FREE LLL!


The picket line for LLL outside LA County Jail

Here is an update on LLL's situation, on his second day in prison, and my third day on this job.

I visited the Lad this morning at the Los Angeles County Jail, and was surprised to encounter a large crowd of picketing supporters on the sidewalk. I would say they numbered 150-200 kind souls, many of whom carrying placards in support of LLL. I snapped a few photos, the best of which is above.

The crowd was chanting "Free Triple L" to the melody of "Drop Dead Lizzie", and walking back and forth in front of the entrance to the jail. There were some rather clever placards, such as "Unleash LLL", and "UnLLLock the Lad". I take a little exception to the latter, as it seems derivative of the title of my update from yesterday, but let's not focus on that, it's all about one thing: Setting LLL free.

The outpouring of genuine love and support took me aback quite honestly. I even shed a tear. There is a real movement afoot to set the Lad free. It felt like something from the sixties (the 1960's). Have you heard of the Summer of Love? Well, this may very well turn out to be the Summer of Lad.

I frankly did not know that we had so many fans in downtown L.A. But word travels fast. One charming lady had traveled through the night from Arcata in Humboldt County, which I was told is in the extreme North of this great state of California. The fans were of all ages, shapes and hues, but they shared one thing: They love the Lad and want to see him walking free (whether or not he is fully dressed).

When I told LLL about all this through the bulletproof glass of the visitation room, he visibly lit up. I do think he is a bit depressed being behind bars. He is a musician, damn it, and he needs to be out in society, not pent up like some pet pigeon in a paltry penitentiary.

But there is hope. His lawyer told him that there is a chance he could be set free within the next 24 hours, and put under house arrest until his trial. Their fear is that, because of the word "London" in his name, that he poses a flight risk. Even though he has proven to them that he is American, they are skeptical, and don't want to have egg on their face if he runs off to London to avoid prosecution.

But really -- The charges are all trumped up, anyway. Resisting being changed into prison uniform is one of them. Inciting a riot is another. Walking down Rodeo Drive semi-nude is the other. If convicted, he could be doing hard time in a federal prison up North... But that's the worst-case scenario. Let's not focus on that.

And please, let's not start hoarding his CDs and t-shirts just yet, as there is a very good chance he will be set free -- unless of course something goes terribly wrong overnight. I know LLL well enough to know that the only thing predictable is his sheer unpredictability. I mean, how many musicians would create something like "Another Planet", "Dick And Jane", and "John Wayne" in the same year? And how many would have the chutzpah to snobbishly refuse to wear a one-piece jumpsuit in prison, and then get into a fight over it with armed guards? He is a rare bird.

So what am I going to do for the rest of the day? Oh, I don't know. I thought of taking it easy, maybe going for a swim in Santa Monica. I need a little boost myself. It was devastating to see him behind that glass under fluorescent lights. Nobody looks good in fluorescent lighting. He looked pale and tired. The sad thing is that he was in the middle of recording a new song when these events suddenly came to the fore. And it all started with the art shirt being banned in some US high schools. What a shame, I say.

Before I head off to the beach, I am going to start offering for sale, in the Shop, 8x10" glossy photographs of LLL's LAPD mug shot. I will take them to him every day, where he will personally sign and dedicate each one in your name. All funds raised through the sale of these signed photographs will go directly into his legal defense fund (or into my own pocket, whichever is emptier). Order yours now!

So keep the Lad in your thoughts, and I shall endeavour to keep you updated with news as I become privy to it myself. He appreciates your support and thoughts, and maybe if we all think hard enough, the walls of that jail will crumble and he will burst through like the Ladinator! Or maybe that's a little too "Hollywood" of an ending. Let's just hope he goes free, shall we?

Yours,
Nigel
Label Manager and acting President, Lonely London Lad Records, Inc.