Ro J
It Was Madness
Ro J says...
It Was Madness to burn our waste
It Was Madness is his first solo single. It's an incinerator protest song!! What are people saying about Ro and his music? Find out more...
Email Ro J by going to the CONTACT page.
LIVE!
Watch out to see where he's playing next...
Ro J will be performing an acoustic version of It Was Madness....
10th October - stay tuned for venue and time.
24th October at Sausy Mary's, Kyleakin
ABOUT Ro J
WHAT'S HE BEEN UP TO?
Back in the 80’s he was in a couple of bands that played home spun poppy rock. They fitted in nicely in the hey days of Billy Idol and Dire Straights. He then went solo – recorded a solo concept album and then.. well.. that was it musically until recently.
He took up oil painting in 2001http://goodwingallery.tripod.com
and acting in 2004 http://invergordonplayers.tripod.com
Also in 2004 he took up filmmaking www.filmsonfire.co.uk and on YouTube www.youtube.com/user/digiroj
So why all of a sudden has he picked up his guitar again? Here in 2009 a proposed incinerator was to be built in his home town of Invergordon . He and other locals successfully fought a campaign against the developer, (www.iintw.org.uk) and on 18th August the council voted 8-4 against it. During the campaign Ro J (he dropped his surname for the song) wrote a protest song called “It Was Madness” against incineration. In it he says that incineration is ‘killing babies and the human race’ and asks ‘What are we leaving to our children, a poison potion in a leaky cauldron?’ It appears from these impassioned lyrics something stirred deep within Ro and wrenched him out of a musical slumber that had lasted 8 years.
When you burn certain articles
The smoke contains nano-particles
Scrubbing the air only makes it worse
They get in your lungs and they’'re a curse
What are we leaving to our children?
A poison potion in a leaky cauldron?
It’'s killing babies and the Human Race
Do I need to say it’'s a damned disgrace?
Repeat Bridge and Chorus
We must give up incineration
And be the clean generation.
We gotta reduce, recycle and reuse.
The Earth’'s not ours for us to abuse.
Looking back on all of Man’'s mistakes
We’'ve all seen what a mess he makes
It's now time to apply the brakes
And save ourselves a lot of heartaches.
Madness, Madness
It was Madness to burn our waste
It was a sad, sad waste of our resources
It was a sad, sad waste of my resources
It was a sad, sad waste of your resources
Words & music by Ro J
Written 20/6/09.
(Needless to say it's copyright and mustn't be used to raise money without the express written permission of its owner.)
In this world of insanity
We just need a little purity
We are sick with pollution
And we don't want their solution.
We're not asking for charity
All we want is some clarity
Burning waste for the sake of wealth
Makes no sense if you lose your health.
BRIDGE: If and when you get old the story's already been told that...
CHORUS:
It was Madness it was done in haste
2
1
3
"" It was madness" is a fab song with thoughtful and true lyrics. The tune is really catchy and really importantly kids love it. The lyrics really strike home the importance or recycling and considering how we deal with our waste and question our whole logic surrounding a wasteful culture who do not think about the future until it is too late. Incineration is not the answer and this song is a delightfully well written account of looking at the consequences of our actions before it is indeed too late.
"Once you listen to this it will be in your head all day, great beat, rhythm and rhyme."
"RO IS A STALWART MEMBER OF THE CAMPAIGN GROUP "INVERGORDON INCINERATOR - NO TO WASTE"
"The group was formed against the planned incinerator at Invergordon in Easter Ross, a very beautiful part of the Highlands. Mr Glenn Jones is the applicant for the incinerator both at Invergordon and Peterhead.
"We have run a very successful campaign culminating with the Planning Hearing on the 18th of May where Highland Councillors voted to refuse the application for planning permission for an Incinerator in our town.
"Ro is a musician and a film maker and these talents were utilised to promote Invergordon and for Incineration being a waste of resources. Ro has written and performed his anti-incinerator song which captures all that is bad regarding incineration. Incinerators are being pushed through by the EU and the UK government and it is time that the population is made aware that Incinerators are not the answer to our waste problem and that they waste a valuable resource.
"Ro has ensured that an important message is delivered in his song, it soon has you singing along as the words and tune are readily learnt. This could go on to be the "Universal anthem" against incineration. Dr Paul Connett was one of the first to hear the song and he too was soon singing along with Ro and the rest of us from the campaign group."
QUOTES
"...keep up the good work!!!!"
Richard Jobson TV Presenter and Film Director (and once front man of iconic postpunk pop band The Skids
"If you do nothing else to help stop climate change and protect the environment BUY THIS SONG and help get it into the charts. You know it makes sense."
Djay Buddha AFC Radio
Karen Mackay IINTW
Catherine Richmond IINTW
CONTACT Ro J
Fill in the form to contact Ro J and/or Jeff Jenkins, his manager, if you have any suggestions, enquiries, questions, or you would like him to sing at your meeting.
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MORE TO KNOW
The song was recorded very quickly in Inverness at The Music Shed and produced by Dave Sidley who also did some of the instruments. One other person appeared on the recording, Henry Fosbrook from near Tain, who plays the penny whistle and bongo.
It Was Madness by Ro J available on iTunes 5th November (Remember, remember!).
Buy it - it may just get it in the charts and bring the subject of incineration to a wider audience.
