filthy lucre tour

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6.11.75 St Martin’s School Of Art, London 7.11.75 Central School Of Art, Holborn, London 21.11.75 Westfield College, Frognal, London 27.11.75 Queen Elizabeth College, Kensington, London 5.12.75 Chelsea School Of Art, Chelsea, London 9.12.75 Ravensbourne College, Chistlehurst, London 10.12.75 Fairholt House, London Polytechnic, London

Anarchy Tour

6.1.77 Art Centre, Rotterdam, Holland 7.1.77 Paradiso Club, Amsterdam, Holland 21.3.77 Notre Dame Hall, Leicester Place, London 3.4.77 Screen On The Green Cinema, Islington, London 7.6.77 Queen Elizabeth River Boat, River Thames, London

Scandinavia Tour

13.7.77 Daddy’s Dance Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark 14.7.77 Daddy’s Dance Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark 15.7.77 Beach Disco, Diskotek Ostra Stranden, Halmstad, Sweden 16.7.77 Mogambo Disco, Helsingborg, Sweden 17.7.77 Discotheque 42, Jonkoping, Sweden 19.7.77 Club Zebra, Kristinehamn, Sweden 20.7.77 Pinvinen Restaurant, Oslo, Norway 21.7.77 Studenter Samfundet, Trodheim, Norway 23.7.77 Barbarellas Disco, Vaxjo, Sweden 24.7.77 Barbarellas Disco, Vaxjo, Sweden 27.7.77 Happy House, Student Karen, Stockholm, Sweden 28.7.77 Happy House, Student Karen, Stockholm, Sweden

S.P.O.T.S Tour

19.8.77 Lafayette Club, Wolverhampton – “S.P.O.T.S” (Sex Pistols On Tour Secretly) 24.8.77 Outlook Club, Doncaster – “Tax Exiles” 25.8.77 Penthouse, Scarborough – “Special Guest” 26.8.77 Rock Garden, Middlesborough – “Acne Rabble” 31.8.77 Woods Centre, Plymouth – “The Hamsters” 1.9.77 Winter Gardens, Penzance – “A Mystery Band of International Repute”

5.12.77 Eksit Club, Rotterdam, Holland 6.12.77 Maastricht, Holland 7.12.77 Pozjet Club, Tilburg, Holland 8.12.77 Stokuishal, Arnhem, Holland 9.12.77 De Effenaar, Eindhoven, Holland 10.12.77 Huize Maas, Groningen, Holland 11.12.77 Maf Centrum, Maasbree, Holland 13.12.77 De Klinker, Wimschoten, Holland – CANCELLED 14.12.77 Eksit Club, Rotterdam, Holland – CANCELLED

Never Mind The Bans Tour

16.12.77 Brunel University, Uxbridge 17.12.77 Mr George’s, Coventry 19.12.77 Nikkers Club, Keighley 21.12.77 Lafayette Club, Wolverhampton 23.12.77 Stowaway Club, Newport 24.12.77 Links Pavilion, Cromer 25.12.77 Ivanhoes, Huddersfield (Afternoon Show For Kids) 25.12.77 Ivanhoes, Huddersfield (Evening Show)

USA Tour 1978

Filthy Lucre Tour 1996

21.6.96 Messila Festival, Lahtis, Finland 22.6.96 Helter Skelter Festival, Munchen, Germany 23.6.96 Finsbury Park, London, UK 26.6.96 Sjohistoriska Museet, Stockholm, Sweden 28.6.96 Roskilde Festival, Denmark 30.6.96 Open-Air Festival, St Gallen, Switzerland 4.7.96 Zenith, Paris, France 6.7.96 Arena, Berlin, Germany 7.7.96 Sportshall, Prague, Czech Republic 9.7.96 Hala Tivoli, Ljubijana, Slovenia 10.7.96 Curva Stadio, Rome, Italy 11.7.96 Parco Aquatica, Milan, Italy 13.7.96 Munster Festival, Ochtrup, Germany 14.7.96 Unterfrankenhalle, Frankfurt, Germany 16.7.96 S.E.C.C., Glasgow, Scotland, UK 17.7.96 Maysfield Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland – CANCELLED 17.7.96 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK 18.7.96 Point Depot, Dublin, Ireland – CANCELLED 20.7.96 Axion Beach Festival, Zebrugge, Belgium 21.7.96 Phoenix Festival, Stratford On Avon, UK

5.10.96 Super Top, Auckland, New Zealand 9.10.96 Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia 11.10.96 Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, Australia 12.10.96 Selina’s Nitespot, Sydney, Australia 14.10.96 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia 17.10.96 Royal Theatre, Canberra, Australia 19.10.96 Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia 20.10.96 Palace Theatre, Melbourne, Australia 22.10.96 The Barton Theatre, Adelaide, Australia 24.10.96 Entertainment Centre, Perth, Australia

28.10.96 Club Citta, Kanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan 29.10.96 Club Citta, Kanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan 31.10.96 Imperial Hall, Osaka, Japan 1.11.96 Imperial Hall, Osaka, Japan 2.11.96 Imperial Hall, Osaka, Japan 4.11.96 Nippon Budoukan, Tokyo, Japan 5.11.96 Nippon Budoukan, Tokyo, Japan 7.11.96 Sun Palace, Fukuoka, Japan 9.11.96 Diamond Hall, Nagoya, Japan 10.11.96 Diamond Hall, Nagoya, Japan 11.11.96 Diamond Hall, Nagoya, Japan 13.11.96 Imperial Hall, Osaka, Japan 14.11.96 Imperial Hall, Osaka, Japan 16.11.96 Nippon Budoukan, Tokyo, Japan 17.11.96 Syakaibunka Kaikan, Matsumoto-Si, Japan 19.11.96 Club Citta, Kanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan 21.11.96 Hokkaidou Kouseinenkin Kaikan, Sapporo, Japan 23.11.96 Sun Plazza Hall, Sendai, Japan

29.11.96 Plaza Da Apoteose, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 30.11.96 Pista De Atlotismo, Sao Paulo, Brazil 4.12.96 Obras, Buenos Aires, Argentina 5.12.96 Obras, Buenos Aires, Argentina 7.12.96 Monumental, Santiago, Chile

Sex Pistols Jubilee 2002

27.7.02 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London, UK 14.9.02 Inland Invasion, Blockbuster Pavilion, California, USA

North American Tour 2003

Holidays in the Sun 2007

25.10.07 The Roxy, Los Angeles, USA 8.11.07 Brixton Academy, London, UK 9.11.07 Brixton Academy, London, UK 10.11.07 Brixton Academy, London, UK 12.11.07 Brixton Academy, London, UK 14.11.07 Brixton Academy, London, UK 17.11.07 M.E.N Arena, Manchester, UK 18.11.07 S.E.C.C., Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Combine Harvester Tour 2008

Picture Credits: (Top to Bottom) 100 Club Advert, May 1976 Anarchy Tour Advert, December 1976 Sex Pistols Will Play Poster 1977 USA Tour 1978 Finsbury Park Advert, June 1996 Pistols at The Palace Advert, July 2002 Tokyo, Studio Coast, Japan: Tuesday, August 12th

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Archive review: sex pistols' filthy lucre live (1996).

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Sex Pistols

• August 22, 1996 Setlist

Sex Pistols Setlist at Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA, USA

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• Bodies Play Video
• Seventeen Play Video
• New York Play Video
• Did You No Wrong Play Video
• No Feelings Play Video
• God Save the Queen Play Video
• Liar Play Video
• Satellite Play Video
• I'm Not Your Stepping Stone ( Paul Revere and the Raiders  cover) Play Video
• Submission Play Video
• Holidays in the Sun Play Video
• Pretty Vacant Play Video
• E.M.I. Play Video
• Anarchy in the U.K. Play Video
• Problems Play Video

Edits and Comments

3 activities (last edit by event_monkey , 21 Jan 2023, 13:49 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Anarchy in the U.K.
• God Save the Queen
• Holidays in the Sun
• No Feelings
• Pretty Vacant
• Did You No Wrong
• I'm Not Your Stepping Stone by Paul Revere and the Raiders

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Setlist History: 1997's KROQ Infamous Almost Acoustic Christmas

Universal amphitheatre.

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Sex Pistols Gig Timeline

• Aug 18 1996 Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI, USA Add time Add time
• Aug 20 1996 The Guvernment Toronto, ON, Canada Add time Add time
• Aug 22 1996 Universal Amphitheatre This Setlist Universal City, CA, USA Add time Add time
• Aug 23 1996 Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, CA, USA Add time Add time
• Aug 25 1996 Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, CA, USA Add time Add time

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Filthy Lucre Live

It wasn’t quite anarchy in the Rockies, but the Sex Pistols’ first American concert in 18 years, on July 31 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, was a chance for a generation weened on Pistols descendants Green Day and Rancid to check out some bona fide punk heroes — at New Age schlockmeister John Tesh’s fave venue, no less. The 21st show in an intensive five-month-long, continents-spanning tour (which opened in Helsinki, Finland, on June 21) found the Pistols anything but rusty. The irony of these punk pioneers performing in the beauty of a natural amphitheater carved from the side of a mountain wasn’t lost on their notorious frontman. ”This is Johnny Rotten, not Johnny Denver,” quipped the 40-year-old singer at one point.

Not that anybody needed to be reminded. Time (and gangsta rap) may have blunted the shock value of Rotten’s onstage spitting and feigned masturbation, but it hasn’t diminished the power of that voice, which still oozes a venomous disdain for seemingly everyone and everything. Nor has it softened the brute force of the Pistols’ music — guitarist Steve Jones’ wall-of-powerchords attack, Paul Cook’s bash-your-head-to-putty drumming, bassist Glen Matlock’s steroids-enhanced bass lines.

Opening with ”Bodies,” their infamous anti-abortion (or is that anti-woman?) song, the Pistols had the crowd — a diverse assortment of high school and college kids, biker types, punks, post-punks, and rock-show regulars — on its feet for the duration of their hour-plus set. Fists pumped air, people pogoed in place, and a sizable portion of the audience shouted out the lyrics to every tune — even, surprisingly, those to ”Did You No Wrong,” an obscure B side. ”It’s sing-along-with-Johnny time,” sneered Rotten, before launching into ”Satellite.”

Prowling the stage in what seemed to be a Day-Glo waiter’s uniform, Rotten cut a marvelously absurd figure, with twin tufts of hair — one pink, one yellow — shooting straight up from his head for that debonair Don King-cum-Bozo the Clown effect. Forced to resort to an oxygen mask regularly (”It’s f–kin’ hard to breathe up here,” he complained, alluding to Red Rocks’ location 6400 feet above sea level), Rotten otherwise seemed in full control of things. Jones struck a classic guitar-hero pose — legs spread wide apart while carving sheets of sound from his instrument — for most of the set, then reemerged for the encore shirtless and wearing a blue brassiere. Meanwhile, original member Matlock (taking the place of bassist Sid Vicious, whose 1979 heroin-overdose death had till now provided the sordid coda to the Pistols’ saga) plunged ahead stolidly, presumably trying not to remember all the nasty things Rotten and Jones have said about him over the years.

One could quibble about small disappointments. For some reason — to save some breath, perhaps? — the ”you sons of bitches” chant from ”Holidays in the Sun” was abbreviated to ”You-so, you-so,” and the Pistols passed on their punishing version of the Stooges’ ”No Fun.” But on the whole, the show was a resounding vindication, two grubby fingers up the noses of naysayers.

It’s no secret that many people view this comeback — dubbed the Filthy Lucre Tour — as a betrayal, a cynical attempt by the band to cash in on their notoriety. Which, of course, it is. As Kiss (who titled their 1977 album Love Gun in apparent acknowledgment of the Pistols’ impact) know, staging a middle-aged comeback tour may not be what becomes a legend most, but it’ll do wonders for your bank balance. Although the Pistols have come to occupy an almost mythic niche in rock history, the truth is they never saw much money on the first go-around. (If they’d figured out how to convert the reams of rock criticism written about them into hard currency, they probably wouldn’t be on the road now.)

At the time of its release in 1977, the Pistols’ only official album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols , was a shot heard round the, uh, rock community; today, it’s considered a classic, a punk primer on a par with Ramones , The Velvet Underground and Nico , and Iggy & the Stooges’ Raw Power . Adding to the appeal of the Pistols reunion is the fact that few Americans have ever seen the band live (their only prior Stateside visit was the chaotic 12-date club tour in 1978 that culminated in their dissolution). Considering the somewhat iffy state of the Pistols’ solo careers (Rotten, performing as John Lydon with Public Image Ltd., is the only one who has enjoyed any measure of post-Pistols success), only a churl would begrudge the band a chance to cash in.

Filthy Lucre Live , a concert album recorded at Finsbury Park in London last June 23 and rush-released (it hit retail July 30) to coincide with the American leg of the tour, provides a good idea of what the 1996 Sex Pistols sound like. Indeed, it’s a veritable duplication of the set they played at Red Rocks (and, probably, of every other set they’ll play on the tour). Comprising all of the songs from Bollocks, plus a couple of rarities (like their cover of the Monkees’ ”[I’m Not Your] Steppin’ Stone”), Lucre Live is a worthy souvenir for those inclined to treasure such things. Those who persist in viewing the comeback as heresy need to lighten up. Perhaps Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong (of all people) best summed up the contradictions of the Pistols’ second coming when he retooled the lyrics to ”Anarchy in the U.K.” in an interview: ”I am the anti-Christ/Please buy our merchandise.” Now, that’s punk. B

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Independent book publisher Foruli Codex is inordinately pleased to announce the release of Glen Matlock’s Sex Pistols Filthy Lucre Photofile on 10th March. Containing images of previously unseen photographs and memorabilia plus Matlock's detailed account of the groundbreaking 1996 Filthy Lucre tour, no other source gives such an insider's view of the comeback of one of history's most important bands.

Encompassing 78 dates over six months, The Filthy Lucre tour visited all four corners of the globe - with the Sex Pistols courting controversy wherever they went. The beautifully designed colour paperback from Foruli Codex documents each stage of the journey, from the fractured beginnings between Matlock and lead singer Johnny Rotten, to the snubbing of Malcolm McClaren and turbulent relationship with the world’s press.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential bands ever, the notorious Sex Pistols were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the 1970’s and inspiring subsequent bands such as The Clash, Oasis and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Although their recording career was short-lived, their legacy will remain forever.

Glen Matlock, the original Pistols bass player, played with the band from 1975-1977 before being replaced with Sid Vicious. Responsible for legendary songs including 'Pretty Vacant', Matlock co-wrote much of the band's repertoire and it was Matlock who initiated their first-ever comeback tour after a hiatus of nearly 20 years. Although relationships within the band were sometimes strained, the 1996 Filthy Lucre world tour proved to be as significant as its predecessors. Glen Matlock’s Sex Pistols Filthy Lucre Photofile gives fans an unprecedented look into the reformation of the infamous four through keepsakes, fantastic personal never-been-seen before photos and a comprehensive account of the tour, as well as laying to rest old histories of the band once and for all. The colour paperback has been designed to a supreme standard by Andy Vella, designer and photographer for another seminal British band, The Cure. Chad Smith of California rockers Red Hot Chilli Peppers cites the Pistols as one of his major musical influences and provides the foreword, describing the book as “hilarious, scary, thrilling and ugly, just like the band itself”. Glen Matlock’s Sex Pistols Filthy Lucre Photofile is available in paperback from 10th March, published by Foruli Codex and available from their website, Amazon and all good booksellers for £20. A very special limited edition version is available for pre-order priced at £150. The hand-finished box set will be signed by Matlock on bookplates made from recycled twenty pound notes and will come complete with an exclusively recorded four song Matlock solo record.

Glen Matlock commented, "The quality and production of Foruli books is high calibre stuff and they've really done justice to mine... so check it out!"

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SEX PISTOLS Kick Off North American Tour: Photos Available

SEX PISTOLS kicked off their North American tour Wednesday night (August 20) at FleetBoston Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts. Check put pictures from Wire Image .

The band's original line-up — John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten , vocals), Steve Jones (guitar), Paul Cook (drums) and Glen Matlock (bass) — will visit a mix of amphitheaters, clubs and concert halls, and will conclude the tour with a Sept. 7 set at the San Diego Street Scene festival.

SEX PISTOLS split in 1978 after a final performance at San Francisco Winterland Ballroom, by which time Sid Vicious had replaced Matlock on bass. Vicious died of a heroin overdose in 1979.

The original line-up reformed for the "Filthy Lucre" tour of the U.K. in 1996 and also reunited last summer to play a London show as a rebuttal to Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

SEX PISTOLS tour dates (subject to change):

Aug. 21 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Theatre Aug. 23 - Atlantic City, NJ - Trump Marina Aug. 24 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club Aug. 25 - Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre Aug. 27 - Cleveland, OH - Scene Pavilion Aug. 28 - Detroit, MI - Cobo Arena Aug. 29 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom Aug. 31 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheater Sep. 03 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield Sep. 05 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel Sep. 06 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre Sep. 07 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Street Scene

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‘We’re not scared of you – we’re Welsh!’ The day 60ft Dolls took on The Sex Pistols

David Owens

At the height of their powers when Cymru was cool and Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and Stereophonics were the bands du jour, 60ft Dolls led the charge of the fight brigade straight out of ‘the new Seattle’, as Newport was infamously dubbed by US music journalist Neill Strauss.

It took the combustible trio, whose live shows were as incendiary as their antics off stage, to many places but none so memorable as the day they supported The Sex Pistols at the punk demi-gods’ hugely anticipated reunion gig at Finsbry Park in London.

Part of the aptly titled ‘Filthy Lucre Tour’, given the Pistols unashamedly admitted that’s exactly why they had reformed – to take the money and run, it came 18 years after the band collapsed in disarray in the US playing their final gig at The Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, on January 14 , 1978.

Then, with Jonny Rotten’s final words from the stage – “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?.” – ringing in the ears of those punters who had witnessed the final curtain call of punk, the most infamous of bands exited the stage.

The Sex Pistols’ resurrection, announced in a chaotic press conference at the 100 Club in London, would take place in a park in North London on June 23, 1996.

After two warm-up shows in Finland and Germany, many weren’t sure if the Pistols would even turn up, let alone put on a show.

Meanwhile, a Welsh band built in the Pistols’ image were putting the finishing touches to the breakneck punk, soul and rock ‘n’ roll that would constitute their mighty debut album The Big 3 to be released later that year.

An underdog’s opus it coursed with manic thrills, surged with breakneck riffs and served up cracked kitchen sink tales – shots of pure adrenaline like carousing singles Stay, Talk To Me and Happy Shopper.

Sharing a love of American bands like Dinosaur Jr and Pavement, they lashed together classic British influences – creating a transatlantic musical Molotov cocktail

You couldn’t get away from the fact that they loved The Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Pistols and The Jam, but were also in thrall of those Yank noiseniks.

The way 60ft Dolls got the call to support The Sex Pistols bears all the hallmarks of the larger-than-live they cultivated for themselves in their brief but beautifully belligerent period they were together.

“We got the gig because (Pistols’ drummer) Paul Cook saw us play in Los Angeles at a club and insisted we were on the bill,” recalls Dolls’ sticksman Carl Bevan. “Apparently there were several members of the cast of Baywatch at that gig too, but strangely we didn’t get the call for that one.”

Carl, who now lives in Cardiff and is a professional artist, remembers the days leading up to the Finsbury Park gig and the sense of uncertainty that surrounded it.

“I remember the build up to that gig in the press,” he says. “The Pistols did a very good job of keeping people guessing.

“Nobody knew if it was all just a big scam. We just want your money. They called it ‘The Filthy Lucre Tour’. They milked it.

“On the day of the gig people genuinely had no idea why they were even doing it and no clue if it was just going to be a few shambolic half arsed songs and them walking off stage to “you’ve been swindled”.

Part of a supporting bill that was to run from midday until The Pistols were due to take the stage later that evening – 60ft Dolls in a late afternoon slot, joined a line-up that included Goldblade, 3 Colours Red, Fluffy, Stiff Little Fingers, The Buzzcocks, Skunk Anansie, The Wildhearts and Iggy Pop.

Backstage A list actors, models, and musicians mingled – Kate Moss, Johnny Depp and the Gallagher brothers savouring the return of the punk overlords.

Carl recounts how Mike tried to approach John Lydon for a chat.

“The closest we got to them was early on in the day,” he remembers. “Mike saw Lydon walking towards him with a minder.

“The conversation went like this:

“Mr Rotten,” said Mike.

“Fuck off,” said Mr Rotten.”

For us fans of the Dolls there was much joy when a rare recording of the band’s set supporting the Pistols recently emerged on YouTube.

It shows the band at their fiery best and the gravel-voiced frontman of the apocalypse riding hellraisers, Richard Parfitt, in a punchy, punkish mood when interviewed alongside Dolls’ bass player Mike Cole by Radio 1’s Steve Lamacq.

The singer informed the DJ how they exploited The Sex Pistols only doing the gig to play to a bigger audience and get more money, while doing his best to antagonise the Pistols’ audience by proclaiming ‘we’re not scared of you lot, we’re Welsh.”

“Our set had been initially met with some interesting missiles,” laughs Carl. “A traffic cone and a lemon, if I remember rightly.

“We channeled that adrenaline fight or flight response into finding our top gear I think. We won the room, or the park, by the end of the set.”

The drummer recalls how the Dolls had been met by many hostile crowds during a career that burned briefly but brilliantly.

“We had seen plenty of indifferent or hostile crowds plenty of times before,” says Carl. “Playing weird little gigs in America. We played Prince’s club in Minneapolis which was a particularly hostile vibe which we managed to turn around by tapping into that chaotic energy we could conjure up, but also bringing everyone along with us.

“I have heard recordings of us before but that YouTube recording sounds like we found fifth gear. I reckon Rich definitely cranked up his guitar sound. It sounds filth! We were playing by the seat of our pants. You can hear it. Best live recording of us I have ever heard

“The Dolls always played with that intensity if we were playing to 50 people or if we were playing to 30k people anyway.

“Saying this it was great to get it over and knowing we had pulled it off. It’s a great feeling playing a festival type line up when you know your work is done and done well and you can get on with some serious irresponsible hedonism, which we were also quite good at.”

As for The Sex Pistols set, Carl recalls that he was surprised at just how good they were. Perversely, they were introduced by England footballers Stuart Pearce, a huge punk fan, and a bemused Gareth Southgate. This was during Euro 96 – and a week before Southgate would join Pearce as a famous penalty flop in a shootout against Germany in the Euro 96 semi-final.

“I watched the gig from out front,” remembers the drummer. “The anticipation was intense from the 30,000 aging punks. When the moment came for the Pistols to take to the stage, they smashed through this curtain in front of the stage (mocked up as a newspaper frontpage featuring Pistols’ headlines).

“Lydon said something sneary in perfect character. They started playing ‘Bodies’. Oh man. That first couple of minutes was a rabbit in the headlights moment for everybody watching what was unfolding in front of them.

“By the time the third verse kicked in. It was obvious that we were in for a good, hard, beautiful shoeing.

“This was a band that had actually been rehearsing their tits off for months. It was bone crunching, troglodyte, primal power. They were a fine tuned machine, not in a polished, slick way but a swaggering brutal face-melting woolly mammoth, ploughing through Finsbury Park wearing razor blade leg warmers.

“They basically played the whole of Never Mind The Bollocks. It was probably the best band I have seen in my life. I look back on that day as one of the best days of my life without a doubt. It’s one of the things the Dolls did that I am most proud of.”

Carl Bevan has joined forces with I Loves The ‘Diff to produce a 2022 calendar featuring his paintings of landmarks in the Welsh capital.

To purchase a copy click HERE

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Worked a gig with them in Gloucester where their roadies did a couple of numbers for the sound check. Enjoyed them much more because the roadies were The Pooh Sticks. All good people though. Did Mogwai a couple of weeks earlier and they wouldn’t stop skateboarding around the sprung dancefloor, good days.

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A Tour of Kohanaiki

If there is one thing I am certain of, it’s that I will retire by the ocean. Growing up poor in Orange County, California had its advantages; I went to decent schools in Irvine and enjoyed the near-perfect weather. The downside was the income disparity. While most kids I knew lived in nice seven figure homes, I lived in a HUD housing project. While the other kids wore name brand apparel, I lived in fear of someone spotting my Goodwill clothes and being confused as to why I had their old shirt. My classmates would return from summer break with tales of travel to Maui and their winter break ski trips. I had a summer of sleeping in, reading, riding my bike, and television reruns.  

As an adult, I can appreciate my good fortune of benefiting from a school district supported by the property taxes of people far better off than my single, food stamp collecting mother. But I can also admit to feeling envy of the life I brushed up against daily, and yet seemed completely foreign.  

As I got older, my circle of friends grew and began to include people from Newport and Laguna Beach, and I realized the lifestyle I once envied was but one level of the many degrees of wealth. Suddenly I had friends with homes worth not seven figures, but eight. Whereas my friends’ parents in Irvine drove Mercedes and BMWs, those were just second cars to the Ferraris and Bentleys in Laguna. I started to see stereos that cost more than a car, art that wasn’t mass-produced, and furniture that had distinct names.  

There was much to admire for a poor teenager who grew up in other people’s clothes. But the one thing that stood out most, the single greatest luxury these people had, was the ocean. The worlds biggest swimming pool was literally in their backyard. And for all intents and purposes, they owned it. One could hear its calming waves,   smell the fresh salt air, and feel the salubrious breeze 24 hours a day. They lived where everyone else could only visit, and I wanted it.  

The under-appreciated film Spanglish has a memorable moment when the 12-year-old daughter of a rich couple’s housekeeper sees the ocean for the first time from the couple’s home.  

“The first time one sees natural beauty which is privately owned… oceans as people’s backyards… confounds the senses. Oh, my gosh. I didn’t know God had a toy store for the rich.”

That scene perfectly captures the feeling I experienced. And even though I’m no longer the poor kid living in a housing project, and I’m perfectly capable of buying a home just about anywhere in the world, I got that feeling again at Kohanaiki.

Kohanaiki is a 450-acre housing development on the West side of the Big Island of Hawaii. What makes Kohanaiki unique, besides the amazing oceanfront location, is that it is a community centered around one of the nicest golf courses and country clubs you’re likely to find. This is not a club where just anyone can stroll in. This is a private club exclusively for residents, which right now consists of about 150 homes.  

I have been considering buying a retirement property in Baja. After living there several years I had come to really like it. The perfect weather, the laid back people, the fresh Mexican food, etc… Not to mention the deal one could get on oceanfront property. But, crime has taken a sharp upturn in the past couple of years, which has given me some pause. Often when I talk with friends about those plans, I hear “You should check out Hawaii,” and they often specifically mention Maui.  

Oddly enough, I’d never been to Hawaii. I’ve always been interested, but when it comes time to planning my travel to a beach getaway, I either opt for the close proximity of Baja/San Diego, or the truly out of the country, Costa Rica (specifically Tamarindo). But my curiosity of the islands had won out. I made travel plans, which included stops on Oahu, The Big Island, and Maui, and of course I’d be checking out Kohanaiki.  

My initial impression of Hawaii was via Oahu, and it was not great. The humidity hit me like a hammer. Having spent most of my recent time in Las Vegas, I had grown accustomed to the dry desert heat. Honolulu is a crowded, noisy, rather ugly town, but let’s skip that and jump to the Big Island.

It is likely you’ve heard about the large volcano eruption on The Big Island. It should be noted this is happening on the other side of the island, well away from Kohanaiki, but the ash from the eruption does fill the sky enough to carry over. I heard some complaints about the air quality of the big island but I didn’t think that issue would really affect me. I was wrong, but more about that later.  

My realtor picked me up at my hotel and drove me over to the Kohanaiki resort. I had been prepped that we would be meeting with a Kohanaiki representative and the fact I would have to be invited to the club was starting to weigh on my mind.  

I have never been a member of a country club, as I always took the Groucho Marx standpoint of not wanting to be part of any group willing to accept me as a member. Additionally, I don’t golf. I asked my realtor if there are issues getting invited, and he assured me I wouldn’t likely have a problem. Upon further questions I did discover there have been rejections in the past, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. As we got closer to the resort, I started to become a little anxious that maybe I was about to be interviewed more than the other way around. Suddenly I felt like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack, ready to meet Judge Smails and his dork nephew, Spaulding.  

As we pulled onto the property and passed through a guarded gate, things looked about as expected. Well-manicured grass with an outline of dark volcanic rock. Having watched some YouTube videos on the community, I started to recognize points of interest. We pulled up to the main clubhouse and the valet parked my realtor’s car. A few members pulled up in golf carts, the primary mode of travel inside the gates. These men looked a bit like Judge Smails; older, wearing the kind of tacky clothes reserved for golf courses.  

We met with our tour guide and took a quick tour of the main clubhouse area. The first stop was the pool, which was fantastic, and empty. Even though it was some distance to the beach, the view was phenomenal. Its darker color scheme made it less pronounced than many resort pools, and really complemeted the landscaping.  

The gym opens right up to the pool with stationary bikes outside the building. I’m not an expert in gyms, but for the most part, it looked well equipped and spacious. Short of some boxing equipment, I didn’t really see anything missing.  

We made our way from the gym to the locker rooms and spas. Men and women have their own areas. The locker room was incredibly well appointed. Rows of beautiful wooden lockers, amazing stone shower stalls, and plenty of space to get dressed. It also appears to have some sort of laundry service, which is nice. I was assured each member has their own permanent locker here, so no hunting around for a free one. Although the fact that I had yet to see anyone here made me think that wouldn’t likely be a problem. I did also note at least two employees manning the locker rooms.

The locker area is adjacent to the spa, where there are dedicated rooms for massage, as well as a beautiful zen-like open atrium, with a hot tub, and a cold dunk pool. The humidity was to the level where I had to resist the urge to try them out.  

As I looked around, I couldn’t help but notice the attention to detail and the upscale design. No faux anything so far, just incredibly well maintained, premium materials.  

We headed downstairs to check out more amenities, skipping what looked to be the main dining area above, with a few wait staff on hand but no one at the tables. The first thing I noticed as I descended into the basement level was the interior design-very modern, and yet, uniquely Hawaiian. Beautiful old Hawaiian antiques decorated the entire expanse of the basement.  

Our first stop on the lower level tour was a private dining area, which looks to also host wine tastings. The walls were lined with small wine lockers. I’m told that just like the gym lockers above, every member has their own environmentally-controlled wine storage locker that can maintain about a dozen bottles. I would assume this is also so that you can request these bottles during your meals.

Our next step was the hidden cigar room, complete with a beautiful poker table. It is actually hidden behind a panel in the wall, which gives it a cool feel, even if it is a little over the top. Once again, every member has their own environmentally controlled humidor, which looks to hold a couple dozen cigars. These humidors, much like the wine lockers, line the walls and give the room an impressive sense of purpose.  

The next stop was the theatre. Our guide mentioned how the theatre is completely soundproof and showed a listing of upcoming films being offered, but they all looked like titles playing on cable or Netflix- no first-run features here. But upon entering the theatre I was impressed.  

I should mention home theaters are often a pet peeve of mine. While in Baja, I managed to stick a 130” screen in my 1,700 square foot beach condo, with a 5.1 surround sound system in the ceiling. It was to this day the best movie/TV viewing experience of my life. Game of Thrones and Walking Dead became truly cinematic. So it bothers me to see dedicated home theaters with 80” screens, something that’s not much bigger than I have in my bedroom.  

And most condo theaters, like the one I have in Veer Towers in Las Vegas, are little more than a big screen, a handful of uncomfortable seating, and a cheap projector and sound system. I’d be surprised if they spent more than $2k on the electronics.  

But, the theatre in Kohanaiki is like the rest of the community, nothing half-assed here. I couldn’t get confirmation of the screen size, but I guessed it to be around 150”. A film was playing, so I could see the video quality was top notch, likely 4k. The sound was incredible and the seating was high-quality and comfortable, and likely very expensive. I also started to notice the little touches. The walls were baffled and isolated to trap bass, the materials were sound absorbing, and the entire design was again both modern and Hawaiian, with the added benefit of not interfering with the enjoyment of the entertainment. It was beautiful in its subtlety and disappeared when one was watching a film. By far the nicest “home theater” I’ve ever seen. I should also mention the great little snack area outside the theatre, which has the spirit of a concession area, without the cheesy factor some add when attempting to replicate one.  

At this point in the tour, I was pretty blown away. I don’t think I had ever been somewhere with so much attention to detail and craftsmanship at every corner. I began to try and calculate the costs in my head for just the clubhouse and quickly lost track when I realized the cost of materials on the island would add at least 20% to everything, not to mention the additional cost of labor.  

While trying to calculate I was taken to the final tour stop of the clubhouse basement level, the pub. That’s right, Kohanaiki has its own little pub. And when I say little I mean about the size of normal size pub. There is a bar of course, and tables, stools, and a jukebox. But there are also arcade game machines, shuffleboard, and two pool tables. Not to mention several little seating nooks with flatscreens and Xbox/PS4 consoles.  

The big highlight of the pub was the 4 lane bowling alley. Not some cheesy home version, but a full-size bowling alley, complete with ball returns, pinsetters, and a professional quality scoring system with flatscreens, all controlled through a touchpad next to the comfortable seating area.  

And of course this is a pub, so you have access to drinks, including Kohanaiki’s very own beer. Did I mention they have their own brewery? That’s right. I didn’t try any, but if they brew beer with the same level of quality and attention to detail they displayed through the rest of their endeavors, it’s probably some damn good beer.  

At this point in the tour, I was in disbelief. Photos and videos don’t do this place justice. I talk briefly with my realtor and tour guide and they point out that people often come with the same idea I have; to build a large dream home with a ton of amenities. But after seeing everything already here, they scale down to a simple place and I can understand that idea. I rested for a moment next to the bowling lanes and pool tables, surveyed the tables, jukebox, arcade games, and bartender and waiter and I could picture this as a place where I would bring visiting friends, or maybe even grandchildren someday. But then something hits me; this place is empty. I mean, aside from the staff and our little group, I had yet to see a single person down there, or at the gym, or the pool, or the restaurant. It was a ghost town.  

We wrapped up our tour of the clubhouse and hopped in an official Kohanaiki golf cart. My tour guide whizzed down fresh roads and I surveyed the homes as we went by. Some homes were still under construction, and there were more than a few empty lots. One thing struck me as we pulled up to a home for sale; there was no construction sound, nor did I see a lot of construction vehicles. This leads any logical person to think there is no construction happening today, but I was so enchanted by this place I momentarily wonder if they had figured out how to do noiseless construction.  

We entered the first home of our tour, and it is of course beautiful. The home is small, about 2,000 square feet, but very open. The open feel is aided by the huge glass sliding doors that open the wall almost completely to a nice lush yard with the ocean in the distance. It does not have an unobstructed view, but the visual interruptions between the yard and sea are elegant enough to not distract too much from the impressive landscape.  

Again, all the finishings in the home are top-notch. I’ve become less than impressed with the “chefs kitchens” of condo living, which usually just means stainless steel appliances and a granite countertop. But this kitchen is something a chef would truly love, with a 6-burner stove with a griddle, a refrigerator that looks like it belongs in a restaurant, and ample size counter space and island.  

The design of the house is impeccable, again bringing together both modern and Hawaiian. I run through the checklist in my mind of what I’d expect, things like hardwood floors, backsplash, crown molding, recessed lighting, etc… Nothing is missing in this place, including an outdoor shower and some of the most beautiful wood and stone material I’ve ever seen.  

Next, we viewed a few available lots, including the one I was there to see. The lot I was interested in is 1.21 acres and features an unobstructed view of the ocean. I was assured nothing could be built between me and the Pacific. I could hear the waves and feel the mist, and it was hard to imagine not feeling amazing waking up every day in this paradise. The price for this particular slice of heaven- $2.8 million.  

This may be a good time to talk about the financial requirements of living in Kohanaiki. It starts of course with the land. As I mentioned, the plot I’m considering costs about $2.8 million for 1.21 acres which is actually a bargain. As one gets closer to the ocean, the price increases. During my tour I was taken to lots with much less square footage, that exceed the $4 million mark.  

After the expense of the land, one has building costs to consider. The average cost to build in the United States is between $130 to $150 per square foot, depending on time, location, and materials used. According to BizJournal , the cost of building in Honolulu is approximately $530 per square foot. Keep in mind, this is the city/island with the main airport; so one can assume building expenses in Kohanaiki on the Big Island would be higher. My realtor told me I’d be looking closer to $800 to $1,000 per square foot. This means a modest 2,000 square foot home would run about $2 million, in addition to the land. Since I’m looking at something closer to 3,500 square feet, I’d be sitting around $3.5 million, in addition to the $2.8 million for the land, giving me a total of $6.3 million to have my dream home.  

The expenses do not stop there. As I mentioned, Kohanaiki is a community inside a club/resort and it has significant fees. The initial fee to join the club is $170,000. This brings my total price of home and move-in to $6.47 million. And, of course, there are yearly fees. The club fees are approximately $30,000 per year, which does not include the homeowners association fees of another (approximately) $30,000 per year. These fees are likely to go up as the homeowners take over more of the amenities, and would likely end up around $90,000 to $100,000 per year for both club and HOA dues.  

  All of this, of course, doesn’t include property tax, which is approximately 1% of property value on the Big Island. So, this may add another $60,000 or more to my yearly expense, accumulating to what could very well be $160,000 per year, simply to exist in my home at Kohanaiki. Now let’s get back to the tour.

We stop by another smaller, pool area, where I finally see some residents. I witness 6 people by this pool, and all look to be part of the same group. They are younger than I would have expected, and all appear to be very healthy. There is also a small area with two employees serving drinks.  

We move on to the beachfront and the accompanying bar/restaurants. We walk across a long, beautiful rustic bridge to the beach and bar. There are about half a dozen bed size lounge areas where the staff will bring you drinks while you relax on the beach. It resembles an ad for a resort, but with no people; again, not a single non-employee is here.  

At this point, I ask my guide to confirm the number of units sold. He tells me they’ve sold about 150, with expectations of selling another 300. I inquire further and ask what percentage of those 150 homeowners live here full-time. He takes a moment and answers not in percentage, but in a flat number, “6 to 7”. I clarify that only 6, or 7 homeowners reside here full-time and he confirms. This explains why the resort feels like a ghost town.  

While at the beach bar we talk briefly about the people and the events. I mention I remember hearing about the live music here, including members of big groups like Journey, Santana, Kansas, and Kool & the Gang. He confirms them and more.  

We then make our way to another part of the beach, this one featuring the main beach dining area with a nice bar in the middle. The tables spill out onto the tranquil beach, and the decor is everything one could hope for in an oceanfront dining experience. Again, they push the Hawaiian only as far as elegance allows. When envisioning ideal weather, I cannot imagine a more incredible dining experience than this restaurant, and I want to live here and experience it.

Again, I see plenty of staff, but not one diner or resident. It’s like they are just waiting for people to come. Much like the main dining facility, this is a place you tell the servers what you want, from Beef Wellington to PB&J, and they make it happen. Our tour guide offers lunch at this amazing place, but my realtor mysteriously declines on our behalf. Maybe he suspects the food will be a deal breaker?  

The beach restaurant concludes our tour, and we are whisked back to the clubhouse. Our guide hands me some paperwork in an impressive cloth cover folder. We shake hands and I assure him I was not disappointed.  

I headed back to my hotel and my mind was working overtime. It was hard to imagine I could afford to live in a place of that quality and exclusivity. There is a war in my head between the amazing luxury lifestyle and the sticker price that accompanies it. I decide to clear my head at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui.  

After my flight and check in, I walk over to my balcony to take in the ocean breeze, and it hits me. Not just the ocean breeze, but the answer I’ve been searching. As that ocean breeze blows through me, and I instantly feel at peace. This is what I want, and this is the only non-negotiable part of my quest for a home; I want to see, hear, and feel the ocean. And I can do that in Baja.  

There is no doubt Hawaii is beautiful, Maui a bit more so than the other islands I visited. However, it is also isolating. In theory, they have everything one needs but not everything one could want. In Baja, I’m 10 minutes from San Diego, one of the nicest cities in the world. The weather in Baja is pretty much perfect year round, while Hawaii has the humidity that provides that majestic landscape of lush green. Hawaii touts their trade winds, but as someone who spent three years on the oceanfront of the Pacific, I can assure you we get just as nice of a breeze, and without the consistent rain. Then there’s the vog, which affected me worse than I had anticipated.  

Other issues I noticed in Hawaii were the traffic (a situation I see quickly turning out of control), and one issue I didn’t think I’d find on the Big Island-pretension. I always thought of Hawaii as the laid-back place of surfers and flip-flop wearing retirees and tourists. But there was a surprisingly consistent level of pretentiousness most everywhere I went. I’m aware that my trip included one of the priciest hotels in the country and a community where people spend $6 million for vacation homes, but even in lesser-priced environments, there was a default level of snobbery. Almost all bathrooms were locked, customer service was lacking, and there was an overall jaded atmosphere of judgment based on net worth. And I can’t imagine that getting any better as Kohanaiki finds the rest of their tenants. Maybe I’d feel different if I wasn’t going to be on the lower end of the spectrum, but I felt it.  

I have my concerns about Baja, and Mexico in general. The rising crime rate cannot be ignored, and there is political tension with the current administration. But along with perfect weather and incredibly decent people, there is a massive price and proximity difference. Along with being closer to the typical American conveniences to which I’ve become accustomed, there’s also a quality of life I can better afford.  

If I were to compare Apples-to-Apples-the amount of home one could purchase in Baja for even half of the $6.2 million for Kohanaiki, the result would be outrageous. And the $160,000 annual cost of Kohanaiki would get me a Downton Abbey-sized staff in Baja. Yes, I wouldn’t have a beautiful restaurant that served me while sitting and viewing the beach, I would have a personal chef that served me exclusively right on the beach. I wouldn’t have access to that beautiful theatre in the Kohanaiki clubhouse, but for $50,000 I could have my own luxurious theatre with a bigger screen. I wouldn’t have access to their clubhouse or bowling alley, but I would be 20 minutes from dozens of great clubs, movie theaters, bowling alleys, etc… in San Diego. And who wants to bowl alone?

I’m not taking anything away from Kohanaiki. I doubt I’ll ever see another place as beautifully designed and built. If I were a billionaire and had a dozen homes to hang my dozens of hats, perhaps I would have purchased immediately, and would likely be happy doing so. But I’m not a billionaire, or a golfer, or a guy who knows enough about wine to have a wine locker, or cigars to have a humidor, or frankly even belongs in a country club. Maybe I have to accept I’m more a Rodney Dangerfield than a Ted Knight. And that’s OK because I’m no longer that poor kid looking in from the outside. I’m just someone who worked hard to get to the point where I’m now ready to relax on the beach.  

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About the Filthy Lucre installation

'Filthy Lucre' is an immersive installation by contemporary American artist Darren Waterston, presenting a detailed reimagining of James Abbott McNeill Whistler's famed Peacock Room – a sumptuous 19th-century dining room once housed just a stone's throw away from the V&A, and now installed at the Freer Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

James McNeill Whistler's Peacock Room

The original Peacock Room, at 49 Princes Gate, London, was designed to showcase the porcelain collection of Frederick Richards Leyland (1831 – 92), a British shipping magnate. The painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834 – 1903) made it notorious, however, by decorating it far beyond the instructions of his friend and patron. Whistler was initially invited to consult on the room's colour scheme, but whilst Leyland was away from London, he redesigned the entire room in vivid blues and iridescent green-golds combined with images of peacocks. Through his extravagance, Whistler created a masterpiece of interior design in the Aesthetic style , but Leyland refused to pay Whistler's expensive fee in full. Fuelled by their clashing personalities, the argument was splashed across London's society tabloids, turning the once great friends into enemies.

In 1904 the American art collector and industrialist Charles Lang Freer bought the room and shipped it to America. It ultimately found a home at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

Filthy Lucre by Darren Waterston

Waterston's installation is an unsettling re-interpretation of Whistler's celebrated Peacock Room, inspired by the tension between art and money, ego and patronage. Filthy Lucre faithfully recreates each of the Peacock Room's individual elements with a twist, drawing parallels between the economic inequality of the Victorian era and today. Replicating, accentuating and distorting the lavish interior of Whistler's masterpiece, Waterston transforms the room into an uneasy experience of destruction and twisted excess, revealing a magnificent ruin crumbling under the weight of material decadence and the egos of those involved in its creation.

The title Filthy Lucre is inspired by a vengeful caricature Whistler painted called The Gold Scab: Eruption in Frilthy Lucre, 1879, depicting Leyland as a hideous, grasping peacock, mocked for his miserliness and his unfashionable frilly shirts.

I set out to recreate Whistler's fabled Peacock Room in a state of decadent demolition – a space collapsing in on itself, heavy with its own excess and tumultuous history.

Created through extensive collaboration, Filthy Lucre demonstrates master craftsmanship to reimagine the luxurious wood panelling, ornate lighting pendants and stunning ceramics collection, as well as decorative wall art and a captivating central portrait that draws viewers into the room.

This craftmanship draws parallels with the V&A's vast collections, encompassing interior design, decorative arts, painting and ceramics. On display for the first time in the UK, the installation also features supporting material and video content to further explore the fascinating history of this iconic room and reveal a behind-the-scenes look at Waterston's process. A soundscape by New York-based rockers BETTY enhances the installation experience, filling the space with muffled gossiping voices and a mournful cello.

Waterston's magisterial work evokes not only the gilded age of interior design but the biting wit and fragmented relationships of the protagonists; Whistler, Leyland and the original architect of the room, Thomas Jeckyll whose contribution was effectively obliterated by Whistler’s extravagant reworking. The Peacock Room has returned to South Kensington with a vengeance!

Darren Waterston's Filthy Lucre is on display at the V&A's Porter Gallery, South Kensington, 25 January – 3 May 2020. Entrance is free.

The installation was created by the artist in collaboration with MASS MoCA, North Adams, Massachusetts. Courtesy of DC Moore Gallery, New York.

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Darren Waterston The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery MASS MoCA BETTY

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Installation view, Filthy Lucre: Whistler's Peacock Room Reimagined by Darren Waterston at the V&A. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Remembering the Time Taylor Swift Posed With a Man in a Swastika-Adorned Shirt

The photo sparked controversy for swift, who would have been 19 years old at the time., nikki dobrin, published april 23, 2024.

About this rating

A photo circulating on social media and online platforms  in spring 2024 purportedly showed Taylor Swift posing with an individual wearing a shirt emblazoned with a Nazi swastika. The incident allegedly occurred during Katy Perry's 25th birthday party in West Hollywood in October 2009.

The image, shared on platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), sparked controversy and accusations against the pop star, who would have been 19 years old at the time the photo was taken, prompting concerns about her association with symbols of hate and bigotry.

( @dom_lucre /X)

Based on available evidence, we found the image to be genuine.

According to reports, Perry's Willy Wonka-themed birthday celebration took a surprising turn when guests engaged in a painting activity turned their white attire into colorful canvases. Amid the paint-splattered chaos, Swift was photographed with an attendee, identified by multiple outlets as model AJ English , who was sporting a swastika symbol painted on his shirt.

Despite the outcry on social media and media coverage surrounding the photo, Swift's spokesperson reiterated that her client did not know the male model personally, was unaware of the symbol on his shirt at the time the photo was taken, and that she had taken numerous photos with attendees throughout the evening.

Swift's rep told TMZ at the time, "Taylor took pictures with about 100 people that night ... she doesn't know who this guy is and she didn't realize what was on his shirt."

The party's theme, reportedly inspired by "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," featured guests dressed in white attire, which they later embellished with neon paint. Per the Daily Mail , English, the individual wearing the shirt, explained that the symbol was initially intended to be an "X" but was altered during the course of the celebrations. He also clarified that he does not endorse or support the Nazi agenda and issued an apology to Swift for the unintended controversy.

English posted to his account on X, "Front page of TMZ.... sorry Taylor," according to the Daily Mail.

While concerns also arose regarding the letters "JH" painted on Swift's dress that night, with some speculating it stood for "Jew Hater," multiple reports said the initials were in reference to Swift's close friend, dancer and actress Julianne Hough, who was seen exiting the party that night with the letters "TS" daubed on her white pants, likely in reference to Swift's initials.

Snopes has previously reported on controversies surrounding Swift, including rumors that she performed witchcraft while on stage during her "Eras" concert tour, as well as allegations that she " supports abortion ."

Antony, Aaron. "'The Industry Is Filthy, as You Know': Taylor Swift's Swastika Scandal Explored as Tweet Puts Singer on Blast." Sportskeeda , 23 Aug. 2023, https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/the-industry-filthy-know-taylor-swift-s-swastika-scandal-explored-tweet-puts-singer-blast.

"Https://Twitter.Com/Dom_lucre/Status/1781362094824169637." X (Formerly Twitter) , https://twitter.com/dom_lucre/status/1781362094824169637. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.

"Katy Perry Had a Birthday Party, so Now Taylor Swift Is a Nazi?" Los Angeles Times , 30 Oct. 2009, https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/ministry-of-gossip/story/2009-10-29/katy-perry-had-a-birthday-party-so-now-taylor-swift-is-a-nazi.

Mcconnell, Donna. "Taylor Swift in Racism Row after Posing with Fan Wearing Swastika Daubed on Shirt." Mail Online , 30 Oct. 2009, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1224117/Taylor-Swift-racism-row-posing-fan-wearing-swastika-shirt.html.

"Taylor Swift Embraces the Swastika." TMZ , 29 Oct. 2009, https://www.tmz.com/2009/10/29/taylor-swift-embraces-the-swastika/.

"Taylor Swift's Swastika Scandal." The Daily Beast , 29 Oct. 2009, https://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2009/10/29/taylor-swifts-swastika-scandal.

By Nikki Dobrin

Nikki Dobrin is based in Los Angeles and has previously worked at The Walt Disney Company, as well as written and edited for People, USA Today and The Hill.

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Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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