BARRY FIGHTS “MUSLIM PERSECUTION” WITH MUSICAL WMD

17-01-2008

Outspoken gig promoter Barry Tomes claims Britain’s Muslims are treated like Jews in Nazi Germany. Now he’s fighting back with what he describes as “musical WMD” – a free CD featuring Islamic talent from the West Midlands.

Tomes, a 50-year old Brummie who runs a international management company and string of record labels has put together the ten track sampler because he’s sickened by the way he sees a minority being picked on.

“Muslims are not terrorists,” he says bluntly. “Neither are Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or Jews. Criminals are terrorists.

“Yet when I travel the world, if I’m in an airline queue and there’s also a Muslim in the line, I know that I’m not going to get stopped. He is. It’s like the persecution of the Jews.

“What’s happening to my country?” he asks. “Have we learned nothing in 60 years. What I’ve learned is that if you oppress people enough they will eventually hit back.

“I’m not a councillor, I’m not a politician. My WMD is my music.”

To prove the point, he’s offering the CD free to the first 1,000 people to apply for it by email. Featured artists include Khaliq, a Muslim from Walsall, who so impressed Tomes that he’s releasing an entire album of his work.

“He’s really interesting in that he’s got a family background of traditional music, but then went to school and heard Kylie and Jason. It’s the perfect fusion,” Tomes says.

The entrepreneur’s respect for Muslim culture has grown as a result of his globe-trotting exploits in the music business. In years gone by, he’s promoted acts as diverse as The Three Degrees and Brotherhood of Man in the Middle East.

“I’ve been lucky enough to visit the Blue Mosque in Turkey and be invited into people’s homes all over the world,” he says passionately.

“We don’t all necessarily hold the same views, we dress differently and we eat different food – but the blood runs red in all of us.

“You know there’s been a Mosque in Birmingham since 1969, and I used to see it on the number 8 bus going to my Nan’s. I used to say to my mum, ‘that’s a funny looking church.’ Why is there suddenly a problem?

“Now there’s this row over the call to prayer, yet we’ve had noisy church bells in this country for years. Either we’re going to let people be or we’re not.”

To get the free CD email your home address to barry@gotham-records.com

Or listen free at www.wgic.co.uk

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