May 26th, 2010
Alert, Alert – Fake Billy Squier Booker On The Loose!!!
Here at MMM we’re huge (and non-ironic) fans of ’70s/’80s arena-rock singer-guitarist Billy Squier. How can you not be? Come on, “The Stroke” (which allegedly isn’t about masturbation but music industry shenaningans … sure.), “In the Dark,” “My Kinda Lover,” “Everybody Wants You”?? All bulletproof, enduring smash hits!! And don’t forget “The Big Beat,” sampled by rappers and producers galore over the years (probably most famously and effectively by Dizzee Rascal in 2003).
However, we’re sad to say that we’ve never seen Billy Squier live in concert — which has created a hollow space at the very core of our being that we can only fill with hard street drugs, cheap liquor, and even cheaper sex to numb the despair. And making things even worse is that somewhere out there at this very minute, some despicable human being is pretending to be affiliated with Billy Squier, attempting to book fake Billy Squier shows at various clubs around the U.S. and falsely getting our hopes up that we actually might be able to see the man in concert soon. Frankly, this dude oughtta be tasered or vomited on for three hours straight by Pokeman, if not drawn and quartered. We learned about all of this via an e-mail we just received from the actual Billy Squier camp:
“Some loser is contacting clubs and offering them dates with Billy and collecting deposit money on his behalf. This guy is in no way affiliated with Billy. We know of 3 dates so far that this guy has booked. Luckily only one of the 3 clubs actually paid any money to him. If you see any notices or hear any radio spots that Billy is playing, please contact us immediately. Billy is not on tour and has NO dates booked to play. Thanks for your help!”
Here’s the e-mail addy you can write to if you hear anything: songsoftheknight@earthlink.net
And meanwhile, to the real Billy Squier, if you’re reading this: Come play Philly, dammit!
17 Responses to “Alert, Alert – Fake Billy Squier Booker On The Loose!!!”
By John Bryant on Jun 3, 2010
he sucks anyway who cares.
By Brian in CT on Jun 3, 2010
John I would have to dissagree. I’ve ben playing guitar and various other instruments since age seven. Billy is a very talanted player/singer/songsmith. But I digress….
It’s a shame that someone would take advantage of Billy’s fame. I guess since Billy did tour in 2009 (tore the house down every night)and before that did two tours with Ringo this Imposter felt he could take advantage of peoples desire to see Billy live again.
Billy it looks like you’ll have to beat this imposter at his own game and book a tour.
(c’mon you know you want to) Afterall everybody does still want you. Great Job at the James Cotton show BTW.
Brian in CT
By Tyler in PA on Jun 8, 2010
I disagree with you also, John. I have seen Billy twice now and he gets better each time. Saw his tour when he went out with Styx and Bad Company and it was great. Last summer, I saw his solo act with him as the headliner and it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Billy can definitely still “rock out” better than anybody. I would definitely enjoy seeing him again (hint, Billy). You are probably the imposter, John!
Great shows, Billy! Thanks for the awesome solo tour last year!
By Lauren on Jun 8, 2010
I feel badly for the club owner who got conned. Hope this sleazy ba***rd gets caught soon.
As for Billy,I have seen him many times over the years, including at the James Cotton show,and it amazes me that he continues to raise the bar with each show. His voice, performance, and guitar playing are the best they have ever been. He is truly one of the “greats.” Sorry, John.
Looking forward to the NYC Blues Summit!
By Tom Schwartz on Jun 10, 2010
I think Billy Squier is an old fart and deserves to get ripped. He never ever quits whining…Billy is as old as my grandfather, the voice shrills and his songs are as bubble gum as David Cassidy, this all a publicity stunt, think about it. Have you heard one thing from BS in years, this is a total publicity stunt.
By Lauren on Jun 11, 2010
Tom, you are entitled to your opinions regarding Billy’s music, which I will not address (though many would disagree). However, you should be aware of a couple of things. First, Billy himself is not getting ripped off. However, his staff has brought this scam to the attention of the public to prevent potential ticket buyers and club owners from losing money. Second, I know that this is not a “publicity stunt” as I have seen one of the phony dates advertised. Idiot scammer initially even spelled Billy’s last name incorrectly.
Billy toured last year, and his shows were well-attended with minimal (if any) promotion beyond his website and mailing list.
By the way, last year he released three new songs available on his website (none of which had so much as a whiff of “bubble gum”), again with NO promotion or advertising beyond the website.These do not sound like the actions of a person seeking “publicity” to me.
Your comment regarding his age is just plain infantile. We all get older, but this man is in better shape than most guys half his age. We should all be so healthy at the age of 60.
By Tom Schwartz on Jun 16, 2010
I already spoke with CARMA, this was stunt pulled by Billy himself..Bad publicity is better than none..Give us a break, the guy did this to promote himself and nobody cares. He is a washed up old rocker. Defending him won’t do you any good, we already released a massive campaign it will be in every music paper including POLLS STAR. Word is out that this was a scam pulled by Billy himself…..
By Tom Schwartz on Jun 16, 2010
Please, Billy Squier looks like walking heart attack…
Lauren you must be a crazed fan!!!!!!!!!
It’s ok, there are more like you out there…..
By Lauren on Jun 17, 2010
Tom- whether it is a publicity stunt or not does not affect me in the least. My life goes on regardless, but I was simply pointing out that his past actions do not support your assertion that he did this himself.
If you have conclusive proof, I’d like to see it, and upon seeing it I will gladly admit to being wrong. Otherwise, your attempt to rescue your own credibility and redeem yourself from your juvenile comments falls flat. Seriously, if your allegation that this was a publicity stunt held any water, you wouln’t need to resort to comments about his age and/or his appearance, now would you?
As I stated earlier, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but you are making a rather nasty accusation and have yet to point us to any credible source of information that would back it up.
I will say that I am a longtime Squier fan, and yes there are LOTS of us out there (which kinda negates the need for a publicity stunt, doesn’t it?). Anyone who knows me knows that I am anything but “crazed.” Had your comments been limited to negative opinions, I probably would not have even responded. However, your comments have gone beyond the pale to some kind of smear “campaign” (your word) involving allegations that are as yet devoid of any factual support.
It is precisely that kind of baseless smearing of a person’s reputation (any person, not just Billy Squier, btw) that raises my hackles.
Bottom line- if you have something conclusive (beyond the “word” that is “out”), let’s see it. Otherwise, your cowardly attempt to destroy someone’s reputation from behind the keyboard of a computer says more about you than it does about the object of your little smear “campaign”.
By Brian in CT on Jun 17, 2010
Lauren I couldn’t agree with you more (on every point).
Billy doesn’t have anything to prove to me. After seeing several of the 2009 shows I can say Billy does sound and play as well as ever. Every show I saw was better than the one before it. “Publicity stunt” That is laughable. If he wanted publicity he would have at least advertised his tour. Instead it was all word of mouth. I didn’t even hear any radio ads for the tour.
I can say that anyone I know who was lucky enough to catch a show on the 2009 tour was happy they did. Billy played and sang his heart out.
So until this “proof” of a “publicity stunt” materializes I’ll just assume Tom has an axe to grind and poor taste in music.
By kurt kelly on Jun 18, 2010
Hello, let me just say, this Billy Squier sham is a sham. I work for Esperanza and have proof this is a hoax prmoted by AG to put Mr. Squier back in the news.
Good job Tom, I thought at first you had a stake in this, you right and ove you an apology.
Billy attempted to hire out a series of local promoters to get his name out!!!
And yes bad news is better than none.
Stoke this Billy!! Great job.
By Judy on Jun 21, 2010
Neither Tom nor Kurt are correct (though both of them may be the actual fake agent since one of the sentences above is similar to emails from the guy scamming clubs) When Billy did tour last year, he did not promote the shows and did very well. He turned down offers to play this year and is not touring, so there is no benefit to him to “get his name out there” If there is an article in Pollstar, it will be about the scam, not about any hoax.
By Jeff on Jun 23, 2010
I agree with Judy, Billy’s name is already out there and this Hoax thing is total crap.
Two recent tours with ringo and a solo tour last year….enough said.
By Andy Waroff on Jun 24, 2010
I totally disagree with Judy, this is a hoax, every rock and roller does this. I have to totally disagree with Judy.
By Gary on Jun 26, 2010
It looks like Tom Schwartz and kurt kelly are the same person; they both have trouble forming complete sentences.
Yup, it looks like Tom/kurt may be the scammer himself. Why would he come on here and be so angry unless his money-making scam backfired?
And…where is the so called “proof” you have that Squier did this himself? Since you have inside information from CARMA, tell us exactly when ‘every music paper including POLLS STAR’ will be printing it.
(And by the way, it’s Pollstar not POLLS STAR. See, this is where scammers give themselves away. They never use spellchecker.)
By denise crown on Jul 27, 2010
Billy Squier “lol” is he alive. The last I heard he had the shuns. Either way he is washed up and out.