This blog is really about the interview which you can listen to on Youtube. Now this interview is the standard police interview I guess all suspects get. Hopefully you will be able to hear me although the quality is not great. It was the early hours id been in a cell for a while and it was after the infamous hospital event in which the police say I attacked them and it was this attack that lead to me being beaten in my head and chest. Pepper sprayed in my face and my legs bound like a Christmas turkey. You must decide for yourself all I can say is that I was on a stretcher and my hands locked in handcuffs and very out of it so to be honest if I was gonna attack six officers of the law I think I may have chosen a better moment. I don’t know maybe when I wasn’t drifting in and out of consciousness and maybe not locked in handcuffs. Put it this way if I did attack them then I must have been crazy to think the odds were in my favour. The truth is I didn’t attack anyone, the truth is I was terrified for my life and I know this may sound extreme but when every face that looks at you looks at you with hate its kinda easy to think that could loose your life in that cell.

Think about it I was in that cell for over 86 hours in total and in that time I saw what I could only describe as a systematic attempt to break my will. I say on the tape that it felt like psychological torture and it was. I am not ashamed to say that by the end I did believe I was broken and there came a point when I would have pleaded guilty to anything. Which I guess is what I did. I felt like I had lost everything my career, my family, my freedom and at times my mind. I was kept in a glass fronted cell where I could see everyone come and go. So I would see people brought in to the station in handcuffs and booked in at the desk then lead off to a cell. A few hours later I would see them leave and this happened so many times that I would think what the hell is going on everybody is coming in spending a few hours in a cell then being released but am still here. Why? Was what I did that bad? I mean, don’t you have a limit on how long you can keep someone in a cell?

The paper work they gave me with my rights said that if someone is not charged after 24 hours then they must be released or that in special circumstances they could take it to 48 hours but after that a court had to grant permission. I was there for over 72 hours in one go. They had me thinking I must have done some shit I couldn’t remember. And as crazy as it seems you mind does start to play tricks on you. My emotion went in waves sometimes I would feel powerful and walk around my cell as if I was saying to myself and them you will never break me. Then without warning I would fall into despair and think I was gonna be looked up there for ever. One officer said to me your gonna be hear until I retire and that’s 11 years. Like I said it seems crazy but you begin to think no one even knows your there. And no one cares or they would have found a way to see me. No one really believes that they would not give me food because that could not happen in this country but listen to the tape and you decide if my story is false. I have posted a transcript of the interview to help as the audio is hard to follow at first so listen, read and see the truth for yourself.

I have been angry but for some reason I am no longer angry at the police for what they did. In a way I feel for them because I could live with being that cold hearted and inhumane to my fellow man. I could not be so fearful that even a musician could be seen as a threat. And its easy to look at them as monsters or evil but they are not these things. They are men and women just like me and you. They are mother, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers just like us. So what has happened that would make them so indifferent to suffering? What could make them have learned these methods in order to break the human spirit and destroy the will? And why does society need us to comply so deeply that it would give them the power to go against their own laws, go against their own human nature and seek to destroy anything they do not understand.

This is why I don’t mind anyone knowing that I cried when I was broken because in a way am glad I did. Why? Because my tears showed I still had a heart, my tears showed that I was still human and yes I did cry for my own pain but more than that I cried for them. I do feel sorry for them and I feel sorry for us all as a race of people that we have come to this. When you read my blog’s do not hate them and do not judge them or condem them. Only love can heal them. The very thing they have lost. So yes see the truth and speak the truth but not in war or anger. Truth needs not be angry or judgemental it only needs to be expressed and set free. Truth itself will do the rest. We have been sent these testing times for a reason.

ELAVI AKA THE REPORTED

..you have been examined by the medical staff here al right the time now is ten past twelve on the afternoon of Tuesday 29thth June 2010 this is…

Elavi: i’ve got a pain in my chest

DC Benn: yes but you have been examined by better people than me, more educated people than me you went to the hospital yesterday and they said you are fit to be detained. You have been assessed under the mental health act and they say you are fit to be detained. I’m just going to ask you some questions about what happened at the hospital yesterday (Elavi: Yeh) do you understand that?

Elavi: yeh

DC Benn: Alright then, I’m DC Ben I’m joined by my colleague DC McNichalous. You have been arrested for an offence of a public order offence under section four of the public order act and that happened yesterday afternoon at the royal Preston hospital in the accident and emergency unit there.

Elavi: is that where I was?

DC Benn: yeah that’s where you were. You was with police officers and quite a few medical staff there at the hospital because then you said you had this pain, you got taken up to the hospital and you have been examined and said fit to be detained by us at the police station.

Elavi: So it was you here that decided I was fit to be detained?

DC Benn: No the medical staff I wouldn’t certainly say I was

Elavi: Not when Dr. Durum…is it durum? Dr durum? Durum?

DC Benn: yes

Elavi: The Dr. that discharged me, can I make sure that I am pronouncing his name correctly.

DC Benn: It is Durum I am sure you are quite correct. Anyway that’s why you’ve been arrested. Before we go any further I must caution you.

Elavi: Can I say?

Stephen: You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence

Elavi: Durham right?

DC Benn: Durham would say he’s right yes that you are fit to be detained?

Elavi: No is it, is it, Dr. Durum who discharged me?

DC Benn: I don’t know which Dr. it was. Its the public order offence we’re interviewing you regarding. Alright, so you do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court anything you say may be given in evidence. Now that is a mouthful do you understand what the nature of the caution means?
Do you understand what the caution means?

Elavi: Can I clarify it?

DC Benn: You clarify it then. What do you understand by the caution?

Elavi: It means that anything that I say maybe erm,

DC Benn: what it means is you don’t have to answer our questions, nothing can happen to you if you don’t answer the questions. Do you understand that part of the caution?

Elavi: Can I act as my own legal representation?

DC Benn: Course you can.

Elavi: in all legal matters from now on?

DC Benn: You can by all means, alright.

DC Benn: but you understand that you don’t have to answer the questions don’t you?

Elavi: I’d like to make a statement.

DC Benn: well you can make your statement but when you’ve explained the nature of the caution to you. Then you can have full our full attention and all that of the tape alright? So you don’t have to answer the questions do you understand that?

Elavi: all i’m saying is this, the pain in my chest and the pins and needles in my hand and the pain in my neck and my head. I don’t know if erm…

DC Benn: if your going to speak up you’d better speak up so the microphone can hear you.

Elavi: (laughs/sighs)

DC Benn: OK, so. Seeing as you won’t let us finish the

Elavi: you could have had it down.

DC Benn: pardon:

Elavi: You could have had the microphone down here.

DC Benn: Could have had the microphone but its not its fixed to the wall there. Right seeing as you’re short of breath you save your energy and I’ll carry on explaining the caution to you. The caution goes on to explain that if you don’t answer the questions now and this matter goes to court and then at court you give an explanation or answer all the courts questions do you understand that part? They may think well what Mr. Dowie says to us now makes and awful lot of sense but then they may just take an adverse interest and think hang on a sec if its right what he’s saying to us now why didn’t he tell those two nice officers on this the first opportunity? Has he needed time to get his story together? Do you understand that?

Elavi: you’re saying a lot of stuff

DC Benn: I am saying a lot of stuff

Elavi: if if if can I clarify?

DC Benn: no no no just let me exp’ carry on explaining and then i’ll stop talking and you can take over alright?

Elavi: Can I just clarify what you said?

DC Benn: N…well…go on then?

Elavi: You said that what I say here now when I go to court to legally represent myself in the court of the land.

DC Benn: You’re wasting your chance you better if you wanting to give an explanation speak up and then the tape can listen to you alright?

Elavi: Yeh (slightly inaudible)

DC Benn: So go on, if you when you defending yourself at court…you were half way through…no?

Elavi: Erm…

DC Benn: You wanted to clarify the part of the caution I’ve said up to now. Are you do you understand what I’m s yeah? Do you want to add anything? Or do you want me to carry on explaining the caution?

Elavi: Yeah explain it.

DC Benn: Right it goes on to say if you answer the questions now but this matter still goes to court and then at court you give a completely different answer to the questions or different version of events the court won’t know which one to believe because two different stories both can’t be the truth can they?

Elavi: no

DC Benn: and finally this is the part the microphone comes into anything you say may be given in evidence and that’s because that microphone tries to pick up everything that we say and that’s why you have to speak up and it is purely audible so its only the answers you give via your mouth that are picked up. It doesn’t pick up shaking your head or nodding your head.

Elavi: yeh

DC Benn: OK and the microphone goes to these three machines..er..tape. Goes to this machine that has three tapes in it. The red one is the master, i’m keep ga.. I keep getting tongue tied now.

Elavi: was that a Freudian slip or just a

DC Benn: a Freudian slip…I don’t know what you mean by that..I keep saying there’s three tapes here but I actually mean

elavi: Just made that odd statement is that a Freudian slip

DC Benn: I don’t know what you mean by that.

Elavi: or just a mistake

DC Benn: it was a mistake

Elavi: oh

DC Benn: I’m only human, I do make mistakes, anyway there’s three different colours tapes here

Elavi: You make mistakes,

DC Benn: yes

Elavi: Stephen Benn you make mistakes?

DC Benn: Mmm

Elavi: even now

DC Benn: even now after all this time I still make mistakes

Elavi: how old are you?

DC Benn: oh I’m old enough

Elavi: and have you had much sleep?

DC Benn: I’ve had plenty of sleep, I sleep well. Right, the red tape is a master copy and at the end of this interview I’m going to ask you to sign this seal that gets wrapped around that tape. Alright? The yellow one is a police working copy and we can listen to that tape as many times as we would like and the white one goes with any file of evidence so should this matter go to court if you manage to get to court and represent yourself you can have that white tape by all means do you understand that?

Elavi: what do you mean if I manage to get to court?

DC Benn: well your in agony aren’t you? You keep telling me you are in severe pain. Right and also at the end of this interview you are going to sign this form which is a TR2 which explains how you can get a copy of the tape. But that is normally prior to any court case and normally at your own expense. Alright so when I ask you questions do you have to answer? You get the top copy its alright you get to keep this. So do you have to answer our questions?…..Mr. Dowie do you have to answer our questions?

Elavi: hello what?

DC Benn: do you have to answer our questions during this interview? Do you understand what we’ve tried to explain the caution.

Elavi: As I believe, I do not have to answer anything.

DC Benn: That is brilliant that that means you have understood that part of the question. And how many and how many pieces of paper am I going to get you to sign at the end of this interview?

Elavi: I’m trying to be co-operative officer you know that’s why I’m trying to answer everything.

DC Benn: good lad, good lad, I don’t question that. I’m just asking you how many pieces of paper you have to sign? That one is for the seal that goes around the red tape and that one is to explain how you can get a copy of the tape. So that’s two signatures I require at the end of this interview do you understand that?

Elavi: (inaudible)

DC Benn: right in you, oh and you are entitled to free and independent legal advice I believe you have spoken to a solicitor yesterday that doesn’t want to act on your behalf is that correct?

Elavi: a lot of people have spoken to me

DC Benn: right are you happy now to be interviewed without that solicitor.

Elavi: if it will get me out of here

DC Benn: well I can’t guarantee that but it will assist us

Elavi: can I not get out of the cell, first to just have a break?

DC Benn: a break?

Elavi: You know, just have a break out of the cell you know and get something to eat and a drink.

DC Benn: As soon as you have finished in this interview we will make sure, well we have given you three drinks of water and I’m sure you’ll get some food if required. And i’m sure earlier today you’ve been offered food.

Elavi: As soon as I went to say you know he just went he just asked me and went I turned round just to say yes and he just turned away.

DC Benn: Right well we’ll make sure you get some food

Elavi: Its been days

DC Benn: After this interview

Elavi: its been days days days days.

DC Benn: days without food? will it must have been a lot of visits to you. Anyway.

Elavi: (sighs)

DC Benn: anyway, can you tell us what happened yesterday at the accident and emergency ward

Elavi: well the last thing I remember was being walked out of my cell 7.15 to go to court.

DC Benn: and what time was that

Elavi: I have no idea what time it was I’d been in a cell for over 24 hours so.

DC Benn: So are we saying that yesterday you were walked out of your cell to go to court.

Elavi: I was going to the…i..i was.. they told me I was going to go to court to face charges on er…i was going to court…

DC Benn: you were going to court yeah?

Elavi: and as I walked out of my room and walked up the desk (inaudible) erm… up to i was walking up to the yellow square where you have to stand and er I just got a rush of blood to my head and I err felt the room spinning and fell over. I tried to ask for the assistance of the officer that was next to me but as I went out to grab his hand I missed and slipped onto the floor.

DC Benn: Right so you fell over yesterday morning going on your way to court. You fall over in the custody office.

Elavi: Is that the custody office out there?

DC Benn: Yeah, it contains cell 15 that you, where you been staying.

Elavi: yeah I been in there for 50 sixty hours now

DC Benn: 60 hours that’s a lot of days that. Anyway, so you fall over

Elavi: Please can I have a break

DC Benn: No we’ve only been going 12 minutes

Elavi: I don’t mind it here its cool speaking to you guys but I mean in the room in that room I you know…

DC Benn: but you’re in a different room now

Elavi: (sighs)

DC Benn: you’re in a different room its a whole different environment in here. There’s no glass in here ok.

Elavi: Yawns

DC Benn: so do you remember anything yesterday morning after you entered the custody office and then you fall over. Then what happens?

Elavi: (crying) I look up and I see the face of the officer

DC Benn: you look up and see the face of the officer

Elavi: I trying to ask for help.

DC Benn: and what does that officer do?

Elavi: he’s just one of the officers here

DC Benn: who?

Elavi: he’s just one of the officers here

DC Benn: he’s just one of the officers here? Yeah and then what does he do if you’ve if you’ve fallen over does he pick you up or what?

Elavi: He said, (inaudible) he’s not going to court now, stick him back in his cell, drag him back to his cell. So they dragged me back to my cell so I say and put me in there and I say I’ll go I’ll go I’ll go I just need some water and I’ll go. But if I get out of this cell I could get some medical help before I go to court and. (inaudible)

DC Benn: Yeah so they take you back to your cell and you’re thinking I’ll be alright and I’ll get some medical help. Right so they take you back to your cell and they what happens?

Elavi: (crying)

DC Benn: Then what happens? Do they take you to the hospital?

Elavi: I remember drifting in and out of consciousness in the cell, I’d wake up and hear voices and then I’d go again. I’d wake up I’d hear voices. I think there was a woman there said he’s an actor he’s good this one I’m very impressed, very impressed by his acting.

DC Benn: Acting?

Elavi: She said

DC Benn: Is that about you?

Elavi: Yes and she pinched my ear and I felt a shoot in my ear and she said oh he didn’t flinch at that I don’t know if I think I drifted again.

DC Benn: Is this a police officer or medical staff testing you’re reflexes?

Elavi: I think, I didn’t see her face, I know that it was a woman’s voice and I hadn’t spoken to many females so I think it was a nurse (inaudible)

DC Benn: a nurse

Elavi: yeah, was it a nurse

DC Benn: well I don’t know I wasn’t here I wasn’t dealing with you. I wasn’t in the custody office yesterday so you think you were tested your reflexes by a nurse but it was definitely a female and was that in the police station or was that up at hospital?

Elavi: that was in the cell when I’d been dragged back

DC Benn: right
Elavi: The guy said drag him back to his cell he’s not going to court now he’ll go to court in the afternoon. So then the medical practitioner came in and I was erm and they said I don’t who it was straight away she said this or a little time after I felt my ear that sharp just speak to her tell her what’s happening. But at the time its like my body was asleep.

DC Benn: right so then what happened

Elavi:it just went on feel like I’d wake up and then I heard her say…someone say…throw some hot water in his face he’ll wake up then

DC Benn: throw some hot water in his face? Are you sure it was hot water not cold?

Elavi:that was the funny thing it was a guys voice and he said Elavi we’re going to throw some boiling water in your face now

DC Benn: Boiling water its got better than hot?

Elavi: when he did it he didn’t actually throw it he just trickled it down and it was cold and I was thinking why can’t this stop.

DC Benn: and you was thinking why can’t I respond?

Elavi: its like my body was just

DC Benn: right so then what happened?

Elavi: (inaudible) what else did I hear then say? (inaudible) there was more than one female she said his blood pressure is very high

DC Benn: Well that must be medical staff mustn’t it

Elavi: his blood pressure is very high and all I can say is that nobody verified themselves whilst I was conscious. Nobody said I’m from such and such (inaudible)crowded voices (inaudible) trying to remember everybody’s…you’ve got a cut on your arm there

DC Benn: yes I fell off a bike

Elavi: are you okay?

DC Benn: I’m fine thanks for your concern

Elavi: did you get medical attention?

DC Benn: nah I didn’t need it when you are my age you’re just happy to be alive every morning. But thanks for your concern.

Elavi: you’re welcome sir

DC Benn: Good lad. Right so somebody says you’ve got high blood pressure, another female

Elavi: I don’t know. Somebody said hight blood pressure and his extremities are cold meaning that my hand, my fingers were cold.

DC Benn: yeah

Elavi: the extremities were cold. What else i’m trying to remember.

DC Benn: and did you have one of them strappings on your arm at that time when they checked your blood pressure?

Elavi: strappings, strappings strappings

DC Benn: cos they don’t just go to you and say your blood pressure high they put the devise round your arm and pump it up don’t they to check your blood pressure did you have one of those on?

Elavi: I could have been asleep. (crying) Could I have some tissues please?

DC Benn: well we’ve none free at this moment in time you’ll be alright you’ve got your erm whatever its called your blue suit we’ll get you a clean one of those when we get back so go on.

Elavi: its very undignified to be wiping my nose on my clothes

DC Benn: well its…well alright then err tom err leave the tapes on we’ll just nip next door and get some tissues for him

Elavi: its inhumane

DC Benn: pardon?

Elavi: its inhumane to have to

DC Benn: its inhumane

Elavi: no to have to wipe it on your clothes and have to urinate on the floor in a cell.

DC Benn: well we haven’t made you do that have we

Elavi: I asked I have been made to do that

DC Benn: Just for the purposes of the tape I’m going to continue speaking to Mr. Dowie whilst my colleague goes to get him a tissue for his nose which isn’t running at this time. So you think you had your blood pressure taken and it was a female member of staff.

Elavi: well as I say I was in and out of consciousness and possibly when they put the blood pressure machine on my hand…on my arm at that time I was just not aware of it. I remember somebody saying.

DC Benn: his blood pressure ’s high

Elavi: yeah

DC Benn: Just for the purposes of the tape my colleague has returned and has got some tissues hear you are Mr. Dowie. Right so you think this is at the hospital do you remember how you went up to the hospital.

Elavi: I remember…I remember being, just moving and I thought I’m on a stretcher you know

DC Benn: pardon?

Elavi: I remember moving and I thought I’m on a stretcher now.

DC Benn: oh you remember moving and thinking you was on a flat plate like a stretcher yeah?
Elavi: you know when I was in the cell and the voices were going on my fear was that they were believing that I was just acting there was, there was nothing wrong with me just acting and I thought to myself (inaudible)

DC Benn: so go on we’ve got you at the hospital and you’ve got this blood pressure

Elavi: I didn’t know where I was

DC Benn: you didn’t know where you were

Elavi: That blood pressure thing you’re talking about

DC Benn: yeah

Elavi: when I erm was where did you say you say it was I was

DC Benn: the accident and emergency ward up at hospital

Elavi: when I came round there was a pain well it was like my arm was just expanding expanding expanding like it was going to blow up and I heard a machine going like (makes machine noise) you know up whirring up and when it stopped and went down the pain the pressure and that’s when I came around I opened my eyes and looked down the bed and there was an officer stood there I could hear the sound of like hospital machinery beeps and so forth I concluded that I was in a hospital at that point.

DC Benn: Right,

Elavi: up until then I’d drifted out in and out of consciousness again I wanted to speak to people and move my hands erm

DC Benn:so do remember shouting out and screaming out Katherine Katherine?

Elavi: oh somebody mentioned she was there didn’t they.

DC Benn: who is Katherine?

Elavi: there was a nurse who said his partners here can she speak to him? That was like a dream that I though when I heard that I thought is she where is she?

DC Benn: so is your partner Katherine?

Elavi: katherine is yeah.

DC Benn: so what’s her surname?

Elavi: Katherine Jubb

DC Benn: Katherine?

Elavi: Jubb

DC Benn: Jobb?

Elavi: Jubb

DC Benn: Jubb, oh right so was she at hospital or was you just dreaming she was there?

Elavi: no no no if the nurse is to be believed was she a nurse who said that his partners here?

DC Benn: I don’t know? You’re telling me I wasn’t there but there’s medical staff saying you’re screaming out Katherine Katherine they’re going to kill me Katherine get me out of here please. I was wondering who Katherine was.

Elavi: my partner.

DC Benn: oh right and then I’ve asked you was she there at hospital?

Elavi: Somebody said she’s here they said to the police officer erm that his partner’s here I heard somebody actually say has he got a partner? And then you know they started checking into whether I had a partner. I think she was there I didn’t see her and if she was there when I shouted her name I’m sure she would have come to my aid.

DC Benn: yep d’ya remem so Katherine is your partner

Elavi: was she there?

DC Benn: I keep saying I don’t know

Elavi: but you was at the hospital I take it

DC Benn: I wasn’t at the hospital

Elavi: well you know the people who have made statements against me

DC Benn: yeah they were at the hospital and they don’t mention your partner being there I think the had more things on their mind trying to restrain you when you’re going berserk in the accident and emergency ward.

Elavi: six yeah

DC Benn: I think it took the best part of six persons to restrain you why were you why were you needing to be restrained by so many people then?

Elavi: can I give an account of what I remember?

DC Benn: this is why you’re here this is your interview you give that account

Elavi: thank you where am I up to

DC Benn: giving you’re account of why it took six people to restrain you

Elavi: okay as I say I came around and I felt a pumping sensation in my arm like one would if they were having their blood pressure taken I’ve had my blood pressure taken in the past and it usually goes to a certain level of the pressure but this one was to the far extreme it felt like if the machine carried on increasing it would blow or my arm would blow. I could hear the worry in the medical practitioners voice a nurse a male nurse and he said kept saying to me stop acting no one in my experience is unconscious and there eyes blink and because he was a medical person I believed him and I thought well they (inaudible) think I’m acting so I tried to speak to him at that point but again I was just exhausted totally exhausted. You want to know about when I actually tried to raise the alarm in the hospital erm I’d like to make a distinction between going berserk and raising the alarm when somebody is in fear you know I panicked I’ll admit to that

DC Benn: so

Elavi: i’ll admit to that (inaudible) please

DC Benn: go on carry on why did you panic?

Elavi: I just did

DC Benn: (inaudible) go on

Elavi: surrounded by six police officer you say is that correct

DC Benn: no I didn’t say there was six police officer I said six persons had to restrain you because you was going berserk in the A&E

Elavi: ok well

DC Benn: so your not

Elavi: You wasn’t in A&E you’ve already said that so you can’t define how a man is behaving so to use the word berserk which I believe comes from berserka people that had gone crazy and had no moralistic values but I think by law I am not immoral and I am not berserk and I have a moral that says I treat humans with the greatest of respect.

DC Benn: right well you just said you panicked yesterday so what made you panic? What made you panic to such an extent

Elavi: I even have compassion for yous two

DC Benn: right well this is your interview and I want you to explain why you panicked at the a&e and went I said berserk you said that’s an incorrect word you tell me what happened that you needed restraining by six persons.

Elavi: well the thing that happened that made me so fearful for my life was when erm..Dr. Durham was it?

DC Benn: I don’t know you keep telling me its Dr Durham but I don’t know

Elavi: He discharged me he was stood to the left of me he was the first person I hear saying their name I don’t remember anybody else saying their name I remember their words cos their engraved in my mind

DC Benn: right

Elavi: and he was fearful, and because of his fear I was afraid because I had entrusted myself to that Dr. and Dr. Durham I keep saying Durham but please officers check out his name he will be on the discharge notes

DC Benn: right well

Elavi: he was the one who discharged me he said this and I really want everybody to hear this because i’m going to try stand up for the thingy because you know

DC Benn: Well you tell us and we’ll repeat it so it’s on the tape go on

Elavi: I’m going to stand up (inaudible) I at this moment believe that the Dr. who discharged me is Dr. Durhum and he said these words we can only say fit for release from the hospital we cannot say that he is fit for detention because people die in police custody and he mentioned an event where somebody died in police custody recently and this had caused the hospital staff in most probably the entire country medical profession to look at the guidelines with regards to patients in police custody and because he didn’t want to say that I was fit for detention I became fearful because I thought well they are going to send me back to the cell the police are going to detain me again I didn’t think I was fit for no questioning I didn’t think I was fit for detention now Stephen Benn you said that oh sorry I forgot something we cannot say he is fit for detention the Dr. said somebody else will have to say that he is fit for detention a police officer or sergeant will have to say that he’s fit for detention that’s what happened I (inaudible) stand by that statement.

DC Benn: so what you’re saying is you are at the hospital they’ve put a device on you that almost makes your arm explode and then you hear the Dr say to the police officers

Elavi: was it Dr. Durham?

DC Benn: I don’t know you keep asking me you’re a bit obsessed with names aren’t you you must have mentioned my name three times any way we’ll go on so this Dr. that you don’t know says that you are going to be released from the hospital but only a police sergeant or officer can say you are fit to be detained by us so that made you panic is that correct?

Elavi: yeah I was in fear because I thought

DC Benn: I’m going to die in police custody

Elavi: When the Dr, said that somebody died in police custody recently I thought if he’s not going to keep me here

DC Benn: you’ve got to come back to police custody and that’s where you thought you was going to die.

Elavi: looking at you two guys now sat here there’s no way I can see two men like you comi9ng into a room and killing anyone I can’t see it its just not humane you know but through neglect a man could die in there let me tell you something honestly sir when I call you by you name that because I hope that somebody is going to look at me as a human just like yourself

DC Benn: Well we’ve treat you well have we not?

Elavi: I tell you this Stephen the way I’ve been in this room over these days I can’t take it any more

DC Benn:is that why you’ve gone a little wild then and didn’t want detaining by us and is that why you’ve tried to not come back?

Elavi: I understand why you’ve said that Stephen said I went wild

DC Benn: Well you don’t like the word berserk but if it needs six people to restrain you

Elavi: they didn’t restrain me officer and I didn’t go wild wild is

DC Benn: is from another word meaning

Elavi: no, no, no go on. I’ve never tried to put words into your mouth Stephen so please don’t try to put words into my mouth

DC Benn: well you tell me why it took six people to

Elavi: I am a civilized human being I’ve never been wild this is what you say about animals of the kingdom

DC Benn: please answer the question why did it take six people to restrain you?

Elavi: I’m a human being

DC Benn: I don’t dispute that that’s why I’m talking to you

Elavi: I’ll explain why it took six people, to they feared. the officers feared that what I was saying would hilight police corruption that’s why they started beating me in my chest and hitting me in the head.

DC Benn: about police corruption? The policeman hit me in my head so many times it was like fireworks going off in my brain just flashes of white light bang bang and I thought well when when when I sat up and when I heard the Doctor say I heard the doctor say you know police custody and I knew I was going back I looked at the policeman and I thought (crying) I cant go back there

DC Benn: pardon?

Elavi: I thought I can’t go back there to the cell (inaudible) hospital I thought they would look after me

DC Benn: yeah but when the doctor said you’d been released, discharged from the hospital,

Elavi: I thought to myself

DC Benn: you panicked that you was coming back to us.

Elavi: I looked I looked to the right of the police officer and I saw a yellow switch on the wall and I thought press …press the little switch and the nurses will come back so I said just press it now and my action was to press it and I made a move or I tried to my hand wouldn’t move I was in the handcuffs.

DC Benn: so you tried to press the yellow button to get more staff to come to you.

Elavi: I just didn’t want to go back to the cell officer.

DC Benn: so you didn’t want (inaudible) so and that’s because you didn’t want to come back to the police station because you feared that rouge policemen might kill you in custody.

Elavi: I didn’t think that officer its what the discharging doctor said to be heard by everybody there

DC Benn: what that the police were corrupt and were

Elavi:once again I’m not going to put words into that doctors mouth you will have a statement from this doctor

DC Benn: yeah but I’m just trying to clarify that point you said that the police officers are corrupt this is what the pl the doctor is saying in you full

Elavi:N,n,n,n,n

DC Benn: Ah right

Elavi: N,n n n n n once again you’re going way off base way off base. I said that the doctor said I said it for the I stood up and said it for the purpose for the microphone I said that he said that he’s fit to bit to be discharged

DC Benn: Yes

Elavi: as we see him although I’m sure the tests didn’t come back tests the have to run you know I presented with with what could have manifested as a whole host of medical conditions.

DC Benn: you did what?

Elavi: I presented with a whole host of what could be.

DC Benn: How do you know cos you’re unconscious

Elavi: I’m unconscious exactly

DC Benn: so how do you know what you’re presenting to the medical staff what your ailments are?

Elavi: Exactly

DC Benn: Unless you were acting and just (inaudible)

Elavi: wait wait wait let’s hold it

DC Benn: no hang on a sec

Elavi: are you saying I was acting as well?

DC Benn: no if you

Elavi: you telling that I was acting

DC Benn: You’re telling me that you’re presenting

Elavi: wait a minute wait a minute

DC Benn: ailments to the medical staff if you don’t know what and you was unconscious all the way through.

Elavi: I didn’t say I was unconscious all the way through
DC Benn: so you keep coming past and saying you blood pressure’s high you remember that

Elavi: no no no this was when blood pressure’s high was when we was back in the cell you’re obviously back tracking in order to throw me off but you can’t throw me off because what is right what is just and what is true cannot be changed so therefore if what happened to me is true and it is inevitably and irrevocably true then no amount of lies that you bring against this man will prevail because what is right and what is true will always stand do you understand.

DC Benn: right so let me

Elavi: If there is a miscarriage of justice then it may take ten, twenty years to be revealed and maybe I’ll become known as the Preston one because there’s nobody involved in this system since I’ve come here is interested in my welfare in the least not the health care practitioners yet I have remained here and there I’ve been angry not seen my family in days my little children. Do you have any children?

DC Benn: I have yes

Elavi: do you love those children?

DC Benn: I do yes

Elavi: would you know the pain of not knowing

DC Benn: well I’m not under investigation for a criminal offence

Elavi: (crying)

DC Benn: So what we’re saying now is you have you’re blood pressure taken whilst you’re in the cell is that correct?

Elavi:We’ve gone back to the cell now?

DC Benn: Yeah because you don’t remember any of going up to the hospital I’ve asked you questions how you got to the hospital

Elavi: Boy! I can’t we’ve gone over that bit

DC Benn: no because you didn’t answer the questions did you?

(BEEP)

Elavi: that sounds like the machine when I was in the hospital you know when I was when it was pumping up pumping up pumping up

DC Benn: probably because it came from a machine

Elavi: and when that peep happened it went tszsss down I remember that so clearly just before the Dr. said he’s fit for discharge but

DC Benn: what that buzzer means

Elavi: he’s not fit

DC Benn: hang on a sec hang on a sec what that buzzer means is its almost the end of this tape. Do remember how you got to the hospital? Because well I’ll put another tape in by all means and you can tell us?

Elavi: Well listen you put the other tape in because if that machine has buzzed and that means we are in fear of not recording anything and you want to record it because when we go to court you want to make sure I don’t give two versions of events because if I do give two versions of events you are going to say I was acting and Stephen will stand up and say yeah the brother was acting just like you’ve accused me of today.

DC Benn: right well we’ll stop the tape its been 43 mins and its still recording what time is it now please

DC MacNichalous: 1:55

DC Benn: right and we’ll stop?

Elavi: What day is this?

New Tape:

Elavi: can I see my children?

DC Benn: no just let me time it and date it its now er..well its

Elavi: can I see Katherine?

DC Benn: 12:55 on the er.. Tuesday 29th June 2010. This is a continuation of an interview with Mr. Dowie i’m DC Benn from Preston CID and I’m joined by my colleague

DC McNichalous: DC McNichalous

DC Benn: The urgency of putting this tape in was because there was a suggestion that erm.. we may question or we may be questioned on exactly what Mr. Dowie says whilst during this interview so I hurriedly put a second set of tapes in.

Elavi: No officer officer I didn’t say

DC Benn: will you accept that we’ve

Elavi: you said I was acting

DC Benn: no I didn’t I just said you said about

Elavi: Oh boy!

DC Benn: erm

Elavi: officer

DC Benn: was it was it you said you gave them all these ailments at the hospital.

Elavi: I didn’t say anything

DC McNichalous: Presenting was the word

DC Benn: presenting that’s the word anyway I must remind you that you are still under caution as so you do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court anything I’ve explained it once I’m sure sure are you happy to continue with this interview?

Elavi: Oh officer I so I so I so just want to see my children for a minute

DC Benn: well there’s nothing we can regarding seeing your children for a minute

Elavi: will I ever get back to home?

DC Benn: I don’t know what’s going to happen to you? So what I’m saying to you is

Elavi: its like psychological torture

DC Benn: Its not psychological torture its not we’re not going to torture you but we can’t discuss something that is totally out of our hands what I said to you is do you now remember how because in the first interview which lasted 43 minutes you don’t ya didn’t remember going to the hospital. Are you now saying you do remember going to the hospital?

Elavi: I remember being on a moving device

DC Benn: Stretcher

Elavi: That I presumed it was a stretcher and because I’d heard voices of staff I hadn’t heard before female staff I knew that would mean and I relaxed and I thought I assumed I’m here unconscious I’ve floated in and out of consciousness for the least I don’t know 20 minutes hour I don’t know they’re going to take me to hospital they are therefore I was unconscious.

DC Benn: so when you

Elavi: I walked up

DC Benn: collapsed

Elavi: I walked up

DC Benn: when you collapsed at the custody desk yeah

Elavi: I walked up to the custody desk

DC Benn: yeah and then you collapsed you fell over

Elavi: a blood rush and as I looked up I remember seeing my eyes flicker and I remember seeing a female with blonde hair from group 4 staff I was looking at her she was the one that was going to take me to court I was looking at her and I saw her face look shocked.

DC Benn: Mr. Dowie were you wanting to go to court

Elavi: You keep stopping me from giving my statement

DC Benn: Mr. Dowie were you looking forward to going to court?

Elavi: I can’t keep up with you guys honestly not now can we have a break please I can have

DC Benn: no we’ve just put this tape back in

Elavi: can I have a bit more water?

DC Benn: You can have water at the end of this interview you’ve had three cups of water you’ll be wanting a toilet break if you have any more water what I’m saying to you is we want to get to the bottom of this were you looking forward to going to court yesterday morning?………..do you wish to answer that Mr. Dowie?

Elavi: When you are in a cell and you’ve been in there for 50 hours 60 hours and you’ve not eaten drank and you’ve not seen you’re children then any change that you can have becomes wonderful I was in that cell and I began to think these people look at you as an animal because I mean there’s only so many times that you can stay in a cell and people come past you and you try to get eye contact with them or smile at them or say can you help me please can I go to the toilet and what happens is they just its almost if they’ve been told to just ignore you and because you can see them its its like well they can see me I’ve seen people look at me they know I’m here.

DC Benn: Right Mr. Dowie the question was were you looking forward to going to court yesterday morning?

Elavi: As I said any change is a beautiful thing because it makes you believe that you know there is a possibility to getting home to see your children

DC Benn: So you were looking forward to going to court and you had this sudden rush

Elavi: have you informed my next of kin Julie Dowie have you informed her I’ve asked so many times have you informed my next of kin? Her name is Julie Dowie

DC Benn: I am unaware of that

Elavi: have you been informed of my next of kin?

DC Benn: why would I need to inform your next of kin?

Elavi: like I say when I was in hospital they have a record of my next of kin and she

DC Benn: Are you prepared to answer the questions that I am going to ask you regarding the offence for which you have been arrested?

Elavi: I am answering all your questions in compliance with the rules you set down at the beginning of this interview and I will do so forever because I want to help you go I want to help (inaudible)

DC Benn: Yesterday morning when you went to the custody desk were you looking forward to going to court?

Elavi: I’m here to help you guys

DC Benn: and then you suddenly had a turn and you fall to the floor is that correct and then when you go up to the hospital because you now remember being on a stretcher and you remember somebody speaking to you

Elavi: this is the first time I’ve been asked these questions and the way you are talking to me yeah you know

DC Benn: this is the first time I’ve asked you these questions

Elavi: Can I say can I say you’re saying and I now remember this and I now remember that since we’ve come once we’ve started this interview and you’ve dated from the beginning of this interview is the first time that I have been interviewed on record within the rules that you lay down in the codes and practices it is the first time that’s why you’ve told me all these things how to get the tape I mean for days now people have been saying that last night I was told that two officers would speak to me but they didn’t they brought me in here I spoke to a guy who didn’t want to represent me I begged him I thought he would be here with me today when I had this interview

DC Benn: right

Elavi: Can I have a little bit more water there’s no hurry.

DC Benn:i’m going to ask you one final time and then we are going to cease this interview.

Elavi: cease this interview?

DC Benn: Yeah we’re going to stop the interviewing I’ve asked you all the questions and you have given your account unless you want to carry on.

Elavi: officer can I see my children?

DC Benn: that is not one of the questions or answers I can give at this moment in time can you remember any well no I have no further questions tom is there anything that you wish to ask?

DC McNichalous: I think its been covered your time at the hospital

DC Benn: OK so what you just to summarise that er you at hospital well you were going to court yesterday morning you collapse because you had a sudden rush of blood you then have treatment in your cell you then go on a stretcher to RPH you then overhear a doctor.

Elavi: I didn’t have any treatment in my cell they didn’t administer anything I don’t think so because what they did.

DC Benn: well that’s what I though you said originally but then you said but then you say

Elavi: i’m not changing my story

DC Benn: then you said they put a device on

Elavi: no you told me about the device sir
DC Benn: No I said that’s how they take air err blood pressure

Elavi: If you don’t remember you remember the sound of the machine when I was in the hospital ans

DC Benn: yes

Elavi: and I believed that it was a pressure taking blood pressure taking machine I said and you can rewind the tape if you like that when a nurse or a medical practitioner used the words his blood pressure is high.

DC Benn: was it a female?

Elavi: it was a female who said that? And someone else said his extremities are cold that well obviously they have done

DC Benn: Go on answer tell carry on there where was that said at the hospital or in the cell where you were treated because I though it would have all happened in the hospital but then you have corrected

Elavi: you thought

DC Benn: me on the end of the last interview

Elavi: you thought

DC Benn: and said

you thought

DC Benn: and said and said it happened in the cell.

Elavi: You thought

DC Benn: no I’ll listen to that tape and I’m accurate mate I do make mistakes when I start talking at the beginning

Elavi: you said so at the beginning didn’t you?

DC Benn: yeah yeah but I haven’t made a mistake there you said it happened in the cell alright the time now by my colleagues watch I’m very sorry I forgot to there’s another mistake I forgot to put my watch on this morning but it’s now 4 minutes past 1 and I’m going to stop the tape its been running nine minutes. Go on

Elavi: can I just ask can I not have just a little time with my family

DC Benn: that is totally out of our hands but I’ll go back we’ll get you a drink and get you some food.

END

OK, question: What is the situation I am in now? Well they took every song I’ve ever written so the lesson here is to back stuff up don’t keep all your shit on your computer cos the police could come and seize you and your music and they kept all my musical equipment from me. Lesson number two don’t pay £2000 building up equipment when you know the police don’t like black guys standing in the town centre singing about truth I mean what was you thinking did you not read about Bob Marley and all the others who got shot or died mysteriously by a lone gun man or the famous overdose. Now I got to pay them £100 court costs work for them for 100 hours without pay and see a guy every week for a full year who is gonna help me get to the bottom of why I am now a criminal. Well am not sure about the lesson here cos for a start I can tell him in less than an hour why I am a criminal that bits easy. You set me up dude but that would just land me in more shit so like a good slave would say ‘I don’t know boss am sure I did do something wrong I guess am a criminal boss cos I was standing and singing in town and then I don’t know I must have lost my mind and all of a sudden I started telling these good people how the police had been treating me and I guess that why I am a criminal’. Or I could just mess with his head and say ‘I am an evil genius I was born to come here and destroy your demonic system of corruption’. I haven’t got a clue what I am gonna say to be honest. One thing is true and that is the fear of prison keeps getting throw my way and for a while it was scary because isn’t prison full of the worst people in the world? Then I came to my senses and I realized that prison is full of people who look like me, smell like me, in fact I bet you gonna find some of the innocent there just like me. And didn’t Malcolm X become the X when he was in prison. And didn’t Nelson Mandela strengthen himself behind the bars of the haters. Yeah in fact didn’t Jesus himself would hang out with the killers and the thieves and wasn’t he put to death along side two criminals. I think to be honest god loves us criminals cos he is with us in the cells and in the dungeons giving us hope. Even the lowest of us have hope my friend so I realize that if they were to imprison me that is the best thing they could do cos that’s the place where we find truth and many lost souls are in prison waiting to hear a man like me speak to them and many people are in prison because they just needed someone to listen or needed a brother or needed love. Not a system that turns a man into an animal just because he has done what we call a crime. My fear is gone because I gonna share something with you. When I went into hospital from my cell I was thinking at last the nurses and the doctors will help me here but when I got there there was no love. The doctors looked at me as a criminal before my trial and it was on the grounds of Preston hospital that the police beat me and spayed pepper spay in my eyes and not one doctor came to help me. It was in hospital that I was left for dead because I remember a doctor called Doctor Durham say that he could not say I was fit to be detained cos people have died in the hands of the police but still this doctor let them take me back to a cell in pain. So my fear is gone. When you see a man laugh to his friend after he has beaten the life out of you then truly you have seen the worst of man kind. So prison don’t really hold no fear for me any more. In fact I understand the term if it don’t kill you it only makes you stronger and stronger still. They can break your body but they can’t break your will. Neo was offered the red or the blue pill in order to see the truth. I was held down and beaten by Lancashire police to see the truth so in a way they did me a favour cos not every one in life gets to see the truth. Yes I know this blog is a bit of a rant cos am in that mood but for those who want a more step by step blow by blow account check out my IPCC complaint it is written in a very lecture like way. For those who like a long long read indeed.

Let me end this blog by saying all the people I went to for help. Mark Hendrick MP, he said I was lying. Nick Clegg, they said they were not getting involved. David Cameron his office said he was out. Lesson number 3 don’t call the prime minister when you are facing a miscarriage of justice he might be out to lunch or writing a speech about freedom. EITHER WAY HOW DARE YOU CALL HIM, HE’S A VERY BUSY MAN.

ELAVI aka the Prisoner.

PLEASE LISTEN TO PART 2 AND 3 OF THE POLICE INTERVIEW BELOW

 Hello again people its been a while since I have anything to blog about but am back. Am gonna tell you about the hardest and most testing month of my life. Am gonna tell you how in just over a month I became a criminal, a convict, public enemy number one. And no, am not daydreaming or writing a song, everything am gonna tell you is real. I am going tell you my story because since the beginning of this saga no one has listened to me. No one has seen my humanity, no one has seen a man. Just an animal, to enslave, to brutalize and to criminalize. OK let me summering because I will be doing a few blogs about this event and in a way I will define my life in terms of before and after the 22nd June 2010: the date it all began. On this day I went out to street perform as I do every day I can, as you all know my mission is music. As I was setting up a police officer from Lancashire police force came over and told me that I can not play and if I do I would be arrested. I asked this individual what was my crime and he replied saying there was no crime but if there is any complaints then I would be arrested. Wait a minute I said, no one has complained but you are telling me that I will be arrested for something that has not yet happened. So I told this man to go away and this was the start of a series of events that would; land me in hospital twice, get me kept in a police cell for over 86 hours…wait people there is more. Whilst I was in the cell much of the time I was held with out food or water. At one point I was made to urinate on the floor of the cell because I was refused the use of a toilet and in my mind was systematically tortured into pleading guilty to crimes I did not commit. Well most of you are thinking that that is insane and that I must have done something. You are right I did do something. After the 22nd of June because I was just sick of the police targeting me I decide that I would tell the people what had been happening to me since 2007 at the hands of Lancashire po;ice force. On the 24th of June I set up to play my music on the flag market in Preston and whilst doing that I began to tell the people what had been happening. I told the people that the police who were once here to protect and serve us were gone and now in there place was a force here to control and herd us like sheep. I told them that we are no longer free. It was this action on my part that brought the full force of not just Lancashire police force down on me but the entire criminal justice system in Preston down on me. If one man can be made to feel like a terrorist or a killer or any of the worst things you can imagine then I was. OK let me just make it clear my intentions right now. I am not writing this blog to attack the police because it is my understanding that this is what they want me to do so they can come again in force to lock me down. I am writing this blog in love and I will say forgive them for they know not what they do. OK that seems a little to Jesus for me I guess but to be honest I can only believe that men who do such things are lost and truly do not know what they do. So without fear I will tell my honest story and if they come for me again then so be it. In the time since the 22nd I also had my computer seized from my home which contained every song I have ever written and all my musical equipment, that’s why I’ve not been seen playing anywhere for a while now. And know many of you are asking the simple question why would a police force want to seize a man’s music and stop him from playing his own music? I have been asking myself the same question. Over and over again. Is music really that powerful that the system would turn its attention to me? Surely not? Well I guess you will decide for yourself. All I can say is that over this time I was angry, I was afraid, I was shocked to the core of my being. I wont lie at times I cried like a badly and at other times I truly felt like my soul and my will had been broken. I felt like everything had been ripped away from me and it was. OK this is just the start of my story as I try to rebuild my career and my music. I guess this is my way of healing the scars that you can not see. I will show some of the scars that you can see, the one on my body but I can only tell you about the scars on a man’s soul left there by who was suppose to be his brother the men who we look to for help in times of need the men we call the police. Crimestoppers have become the soul stoppers or at least they tried to stop mine. I am gonna post everything I can like the police interview where they came for me at night and questioned me about false crimes. But remember, I am not saying they are wrong because we must remember this is a criminal speaking now, an outlaw so don’t listen to me if you think these words may change your mind cos that could very well be a crime. Turn away from this page if you believe I am a liar as well as a criminal. The law is always right isn’t it? So don’t listen to the interview tapes. Do not read the letters I sent to the Prime Minister and Nick Clegg asking for help. Do not read the IPCC document I wrote telling them what had been done to me in the hands of the police because the police told me I was a mad man and I don’t want any of you good people to waste your time on the words of a mad man or a criminal…or a mad criminal. East enders will be starting soon or am sure you may have a copy of heat magazine that you forgot to read. Step to it now people. But if there is one of you like me out there who can hear a lie and know it to be one then stand strong for the trial of Elavi is about to begin.

ELAVI aka the convict

LISTEN TO PART ONE OF THE LANCASHIRE POLICE INTERVIEW BELOW

Hi again people, it’s musical avenger Elavi, once again, with a little bit of a different subject today but one that I think will take my blogs and articles in a new direction. The news that Shyne will be released today gave me much food for thought. For those that don’t know Shyne is the rapper who was imprisoned in 2001 after a high profile shooting incident involving Sean P-Diddy Combs and his then girlfriend Jenifer Lopez.

It was said at the time and many times since, that shyne took the fall for the high level Combs who walked away from the incident without doing any time. If this is true then why? Can it be to do with your connections in this hip hop world, in the world in general? The reason why I find this story so interesting is not because the shooting ended the career of a rising hip hop star, who many believe was beginning to put to bed many critics who believed he was nothing more than a Biggy Smalls imitator. It also interests me because it makes me ask the question who holds the power in this hip hop world and the music industry as a whole? Who takes the fall and who walks away free? Who gets shot and who washes the blood off their hands clean to do business as usual?

One thing I am beginning to realise is that all is not what it would seem in the hip hop/music world and this reflects on the world in large terms. Most people will be asking will shyne be able to pick up where he left off and no doubt there will be labels ready to capitalize on his release but the bigger question for me is who is pulling the strings from behind the scenes. As you know my music talks about life and truth and I have covered other aspects of music in my blogs but as time goes on my eyes seem to be opened more and more to the shaping factor that music has in creating culture. Maybe I can explain asking a few questions. Is there a power in the world that uses music to create culture? Is there a power that influences us daily in our choices? Influences us what to think? How to be? What to wear etc? Think for a minute… could it be possible that this whole gang, gun, hip hop culture was a creation from the out set and that people like Shyne and P. Diddy are just pawns in a game. Now don’t get me wrong am not saying that every pawn is an unwitting player in this game. In fact I believe that many of these pawns know that game and play their part perfectly but they are being pimped just the same.

The term illuminati is a term that some people think is conspiracy, some think is fantasy, and few think is fact. Those from certain sectors of the hip hop world will know the term very well and maybe will have rhymed about from their particular point of view. But what is it and how does it relate to the music world. I am this time wondering what the answer is to this very question. Why did tupac call his album kilumaniti just before he was shot dead? Why do Masonic symbols pervade music and hip hop? I intend to go deeper in to this area both artistically and educationally and the first project I am working on is a film that as yet has no title but will reveal my findings so stay tuned. The truth is out there and just before I go I will answer the question first posed by this quick article. Will shyne still shine in this illuminati driven hip hop world? If he gives he will get.

Elavi AKA the truth Seeker

DROPPIN SCIENCE by ELAVI

ALBUM SOUL SCIENCE AVAILABLE AT ITUNES

FAITH IN THE VALLEY by ELAVI

ALBUM SOUL SCIENCE AVAILABLE AT ITUNES

BOMBS by ELAVI

Ok people right now I am on a train going in to Manchester and I thought it would be a good time to write a new blog. Now I am not killing time this is my life and the reason I feel it’s a great time to write is because I am on the way to the magistrate’s court for the second time to be charged with Illegal Street trading of CDs. As ridiculous as it may seem when there are so many real criminals out there the system feels it’s a good idea to try to criminalize a musician for trying to get his own music out to the public.

 

As many of you know from my earlier blogs I have been at war for sometime with Manchester City Council and have been fined £250 in an earlier case. In the previous case I had no certificate so I was advised to plead guilty as a not guilty plea would have resulted in a steeper fine as the CCTV evidence made it clear that I was selling CDs to the general public. However, I now have a certificate and there is no way that I will be pleading guilty. It’s like the legendary Mohammed Ali said just before the 1974 fight against George Foreman

“I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.”

Well am not saying this is case equals the greatest boxing match of all time or that I am equal in statue to the greatest boxer there has ever been but I have done something new for this fight. I intend to defend myself and put these people who accuse me on the witness stand and I have the right by law to do it. I am not sure that will happen today as I think once I plead not guilty they will set a trail date but I will let you know what happens a little later.

 

The truth is that the council being local government want people like me off the streets and out of the city but my truth is that what you call your city is also my city I was born here and I grew up here. It seems they are saying to me that you can not choose the way you make your money and you can not come into the city centre to make it. Basically they have drawn a line around the city and anyone trading within that line is viewed as a criminal even though there is a law that says I can trade. That’s like giving someone a 3 ft ladder to climb a 50ft wall. Well this is my city and if I can’t sell here I will play here. That is exactly what I have decided to do. I have bought a £1000 worth of equipment In order to take my music to the streets, if they won’t feel me then they will hear me. Not only will I take it to the streets of Manchester but I will go to many other cities. Your city is mine. This also solves the problem of promoters who don’t wanna pay an artist to perform. A problem I have been having a lot lately, no in fact that is just standard in the music game middle men who wanna take but not give. Yeah I’ve been told that if you street perform it will devalue your music and you will be just a busker but the truth is I don’t give one. There are good buskers and bad buskers; there are good street performers and bad street performers. If my music is devalued as a result then so be it. I am looked at as a criminal for selling my music on the streets anyway and in my heart and mind the value I put on my music is not defined by where it is played. At least I will control it and my destiny. And I will have FREEDOM to play where I want to. (Don’t speak too soon Elavi the council may have some agents trying to shut down street performing too). To me this is a logical step in a music business that ignores to a large degree Urban music isn’t it right that I should make it truly urban?

 

Ok am going into Piccadilly train station so I will give you part two of this blog on my retune journey. In a bit Elavi people……….

 

Part 2

 

Ok am back on the train and as I suspected there was no case to speak of I was just asked to enter a plea and now a date has been set which is the 14^th January. It’s a pain in a sense am dying to have some fun examining the witnesses. It’s the only time a brother like me is going to get to make these agents answer my questions between now and then I am going to hit the streets and make as much money as possible because in the end I guess the system is stacked in their favour and I may end up have to pay these people more money, but hey life is full of drama right? Plus, I am going to use this case to get as mush press as I can, I mean, you can’t blame a bother for capitalizing on a situation. On the serious side I think we have to highlight things like this case because selling music on the streets is now a way of life. It is making it possible for maybe artist to make a mark on the industry or even bypass it altogether and that is needed because the industry is very sick and no amount of medicine can help it, not only that but the country and world is financially sick too. So what are people supposed to do? Just sit back and accept failure? Say because I haven’t got a record deal I will give up and sign on to job seekers and join the millions out of work? To me the answer is a simple one. I must fight to create the success I desire because life is a fragile thing. There is no guarantee that you will live another year, day or even hour for that matter. So why live your life in despair or in a situation where you are not trying to achieve your dreams and desires. My way is to create my own label which I have done and sign myself to that. Create my own music, market it and sell it. Create my own videos just like the big players do. And who’s in control? That’s right me.

 

People say to me why don’t I go on the X factor? As an alternative to selling my own music? Well some people say it. People who in my opinion believe that it would be better to sell my soul to the likes of Simon Cowell than it is to sell my music to the public. I don’t hate X factor, don’t get me wrong, its entertainment and if you are bored on a Saturday and want to indulge in the karaoke cheese fest that is X factor then go for it. What I do think is crazy is the fact that so many artists believe that this is the way to go, and pin their dreams on being the next Leona Lewis.  This truly is the musical matrix controlled by agents like Cowell who take pleasure in crushing dreams under foot as he dominates as the number one star maker.

 

I would rather take my chances with the council for now and like Kanye West said and I am sure many before him. What don’t kill you will only make you stronger.  And it is making me stronger by the day. I hope that many of you will pass by when am playing in the city (cities). Look at it as a free gig, well unless you want to throw money my way after all I do have court costs to pay. I will be sending out bulletins to let you all know when and where. It might even turn into a tour.  The, “Your city is mine” tour. What do you think? Got a little ring to it don’t you think?

 

Elavi

 

AKA the Street Disciple

 

DROPPIN SCIENCE by ELAVI

ALBUM SOUL SCIENCE AVAILABLE AT ITUNES

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ALBUM SOUL SCIENCE AVAILABLE AT ITUNES

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