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Whitney Houston Death: Diamanda Galás' Brutal Attack on 'Colossal Pig' Clive Davis

  • Posted on Feb 16th 2012 3:10PM by Jason MacNeil
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Diamanda GalasFrans Schellekens, Redferns

While hundreds of artists wrote simple messages of condolences following Whitney Houston's death, avant-garde singer Diamanda Galás wrote a vitriolic letter earlier this week on her site taking aim squarely at Clive Davis.

As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Galás said she mourned her death before saying that "Whitney...was put back onstage before she was ready to perform -- by the colossal pig Clive Davis -- who continued his party in the same hotel where she died and where her body still lay. Heresy."

Galas said Houston should have been allowed to study with a voice therapist or teacher for at least two years before "even rehearsing, let alone performing, onstage."

"What was she put onstage as?" Galás asked. "A lesson that 'drugs kill'? 'Hey wanna see a crack ho sing?' Courtesy of Clive Davis. 'Wow, man, that will be some freaky s-t, right?' 'You bet, man.'"

Galás also said, "Mr. Davis will be able to package her death in frills and sell it big time" while noting some online sites increased the prices of her back catalogue following Houston's death.

Watch Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Video

The singer also said Davis "thought nothing of keeping her up onstage while she received humiliating reviews and she represented DOPEFIEND LOSER of THE WAR ON DRUGS."

Galásagain did however state in the opening of her note her "deep sorrow for Whitney" as well as towards her family and "those who still loved her." And she also came to Bobby Brown's defense in a roundabout way. "And a deep loathing for those who ran her into the ground. Sure, one was Bobby Brown, but he is a common idiot. The bigger picture? Think a minute."

A spokesperson for Davis told the Hollywood Reporter that while Galás was entitled to "her uninformed opinion, her Facebook post is wholly inaccurate and offensive." Stating that Davis "cherished" the late singer, the spokesperson also said it was "absolutely outrageous for anyone to suggest that Mr. Davis ever had anything but Whitney's best interest at heart."

Galás, whose brother died from AIDS in 1986, has never been a shrinking violet in terms of voicing her opinion. In a 1992 interview with the New Music, Galas said Axl Rose was "militantly homophobic" after Rose and Guns N' Roses appeared at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. As well, her 1988 video for the song 'Double Barrel: Prayer' was banned by Canadian channel MuchMusic and deemed by MTV to be the most offensive video of the year.

Galás performs two shows at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art on Feb. 23 and 25.
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  • Filed under: News, Holy Hell
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Around The Web:

Diamanda Galas Mourns Whitney Houston - 16 Feb 2012 | Clash ...

Diamanda Galás' Statement on Whitney Houston's Death | Facebook

diamanda galás

Diamanda Galas 'slams' Clive Davis - Drowned In Sound

Musician Slams Clive Davis Over Handling of Whitney Houston, Calls Him ...

Diamanda Galas Mourns Whitney Houston

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Harven

There is a saying like this "Only one himself knows if the shoes match his feet or not “。If u really love her /him, age ain't nothing but a number for these loved-up A-Listers. My BF and I both think so! He is almost 10 years older than I .We met via~~--Ageless'date . ℃○M .~~ a nice place for younger women and oldermen, or older women and younger men, to interact with each other! ,Ever feel that you would best enjoy someone who is not in your age group? If u are really interested in it, maybe u wanna check it out or tell your friends.

March 27 2012 at 10:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
polly

finally someone who realy see's who played a huge part in her addiction. Clive Davis
molded and criteked her as long as she was making him rich he didn't care what she
was doing.so sad . why couldn't any of the wonderful people who surrounded her during her life protect her daughter from being what i see is abused. She exposed this child to all kinds of abuse.

February 25 2012 at 4:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Ray Songtree

Like Michael Jackson murder, this was a music industry sacrifice. More information at www.afterenlightenment.net/music_industry.htm

February 17 2012 at 2:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jupl1

Just a humble thought

-In light of such tragedies what if we all worked as community on lyrics, poem, etc.? Where we work together… where no one is better than anyone else?

Why not?

-Below is extremely rough/rushed drafts for example/Extremely sorry about that!

Please feel free to do what ever desired with following:

(Please know not trying to make any statements with following, etc! Don’t pretend to have any answers about such subjects! Thank you for understanding!)

(Nay sayers, etc. please don't apply, etc.)

Speaks volumes
When the sensitive die
Are we too insensitive
Even just to try
To ask the real reasons why?

She is beautiful
Inside and out
But dies alone beneath spirit’s surface… amongst waters of doubt
When will the wise be the ones
To ask what these tragedies are truly all about?

What if we were wrong
About the judgements of History
What really killed him
When all along
Could it not have been you and me?

To say the least
Sadly the countless more
We are all in need of revelations… reach out… save… heal one another
Otherwise what are we truly living for?

When one reaches out… bares their souls
Should these strengths not be praised
For is it not more noble
To seek our own strengths
By eternally comforting those needing to be consoled
Than hiding in the futility of comforting our own insecurities
Judgement's evils and questions raised… need not control?

Bottom line is
We’re all in this life together
And yes we all do rely on one another
For in our present time
And the best of all worlds
Peace without peace within
Never allows for that one true blessed gift
The blessed gifts of peace of the mind

Now if we all always needed somewhere to walk to
Somewhere someplace to call home?

And if we all always needed someone to talk to
Someone somebody when they’re all alone?

What kind of world would that be?

When it’s very simple...
What it comes down to is up to you and me

You and me
You and me

Seek what it means to truly be free

You and me
You and me

For sometimes within such simplicity
Awaits the answers of truly being free
You and me

========

Come in out of the darkness
There’s enough light for us two
Stop chasing shadows
For they can soon stand taller than you

Everyone needs somewhere they can walk to
Somewhere someplace to call their home

Everyone needs someone they can talk to
Someone somebody when they are all alone

Come in out of storm’s rain
For there’s shelter here for us all
Tears can sadly go unnoticed
When shed in lives of pain

Let them fall

Let us comfort you

One and all

Let them fall
Let them fall

For the Sun will shine once again

Not for one but for in doing so… by comforting one another… then for us all

February 16 2012 at 5:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jupl1

Just a humble thought

-In light of such tragedies what if we all worked as community on lyrics, poem, etc.? Where we work together… where no one is better than anyone else?

-Why not?

-Below is extremely rough/rushed drafts for example/Extremely sorry about that!

Please feel free to do what ever desired with following:

(Please know not trying to make any statements with following, etc! Don’t pretend to have any answers about such subjects! Thank you for understanding!)

(Nay sayers, etc. please don't apply, etc.)

Speaks volumes
When the sensitive die
Are we too insensitive
Even just to try
To ask the real reasons why?

She is beautiful
Inside and out
But dies alone beneath spirit’s surface… amongst waters of doubt
When will the wise be the ones
To ask what these tragedies are truly all about?

What if we were wrong
About the judgements of History
What really killed him
When all along
Could it not have been you and me?

To say the least
Sadly the countless more
We are all in need of revelations… reach out… save… heal one another
Otherwise what are we truly living for?

When one reaches out… bares their souls
Should these strengths not be praised
For is it not more noble
To seek our own strengths
By eternally comforting those needing to be consoled
Than hiding in the futility of comforting our own insecurities
Judgement's evils and questions raised… need not control?

Bottom line is
We’re all in this life together
And yes we all do rely on one another
For in our present time
And the best of all worlds
Peace without peace within
Never allows for that one true blessed gift
The blessed gifts of peace of the mind

Now if we all always needed somewhere to walk to
Somewhere someplace to call home?

And if we all always needed someone to talk to
Someone somebody when they’re all alone?

What kind of world would that be?

When it’s very simple...
What it comes down to is up to you and me

You and me
You and me

Seek what it means to truly be free

You and me
You and me

For sometimes within such simplicity
Awaits the answers of truly being free
You and me

========

Come in out of the darkness
There’s enough light for us two
Stop chasing shadows
For they can soon stand taller than you

Everyone needs somewhere they can walk to
Somewhere someplace to call their home

Everyone needs someone they can talk to
Someone somebody when they are all alone

Come in out of storm’s rain
For there’s shelter here for us all
Tears can sadly go unnoticed
When shed in lives of pain

Let them fall

Let us comfort you

One and all

Let them fall
Let them fall

For the Sun will shine once again

Not for one but for in doing so… by comforting one another… then for us all

February 16 2012 at 5:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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