Here at CLR we love nothing more than getting a Happy Mondays reference into a story and I’d happily argue the point that somewhere in here there’s a direct link running from Sean Ryder all the way through to Elon Musk.
This latest Elon drama reminds us of the time Shaun Ryder’s massive drug consumption scuppered their album 4th Yes please! and brought down Factory records in the process and sent various Talking Heads members on the first plane back to New York.
When you read thie Quietus review of the making of the album it doesn’t look too far from the state of X and other Musk ventures in January 2024!
Happy Mondays started 1992 in a very dark place and things only got darker as the year progressed. Their stand alone single, ‘Judge Fudge’, had only made an unimpressive 24 in the UK charts at the end of 1991, and a shockingly homophobic interview with the NME at the start of the year left an enduringly nasty impression of a band once seen as the popular heroes of rave.
By the end of 1992 the band’s label, iconic Manchester imprint Factory, had gone into administration, leaving the band unloved and out of pocket, while Shaun Ryder struggled with his various addictions. Karen Pierce, who interviewed Shaun for The Independent in October 1992, mentioned rumours that he was “sick, very sick”, adding that she half expected a call from his management saying, “It’s too late, the heroin got to him first.”
Between those two points came Yes Please!, the Happy Mondays’ fourth studio album. It has entered into popular legend as the record that killed both band and label, a critical flop reviewed, somewhat inevitably, by Melody Maker with two words: “No thanks”, and a nailed-to-the-shelves commercial disaster that briefly limped to number 14 in the UK charts then sunk like a stone. It is a record that has been subsumed by the tales of its creation, from Shaun Ryder’s improvised poolside crack dens to Bez’s multiple car crashes, whose musical make up is rarely mentioned. And it remains far from critical rehabilitation: Yes Please! celebrates its 25 anniversary this month and there will be no deluxe edition nor anniversary tour nor BBC4 documentary.
(Left) Tony Wilson Founder Factory Records (Right) Shaun Ryder Happy Mondays
Elon – 24 Hour Party Person
Shaun Ryder Not Working In LA
People Must ACCEPT Psychedelics!” – Elon Musk |
The Wall St Jnl’s freak out news story
Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX
Some executives and board members fear the billionaire’s use of drugs—including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms and ketamine—could harm his companies
Elon Muskand his supporters offer several explanations for his contrarian views, unfiltered speech and provocative antics. They’re an expression of his creativity. Or the result of his mental-health challenges. Or fallout from his stress, or sleep deprivation.
In recent years, some executives and board members at his companies and others close to the billionaire have developed a persistent concern that there is another component driving his behavior: his use of drugs.
And Today’s Mass CCC Drama Is… plot to “take out” O’Brien as punishment for investigating serious allegations of cover-ups, abuse and misconduct within the agency.
I do hope there is a Netflix scriptwriter following his posts – all this would make a perfect update to Parks & Recreation or The Office..
Here’s a taste of the latest episode
In shocking development, former Massachusetts CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien alleges State Treasurer Deb Goldberg violated court order in an attempt to keep secret details about a plot within the CCC to “take out” O’Brien as punishment for investigating serious allegations of cover-ups, abuse and misconduct within the agency.
Furthermore, say O’Brien’s lawyers, Goldberg attempted to spread this incorrectly redacted document to the press in an attempt to obfuscate the serious allegations directed at CCC staff (and currently being hidden from the public by way of these risky redactions).
A section of Thursday’s motion from former CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien, alleging violations of a court order by State Treasurer Deb Goldberg. (Released via MassCourts, 2/13/25)
O’Brien, in turn, is asking the court to order the entire document unsealed for pubic review as a sanction for Goldberg violating the court’s specific instructions as to redactions.
“Given the nature of the underlying proceedings, and the asserted bases for Plaintiff’s removal as Chair of the CCC, the Court is, frankly, skeptical that the administrative record itself is likely to contain a significant amount of protected personal information that satisfied the narrow definition of same under SJC Rule 1:24,” said judge Robert B. Gordan (who is specially assigned to the matter) in a prior ruling instructing Goldberg as to how to go about filing the redacted document in question. Read more background about that ruling here – https://www.patreon.com/posts/121109593
A section of the original court order that O’Brien alleges Goldberg violated. (Released via MassCourts, 1/30/25)
Then, in a strong, rebuke to Goldberg, Judge Gordon went on to say, …[T]he Treasurer has not identified, and the Court has not located, any case authority suggesting that an administrative record filed in the context of a review under G.L.c. 249 Section 4 or G.C.c. 30A is subject to the broader strictures of [the Fair Information Practices Act/FIPA], to claims of attorney-client privileges asserted after the subject information was disclosed in an administrative proceeding, or to a privet promised of confidentiality that a governmental agency may have extended to a complaining employee, such as would justify impoundment or redaction of the administrative record on those grounds.”
In turn, Goldberg’s shocking decision to attempt to hide most of the document in question from public view may well draw the ire of the court upon review thereof.
A hearing on the matter has been requested, but not yet scheduled, in Suffolk Superior Court.
’Brien alleges that a group of CCC staff members –attempting to cover up serious allegations of abuse, misconduct and corruption– “took out” O’Brien with pre-textual smears after she attempted to reform the beleaguered regulatory juggernaut.
Goldberg, O’Brien further alleges, is attempting to hide documents related to O’Brien’s suspension (and eventual dismissal) that may show a plot by Nurys Camargo, Shawn Collins, Cedric Sinclair and other CCC personnel to “take out” O’Brien with pretextual allegations of misconduct. Those documents are currently being kept private by Goldberg’s office because of the explosive allegations of misconduct (directed at some of Goldberg’s friends/allies) included therein.
After eight months of work and with the fantastic support of over 200 volunteers, the submitted samples were tested for biological components, pesticides, and other drugs.* And the results were shocking: Out of more than 300 samples tested, only around 20 percent were classified as safe and clean products. The majority of the remaining 80 percent contained traces of substances such as human and animal feces, Covid-19, and influenza viruses. We also found traces of cocaine, ketamine, crystal meth, MDMA, and even compounds from hairspray, as well as traces of toxic pesticides that are classified as illegal in Europe.
Worst test results in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich
How the individual cities performed in the study is shown in the following overview, listed in descending order from most to least contaminated samples from 30 German cities and 20 other European metropolises.
*Please see below for detailed information on the analysis methodology.
With a vote on Tuesday by Virginia’s House of Delegates, both chambers of the legislature have now passed bills that would legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales in the commonwealth.
House members voted 53–46 to approve HB 2485, from Del. Paul Krizek (D), which would allow adults 21 and older to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana from regulated, state-licensed retailers. The vote comes after the Senate last week approved companion legislation, SB 970, from Sen. Aaron Rouse (D).
Each bill now proceeds to the opposite chamber for consideration there.