for speeding in my new car. I explained to the officer that the radio gets louder the faster you drive and "I really love this song". Fortunately he let me off with a warning only telling me that I needed to change my tastes in music to something like easy listening.
By the way it was Johnny Cunningham's Fair Warning CD I was listening to.
Mary
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Antikhntr
Re: That Flatley again
Had he been playing Brian Rooney or Mick Mulvey or Helen Roche or the Healy Bros or Johnny Doherty or ... any one of a host of decent musicians, I'd have been outraged.
But Riverdance?
String him up! It's the only language these guys understand!
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: That Flatley again
It's interesting that the article refers to 'a weakness for a certain type of Irish folk music'.
This suggests to me that the boys in blue are clued up enough to recognise a criminally bad musical sub-genre, and that, had Mick O'Brien been blaring out from the 'specially adapted Nissan', Mr Aitken might have received naught but compliments on his immaculate taste ....
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Ottery
Re: That Flatley again
FLATLEY AT SESSIONS.
When I was a youngER lad, we used to have a FLATLEY in the kitchen. For the uninitiated, a FLATLY in the kitchen was NOT a "Round the Kitchen and Mind the Dresser " hoedown at home. No, it was the brand name of an old fashioned clothes dryer which doubled as a very effective heater in the winter months; especially if you sat on it.
For all intents and purposes it was a large tin box with a heater element installed in the base. point is, you could whack the sides with your hand or with a stick while sitting atop it , which produced a very satisfying BOOM BOOm BOOM sound.
Many's the session i took it to after it had been decommissioned as a clothes dryer at home. The other musicians loved it so much that they would stop playing just to listen to it. It always brought tears to their eyes.
HHmmmm must go see if we still have it in the garage.
Joe
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Joe Quinn
Re: That Flatley again
"a weakness for a certain type of Irish folk music" ... a weakness indeed ... very judicious use of words ... had it been decent music the journo might have said "a fondness for ..."
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: That Flatley again
My point exactly, Aidan.
And what was his Nissan 'specially adapted' for, I wonder?
Maybe it had a parquet roof-rack, dancing for the use of?
Joe, we had a Flatley in the kitchen. My Grandmother would steam spotted dick in it, suspended in a muslin bag from the slats across the top. It always tasted faintly of soda.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Ottery
Re: That Flatley again
"denying he was playing the music which made Michael Flatley a global superstar too raucously".
I've always argued that Michael Flatley was made a global superstar too raucously!! God ... I see so eye-to-eye with this Steven Morris ... he isn't a closet sessioneer by any chance?!
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Aidan Crossey
Re: That Flatley again
Soda, ottery? Top marks to grandma for imaginative use of the Flatley. Those slats made great wooden swords for playing Robin Hood. (Must donate the surviving slats to a Morris troupe) The middle slats were grand later on for stirring pots of paint when decorating.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Joe Quinn
Re: That Flatley again
Who's Michael Flatley?
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: That Flatley again
President of Flatley spotted dick steamers cum clothes dryers cum bottom warmers, jack.
joe
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Joe Quinn
Re: That Flatley again
Soda, I think, or starch..? Anyway a sort of wash-day taste(!)
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Ottery
Re: That Flatley again
Must try her recipe.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Joe Quinn
Re: That Flatley again
Joe, this is a family-friendly website. I'll thank you to keep your filthy remarks to youself.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: That Flatley again
Probably for the good of humanity, her recipe died with her, Joe.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Ottery
Re: That Flatley again
Uh oh... a family friendly site? Really? I just characterized you as a dominatrix on that other thread, Kerri. Will I get extra punishment for this? (raises eyebrows again)
Or should I say -- Mistress Kerri.
Sorry sorry... Mistress Kerri.
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: That Flatley again
As usual Mr. Bill Whelan gets 2nd fiddle....
or is that 2nd box?
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: That Flatley again
". . . this is a family-friendly website"
That's why I had to refer to Frito Bugger in another thread.
KFG
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by KFG
Re: That Flatley again
The Flatley clothes dryer - yes! There's a memory dredged from the past. And I remember sword fights with the slats, too...
# Posted on January 27th 2005 by grego
Re: That Flatley again
At least you didn't refer to Frito's uncle, and his police record with reference to squirrels. ;)
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by sara g
Re: That Flatley again
Exactly. Can't even say his name in here, but anyone who's feeling a bit left out by this, starts with "D", rhymes with "Bilbo."
You work it for yourselves.
KFG
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by KFG
Re: That Flatley again
Dilbo?
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: That Flatley again
*Snort* Kerri, are you dyslexic? ;)
Only the final O rhymes, not the whole syllable.
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by sara g
Re: That Flatley again
Mary, I've never been pulled over by a cop for playing trad music too loud, but I did have a customer start dancing when I was listening to "Fair Warning" in the shop. It was a hoot.
Then there was the time John, our office supply sales rep, came in to introduce his replacement to me. I had a Kevin Burke cd on. The replacement commented on how nice the music was and John, who came from Ireland, got a beatific smile on his face. "It's Irish," he said, glowing gently. "It's Irish."
(We talked Irish music instead of office supplies. Made my day.)
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by sara g
Re: That Flatley again
Kerri, you realize, don't you, that I'm not so far away from you that it would be *entirely* unreasonable for me to come up and give you a kick in the derriere (London or otherwise)?
KFG
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by KFG
Re: That Flatley again
Getting back on thread, don't forget that Flatley won two All-Irelands back to back on the flute in the seventies - no mean achievement for any musician so let's give credit where credit's due!
# Posted on January 28th 2005 by Bannerman
Re: That Flatley again
The police weren't interested in his tastes in listening, it was the fact he was driving with both hands down by his sides.
It might also have been the tapping noise that continued when the driver jumped up out of the driving seat
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by geoffwright
Re: That Flatley again
*splorf*
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by Q
Re: That Flatley again
I was trying to watch the Riverdance Video with friends when the reference was made of Flatly as the Liberace of Irish Dance. We were then enjoying a ballet piece from the video when the comment was made that it was a fella in drag.
This degenerated into pointing to a need to shave closer and lumps in the leotards. All of my attempts to learn about Riverdance have been ruined.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: That Flatley again
And let that be a lesson to you, Ceol. ;)
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: That Flatley again
hahahahaha!
yuck!
hahahaha!
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: That Flatley again
If anyone wants to try it, the trick to a lump in the leotard seems to be a good size Toootooo. I suppose if you get a ticket for Flatly and you are paying for the experience, -what the heck- go for it.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by CeolCairdeas