Art Bell Quits Dark Matter

[The General]

Anybody who thinks Noory is happy, think again.
He's probably shitting himself right now. Art's in radio mode, and contracts (Noory's) mean nothing these days. He knows PremRat would drop him in a New York minute if Art even farted in their direction.

Sirius couldn't handle Art Bell. That's the bottom line.
He'll be back. I bet his phone is ringing now.

Nope.  I disagree.
Something tells me that Art's phone is off the hook.

[Nighthawk]

Art should screw it and just broadcast on shortwave. That would be pretty cool.

[Marc.Knight]

[attachimg=1]

[Desmond]

To everyone speculating on Art doing an internet-based show from his website: WHY would he ever do this? Does not seem likely at all. "Let me start from scratch and run an internet radio show for free!" At this point in his life, what the fuck for?

I think that he came back out of unresolved hatred and frustration for his former employers. Now that he's addressed that, fucked with Noory and saw that he still had it in him, how much could he really care about "going to work" every day suddenly at 68, let alone starting from scratch for free.

You make some valid points.   He would not be starting from scratch as he has already created the buzz and interest in "Dark Matter."   I just checked artbell.com and the lead ad on the top was for wowza media streamer... "start streaming immediately."


Obviously, Art is a millionaire and doesn't need the money of a job.  He just loves radio, and if he is going to do it, he will only do it on his terms and up to his standards.   I think he enjoyed being back and "raging in the night."  He could charge a nominal fee for streaming access to his show, much less than SXM, and deliver it better.  I think he will do something, but if he doesn't I wish him well.  He provided all of us a lot of interesting entertainment over the years.

[guildnavigator]

Nope.  I disagree.
Something tells me that Art's phone is off the hook.

I'd bet he's left pahrump by now for that matter.

[widespread1]

So the numbers were shit...
We probably should have known by how many BellGabbers would get through in a night.
he would probably do better with his own podcast and has already been advised I am sure.

[MV/Liberace!]

with the news of art's no-compete, i've lost hope. 

fuck it.

[EarthAlien007]

To everyone speculating on Art doing an internet-based show from his website: WHY would he ever do this? Does not seem likely at all. "Let me start from scratch and run an internet radio show for free!" At this point in his life, what the fuck for?

Why not? It's not like he needs the money.
What was he making from Sirius? Chump change.
Why did he do it?
Because he loves radio and his fans. He wanted creative control and to reach as many of us as possible.

[HumanBeing]

Right, so IF and when Art is doing a show for free on artbell.com with a reliable free app to listen on your phone you won't listen?

Everyone is freaking out but Art isn't going to do a show if his hardcore listeners can't listen to it reliably. He will just do his own stream. However, Sirius will find some sort of compromise is my guess.

Of course I will listen... I crave more knowledge... haha I won't deny that 

I just think his character is exemplifying one of very low integrity. I did not view him like this and hence it is a little upsetting.
But I personally never had any stream issues and I'm feeling the need to express my frustration on something that means a lot to me.

[klaatu]

'

I think that human eyed seal creature was once a joyous bellgabber.

From first hearing, that odd critter was always vaguely loveable.

[8bitwizard]

Unaware of the this news, I just fired off this email to Art about 30 minutes ago. Since there is now no chance of anyone hearing it on the air. I will turn to you guys to provide for both your entertainment and with hopes that you might have some answers.


Art,

My name is Brian, and I want to tell you a true story about an experience I had. It’s a bit unbelievable at first, so I ask that you please bear with me. I will try to make this as short as possible without sacrificing any important detail. Please forgive the length of this email.

I want to tell you about The Root Woman.

Back in 1999 I was a pizza delivery man. Prior to that, I played in a rock band.

My band was composed of myself and three other friends whom I met in high school.

After playing local shows and becoming rather popular on a local level, we were signed to an independent record label.

During this time, at one of our shows, I met a young lady named Dawn and the two of us became involved in a relationship.

For nearly two years, the two of us were inseparable. We were rarely out of each other’s sight. She went everywhere with me even on the road.

Then one night, while on tour, our bus driver fell asleep behind the wheel and our tour bus veered over the side of a highway embankment.

Both the driver, and my girlfriend, were killed as a result of the accident.

Also, my lead guitarist suffered an injury to his hand and was unable to play again. I, on the other hand, came out unscathed.

The band broke up as a result of both the tragedy and his injury.

I carried the grief of my loss with me for the next two years.

Flashfoward back to 1999. No longer playing music and I find myself as a pizza delivery driver.

One day, I had a delivery to an old, rundown part of town on the outskirts of an industrial area.

I was not very familiar with this specific location and I had a hard time finding the address. The name on the order simply read “R. Woman”.

I noticed a building that looked like a storefront and there was a makeshift cardboard sign hanging in the window. Written on it in bold black marker was

“Got AIDS? Go see the Root Woman.” â€" I found this to be a rather odd, almost ridiculous sign.

I figured I would take a chance and see if this was the “R. Woman” referenced on the order ticket.

Sure enough, it was. The door was answered by an elderly African-american woman. Her dress seemed to be a bit out of place for the season. It was mid-summer and she was wearing a knitted shaw and very heavy, out of fashion clothes.

She paid for her pizza and as I was turning to walk back to my car she called out to me and said “I can see the stain in your soul. And I can fix it.”

I asked her what she meant, and she said that if I would simply pay her $100 she would erase the terrible past that haunted me.

Now Art, I cannot tell you what came over me because giving money to this woman is something  unheard of for me. But I did it. I’m not sure why.

For the rest of the day, I was really bothered by how out of character it was for me give that much money to a complete stranger with what was obviously a mumbo jumbo scam.

Only, it wasn’t.

Over the course of the next few days, I began to notice certain things seemed to be amiss. Things in my apartment were missing, there was a set of bedsheets in my closet that I swear I had never seen before, phone numbers for people I did not recognize written down in my organizer, but in MY handwriting.

Then three days later, I ran in my guitar player at a McDonalds and I immediately noticed that his hand was perfectly fine. I was shocked! I asked him what happened and he looked at me like I was an idiot.

I explained what I meant and then he REALLY looked at me like I was an idiot. He claimed that he had no knowledge of what I was talking about. We had never been in a band, he said. We tried, but it just never took off.

That’s when I took him to my car and let him listen to our demo tape. Upon hearing it, he had a strange look of confusion on his face. He told me that was creepiest thing he had ever heard. The songs were unknown to him, but it was almost as if he knew exactly how they went.

My mind was reeling…. I called several other friends and NONE of them remembered Mindstain whatsoever.  It was like the past had never happened.

That’s when I got the idea to do something that I’m sure you too have already thought of. I drove to my girlfriend’s house.

I found it to be occupied someone else, naturally. But I had the this nagging feeling not to give up. So I drove to her parent’s home and knocked on the door. Her father answered the door and he did not recognize me. I tried to compose myself and I asked if Sophia lived there. He said she did but she was at work. So, I drove to her workplace and my god Art, she was there. My dead ex-girlfriend was standing behind the checkout counter perfectly alive.

In a state of shock I walked up to her, I couldn’t even speak. I was choking on my words but I asked her if she remembered me.

She stared at me, and her eyes began to tear up. She looked at me with recognition, I know I saw it in her eyes. I know I did. But she said “I’m sorry, I do not know you.”

Art, I didn’t know what to do so I just ran. To this day I have not gone back.

It’s been 14 years, and I these event still haunt me. The best I’ve been able to come up with is that A) I had a two year long hallucination and I’m crazy as a loon or B) This “Root Woman” was somehow able to erase and alter parts of my life and in doing so, prevented my beloved Sophia from dying that night.

The facts point to “B”. I met her when I was in the band. How would I have known where to look for her if the band and my relationship with her was all in my mind?

To this day, I struggle with this reality. I remember a series of events that seemingly never occurred.

The only proof I have of my life as I knew it is demo tape and a partially torn concert flyer. *Interestingly enough BOTH of these items were with me in the car when I made that fateful pizza delivery.

Art, in all your years on the air, dealing with the subjects that you deal with, have you ever heard of this?

Is it some form of time travel, some alternate dimension?

My real question is, do you know any way that I could perhaps wake up these memories in my friends and more importantly Sophia?

I know they’re in there….  But it’s like a veil is pulled.

No one seems to remember this “Root Woman” and upon returning to the building, it appears to be abandoned. I don’t know what to make of this “voodoo lady”.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[nooryisawesome]

Art just sent me this email:

Thanks bateman

[nika01]

Funny how adversity reveals character, or lack thereof. Just so this isn't misinterpreted, its not directed at AB.

[EarthAlien007]

with the news of art's no-compete, i've lost hope. 

fuck it.

WTF?
He wouldn't sign that... where do you see this MV?
If he has a mutual split after only six weeks, would it still stick??

[DanTSX]

So the numbers were shit...
We probably should have known by how many BellGabbers would get through in a night.
he would probably do better with his own podcast and has already been advised I am sure.

Why would he care what the ratings were?

He had a contract and Sirius would had kept him on.

He had to develop an audience.  It would take time, but wouldn't be that hard.

[8bitwizard]

I also notice that Art's personal FB account is now gone.

[williedee]

with the news of art's no-compete, i've lost hope. 

fuck it.

time to continue the archival process of shows long ago 

[NefariousBanana]

Why not? It's not like he needs the money.
What was he making from Sirius? Chump change.
Why did he do it?
Because he loves radio and his fans. He wanted creative control and to reach as many of us as possible.

If he loved radio and his fans so much, he wouldn't have quit Dark Matter entirely over something as petty as shitty streaming servers.

[HumanBeing]

I wish you would follow suit

Is there really any need to be that rude?

[cmotors]

After reading about this here and on facebook, here is one thing that I do not get:

Art Bell apologists.

Why? He committed professional suicide on his fans hard-earned dollar.

Why the hell would anyone in their right mind give him another chance?

He didn't commit suicide for the sake of suicide.  His subscriber base was shriveling up once the free trials expired.  He was attempting to fix it with what he thought might work (free streaming for a year). Since Sirius said no to that, Art closed up shop since in his mind, it was going to continue hemorrhaging listeners, and wouldn't be able to continue the way he wanted. It probably could have limped along for a while, but you know what they say about zombies, they keep movin', but they ain't alive.

[williedee]

WTF?
He wouldn't sign that... where do you see this MV?
If he has a mutual split after only six weeks, would it still stick??

people are reporting that keith (the webmaster) posted that on facebook

[NefariousBanana]

Well guys, it was a fun ride while it lasted.  This is probably the last time I'll be posting in this forum.

This feels like a fucking betrayal.  I'm in tears right now, I just feel awful.

Next time you cry wolf, nobody's going to save your ass.  I hope the wolves eat you alive.  Fuck you Art.

[SaucyRossy]

I do NOT have a screengrab, but on Artbell.com FB page. In the discussion about todays events. Keith does confirm that Art has another NON COMPETE to deal with now.

Ok, well fuck.

Keith is holding out hope  [attachimg=1]

[ZomZom]

I don't agree with Art's premise that the show is based on call-in.  I'll admit that the call-in portion of the show is my least favorite, but the percentage of the show dedicated to call-in, and especially open lines, is a minority of the time.  It doesn't add up, and there must be more to this than what we're being told.

[Ravenna]

I hope there is more to this but if it's true this really hurts his legacy. I'm not too happy at the moment like the rest of us.

What really gets my goat is Noory is somewhere laughing his ass off at this and that is what makes me even more mad.

If it's true that Art is off Sirius for good, this is a great day for Noory.  This is also a great day for Clyde Lewis, whose Ground Zero radio show is decent and in the exact same timeslot as 'Dark Matter' on the West Coast.

[DontFearTheReaper]

I have yet to read a single convincing argument RE: SiriusXM being unreasonable with Art. If he wanted an AM radio audience, he should have taken one of the terrestrial radio offers he got. But he wanted total creative control, which SiriusXM gave him, and that wasn't good enough.

In the end, it's really sad to see all of this happen. As much fun as these last 6 weeks were, I really wish he wouldn't have come back at all. The shows were so good, and I really enjoyed getting back into the routine of listening to Art shows on a nightly basis. Back to boring nights of subpar radio,I guess.

[HMC]

I feel so stupid for being so upset, but I am. I'm sitting here with dinner in front of me and I feel so sick I can't eat. I didn't realized I felt so invested in the show. I feel like we've been played for fools. His reasoning about subscribers dropping off doesn't cut it. Plenty of people listened live and subscribed for him. And I've never been a fan of the open-liners segment, but basically saying that the people who called in sucked is a big F-U to those who did call in and tried their best. He had a 3-year commitment and should have stuck with it. If the callers were a problem, drop the call-in segments. Yeah it would have pissed people off at first, but not as bad as they are pissed off now.

[someguy]

hahahah oh fucks sake Art

[McPhallus]

I blame this on the Spooky Matter caller that took the show to an all time low with his call about a DREAM he had. A dream (the stupid elevator dream)! With such a small pool of callers, Art knew something had to be done.

I doubt it was any single caller.... There were always a few duds in the mix.  He had to have known that a subscription audience would by mature be a smaller pool of callers, though.

[sydtron]

Oh for fucking fuck's sake.

"Fuckin' A, Fuck!"-Platoon
I think it would be a good time for a raid on a certain other radio show.......hmmmm??