Beck Tricks Fans Into Supporting Scientology
Alterna-rock legend Beck perfomed a benefit concert at the Echo in LA last month. The Echo has been described as a 300 seat hole in the wall on Sunset Blvd just west of downtown Los Angeles. Beck, a bit of an eccentric, has done many “secret” concerts there in the past.
One of his SCHEDULED shows last June ‘08 was cancelled abruptly with no explanation, with fans paying upwards of $300
for scalped tickets. Then, without explanation again, Beck appeared unannounced the following week at a “super secret” show with a new album, and a new band, much to the disappointment of fans who were there for him the week before.
So we have a bit of history of secretiveness with Beck’s performance, but last month’s was the icing on the Xenu-cake.
The March 11th show at the Echo was advertised as a “benefit” concert with tickets going for $35.00 a pop and the net proceeds were to benefit a “charity” called Educating Children International
At least according to the concert flyer (which can be seen above.)
Almost immediately there were raised eyebrows as to where the proceeds were going and who or what exactly was Educating Children International?
LA Weekly’s Randall Roberts suspected that Beck’s last concert may have had a connection with Scientology, seeing as Beck is well-known celeb Scientologist. Connection is putting it mildy!
Roberts writes:
“Beck is indicating that his performance tonight is a benefit for some sort of educational non-profit, but provides a dead end domain name as the organization to which he will be donating the proceeds. Shouldn’t we know where that $35 is going?”
In follow up on the same day Randall posts:
“An astute reader has just sent us a link to this Scientology page, which seems to add further evidence to the assertion that the non-profit organization to be the beneficiary of the $35 cover to tonight’s Beck show at the Echo, Educating Children International, is indeed affiliated with the Church of Scientology.”
Just one visit to the Educating Children website shows a picture of one of the Scientology” free schools”.
The sign on the roof reads West Bengal SCIENTOLOGY Free School, too bad it didn’t mean Scientology-free school (badump-bump)!
LA Weekly adds:
“And, for the record, there was no prosthelytizing of any sort at last night’s show, according to someone who was there. Nor was there any info booth or anything indicating the show was affiliated with any sort of non-profit.”
Of course Scientology didn’t offer to put an info booth or show there was any affiliation with Scientology, they may be evil and corrupt, but they aren’t completely stupid. If they’d shown up with their little yellow circus tents and “touchy-feeling” followers, fans would have been in an uproar and demanding refunds. Besides, Scientology already had the fan’s money when they bought the tickets. That’s how they roll.
Not long ago, Glosslip did a story on Scientology Ministries, where we mentioned that Scientology was reaching out to third world countries. One of those countries is India. The program? You guessed it, Educating Children International. And the people volunteering? Scientology Ministries. What a cowinky-dink!
The man spearheading this program is Mohommad Khalilullah. (We will tell you all about Mohommad and two featured volunteers in India in our part 2 of the story coming soon.)
Beck’s official website, does not mention or list the past concert at the Echo or any Scientology affiliation. Beck is however, re-releasing one of his past albums.
Our theory is Beck’s music career has suffered lately due to his affiliations with Scientology and he is now being forced to re-release old material in an effort to make some money. After all, as a high-profile Scientologist, he is commissioned with KSW (Keep Scientology Working – Tom Cruise explains here) and you can’t do that when your new stuff doesn’t sell.
lt’s no secret many established artists are having a tough time selling their music in this economy, the music industry has been foundering for some time now, but one has to wonder if all this added negative attention Scientology’s been getting (thanks Tom Cruise, Anonymous) is starting to spill over to all its “celeb” members?
In doing research on this story, we came across some interesting Scientology connections in Beck’s music. Some song titles from Becks collection are “The Golden Age,” “E-Pro” and “Gamma Ray”.
So what we’re wondering is…could E-Pro be short for E-meter pro? And perhaps Golden Age refers to L. Ron Hubbard’s “Golden Age” Book series that were recently published? And Gamma Ray? well, that’s self explanatory! These titles seem very “SCI-entific”!
Perhaps even more telling are Beck’s song titles from his “Modern Guilt” Album. Which are ” Modern Guilt” , “Orphans”, “Nausea”, and “Volcano”.
Hey Beck! Scientology much?
Re-releasing old material to your fans is one thing, but not divulging the TRUTH about a “charity” is an outrage!
Fans now have to worry whether their concert ticket dollars are going to an organization which employs slave labor, forced abortions and has been waging a war on psychiatry for years.
People, do your homework before you purchase a ticket for a “benefit ” event involving any Scientology artists, or you may be just buying David Miscavige a new swimming pool.
(posted by Queen, edited by D)
[Editor's note: Just to show how fair and balanced we are, I would like to point out that I LOVE Beck's music, I think the man is very talented and part of my drive to expose Scientology as the fraud it is comes from wanting to help people like Beck, who is clearly brainwashed. A world without Beck's music would be a bit less interesting and enriched, but that doesn't excuse his ignorance towards this bogus cult. So with that in mind, here's fav of mine (original video here):]
Pink Stripe WordPress Theme Designed by Joni Mueller &
Dawn,
For Part 2… please. please include the hilarious remix videos found here:
http://vimeo.com/user1520816/videos
Comment by Gunny Hartman — April 24, 2009 @ 4:13 pm
[...] Read more… [...]
Pingback by Beck Tricks Fans Into Supporting Scientology 2009: Alternarock Legend — April 24, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
Some more Beck info at http://scientologist.blogspot.com/
Lots of links to other celebs as well, Cruise, Travolta, Holmes, Nichols, etc.
Last week they had Neil Gaiman but he’s been taken off for some reason.
Comment by Nina Glass — April 24, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
If you go to Beck shows you deserve to get ripped-off. He’s got a history of stupid behavior; I remember back when he was popular – Beck put a boom box on stage and just played a tape of his album rather than performing.
Comment by Willie — April 24, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
When I clicked on the video link (in rss reader), thought it was going to be a ‘Rick Roll’ to Loser. lol.
Comment by Russian Around — April 24, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
Good reporting on the Beck/Scientology connection, and this EDUCATING CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL front group. A few weeks ago, I noticed this Scilon duo on YOUTUBE (some originals and some very funny remixes in the link poster #1, Gunny provided) and didn’t make the connection with the Beck charity. Look forward to your Part II on them.
It is confusing what they are doing, because they say they are building an orphanage…and then mention they are working with existing schools, teaching some Scientology-nothings, throwing in extraneous stats about the number of kids without an education in India, as if Scientology will have that licked in a couple of years, once the kids get their hands on Dianetics. Yet it appears it is just the two of them visiting for some kind of photo op, or maybe the crappy conditions of these two, is supposed to get millions flowing in? Hard to figure out what it is about. For Scientology, it is so un-glossy.
The school in West Bengal looks like something they bought for $50, not something they had built. Are there only these two clucks, who’ll be teaching “how to learn” to the 400,000 orphans.
She complains of a fever. What?!! I thought they were immune to such things, or if they did get it, they didn’t talk about it. How long are they going to be there? Is it just the two of them? Why can’t they be a little more articulate about their plans? I can’t even figure out what they are doing.
I think Tom, Katie and Suri should stay with this couple for a month, or Beck himself. Don’t the orphans need some music? And Tom, with his high level Thetan powers, would certainly know how to breathe filthy Calcutta air without getting dirty boogers.
Comment by Xenuxian — April 24, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
The Educating Children International website link isn’t so dead anymore, thanks to some online practical joker:
http://www.educatingchildreninternational.org/
Comment by G-man — April 24, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Beck needs to wake up already and realize how much membership in the cult is costing him in revenue.
=============================
G-man…..good going for the link you gave. I wonder how that is done?
Comment by Kilia — April 24, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
“Last week they had Neil Gaiman but he’s been taken off for some reason.”
Comment by Nina Glass
******
*Ahem* Allow me to take the credit.
That would be because I told one of the authors of that blog, a man named Grahame, that a friend of mine, who is a close friend of Neil Gaiman, confirmed to me that he is no longer a practicing Scientologist. His parents are, but he and his wife & kids are Jewish. Grahame said that he heard from someone else that Neil had taken courses in Clearwater a couple of year ago, but I said that @ best you could say that Neil’s status is ambiguous. And I pointed out that there is more circumstantial evidence to suggest that Will Smith is a Scientologist, but that blog doesn’t list him since he has never officially confirmed it. So they probably shouldn’t list Neil either, unless he comes right out & says it. I haven’t looked @ that blog since but, if they removed him, I guess that means they agreed with me.
As for Beck, well, I don’t know if I’d speculate that his affiliation with Scientology is significantly responsible for his lack of commercial success. Let’s face it, other than a brief period in the early 90’s, he was never really a mainstream artist. He could denounce Scientology tomorrow, and convert to Christianity, & I seriously doubt he’d suddenly start selling top 10 records again. He’s a “Cult Artist” (in every sense of the word ^_^).
Comment by J.R. LeMar — April 24, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
The writer is correct that Beck had a show that benefited a Scientology cause. That, I think, was bad enough. Not telling people it was a Scientology cause was much worse.
But the writer is way off about the re-release of One Foot in the Grave. It was a popular Beck album that went out of print several years ago, disappointing new fans who had a hard time getting hold of copies. At the same time, Beck’s more longtime or hardcore fans had been salivating for years over stories about numerous outtakes from the One Foot sessions. The deluxe release made the album available once again plus it included a number of outtakes and B sides–all for just a couple dollars more than a regular CD. So Beck’s detractors may see it as desperation, but it’s something Beck fans had been asking for for years and were glad to finally receive.
Comment by the one who always answers this stuff — April 24, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
Word on the street is that Beck disconnected from his mother Bibby, at the insistence of scientology handlers and the wife because she was unwilling to return to scientology. He’s at the point where if the COS said jump he’d say how high? He has lost the genius he once exhibited in works like One Foot In The Grave which I understand completely why he would decide to re release it. It will probably outsell all his newer albums combined. It has become obvious that he is pushing the “clear the planet” agenda by not telling his fans what this bogus charity was really about. I don’t feel like his artistry will return until he wakes up from this spell he’s under.
Comment by xxx — April 25, 2009 @ 7:33 pm
beck sucks and always has
Comment by tiger — April 27, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
and this is exactly the crap I expect a scietologist and the cult of scientology to do
It is what everyone NOW expects
THANKS ANONYMOUS! I LOVE YOU!
Comment by tiger — April 27, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
“Grahme” is a Scientologist who runs a Scientology blog and until aweek ago was trumpeting the FACT that Neil Gaiman takes services at FLAG.
Both Neil Gaiman and Beck try to downplay their involvement in Scientology to sell books and CDs, it’s that simple. Scientologists see outsiders or “Wogs” as less than human and are free to lie to them. Neil Gaiman never publically denies being a Scientologist, he just has his flunkies try and get the information taken down.
It doesn’t matter whether Neil Gaiman “practices” Scientology, whatever that means… the fact is NEIL GAIMAN FUNDS SCIENTOLOGY.
Here is some info from:
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/7-chit-chat/david-gaiman-has-died-41129/7/
Follow the yellow brick road.
Neil Gaiman funds Scientology to the tune of six figures. The Gaiman family USA are listed as “Patrons with Honor” and “Founding Patrons” of Scientology for 2003, 2004 & 2006. According to ex scientologist Jon Attack, Patrons (are) the highest ranking membership – of the International Association of Scientologists.
The Gaiman Family USA are “Patrons with Honors,” meaning they have donated $100,000.00, and that’s just Neil Gaiman. In 2006, the same year Neil Gaiman is listed as donating $100,00.00, his father and mother, David and Sheila Gaiman are listed as “Patrons Silver Meritorious” having donated almost £400,000 pounds or $750,000.00. They also donate through G & G Foods, the Gaiman family “vitamin” company, which no doubt sells the Purification rundown Vitamin’s worldwide.
Go to The Truth About Scientology for the big picture, but here’s a recap.
2003: THE GAIMAN FAMILY USA Impact magazine #105 Patrons ($100,000.00) You will find them listed in CAPS because they are Patrons with Honors ($100,000.00)
http://www.truthaboutscientology.com…05patrons.html
2004: Impact #109 G & G Foods Patrons ($40,000.00)
2004: THE GAIMAN FAMILY USA Impact Magazine #109 Founding Patrons ($100,000.00) [circa September 2004 ] :Founding Patrons are those who became Patrons by the IAS 20th Anniversary (October/November 2004).
http://www.truthaboutscientology.com…9-patrons.html
The following list appears in Impact 114 [ circa September 2006 ] :
2006: Impact #114 G & G Food Supplies Patrons ($40,000.00)
2006: THE GAIMAN FAMILY USA Impact magazine #114 Patrons ($100,000.00) You will find them listed in CAPS because they are Patrons with Honors ($100,000.00)
2006: Impact magazine #114 DAVID & SHEILA GAIMAN Silver Meritorious ($750,000.00)
http://www.truthaboutscientology.com…4-patrons.html
Comment by Mest — April 28, 2009 @ 12:03 am
[...] Beck Tricks Fans Into Supporting Scientology [...]
Pingback by Daily News About Scientology : A few links about Scientology - Monday, 27 April 2009 03:04 — April 28, 2009 @ 5:02 am
Beck is talented, which makes one wonder what he would have produced without the ball and chain of Scientology around his neck.
If he wants to be a COS enabler is one thing, but what he is doing to his fans is another– breaching their trust.
Comment by AnonymousNow — April 28, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Well, that’s it for me.
I can’t watch Travolta, Will Smith or Cruise any more, because they bought wholesale into something most 15 year olds would reject on the grounds of stupidity. Now Beck…
Comment by Someone — May 4, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
I agree with someone, i use not care for cruise or travolta, but now i can’t still will smith either =\.
just knowing he is funding them and all his new movies now that he is in scientology, i mean even if he wasn’t a scientologist i wouldn’t want to pay for those -_-. He lost his will factor =|
also i love how spellcheck never works on anything like scientology, or any of their mumbo jumbo words -_- lol
Comment by EnthetaCookieMonster — May 9, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
Beck’s cool. Doesn’t matter what his religion is.
The commenters above need to get a life.
You like music because you like it, not because of the beliefs of the person. Does anyone turn off Mozart because he was a freemason? Get over it you creeps!
Comment by Cee — May 12, 2009 @ 3:26 am
Doesn’t matter what Beck believes in Cee?
No problem with supporting an abusive cult with your concert ticket money? Get a clue!
Comment by COS is FAIL — May 17, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
[...] songs and titles have Scientology references. (which all sucked) And as we mentioned in a previous article, Beck did a “benefit” concert and did not tell his fans that the proceeds were going [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » What Is Wrong With Juliette Lewis? — September 9, 2009 @ 8:16 pm
[...] We did a story on that gig. His fans and now ex-fans were not too tickled that their $35 bucks went to Scientology. They were totally deceived. Nice thing to do to your fans huh? [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » Have You Unknowingly Donated Money To Scientology? — October 2, 2009 @ 9:03 am
[...] We did a story on that gig. His fans and now ex-fans were not too tickled that their $35 bucks went to Scientology. They were totally deceived. Nice thing to do to your fans huh? [...]
Pingback by Celebrity Blog | Babelogs | Celebrity Gossip » Blog Archive » Have You Unknowingly Donated Money To Scientology? — October 2, 2009 @ 6:34 pm