I'll try to keep this business talk short. It started happening little by little: Mediafire was taking down some of my download links for violating their over-arching and somewhat puritanical terms of service. Bands like TWAT SAUCE, FUCK YEA AVOCADO and SHITHEAD JONES were just too far of a step over the line for them. That's fine. I can deal with that. They were placing "strikes" against my account for these offenses. Then, one day, they took down a number of files all at once (including a live HICKEY set, a practice tape of ME, YOU AND THE BOYS and DR DRE DEL [a musician I actually got permission from]) because they also violated Mediafire's vague terms (seriously, after taking the time to read them, the company can do whatever they want to any of your files at any time with no explanation.). After removing all of these files, they locked my account, thereby turning the majority of this site into less of an interactive fun thing and more into the nostalgic ramblings of a hopeful lunatic. (but you can still download TOMMY LASORDA, the live HICKEY recording and some other stuff)
I contacted customer service, which I already knew would be an exercise in tedious futility. I was gonna print the entire ridiculous email exchange, but there's no point. Basically, they told me that I need to "demonstrate" that I have permission from all of the musicians that have been shared through my account. A cursory glance at my account tells me that I would need explicit permission from
at least 900 people to cover all of my bases. 25 of the bands are bands that I played in. A lot of those people are dead. I tried to explain to them the basic tenets of punk, the lack of copyrights, the idea of community as if I was explaining it to my grandfather who died in 1983, but it just made things way more frustrating.
Basically, I'm not getting that account unlocked. If any of your music has been on this site and you want to tell them that "hey, it's cool", be my guest. You might get an entertaining email back from them, but don't expect anything productive to happen. DON'T LINK THEM TO THIS BLOG. You can tell them that you're writing on behalf of the account associated with the email address rick_harvester@yahoo.com (don't write me there. I will never, ever respond to it.). Their email address is esupport@mediafire.com.
I'm taking the next week off to figure some shit out, gather some tapes and decide if this is all worth it. If you want anything re-uploaded, comment here and tell me what it is. I'll do my best. You can also mail me a tape plus $5 cash and I will tape anything in my collection for you (p.o.b. 40786, SF, CA 94140. US only please). Also, if you know where I live, feel free to stop by and tape anything you want.
Stay Punk.