It seems another entertainer has been ensnared by the
proverbial witch hunt gripping the nation. Ian Watkins of Welsh band,
Lostprophets, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a baby last night, making
him the first musician since Gary Glitter to be charged since the onslaught of ‘Savilegate.’
Hundreds of people across the country are saying their
childhood has been wiped clean from them by the press revealing the disgusting
underworld of Savile and co. Comedy writer Graham Linehan mentioned how sad
things must be for all those children who weren’t abused on Jim’ll Fix It and
how they should get their own back on the cigar chomping weirdo.
But I for one, am actually enjoying the goings on of
Operation Yewtree and anything linked to the Savile enquiry. The reason for
this, is I just don’t believe in role models. That’s what celebrity culture is
built on: worship of an idol, and role models have always appeared to be a form
of idolisation encouraged to keep young people from breaking the mould of
society.
I remember in school being told to be a good role model for
younger pupils, something which I despised, not because I hated the little
brats, but because I’ve always had a problem with heroes. I never wanted to be
a hero, nor have I ever regarded a celebrity or notable individual as a
hero/heroine.
What I’m saying here, is don’t have heroes, and 'Savilegate'
is exposing the side of the celebrity which you would never even touch upon in
your wildest dreams. Like all parts of society, every person has a Blue Velvet
lining (note the David Lynch reference there). You never know who is going to
stab you in the back and trample your dreams forever – and all the keen
Lostprophets fans are the latest to know this. Celebrity culture, in my
opinion, has gone too far and has downgraded humanity to a shadow of its former
self. Because of people like Savile we gobble up cheap gameshows and reality
television without a single thought otherwise. Britain has been regarded by
outsiders as a nation that is easily attracted to trash, and I hope that with
the seizing of these celebrities we will know to look over our shoulders more
when it comes to the new faces of TV and culture.
I never enjoyed the works of Lostprophets, but my brother
was a keen fan in his youth. He mentioned to me the other day how ‘uncomfortable’
he feels remembering that he used to have a Lostprophets poster on his wall
when he was 13. The best I can wish for now, is nobody will even dare to play
their music at any parties or gatherings now that Watkins has admitted to his
crimes.
With all that said and done, I’ll leave Power Quest to play
us out:
