Groooverider In Jail For 4 Years!

As a young promoter making my way in the scene in '97 I booked a few of D&B's leading luminaries including Goldie, Doc Scott, Bukem, Aphrodite and a certain Ray Bingham aka Grooverider. I also had the pleasure of briging over some of Hip Hop's originators for the same "Elements" night including Grandmaster Flash, DJ Kool Herc and Afrikka Bambatta.

Of all of these talented individuals, Ray stood out as a true prince among men. On two ocassions (out of four) his records didn't make it from Heathrow to the show and he still went on, playing out of my warm-up DJ's bag to a totally loved up audience. He bit his tongue and just got on with it when several others ( that's you Goldie YOU CUNT) spat the dummy and refused to play. Never a nicer person will you meet in the D&B scene which has become known for the diva-esquie behaviuour of many of it's "stars".

I am truly saddened and distraught at what started out as something so trivial has now turned into a good man being deprived of his liberty for four years in a Middle Eastern jail. As I write there is still no formal online reaction to this in terms of a properly organised petition but I predict this will be organised within the next 24 hours and i would urge any right thinking individual to add their name to the list.

Fucking tragic.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=516136&in_page_id=177

In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

Uncle Liam wrote: In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

Put in the position he's currently in he can be forgiven for trotting out some lame excuses. Sticking him in the jail however is wrong even if only from a purely humanitarian point of view, no debate.

Really fucking sad.

What on earth were you doing reading the Daily Mail? Even I dont go that far!

Lets see if we can have a guess which of the following actually buys the News Paper

They ought to give him another year simply for being so daft.

• J.S., London, England

People caught with drugs at Dubai airport have to live with the consequences.

However, without drug culture modern sounds and visuals would never have evolved.

• Andrew, Paris, France

Well done Dubai.

• Chris Downing, Yorkshire

I think, yes it is an overreaction, but if you are going to any of these Islamic countries, you should be aware of the consequences. A bad example is, but the only one I can think of, is an American walking around openly carrying a gun around England, (or Scotland) and pleading ignorance because he's allowed to do it at home.

Have you read the replies on that link? Fucking hell. Now I know why I've never picked up a copy of the Daily Mail.

Keep your friends close but keep your enemys closer..... I read the Daily Mail every day. Anyway, this story has been doing the rounds since GR got banged up in November last year. It's just that nobody, ABSOLUTELY NOBODY, thought it would lead us to where we are today.

I can't stress how much this has become so surreal and doiwnright unfair. I'm off to bed. Hoping it's all some kinda sick joke....

Hate to say it, but that was quite idiotic to go traveling between countries and not even check yer pockets before going through.... four years maybe long for what we consider a misdomenor... but when traveling to the ME I'd be clenching my arsehole tight enough to make a diamond out a lump of coal....

GlasVegas wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

Put in the position he's currently in he can be forgiven for trotting out some lame excuses. Sticking him in the jail however is wrong even if only from a purely humanitarian point of view, no debate.

Really fucking sad.

It was in his trouser pocket.... maybe he did forget, if it was one of those pairs with a gazillion pockets

I always thought trying to find stuff in my handbag was a pain, til getting stuck in a queue behind some daft bugger who couldn't remember which pocket had his bloody card in.

if that is the case 4 years for having daft trousers sounds about right:p

Al, get a new coat for that trip!

Amazing. I'll be avoiding that region all together. Not just because of that you know. Dubai makes me think of a tiger being kept as a house cat. It might appear to be cuddly and cute, but it's still being run by corrupt quasi-religeous nutters.

I'd be interested to know the racial appearence of the people mentioned in the story, and how much money they had in the bank. Intolerant, severe laws are generally cover for otherwise inexcusable racism and elitism. I can't imagine that the authorities over there are too thrilled about a black drum and bass DJ entering the country at all.

GlasVegas wrote:

Of all of these talented individuals, Ray stood out as a true prince among men. On two ocassions (out of four) his records didn't make it from Heathrow to the show and he still went on, playing out of my warm-up DJ's bag to a totally loved up audience. He bit his tongue and just got on with it when several others ( that's you Goldie YOU CUNT) spat the dummy and refused to play. Never a nicer person will you meet in the D&B scene which has become known for the diva-esquie behaviuour of many of it's "stars".

My mate back in Toronto used to be his booking agent and mentioned that Grooverider (and Fabio) was one of best among his roster to work with as he never made "superstar dj" demands or complained when things went wrong

hope there will be an appeal..

I also wonder if other djs will start cancelling their Dubai bookings now..either to avoid any trouble themselves or gesture of solidarity for Grooverider

From that Mail report:

Earlier this month, another Briton was jailed to the same term after a tiny amount of cannabis was found in his shoe. 

Youth development officer Keith Brown, 43, from the West Midlands" was found with 0.003g of the drug - an amount invisible to the naked eye.

WTF????

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6081343597

Uncle Liam wrote: In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

or "it's not mine" what a cliche!

he deserves it. am not sorry.

BillONdollar wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

or "it's not mine" what a cliche!

he deserves it. am not sorry.

No-one fucking 'deserves' 4 years in a shit hole jail for having less than an eigth on them (clearly by accident)

A few spliffs worth and some porn (was it, or was it just FHM or something?) You could find that under pretty much every 17 year old boy's bed in the country!! I know it's the law in Dubai etc etc, but it doesnt make it any less fucking ridiculous

Tolerance?

El Jarvo wrote:

BillONdollar wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

or "it's not mine" what a cliche!

he deserves it. am not sorry.

Sorry, he deserves it?

What a truly disgusting thing to say, shame on you.

disgusting? he IS/WAS in a foreign land as a visitor. he can smoke all he wants OR do whatever fooking anything he pleases at home OR country, but for heaven's sake, REGARDLESS whether he is a "star" or not, obey the damn rules.

i guess, he's brain is in his ass!

typical as far as am concern. he should be responsible of his action and be a "man". he's just sorry he got caught, bottom line!

OK, so you break the law, you get punished and drugs and a whole multitude of countries are a real no-no, so the sensible thing to do would be ultra-careful but such a long sentence? Maybe he deserves no sympathy for being caught, but for the harshness of the sentence, you need to have at least a bit of compassion, no?

Snorri xxx

BillONdollar wrote:

El Jarvo wrote:

BillONdollar wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: In fairness, its Zero Tolerance over there. And if it was Singapore he'd be dead by now. He's got no one to blame but himself. "I forgot it was there" just isnt a valdi excuse anywhere.

or "it's not mine" what a cliche!

he deserves it. am not sorry.

Sorry, he deserves it?

What a truly disgusting thing to say, shame on you.

disgusting? he IS/WAS in a foreign land as a visitor. he can smoke all he wants OR do whatever fooking anything he pleases at home OR country, but for heaven's sake, REGARDLESS whether he is a "star" or not, obey the damn rules.

i guess, he's brain is in his ass!

typical as far as am concern. he should be responsible of his action and be a "man". he's just sorry he got caught, bottom line!

Jesus, this don't sound remotely self-righteous!!

Of course you have never broken any laws and never would.

Snorrimon wrote: OK, so you break the law, you get punished and drugs and a whole multitude of countries are a real no-no, so the sensible thing to do would be ultra-careful but such a long sentence? Maybe he deserves no sympathy for being caught, but for the harshness of the sentence, you need to have at least a bit of compassion, no?

Snorri xxx

yep got you there. it's NOT my law. that's just my p.o.v.

can a guy express and state a case?!

if he wasn't caught, we won't have this forum conversation...

he should have gone to amsterdam, instead.

and like i said, oh no he did ain't...