Author: Christopher William Kinsey

Should have Stayed Away

Should have Stayed Away

Certain associations will always spring to mind when discussing any country. For Germany the most popular hits will be efficiency, success with their national football team, sausages, and two World Wars. The latter ultimately brings up thoughts of the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. What doesn’t easily spring to mind is their aptitude for humour. That didn’t stop author Timur Vermes attempting to bring the two together in the 2012 novel Look Who’s Back.

It’s a brave concept, making one of the most diabolical men in history the protagonist of a satirical comedy. Vermes makes it more challenging for himself by setting the story in the modern day. So from the start he is left with difficult subject matter placed in a series of minefields, none more so than the genre itself.

All literature is subjective, comedy more divisive than most. Taking this into account some leeway can be afforded to Vermes. However, accepting it might not be a laugh a minute doesn’t disguise a failed attempt at humour or intelligent derision.

The idea of disarming the monster is nothing new in art or popular culture. In its cheapest form we all laughed at Saddam Hussein in Hot Shots! Part Deux. Vermes isn’t going for the slapstick, he wants a subtle disassembling of Hitler and his beliefs. Instead he creates a character ignorant to the reality of his situation or the true perception of those around him.

We go from Führer to Alan Partridge within seconds, and not in a good way.

Hitler starts the story waking in modern day 2014. His mind has no knowledge of world events following his death in 1945. Still dressed in full Nazi uniform he wanders the streets trying to make sense of his situation. He comes across a newspaper stand and befriends the owner. This chance meeting gives him and abode and serves as a catalyst for his acceptance of the year and time he finds himself.

Despite slowly becoming aware of the new world situation, he continues to reflect and assume that many of the current ways of life are because of Nazi influence. This is an easy way to highlight the ignorance of extreme views and paint Hitler as single-minded. But after an initial period of settling in, it becomes a distraction. Are we supposed to believe a man that must have had intelligence in order to initiate his evil intentions is suddenly so naïve?

As the story unfolds he is seen as a comedic method actor. His rants are seen as a clever way to belittle views that should never been aired seriously. This makes members of extreme movements assume he is a sympathiser and they send him warnings.

When anyone in the world of Vermes’ novel grows a brain and questions what he really stands for, they are removed. Like a national newspaper that ends up being sued by Hitler’s representatives and ends up singing his praises. Again, a nod to manipulation, but how those closest to Hitler fail to see his behaviour goes beyond the talent of an immersed method actor is questionable.

Some conversations take place that rely on the observer’s understanding that Hitler and those he is in dialogue with are coming from two different places. Some of these can be humorous, sadly they wear thin. A clever play on words only works so many times before the characters are reduced to mindless mush.

There is also an effort to show how Hitler won people over with a certain degree of charisma. Even that message fails when you consider in this version he goes from YouTube to TV star. Unless Vermes is trying to say the modern media is as evil as the Nazi war machine.

The actual translation of the German title is, He is Back. Thankfully for mankind, Hitler is dead and will remain so. Unless poorly implemented comedy is your thing, keep him that way and avoid this attempt at resurrection by ridicule.

Formula One for All

Formula One for All

It’s a long held dream that sport can unite everyone on the planet. The FIFA World Cup breaks down barriers faster than men sitting at a negotiating table. The Olympics brings all the nations together with flag parades. Casual observers then become hooked on sports they usually have zero interest in. Unity makes these lesser reported events suddenly important.

And we have F1. A powerful advert for a connected world. The pinnacle of motorsport that travels the globe. A sport for everyone . . . everyone that fits into Bernie Ecclestone’s world view, that is.

The problem with universal sports is they will eventually cross party lines and some will attempt to use them as a tool for their own gain. It is at times like this sport should first be protected, then take a subtle step back. It is a permanent position that can’t be altered when it suits decision makers within that sport. When they voluntarily alter these rules they become as bad as the exterior forces trying to gain leverage by foul means.

In 2012 F1 came under severe scrutiny over the Bahrain Grand Prix. The previous year had seen it cancelled twice due to civil unrest and when it was announced the following season human rights activists called for it to be removed once again. It wasn’t. Bernie Ecclestone said at the time: “I don’t think sport should be involved in politics. When any sport goes into a country, they respect the laws of the country whatever they are.”

On the face of it this is a valid stance to take. Sport should only be used for good, not to thrust ideals on emerging nations. However, human rights should be free from political boundaries and ignoring them to facilitate a multi-million-dollar sport does feel inappropriate. F1 should take note how FIFA have struggled on this front (Qatar! What about Brazil?)

Bernie’s problem with Bahrain was quickly overlooked. This would have been fine if the man in charge of Formula One Management stuck to his own mandate. But Bernie’s biggest problem is his mouth and the ignorant brain it is connected to.

For a man that believes politics have no place in sport, it seems strange he thinks it is fine to make this comment about Vladimir Putin: “He’s the guy who should run Europe.” He added that he didn’t like democracy because not much got done.

The problem he has here isn’t with democracy, but the fact the teams are trying their best to prevent him continuing his reign as sport’s dictator. There’s no suggestion they want to oust him but they are standing firmer on new agreements. Jenson Button recently put the idea forward that Ross Brawn would be a great rule maker for the sport.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Red Bull boss Christian Horner and undoubtedly countless others would join the cause if Brawn showed an interest. Of course, a rule maker superseding the FIA’s view wouldn’t stop Bernie’s commercial arm entirely but it would make him slightly (more) impotent.

So the hypocrisy of Ecclestone’s claims that sport should be free from politics is multifaceted. On one hand we are told politics have no place while he parades with foreign leaders, claiming they should be ruling continents and the current political system in place in those opposing areas is fundamentally flawed.

Within the sport there is no such thing as negotiation or compromise. It is about how much power he can exert on the teams making him richer by the second. Sport is used as a symbol to join people together, to transcend class and gender. Yet he sees the rich and the poor on his own grid.

He makes outlandish comments that women are unable to compete with men. He says men will not take them seriously. This is only true if the men in question are chauvinistic or only interested in self-gain, things Ecclestone can relate to. He claims they are not physically able to drive a Formula One car.

In doing so he completely ignores the achievements of Susie Wolff, how she proved modern F1 cars are fine in the hands of a female. He is ignorant of women in American motorsport. Pippa Mann has completed four Indy 500s. Most famous of all is Danica Patrick. She has 115 Indy Car races to her name and is currently in NASCAR.

To say all women are incapable based on perceived body strength and stamina is ludicrous. There are women out there that easily exceed their male counterparts. It’s a sexist view that should have been buried decades ago.

It continues to be given life when ignorant little men with lots of money hold positions of power for too long.
Formula One is for everyone, like all good sport should be.

Bernie Ecclestone continues to prove he is out of touch with the world, the time we live in, and the sport he represents.

Hire Your Guns

Hire Your Guns

After weeks of speculation, the rock family tree finally sees another connection. Axl Rose will join AC/DC, enabling them to complete their Rock or Bust world tour. Suddenly that title has a greater meaning. Have the aging rockers just taken their biggest gamble?

There’s no doubt W. Axl Rose catches people’s attention. He has courted controversy that has only been topped by AC/DC’s undesired foray into the dark side of the media. Where Rose appears to thrive on scandal, DC’s management has spent the last eighteen months trying to deflect negative media stories. From arrested drummers to career ending illnesses. Brian Johnson’s recent departure was the climax of a turbulent time.

Well, it should have been the final act. Since joining the band in 1980, Johnson has seen their biggest commercial highs (Back in Black), sustained exposure in America, and a genuine resurgence and acknowledgement of their reign with Black Ice.

Rather than fade into the night, confirmed as kings, they stuck around. They are only one of several rock bands that can fill stadium tours and still have thousands unable to get tickets. They have never attempt to upset the formula. AC/DC play good old fashioned hard rock and roll. The sound rarely deviates, neither does the popularity.

So why take the risk? Is the hunger from the remaining skeleton crew so strong they must go on at all costs? What makes the appointment of Rose an even more interesting proposition, is how initial reports at the time of Johnson’s departure claimed the Geordie frontman was unaware he’d been axed from the tour.

He had performed knowing the doctor’s diagnosis. It seems the band made the decision for him once they got wind of this. Only they know if this was an act of mercy or a deceitful plan to replace a singer they perceived to be on the decline.

During the Black Ice tour Johnson had spoken as if it could be his last. However, it proved not to be. He clearly still had the drive to perform as the voice of the world’s biggest rock band. But it could be his pondering during this period made the other members draw up a plan B.

That fresh alternative would need to bring a dynamic perspective. A new unknown would have been a gamble but a great way to break free from comparisons. Somebody that could do better justice to the original Bon Scott sound would have been a request from diehard fans. The ability, should they choose to carry on for years, to produce a definitive new album.

What they went for was rock’s version of a diva.

Nobody can doubt Rose’s charisma. After years of floating around with a band flogging a dead horse by using the Guns N’ Roses name, he remains in the public conscious because of his personality. His ability will be truly tested once again. This is a major step-up from his current comfort zone. There’s a good reason that former bandmate, Slash, enjoys so much critical acclaim with Myles Kennedy while Axl only makes headlines for being late at gigs.

All that aside, the thought of him fronting a new look AC/DC is tantalising.

It was put to Slash in an interview with Chris Jericho that a reformed Guns N’ Roses would be about the only band that could fill stadia like AC/DC manage. Slash agreed but said he was yet to get the bug. Rose obviously feels different. Unable to work through differences with his former guitarist, this offer gives him a pass back to the big time.

Chinese Democracy was eight years ago now. It didn’t give Axl the rebirth he’d hoped. The elevation in exposure he’s about to experience will. Just how these rock giants will mix, only time will tell. Will AC/DC play the odd Guns N’ Roses number or will it be a strictly DC set? And the biggest question is how will they deal with Rose’s eccentricities.

A failure to make a date because of his behaviour will surely put the final nail in the coffin for all those concerned.

Let’s hope nobody tells AC/DC to “Fire Your Guns.”