Richard Curson, that's me, is putting the finishing touches to his second book entitled "Burst With Verse 2" following the success of Burst With Verse launched in Cambridge in 1997. The new book of poetry promises to shock the nation with a creative explosion of humour, celebrity, rudeness, weird and wonderfulness. How exciting, well hold your horses because it's not quite finished yet, but as soon as it is it'll be ready to land on the desks of the poetry publishers, whatever's left of them. Unfortunately they've been struggling since I've been off the scene, so I thought I had better give them something to do. I hope I have captured a strong empowerment of up to the moment, topical and humourous verse, it's up to you to read it and find out.

A reviewer wrote a review on Amazon about my last book "Burst With Verse". I must comment I am pleased my work has been found to have this effect and view.

Reviewer: A reader
Mr Curson's lavish debut offering appeared with a flourish on the Comic Publications imprint in late 1997, to plaudits from celebrities as varied as Paul Daniels and Ed Hall. 'Burst With Verse' is a wide-ranging anthology of Curson's early work and displays both a keen intellect and a sharp tongue, which he never shies away from thrusting into dark areas. It features a dazzling lexicon of styles, from the deeply-felt and intensely personal "I Just Don't Know what To Do" to the joyous character observation "Trixie".

Barriers of taste and content come crashing down as Curson writes bravely about thorny issues such as sweaty feet, faeces and vanity publishing. Political commentators will be impressed by Curson's incisive two-part satire on the monarchy, "H.R.H.", a work ostensibly about Diana and Charles where the author's resentment about class barriers, gender stereotypes and the ultimate futility of human struggle is barely concealed in the quatrains:

Her Royal Highness
So mild and mellow,
Who speaks so politely
and wears pretty yellow;

A graceful She
Is so calm at tea;
Her Royal Highness,
Her Majesty to be.

Younger readers meanwhile, will be impressed by Curson's colourful use of language such as "fart" to create texture and mood. However, we see much of the incurable romantic lover in Curson, notably in one touching passage where he describes how in moments of passion "my arse would melt". Verse like this offers us an intimate and unguarded view at the private side of its author.

At £5 this volume represents a fabulous investment. The book is designed for coffee-table use with an expensive typeface and a fine, bold illustration on its cover. Fans are still awaiting the follow-up, which no doubt shall thrust itself upon us just when we least expect it.

Send your notes of support to Livsey to help the fight against homophobic attacks by Radio Presenters. Justice for Livsey!

Writer and Broadcaster Livsey has been busy fighting for justice after Kerrang 105.2FM broadcast a private telephone conversation without his consent.

The conversation involved Livsey comforting Tim Shaw, a presenter on Kerrang 105.2fm in Birmingham, as he confided he was bisexual and "in love" with Livsey. Tim Shaw asked lots of questions to Livsey about details of his gay sexual practices and intimate bed room secrets and Livsey answered them in great length and detail thinking he was helping a close friend overcome a difficult time in his life. Livsey also talked to Tim about emotional feelings involved in his sexuality. Livsey remembers "comming out" and how difficult and distressing it was, so of course he was able to understand Tim's apparent distressing feelings. Tim Shaw was secretly recording this conversation, was not genuinely "comming out" as he broadcast the conversation to 1.5 million listeners in the UK on Kerrang 105.2fm as a joke.

Livsey later found what happened was extremely shocked and emotional about the incident he attempted suicide twice by taking a mixture of tablets and liquid solutions. Livsey suffered a deep nervous breakdown which has destroyed his confidence and his ability to be proud and open about his sexuality. Livsey has been through some extremely difficult times as a result of what happened.

Keep tuning in for the next update. Justice for Livsey!

KERRANG RADIO FACES RAP FOR SEX PRANK
Ofcom to rule on invasion of privacy

London – 30 November 2005

Birmingham-based Kerrang Radio has been reported to airwaves regulator, OfCom, on charges that it tricked a gay man into revealing intimate details about his private life and later broadcast them without his knowledge or consent.

Richard Curson has filed a complaint of “infringement of privacy” and “unjust and unfair treatment”.

Rock music station Kerrang Radio is part of the Emap media empire, publisher of magazine titles like Heat, Q, Mojo, Smash Hits and Empire.

Mr Curson's complaint to OfCom alleges that Kerrang radio presenter, Tim Shaw, a former work colleague of Mr Curson, phoned him and: “confessed he was bisexual…said he was in love with me…(and) had these feelings for years. He was crying and obviously upset. I believed him and comforted him…(in response to his questions) I told him personal things about my feelings and sexuality. He then laughed, said it was a joke and later broadcast it.”

Mr Curson's complaint to OfCom stresses: “I did not know I was being recorded. A conversation I believed to be private and personal was broadcast without consent. My sexuality was used, and the subject of a malicious joke.”

“This is not the first time Tim Shaw and Radio Kerrang have been accused of serious breaches of radio standards,” said gay human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell of OutRage!.

“On 14 February this year the BBC reported that Tim Shaw was suspended from Kerrang Radio after staging a mock burglary at the home of the station's programme director. As part of a broadcast radio stunt for his late-night Asylum show, Shaw broke into his director's home; smashing a window, tossing clothes out of cupboards and spray-painting obscenities on the walls.

“Tim Shaw has form. The cruel trick played on Richard Curson is part of a pattern of abuse by Mr Shaw. Indeed, Mr Shaw was sacked from Radio Hallam FM in 1998 for broadcasting offensive material.

“We are calling on Tim Shaw and Kerrang Radio to issue a public apology to Mr Curson, and to pay him substantial damages for the embarrassment and humiliation they inflicted on him. No one should have to suffer this type of unwarranted invasion of privacy.

“OfCom should get tough with Kerrang Radio. They deserve a fine of at least £50,000,” said Mr Tatchell.

In a statement today, Mr Curson said:

“This stunt went way beyond acceptable standards. It caused me great distress to have intimate details of my private life broadcast to all and sundry. I felt totally humiliated. It was emotional rape. My self-confidence is in tatters. I have had sleepless nights, eating disorders and twice attempted suicide. Kerrang Radio made me look a complete fool.”

Mr Curson's complaint against Tim Shaw and Kerrang Radio is being backed by the LGBT human rights group, OutRage!, his agent Mark Cowne of Kruger Cowne, and by Jake, the gay professional network.

Mr Curson is a radio journ ali st and presenter, also known as Livsey. He used to work for Kerrang Radio.

Lisa Thorne, Operations Director, JakeTM, said:

“Kerrang acted in a despicable and dishonorable manner when they deliberately targeted Richard Curson, AKA Livsey…by telephoning him at home and luring him into an intimate sexual conversation then broadcasting it, causing Livsey considerable distress and anxiety and making him a figure of public ridicule.”

“In the year 2005, it is outrageous that such attacks can be allowed in the public arena and Jake calls for Kerrang to be bought to task for this, make a public apology and compensate Livsey for damages.

“Jake will give its wholehearted support to Livsey and is proud to do so. Livsey is a very funny, talented and entertaining broadcaster who deserves respect. The attack has had a profound effect on him and he was nearly suicidal,” said Ms Thorne.

Hello, it’s me and I’m in Leceister Square, London on Sunday 19th June 2005 for the UK premiere of Motion Picture War of the Worlds, a movie directed by Steven Spielberg, staring Tom Cruise, Miranda Otto, Dakota Fanning and Tim Robbins, and I’m sure I’ll be smooching with one of them later this evening, nyess!

It’s boiling hot but I’m fully equipped with a damp flannel, several litres of juice and a lunch box filled with delicious meat and lettuce.

Anyway the movie is being hyped as being most successful ever and I’ve heard it’s going to be the biggest winner at the Oscars this year winning a grand total of 14 awards and believe me it took more than just a quick peck on the cheek to find that one out!
It’s said to be the biggest ever movie money maker in history expecting to make $1 billion in it’s first month and a grand total of $10 billion, more than any other movie ever! Paramount Pictures have rumoured to have spent tens of millions of dollars just promoting the film, it’s not unusual but they’ve spent more than star wars and batman.

So what is all the fuss about?

Well, I’ve been poking my little nose around to find it all out..

Based on a classic novel by H G Wells, war of the worlds has finally hit our big screen with the help of movie magician, Stephen Speilberg, who really believes aliens exist so later on I’m going to ask him if I should be digging a little bunker in my allotment just in case the aliens come to get me. Yes he really does believe aliens exist, not suprising as it’s his third alien film following the infamous ET and Close Encounters.

The film is all about how a bunch of aliens, also known as the Tripods, from another world come to earth, a place in America known as New England and start a ravaging attack with their big long things, enormous wepons and powerful force fields, blowing up everything in sight basicly. Humans are simply left powerless as their little riffles and pen knives wont even scar the aliens and are left running for their lives in this nail bitting, bowl irritating, seat edging, head sweating, pop corn crunching movie of a life time, it’s amazing with action, adventure, romance, love, no naughty things happen so it’s great for kids too providing they have an adult with them ofcourse. This movie also has no less than the Tom Cruise staring as character Ray Ferrier married to Co Star Miranda Otto who plays Mary Ann Ferrier together they have a young daughter, Rachael Ferrier played by child star Dakota Fanning and Ray has a son played by Justin Chatwin. Rays family remains the focus of the movie as it follows their survival and as usual Tom Cruise has a heroic role as he protects his family and helps to save the world, although he’s not the one who actually saves the world.

At some point in the movie someone finds a big enough weapon to fight back at the aliens and in the end it’s sadly not the end of the world but mankind defeats the aliens and has a lot of pieces to pick up, the world simply has a fresh start, until the next time.

The story line follows through quite nicely with the action and special effects and altogether brings a balanced but very exciting picture to our screens.

The quality of acting in the film is also a huge success story as we see the younger generation of Hollywood steaming ahead with turbo power and I’m sure young Dakota Fanning has a very bright and glittering career ahead of her.

In all the excitement of the Movie Tom Cruise has just proposed to his girlly, Katie Holmes, in Paris, how romantic. To make a statement Katie wears a really big diamond ring, supposingly given to her by Tom Cruise. They appear to be very much in love, but I have news from the underworld as it’s apparently all just one big publicity stunt to make Katie’s movie Batman and Tom’s Movie The War of the Worlds get more media coverage.

They don’t sleep in the same bed, they don’t have much in common in fact they say Tom Cruise likes his cricket so much he uses both sides of his bat, so you never know it could be me wearing a ring like that one day. And I’ll be waiting!

LIVSEY, my new social editor and social escort extraordinaire, introduced me to Frankies Bar & Grill in Knightsbridge. We were on our way to a function and decided it was a good idea to review this venue as I’d heard that JOAN COLLINS held her birthday party here a few days earlier. Unusual for Joanie, I thought, holding a party in a pizza parlour. But what a lovely place FRANKIES is! It’s also huge, seating more than 170 diners – and oh so glamorous, decorated richly with lots of mirrors everywhere. What a grand idea – a posh pizza bar! The food is absolutely scrumptious - although I should point out that my sardines were a touch too oily, for my taste anyway. We tried the house wine which was really smooth and went down very well. LIVSEY loved the pasta dish. But for me the best thing on the menu that evening was MARCO PIERRE WHITE, who informs me he’s not a chef. Oooooops - I always thought he was, but then I haven’t read the book MARCO: THE MAKING OF MARCO PIERRE WHITE, SHARPEST CHEF IN HISTORY, which apparently informs us that Marco has given up being a chef in favour of managing restaurants – he’s a businessman now. And apart from Frankies, which he launched with former jockey FRANKIE DETTORI, he also owns some of the best eating places in London. I found MARCO to be a very charming person and oh so sexy and cuddly, which is why I gave him a big hug (see image)