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Joe Bonamassa Bites Back At New York Critic
Friday, 25 May 2012 Written by Simon Ramsay
Joe Bonamassa Bites Back At New York Critic

Last night guitar golden boy Joe Bonamassa posted an angry response to a music critic on his Facebook page following her less than complimentary review of his show at Richmond's Landmark Theatre. In her analysis Editor of the Syracruse New York Times Jessica Novak claimed the way Bonamassa strode around smacked of egotism, that he didn't respect his band, hadn't paid enough emotional dues to play the blues, didn't understand the feeling required by the genre and that his performance lacked love and humanity. A furious Bonamassa struck back posting this message in response: 

'The Syracuse New Times says "I lack passion for my music, don't respect my band members and I haven't paid my dues." I cannot tell you how offensive this is to both myself my family, my band and all of you who know me. I really find it amusing that the only reviews I get of this nature are in or around my hometown. (Ex: that moron in Albany) . To sum up.. Jessica Novak you suck and so does the Syracuse New Times for printing that. We are done.”
 
Within a couple of hours of that statement Bonamassa had notched up over a thousand comments  on his Facebook page from outraged fans vehemently defending him against what they perceived as an overly personal, ignorant attack. Meanwhile Jessica Novak's own Facebook page and the response section of her review were inundated with a barrage of stinging retorts from Joe's faithful followers, baffled by how anyone could claim Joe doesn't play with passion. They also wondered how anyone who graduated from Uni in 2010 could have paid enough dues of her own to critique Joe's understanding of a genre he's been immersed in for nigh on 30 years.  A selection of the comments read:

“That is the most horrible and disgusting review I have ever seen !”
 
“I guess playing in bars for 10 people in small towns and getting paid next to nothing for many years isn't "bluesy" enough for Ms Novak”
 
“I have read this review with something close to apoplectic rage. JB has a great reputation for a very good reason. In a few poorly written paragraphs you have chosen to demean the man and his music. Shame on you. Again, shame on you!  Give up journalism as you obviously have no feel, or talent, for it.”
 
After 25 pages of similar comments the Syracruse New York Time disabled the response section from the bottom of the article to prevent any more posts.
 
Bonamassa, whose new album 'Driving Towards the Daylight' currently sits at the top of the UK's midweek album chart, is known to be softly spoken, polite and extremely humble but does have a history of reacting badly to criticism. Last year he posted a similar rant about how he was sick and tired of people taking cheap shots at him after a bad review from the aforementioned critic in Albany. Moreover, after Rolling Stone magazine's continued refusal to review any of his albums he dared them to mention his name just once in a sarcastic note about being continually overlooked by the popular music magazine.
 
Jessica Novak's article can be read in full here.
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