9.

Custodial sentences for non-violent crime?


Tom was sentenced to 30 months in prison for innappropriately placed artwork on railway carriages, on October 10 2008. Also sentenced were Darren Austin, 18 months, William Setzdempsey, 15 months, and Joshua Piehl, 12 months. Wildly exaggerated claims of the cost of repair were punted about in the papers, fuelled by the Transport Polices’ claim of £60,000.

After four months of waiting for an appeal, this was finally heard at the Royal Courts of (In)justice last Tuesday. After a few mumbled words Tom’s sentence was reduced to 20 months, and the other three had their appeals rejected.

A few days later Tom was found dead in his cell.


I dont think i need to comment on this at all. There has been nothing in the media about Tom's death. But i do remember almost every paper in England having a feature on these 'lawless vandals' costing the public so much (when in reality the cost of incarcerating them costs the state more than the damage ever could). The worst part about this case being the statement from the convicting officer Dc Peter Thrush,

“The court has recognised the seriousness of the offences, the risk these young men take with their lives and the cost to the train companies and public of south London.

“I would rather see people go to court than go to the morgue.”


It is my belief that an unjust system has subjected these guys to routine abuse, torture and humiliation to the point where one of them had taken enough. Would this have happened if they had been given community sentences…? Somehow I doubt it. Furthermore, The Royal Courts of Justice had an opportunity to right this wrong… and they didn’t.




Another own goal for the english justice system. Rest In Peace Skeam, my thoughts go out to his family and friends. Something must be done, so we can live to see tommorow.

8.

This is a new work in an abandonned factory in South London. There will be a show in a similar location in the upcoming weeks, It will be invite only and open for one night due to the lack of legality in its planning. I will post the location when it is all confirmed. Mathilda holmquist, Jamie Green, Claire Bailey and Thomas Poole will be showing new works. Many thanks

7.

'The children of May 68, you can run into them all over the place, even if they are not aware of who they are. Each country produces them in its own way. Their situation isn't so great. These are not young executives. These are strangely indifferent, and for this very reason are in the right frame of mind. They have stopped being demanding and narcissistic, but they know perfectly well that nothing today corresponds to their subjectivity, to their potential of energy.'

Gilles Deleuze, from the text 'Mai '68 did not take place'


We are all children of '68, we all have a potential of energy. If we recognise our actions will ebb and flow for generations to come, we can realise this potential of energy and together spark new relations with all that surrounds us. We need to stop being apathetic and start being active, making powermoves at every opportunity. This isn't a rallying call for active opposition, but a calling for an active awareness of our own positions within our respective subjectivity. An awareness i wish i had realised a long time ago.

6.

Samiam - Dull

I read an interview recently with Jake Bannon of Converge/Deathwish fame saying how he was introduced to Jawbreaker and Samiam and realised that you dont have to be traditionally 'hard' to be a hard band. When i first heard 'Astray' by Samiam this was my own exact sentiment. At a time when i was listening to alot of 'Hard' hardcore i was so thankful to discover this band. This song almost brought me to tears at first listen and still hasn't lost an ounce of agency 6 years later.


For hundrets of my closest friends
forgotten names that i pretend
to know it hasnt even been that long
so how youve been
you look the same
remember when the doughboys played
at gillmans and they broke up on your lawn.

and i wish it could always be like this
is something ill be missing
its not too late
to change what youve become
the last time i saw everyone
weve burried our friend and his gun
i think hed be happier right now
dont be jaded

i dont wanna spend some another long
and lonely weekend by the phone
without anyone to call
ive had a lot of time to think
and im so tired of thinking
i know why he put that bullet in his skull

i forgot how good it feels
to be pat of a spinning wheel
supporting and supporting on and on
forget the judgement and the game
forget the shittalk and the shame
you will only be young for so long

and i wish it could always be like this
is something ill be missing
its not too late
to change what youve become
the last time i saw everyone
we buried our friend and his gun
i think hed be happier right now
dont be jaded

i dont wanna spend somenother long
and lonely weekend by the phone
without anyone to call
ive had a lot of time to think
and im so tired of thinking
i know why he put that bullet in his skull

cause life can be so dull
life can be so dull
oh life can be so dull

i dont wanna spend some another long
and lonely weekend by the phone
without anyone to call
ive had a lot of time to think
and im so tired of thinking
i know why he put that bullet in his skull

Cause life can be so dull

5.

Going on tour is so much hard work. Its good when you get to do fun shit, detroit and Baltimore rule.

4.

Best pop song in a long time. oh and dont you wish Girls Aloud didn't fall off the wagon?, nice one Cheryl

3.

DPM are selling shirts, complete with the British Transport Police's mis-spelt charge sheet prior to their imprisonment. I hope whilst DPM were being sent to prison for 2 years the BTP were being sent back to school. 

Help out in the aftermath of imprisonment

www.dpm.bigcartel.com