Magazine @ Manchester Academy 17th Feb 2009

In response to
http://thevinylvillain.blogspot.com/2009/02/gig-reviews-magazine-manchester.html

I was at the 2nd Manchester gig. It was an honour and a great thrill. I too missed out on them first time round, being quite young and only really getting into them too late in the 1980s. I put on any of the albums any time I want to cheer myself up, and it was just fantastic to hear them live. And they certainly didn't fuck about with the arrangements, so it was like listening to a great DJ selecting only Magazine tracks, and the DJ was singing along, and the DJ was Howard Devoto.

The gig I was at was being filmed quite seriously, with one of those sweeping airborne cameras on a long boom, so look forward to a DVD release of a great gig.

Only quibble, the 2nd encore was an obscure and untuneful track when I was yearning for Philidelphia. But perhaps that was to dampen the enthusisasm a bit. The crowd were ecstatic by the end. One of the best gigs I've ever been to. PLEASE PLAY GLASTONBURY!

Is Richard Barnbrook racist?

I don't think this is an adequate response (below) to a dreadful comment. How many mainstream politicians would get away with such a turn of phrase regarding someone who is mixed race?

BBC Complaints [T20090209029ES010Z5259068]
-----Original Message-----

>On yesterday's studio phone-in programme Richard Barnbrook, when discussing the issue of being 'mixed race' described someone as being "half Chinese, half human". This is outrageous and yet it has not been reported or condemned. Please check the tape, you'll see that I am correct. Perhaps it was a Freudian slip or perhaps it was deliberate. Either way, it is not acceptable and should not go unchallenged.

complaintresponse@bbc.co.uk [19 February 2009 19:39]

Thanks for your e-mail regarding 'The Big Questions' broadcast on 8 February.

I appreciate you were left very concerned by Richard Barnbrook's comments on the issue of being mixed race which I note you felt were grossly offensive and discriminatory.

As you're aware the programme seeks to provide forums for debate and give full opportunity for all viewpoints to be heard across a huge range of subject matter.

We make no editorial comment or judgement on the views expressed by contributors to our programmes, and our aim is simply to provide enough information for viewers to make up their own minds.

In this instance Richard Barnbrook was robustly challenged by Nicky Campbell and the panel throughout the programme's discussion.

I recognise you found Richard Barnbrook's remarks wholly unacceptable and please be assured that your comments have been included in our audience log. This is circulated widely within the BBC and made available to many BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board, channel controllers and other senior managers.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with the strength of your views.

Regards

Alec Mackenzie
BBC Complaints