TAIRRIE B MURPHY of MY RUIN has made a career of manipulating EVERYBODY in her relentless quest for Ego Filled domination. From Fans to bands - Venues to Labels , - Promoters to Agents she will stop at nothing in her quest to be "Gangsta".
Obsessed by money and power (the music takes second place) she will stop at NOTHING to achieve her goals.
Mick Wood - her former Booking Agent was her latest victim - almost leaving him penniless and powerless.
Here is his final email to the woman generally known in the business as "the nightmare".
- YOU SHOULD BE AWARE I AM HEARING THAT YOUR TWISTED VERSION OF THIS MATTER HAS BEEN SHARED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED. THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING TO CEASE AND DESIST - Slander (which unlike you I can prove) and Preventing me from Procuring a living will NOT BE TOLERATED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
- THE FACT THAT I OFFERED AND INDEED MADE SURE ALL DEPOSITS FOR THE 2014 TOUR WERE SENT DIRECTLY TO MICK AND THIS WAS IN THE CONTRACT FOR EVERY VENUE THAT I AS THE AGENT SENT OUT AND HAD RETURNED - TO ME, COMPLETELY DISPELLS ALL OF YOUR PATHETIC ATTEMPTS TO CLAIM ANYONE WAS OUT TO RIP YOU OFF. IF THAT HAD BEEN THE CASE I SIMPLY WOULD HAVE HELD BACK THE DEPOSITS WHICH WERE SENT MONTHS AFTER THE CONTRACTS WERE SIGNED!!!! Just this alone puts paid to EVERY argument you may think you have - END OF STORY!!!
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BUT YOU NEVER ADMIT YOU ARE WRONG - So let me indulge your thirst for dramatic nonsense.
Well it has unfortunately come to this Tairrie. I was going to write similar two years ago but I held off - shame but everybody is right. You are a bigger crook than anyone you love to tell stories about - Daniel Herdmann, DSF (who I believe are innocent), Dave Clough etc pale in significance compared to the strokes you pull, the bully tactics you employ, the manipulation you use as daily routine and the lies you tell with each turning corner. Everyone was right about you - I should have listened.
I made one mistake back in 2012 - and that was to take on the job as Promoter and Booking Agent . You fully took advantage of my vulnerable position and the fact is that my recently deceased family member had just left me a small amount and you manipulated me into spending that even before you got on the plane - on your band -trying to "flog a dead horse" as it were - making me believe that investment in your band outside of the normal "promotion" would bring us all great rewards. Shame on you.
It doesn't matter what happened on the first tour, and the lies you are telling about agreements that never existed (your guarantee should have been £300 max) - I kept my word and struggled to repay you thousands - for the WORK YOU DID (badly) - Everybody expects to be paid for the work THEY did - you are throwing up a million smokescreens to avoid that - highly unprofessional, and no respect for anyone - seems you are in the habit of squeezing people, using them then dumping them cold (I now question ALL the other peoples motives for falling out with you over the years - I have seen how you manipulate people, try and set people against others and EVEN insist people defend you when they don't know the whole story and INSIST if you fall out with them everyone else must too). None of us are your puppets!
You are very keen to point out "as the agent" / " as the tour manager "etc etc - well AS THE ARTISTE your job is to just do your job - not tell others how to do theirs , your OCD micro managing is annoying to say the least- I have always gone way beyond the call for you -acted as P.A, promoter, negotiator, printer, graphic editor, proof reader, etc etc - I have upset venues and contacts and bands with your constant insistence things must be done your way and defended you at all times (often to my detriment). The first T.M did awesome and got all of our asses out of many a hole - you may think you warrant a "bulldog" Tour Manager like back in the day but those days are long gone! .
YOUR CLAIM THAT "the T.M usually books everything in advance on their credit card pre tour is absolute nonsense - back in the day the LABEL fronted the pre tour expenses, you just were clever as you NEVER take a gamble with your own money - you get no interest loans from people who trust you - and never repay them). Your pre tour expenses on the first tour were paid by me and him (we even paid for your rehearsals in L.A !?!) He did his job very well despite constant extra drama caused by you, as did we all - and nothing was ever kept from you. I understand you are now comparing his job to that of his own son - trying to set family against each other do you have no morals at all???
You are a hypocrite - you now say "he should have said what was going on and we could have kicked the main suport off the tour"???. YOU INSISTED ON BOOKING THEM - AT MY EXPENSE - THEN IN LEICESTER YOU INSISTED ON KEEPING THEM - AND ME PAYING THEM FIRST BEING FULLY AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AT THAT POINT AND THROUGHOUT. From the day I got back from the hell that was the 2012 tour (a hell that YOU created and made worse daily with your demands, tantrums and constant attempts to set each other against each other), I rallied round to keep my word and repay what I stupidly agreed were your guarantees - and continued to do so daily despite, ill health, no work, a massive slump in general live music revenue, three burglaries, a massive vets bill, being ripped off by my former mate / employee etc - every week struggling to pay you before I bought food or paid vital household bills. The still looming eviction notice I have on my home is all down to you! BUT I KEPT MY WORD THROUGHOUT DESPITE NO BINDING CONTRACT BETWEEN US - I COULD (AND ON REFLECTION MAYBE SHOULD HAVE) TOLD YOU TO "JOG ON" (but just like the whole Charlie Bagnell saga where you insisted we treat him like family , then blamed us when he stole the rider - you will conveniently make it all somebody else's fault - denial - another smokescreen).
I worked with another Diva from the USA - not as bad as you but a total nightmare from start to finish - he ripped me off but the one big difference is HE WAS TAKING GUARANTEES OF £300.00 OR LESS (and had a bigger fanbase than you). He kind of had an excuse - he has addictions - but he STLL lived n the real world regarding what he was worth. Yeah I should have told you "you are not worth a dime" but it was your manipulation of my vulnerability that put us in this position (it was meant to be 7 days in 2012 - every other show was added simply because two fans in that particular area suggested you play AND YOU INSISTED WE ADD YET ANOTHER DATE!) . END OF THE DAY - AS YOU HAVE SAID ON HUNDREDS OF OCCASIONS AND I HAVE SO MUCH PROOF - I DID KEEP MY WORD - NOW YOU ARE JUST TALKING BOLLOCKS BECAUSE YOU OWE ME AND THE T,M AND CREW (How many times are you going to repeat yourself on EVERYTHING - Just because you say it a hundred times IT DOESNT MAKE IT TRUE - but with this final email I will be repeating myself - in the hope that it will sink in!).
Sorry but the bottom line is you are NOT a DIY band - you are an unsigned band that expect to be paid and pampered like you are filling stadiums (not knocking your music - apart from the obvious financial position Europe finds itself in I would suspect your ever dropping support from fans is due to the way you treat everyone from venues to crew, promoters to agents, fans, support bands and everybody else - we have all been royally screwed over by this industry - you need to remember and respect those who have not screwed you- and have always had your back! - Just for the record - the main support brought more through the door than My Ruin on at least 5 shows in 2012 - and their guarantee was very reasonable (I know of American bands who tour the UK self funded - with minimum or no guarantees - if they are lucky they get to eat - if its all about the music that's your starting point - , book your own flights, bundle in the back of a van and get on with it - not demand unrealistic treatment and money for a band that unfortunately (due to the singers reputation for being "a nightmare") can't pull more than a handful but expects to be treated like royalty.
As for that reputation - just one of hundreds of examples - did you realise 17 people cancelled their tickets / demanded a refund when you punched a girl for NO REASON in Leeds in 2012? . Or that people in London often say to me they love your music but won't support you because of the way you have treated somebody they know in the past? (my mate saw it all this year in York - your onstage rant was a PR stunt, he texted me WHILE you were ranting onstage "Dude, I I know she's high strung but calling the venue manager a cunt mid set is not the best thing. Took a few of us to stop him pulling the plug. However, doorstaff are here to make sure curfew is maintained. I give you my word these are proper decent guys. If anything kicks off it will only be cos they have to react. I love you man but she's just gone way out in my respect. Sorry man. Just, no. Bang out of order" and "To be honest it felt like she was trying to get a kick off to get some publicity. I know there's nothing you can do. To be fair, given all the grief the crowd loved it when she kicked off. It was a balls out rock show and it was done well. I just think she was looking for summat to get some press. They ran over and there's meant to be a club night on but they let em go just to avoid any grief. Like I said, love you ya big cuddly bastard. Just giving you an objective view knowing both sides very well. Before you hear about i from the venue. Anyway. I'll see you soon. X". (Don't even bother bad mouthing this person - they has been a friend for years and I trust them with my life! - you just couldn't resist a little drama to get the focus on you) AND THERE'S ME DEFENDING YOU TO THE HILT!!!.
I know you believe life revolves around Facebook - well if you want block me and spam block my emails that's perfect (I have your address if I need to serve Legal papers - by all means get your Attorney involved - my first question to him is obvious!). I have no intention of saying ANYTHING about My Ruin from this moment on - but if you want to go down your usual childish, unprofessional route of publicly or privately "telling it how it is" be sure I will defend myself with vigour - I aint no "gangsta" but I am no mug either - so do what you will. (same applies to anyone else - now or in the future).
So I will remind you that you owe me money (and the T.M) and I will never let you forget that I spent my whole inheritance and my rent on keeping you sweet for two years - I regret that now - if I had known you were going to knock us I would have not paid you a cent of your overpriced, ego massaging "fee" (but I did - every single penny - and more). Seems your M.O is to bleed people dry and leave them for dead using any means at your disposal. That has left a real bad taste in my mouth after we were ALL so up front, honest and accommodating to you - that is bang out of order! (and to suggest anyone was creaming anything behind your back when I couldn't afford heating in the winter is disgusting). It was kind of obvious you were planning all this -when you announced this would be your last UK Tour (you burnt all your bridges here - nobody is interested in My Ruin - obviously).
What is worse though - is trying to play off two family members against each other - simply to swerve paying your debts. That is disgusting behaviour and can never be forgiven. ( not that it makes any difference but I didn't have any issues with your husband whatsoever - although I realise he will be defending you). You completely used the T.M and his crew - AND TRUST ME WHEN I SAY - FOR THEIR CAREER YOU DID THEM NO FAVOURS (I know because I am here in the scene with them - not on Fantasy Island) - they are as popular as you are really - they are an UNDERGROUND DIY band THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY ACT LIKE IT AND ARE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS!
Regarding the 2014 tour - make sure this registers - stop kidding yourself:
ALTFEST - I got you in there at a massive guarantee - they never invited you - didn't even think of you. I was already heavily associated with booking 2 other artistes and 19 djs, dancers and performers, looking a the security plan and a brand new online real time feature at the event before I even brought up your name. PERIOD!
They went bankrupt - I will chase them if I feel its worth it - I don't need your permission and you wont be seeing any money from it if I ever get it - others you have robbed will!
CORBY - An outside promoter suggested you play, you told me - I went direct to the owner who I had a previous relationship with - they approved pending management - management said yes TO ME and I booked the show. Your role was minimal (and all those guys are PERSONAL friends of mine - bear that in mind before you run your mouth to them).
LONDON - You have never met the booker - He and I have worked closely for years. The Underworld was too big for you - but your ego couldn't accept that. The booker got your email AND SPOKE TO ME. He approved the guarantee and invited me to co pro it (even calling me back to ask me how to list it - STC or Monsta). We went 50/50 on everything as Co Promoters - we lost money and the final paperwork came to me as the AGENT!. END OF STORY.
BRISTOL - I met the promoter during the Toyah / AdS show -we chatted and exchanged details - later on he contacted me to ask if you were coming over, as soon as we decided you were I hit him up and that was it. NOTHING ELSE.
MANCHESTER - The Promoter and I have worked together before- he moved venues. I booked the show We remain good friends. DONE
BRIGHTON - I sourced the promoter - nothing more to add. DONE
YORK - I advised you against working with Martyn - you insisted, then I reached out to T.H (on my mates advice who lives in York) - he was cool , he then suggested and liaised with The Duchess when his venue had a re fit. SORTED
BIRMINGHAM - Actually a mutual friend in a band hooked me up with the original promoter, I then got my good friend (who runs the London venues) to chase it and vouch for me. JOB DONE
NORWICH - Yes you suggested P after suggesting we hit up Karl (to discover he was a con man) - Paul was very reluctant - I convinced him (Originally I got the COLCHESTER gig with a few pointers from our second T.M - you wanted to play The Arts which like London was ambitious to say the least - and they being a council venue had ridiculous costs and rules). THE END
THE BOOKING AGENT BOOKED THE SHOWS AS A BOOKING AGENT SHOULD DO - GOT IT?
(and you have no idea how pissed off even these guys were all were with your pre tour demands!).
As for your two faced nonsense , you have constantly been slagging the T.M off since the first tour saying he is incompetent, you flew at the crew tech because he wouldn't promote YOU and even told me he hated me (lucky I never fell for that) - you defended Mona and the tour photographer to the hilt ....until you didn't like the fact they wised up to you then expected everyone to hate them (Mona is a banshee - I cant forgive her for what she said and did TO ME - If anything she was VERY vocal publicly - so don't be under any illusion that you did me any favours by not telling everyone anything you wrongly believe could ruin my reputation - as she did all the damage anyway - if there was any done. YOU BULLIED ME INTO ADDING 8 EXTRA DATES ON THE TOUR - MADE UNREASONABLE DEMANDS OUTSIDE OF THE GUARANTEE - RIPPED ME OFF - AND I STILL DID THE RIGHT THING PAYING YOU - LEAVING MYSELF WITHOUT FOOD SOME WEEKS).
The tour photographers and video people- all the ex fans who went public, the artistes and photographers you stole from - the bands on the first tour that you were constantly trying to stir trouble with - even Isaac....I have NO real problem with ANY of them - you just love to play Pied Piper and chastise anyone who doesn't get into line!
(and THAT'S why you have ducked out and dropped this - leaving it to me and T.M - you KNOW I wont suffer your bullshit and WILL pull you up on every bit of waffle you twist - you met your match as I AM NOT SCARED OF WITH TAIRRIE B MURPHY!).
(To do the "repeat" thing - I must also make this point about Altfest here - I talked to the organisers 2 years ago - before they scouted for any bands. I was the FIRST person to talk to them from any sector as I was bidding for the security contract. AT NO POINT did they invite you to play or ask for you - I PROPOSED YOU TO THEM and as at the time myself had a good relationship (until they went bankrupt) I PERSUADED them to book you on a HIGHLY INFLATED FEE.
You are completely delusional to suggest they "invited" you - if the truth be known if it wasn't for me they would not have even considered you. PERIOD!)
Lets be honest shall we - this whole image thing - its all fake - all a big publicity ride, from the "be who you are, look how you want" (when it takes you 2 hours before and after a show to look immaculate, whilst slagging off your fans backstage - no disrespect to them but what band on this level takes a hairdresser on tour?) to the "we are diy" (covered already) to "we love our fans" (no you just want to sell more merch and BGD, you dump them and delete them if they don't do EXACTLY as you demand).These fickle statements you make publicly, the emphasis on women in control (under your control you mean - and god help anyone you perceive as prettier or getting more attention than you), to the whole "gangster" tip, its nonsense - Hollywood waffle designed to keep you in the limelight and make you more money (of which you are WHOLLY OBSESSED with).
You can get full up in the face of a gay dude who you chose to hate because one of your (now ex) friends says he had shared an opinion on low tickets sales - not even caring him and his partner drove 200 miles at 10pm to deliver your excessive guarantee in Nottingham.
You bullied him in that car park - because you had an audience!
You are lucky I am an honest man and we all went to the trouble to make sure you got paid, you are lucky your Tour Manager was so chilled (as I would have simply drove away if he had got in my face over this, or if he had got physical which is what you expect from a T.M - I would have dealt with that - along with my other friends in the area) and you are lucky Jon lent Frank the money to pay you after how you treated him. Your on road photographer / videographer like me and so many others got sucked into your lies - you screwed her over too - go figure!. I guess you finally came down to earth now - your band aint worth nothing - because the singer uses and casts away every mug she can find!
You really need to take a long hard look at yourself . This guts me - I thought we had become genuine friends.(but so did so many other - didn't they!!!!)
This could all have been solved with a simple reply "Sorry Monsta - We do not agree - let's talk about it / agree to disagree / negotiate" but you chose the ignorant way and ignored me. I knew you were planning to skank everyone - THAT'S why I hit you up straight after telling you to get some rest - that last Skype call was so patronising "Monsta , you have been such a good little lapdog I will reward you by giving you your money - BUT you have to pay our debt to the TM" (after a year of "urgent" Skype calls at 4am - just to discuss artwork or non AGENT related stuff - to have you repeat 10 times what you had already said in an email 5 hours before). YOU THINK BY KEEP REMINDING EVERYONE THAT "GUARANTEES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID" IT WILL RELINQUISH YOUR RESPONSIBILITY? I FACED UP TO MINE (I MADE A MISTAKE IN 2012 - TAKING YOUR WORD FOR EVERYTHING - I PAID FOR THAT MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY - MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR - YOU STILL OWE ME AND THE T.M MONEY.(and I will now include the vast amount of printing you got for nothing for posters and suchlike that you claimed you would give away but SOLD to your fans). WHILST I AM WELL AWARE YOU WILL NEVER PAY IT UNLESS I LEGALLY WIN (WHICH I MAY STILL DECIDE TO PURSUE) THAT DOES NOT CHANGE FACT. Your radio silence neither bothers me or impresses me (I guess you have done this as you know I am not intimidated by you - you cant bully me - I have nothing to gain by keeping you sweet).
You knew that the money I had been giving you for the "debt" long exceeded what you were owed and you deliberately kept quite about that - you had every intention of ripping off the T.M as well (you told me to pay you and you would sort him out). You think because you wont return to the UK that you can use and abuse the few people who stuck by you?. Trust me - if I have to I will sue you from here (it's not as hard as you think now) and legally hound you in L.A purely on principle.
I should also remind you that other agents take up to 20% - are not obliged to promote the tour, wet nurse the Artiste or liaise their fans (not their fault - yours) or to provide 24/7 helpline to talk about every little subject relating to the artistes bad attitude and the problems it brings (11 venues on this tour turned down a show - citing your attitude as the reason!).
I doubt you will "do the right thing" - You even tuck up your own fans , but I wont be letting this go - and I think you know I mean that!
You are an ungrateful, poisonous, dishonest and wicked person.
Pay Your Debts!
Mick Wood
Today's Lesson: "Behaviour is the mirror in which everyone shows their true image." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
P.S: Most of this was actually written before your catalogue of lies - end of the day everything was done on trust - at least twenty people I can think of can testify to the fact that you are a liar, a bully and a user. I repaid you in good faith. You have no morals or principles - just sheer ego and greed. See you in court?!
(All lines of communication - with the exception of stcmonsta@gmail.com now have you spam blocked)
All Content (c) Mick Wood / monstaents.com 2014. NO REPRODUCTION IN PART OR WHOLE WITHOUT THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION