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Something Can Be Done About It

“We’re The Jive Aces and We’re All Scientologists”

By 74 Comments

A bit of history to introduce another of the methods Hubbard used to try to gain acceptance and win friends and influence people.

In 1974 when the Apollo was experiencing continuous problems maintaining “safe ports” (in fact, in the previous year Hubbard had fled the Apollo when things got too hot in Morocco and moved to Queens NY using a fake name until he deemed it “safe” to return to the ship — now plying Atlantic Portuguese and Spanish ports) he hit on a “bright idea” to gain “acceptance” for the Apollo.

He pulled together musicians (and then dancers) and formed two musical groups — the Apollo Stars and The Troubadors. The latter were “second billing” and primarily served the purpose of a backup band for flamenco dancer Paco Suarez.

Hubbard with the Apollo Stars: l to r Russ Meadows, Luten Taylor (with trombone), Neil Sarfarti, Tom Rodriguez, Charlie Rush, Tamia Arbuckle (seated in front), Craig Ferreira and Kenny Campleman.

The Apollo Stars had the purpose of “creating safe ports.” They were a way of generating “positive PR” for the Apollo.

In fact, Hubbard wrote many scientology policies and Flag Orders based on the experiences of the Apollo Stars — focused on how to create “safe points” and gain acceptance.

The modern day “Apollo Stars” are the Jive Aces.

Scientology uses them to promote scientology — this is just one example on the official scientology video channel

What this doesn’t say is that the members of this group — just like the Apollo Stars — are all Sea Org members. Their entire purpose in life is to forward the aims of scientology. Entertaining people, selling records or entering talent competitions are seen ONLY as a means to the end of being able to better promote and gain acceptance for scientology.

If this group (or any of its members) decided their “real purpose” was to pursue a career as a musician, they would be in the RPF in the blink of an eye.

Often they promote “Anti-drugs” — a favorite ploy of scientology, rather than coming right out with their scientology pitch.

This makes it a little disconcerting to see they are on a “US Tour” — appearing at NON scientology events, as well as the expected scientology ones. I wonder if these venues have any clue about what the Jive Aces REALLY are?

 

 

 

Comments

  1. So I’ve been aware of the jive aces since around 2010, ever since I started learning to Lindy hop. I first saw them at a swing dance gig at the Albert Hall in London. Yes they were great but they get very boring very quickly. They now put on an annual gig at St Hill Manor called Summertime Swing, which I attended for the very first time this year. TBH I hadn’t let the idea of Scientology bother me previously until after this gig.

    I was aware of the bad press it had gained and I’d watch the BBC Panorama programme when it first aired but beyond that nothing more. Well the Scientology sources will have you believe that the gig was a huge success and I have to admit it was a pleasant afternoon in that we had some great friends with us, and we had an opportunity to see people we haven’t seen in a long time.

    It was actually when the wife and I went for a walk and sat by the lake that she asked me what is Scientology. Straight away I went into the cult horror story and their tactics.

    That conversation has lead to a huge fascination in the cult and a real want to see it fall to its knees. We’ve both been catching up on videos from yourself Mike, Tony Ortega, Mark Bunker and many more.

    I suppose on a personal level that I spent a bit of money to go to the gig and I now feel a bit tainted. But the scary thought is that a lot of people I know took part in that gig and look forward to it annually. Of course I’m un aware how my friends really view the church and whether they see this as dance opportunity or something more.

    The reality is that approx 2500 people went at £19 a ticket. Does that end up in the pocket of David Miscavige or somewhere else. I guess it just concerns me that something I enjoy can so easily be touched by these scumbags and their false ideology.

    How to stop it is the question and how to help see it gone for good. Any thoughts?

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  3. It’s strange that they’re doing cities where there is little if any Scientology

    Presumably this was all that they could book. I wonder if this is intended to be Scientology’s effort to create good PR in the wake of Aftermath – and in the absence of any programming from SuMP.

    p.s. Speaking of cities with little if any Scientology, I just did a bit of checking into the status of the mission in Cleveland, which is the center of a fair sized metropolitan area (around the same size as Columbus and Cincinnati, which have orgs). It looks like the mission there that was one of the afterthoughts in the back room off a dentist or chiropractor’s office type, has now retreated to rear of a small postwar retail building in a low-rent suburb.

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  4. Mike, have you seen this? https://longreads.com/2017/02/01/xenus-paradox-the-fiction-of-l-ron-hubbard/ I’d been dipping into Hubbard’s pulp fiction lately and considering something similar, but this gentleman has gotten the jump on me. Before the show, I really only knew of Scientology from the perspective of a science fiction fan and amateur historian, so while I’d been aware of his old stories from Astounding and Unknown and his transition to charlatan, I was not up-to-date on his nefarious activities post-1950. Some of those old yarns are pretty good and still remembered fondly by older fen today – the Old Doc Methuselah tales in particular. Once I started looking at them in light of the revelations lately displayed for all to see, the clues to how Hubbard shaped his cult that were lurking inside his pre-dianetics fiction started really popping out. I’ll be looking for this book as soon as it’s available next year.

    Reply

    • Once you know quite a bit of scientology you can find references to it through out both his early and later work, its a particular mindset you start to recognize.

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    • Excellent, Debbie. These people will now know with whom and with what they are actually dealing and supporting..

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  7. The Jive Aces could likely draw a lot of attention and advance their careers if they all announced a departure from scientology together. The press would be attracted to them in droves. Huge free publicity.

    They are talented musicians, no question. They could have much better careers if they didn’t have that gross stench of scientology around them. The general public is so absolutely repelled by scientology.

    By the way, how much are they paid as Sea Org members? I wonder how that works? It would be sad to think with all that talent they only live on 50 bucks a week. Sickening.

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  8. I think they are pretty decent, everyone is solid on their instruments, but their whole schtick is acting “uptone” and being in “action” while being “enthusiastic”…. that’s what they seek to portray in their live act…to come across as winners, and they are known for being Scientologists so there you are. But if they were a lame band they would never get out of the starting gate. Music is not a playing field were you can fake it for too long until people are hip to you. These guys HAVE to be solid and that choice of music is sellable. Probably the only Scientology endorsed music group I ever heard that didn’t smell of schmaltz besides the guys at Gold (when Ron was there) The upside is when the church folds they should all blow together and go make some real money.

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    • “The upside is when the church folds they should all blow together and go make some real money.”.

      This is assuming they make any money at all now over and above the standard $50 per week Sea Org pay.

      Certainly their travel and other related expenses, meals, hotel bills, costumes, instrument upkeep, etc. – all their show expenses would have to be paid directly by the cult. But as to how much spendable free salary THEY receive in hand, I’d be interested to know. I’m sure its not much, and I do mean not much.

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  11. Mike….Are you busy on Dec 22? OSD….are you? Winter Wonderland for a concert and some Holiday Cheer? Bring Aaron along also.
    I may actually attend. Would be quite interesting to see how fast I would get banned from Clearwater forever..

    Yours…. OverTheBridgeTPA

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  12. Hey this reminds me: the Arbuckle Family had a baby and mom and dad didn’t have to leave Gold.

    I’d say in 1989 or 1990.

    Anyone know Mary Arbuckle and what might have happened to their baby? Them? Mary was a tough woman (I worked with her at BPI when I was the Gold Sales Rep PAC). I didn’t know much about her husband.

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    • I remember Tamia and Mary well, they were good people. I didn’t know they had a baby, or what has happened to them or their family. I hope they were able to escape and not have their lives destroyed by DM.

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  13. ……thanks for everything you do, Mike.

    …..
    lately I’ve been feeling more and more free of scn and the years in, and more free of the lies about its true size, importance, impact and influences.

    I’ve been feeling that I don’t really need to worry about it so much. As the distance grows, so does my awareness of the tiny tiny insignificance of Scn.

    The work you are doing and the work others are doing is comforting and reassuring, and that couples with my realizations that scn will die off and not be a trap for youth in search of answers.

    I think it would happen all by itself, by the fact that it’s bunk and doesn’t work, the climate is light years beyond the 1950/60’s breakout mindsets – scn and its ideas are no longer fresh and exciting – and with the internet to tell the truth ….

    after all. …. it really was just a cult … right? 🙂 Just a blow hard nut bag who had a way with words. The idea that I followed every word of just some guy with a gift of gab – slavishly followed him for the bulk of my life – that idea grows more and more insane and surprising with time passing and mental distance growing.

    It’s incredible and laughable that I did that – astounding. The world is brand new day after day.

    …
    Add to that, the way DM runs the show … it really is just a matter of time… or so it seems to me.

    …
    So I’m not so worried about thousands of young people losing their lives the way I did 30 years from now. It’s bound to just shrink away to nothing.

    …
    and you and your crew and all the others… will help it along, and ensure those who suffered have a voice and an avenue to tell their story, to tell the truth. And you’re giving us all a place to come together and help.

    Thanks.

    Someday… I want to meet with like minded. I want to be able to do this without fear of being watched and caught and smashed. Watching and listening to you and the others, on the blogs, the shows, the youtube vids, … all of it is so helpful. You guys are my friends.

    Thank you.

    I’ll keep coming here and thanking you.

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    • Scientology may have had sharp teeth in its day, but nowadays its dentures slip off and it can’t gum its way out of a paper bag.

      Their lame ass attempts to Fair Game people is so blatantly transparent and only serves to make them look more ridiculous to the world. In the age of the internet and social media, where everybody has their own recording devices in their hands, the Fair Game tactics serve as yet more foot bullets for scientology.

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  14. Sadly, the drummer’s daughter blew the whistle on the horrors of her Scientology upbringing. So much for the wonders of Scientology and how they help with family relationships and living.

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  15. “I think the first book we all read was Dianetics.”

    A telling statement! The first step to getting people to believe that Hubbard was a genius is to prey on people who have very little–better yet, nothing–to compare his emissions to.

    The second step is to make sure that all they will ever read is Hubbard. Perish the thought that they may compare him to any credible writers!

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  16. Didn’t know the Jive Aces were Sea Org. Interesting – must be awful. Even though I was never in the SO, I never could imagine that someone in the Sea Org could be happy, unless your david miscavige beating people. Anyway, I remember when the Apollo Stars came out with an album (The Power of Source) in the 70’s (I believe) and I had quite a few musician friends tell me it was shit. As scientologists and thinking that LRH was some kind of diety, they were expecting something good; all I heard was disappointment.

    Reply

    • I remember when that album Power of Source first came out. It was hyped as “new LRH recording technology”, new “LRH music”.

      I was so excited I purchased an album for someone I wanted to disseminate to before I heard it. I was so enamored with Ron being Buddha that I believed him.

      I was soooo embarrassed after hearing it! And Ron singing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Agaimn” made my ears bleed.

      What a dangerous joke Hubbard was.

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    • I remember the day Power of Source came out – my local mission had a party and played it over and over. I was young, but the phony “oh, it’s sooo amazing” from the grownups was odd compared to my Dad’s reaction. Dad was a Jazz aficionado and later, privately, pronounced the album a turd. I didn’t like it, but I was more into the Monkees at the time.

      These days, what I hear listening to it is some of the musicians had some real skill. The Fatman’s music and production is just awful. The recording and especially the mixing is the worst kind of amateurish shite. Dad was right; overall the album is a turd.

      But I feel kinda bad for the cats playing on it. It’s a terrible album, but I don’t think it was their fault. Had the Fatman left that band to their own devices, they probably would have come up with something pretty good.

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  17. I only saw them perform once. I thought they were a reasonably good swing band with decent talent.

    My wife and I enjoy dancing swing. During the Jive Aces performance there was NO dance floor. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but looking at it now I guess it was typical scientology. Their performance was all about them, and how cool they were. It wasn’t about the audience and ensuring they could contribute to the motion with dance. That’s the essence of swing music.

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  19. The Jive Aces put on a pretty good live show, lots of energy. At least, they used to in the 90s. Haven’t seen them in a show since 2004. If they were not Scientologists they could be making a decent living doing live dance music at Swing clubs. Instead they get hyped as being bigger than the Beatles, and of course don’t live up to the hype.

    Funny Charlie Rush and Jive Aces story – once at Saint Hill, after the shows were over for the IAS events (mid 90s) the Jive Aces were on stage doing a sound check. Charlie was then in charge of all audio setups for the event and was out on the floor of the Great Hall, wrangling the huge equipment cases that had to be shipped out. At that point he had been up almost continually for a week with little naps here and there.

    But it was his birthday, so the Jive Aces did a song for him. I think the lyrics were “Charlie Rush, the busiest man in the world, Charlie Rush, the busiest man in the world…” Charlie looked at me and kind of half smiled, and said “That must be what they think of me, every time they need something I am busy with the main event and can’t get to them.”

    Charlie got busted not long after that and spent a year or so doing construction on the Berthing Buildings at Gold before ending up at the Big Blue. Last I heard he was Dishwashing In Charge or something. Scientology chews them up and spits them out, even the tough ones.

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  20. “Jive and Swing” Band, huh?
    Because I am old, I am also very suspicious of a “PR” or “Ad campaign”, directed to appeal to “Baby Boomers”, and older Senior Citizens. Reminds me of “First Alert”…. “Help me, I’ve fallen down, and I can’t get up!” Pay big bucks for a push button, when a simple cell phone 911 call saves you thousands of dollars.
    Motivation – you pull in Senior Citizens, who most likely have a house paid for, good equity, and are frightened of the future, and are ready to give money to any cause that comes along, without realizing they are being scammed. They need to give their money to their great grandchildren, instead of a bogus “religion”, to supposedly save the world.
    I expect to see many seniors pulled into the “Jive and Swing” performances, especially if there is a dance floor.
    But, I have to admit that Scientologists are slick – directing a campaign toward Senior Citizens, especially in Florida. Get them to sign over their home. Bet they have inheritance gifting programs to give everything to Scientology when the Seniors kick the bucket.

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    • Don’t you just hate it when the elderly are treated more like a commodity to profit from than as human beings. I’m old too and some of the traps I’ve seen others my age or older fall into and have experienced myself by others wishing to cash in on the accumulated wealth of someone else’s lifetime of hard work. Yes, you need to be very wary in your twilight years and it’s not easy when you hurt a lot and you’re not so sharp anymore. For Scientology to jump in and rip old people off is no surprise, for they are blood sucking leeches (no offence intended to leeches, especially old ones).

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      • Hey! I Yawn! Do the twilight years turn into the Twilight Zone? Come to think of it, Scientology is like the Twilight Zone. Most people come out altered.

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        • That’s why the TV is so important, it’s knobs and dials shouldn’t be tampered with, “they” are controlling the sights and sounds. Scientology likes it that way too, with your mind.

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      • Scientologists are simply predators, nothing more. Seniors, or any vulnerable people for that matter, must be protected from scientology. Governments could really help out here. First step, take away the tax exempt status. Come on IRS, get moving on this.

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    • Yes, senior citizens as a group are prime targets for scammers in general. Many are hurting physically, mentally or emotionally,- lonely, retired, without much to do so they park themselves in front of the TV. I know a few who talk and shout at the TV, like its a live thing. After a while it makes them angry and more than a little nuts. These are the people who will talk to lelemarketers because at least somebody is calling.

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      • BTW, Aquamarine, I grandfathered you into the, Bitter Defrocked Apostates Assoc. With full honors. Check yesterday’s posts.

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        • Well, this is indeed a pleasant surprise. Thank you, OSD – I mean, Mr. President, Sir. The honor is entirely mine and as befitting a member of this elite, highly select organization for the next billion years I shall endeavor to live up to all expectations earnestly, with all the bitterness, apostasy and defrockedness of which I am capable. I am proud to wear the ABDA uniform of tee shirt, cut-offs, mirrored sunglasses and flip-flops. Heretofore what was once my wandering gaze has now been permanently replaced by a truly fierce, dedicated glare. I am no longer Mrs. Pattycake. I am Mrs. Aquamarine-cake. Sir, I will not let you down.*

          *Forgive, please. filing does to my brain.

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          • 2nd edit: this is what last week’s non stop filing did to my brain. Permanent damage. Even a weekend off in the country didn’t help. Paper is my SP, and I’m going to Disconnect.

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      • We spent a couple of years in a retirement type village. It was a real eye opener when a major corporate bought the place and slipped in their operating system. We did all we could as fast as we could and got the hell out of there. The rules and fine print are unbelievable. They introduced two pages of amended tenancy rules without consultation. But what made it really bad was they effectively removed any complaint system that goes above the physical manager of the place. You can complain of course past the local manager but it would have to be done via a lawyer in a state organised tribunal where no class actions are recognised, you must go it alone. Very clever, old folks don’t play those sort of legal games, nor have the $ or inclination to confront such a beaurocracy. Such things as rent increases, power and water are now all controlled and billed via the corporate, which indecently didn’t provide an office address, all communications go through the local on-site manager. All the fees have increased, little by little beyond the lease agreement that 80% of the residents signed before big brother bought the place. It’s an organised rort. I tracked down the owners and the system was put together by 2 merchant bankers who listed their new company on the exchange two years prior. They now own over 20 such places as well as RV & caravan parks. Business is business, but the this well managed system treats old folks simply as a source of revenue.
        Beware of retirement villages or homes. Check the fine print carefully before considering such places, especially the exit fees, death is a profitable occurrence for most places. Your kids might be in for a nasty surprise.

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        • Yawn, respectfully, real estate business people treat EVERYONE as “sources of revenue”. That doesn’t mean SOLELY as sources of revenue but that is the general idea in business. Some operate ethically,and give fair value and exchange, and some don’t.

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          • Any business does. Hey, it’s tough out there. I’ve been self employed for over 30 years. I don’t give single reasons Aqua, just what I see. I very much have a soft spot for people who deserve a better break, like veterans and the elderly. Business people generally can’t afford to care – still doesn’t make it right thou.

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            • Agreed, Yawn. We’re tracking. I’m self employed too. For 35 years I’ve managed to do OK without doing people in. Doing people in, taking unfair advantage of trusting, unknowledgeable and otherwise vulnerable people in any demographic is BAD business. NOT the way to survive. Helping people for no exchange can be fun, actually. You can make someone almost instantly happy just by listening for a while and steering in the right direction, even if you can’t really do anything for them business-wise. They don’t expect it. Sometimes its a pain in the ass and inconvenient, but it ends up being a good thing. And it doesn’t hurt business, its not like you’re doing nothing but this all day. Just when the opportunity arises. You can shoot someone who’s depressed way uptone, for a while – ping! Just by doing this. Fun, kind of – creating this effect.

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              • Yeah, we’re on the same page. Just a moment of your time, a smile and show a bit of interest can do wonders for someone’s else’s self esteem and makes you feel good too. It’s tough when you’re really busy but it’s a nice habit to have or acquire.
                Having your wits about you is essential in business but I detest those that cross the line and intentionally rip people off. The Cof$ is an outstanding example of theft by intent.

  22. Back in the day I was on mission running the ‘What Is Scientology Exhibit’ in 2001. The Jive Aces often came to open the exhibit and sometimes they even stayed around for a week or so playing outside the exhibit. They would attract more public and made the bodyrouting into the exhibit a lot easier.
    I got to know all the guys in the band (and their lovely italian advance-lady, she was sweeet!) and they are very nice guys. And that’s like many of the people you meet in the SO and amongst scientologists.
    So I saw them perform live many times and I´m sorry to say so but I enjoyed their live performances even though I never gave a damn about ‘that jive’ (I was into bone-crunching wicked heavy metal). I found out that ‘their’ best stuff are actually Louis Prima covers, their own work was pretty lame. They did turn me onto Louis Prima.

    Come to think of it, maybe it had something to do with the 16-hour work day us poor missionaires were running on… It does kind of lighten up your day a bit.

    But if I would pay now to go and see them? I think not.

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  24. No Didn’t know they were Scientologists, but I’ll make a point not to watch them,
    They,re no” Caravan Palace “, The best new Electric Swing band ,in the world ,
    Check out Caravan Palace live 2010 especially the 50 minute mark ,
    Granitt

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    • My first reaction, too! Re-read (or read for the first time) “Manchild in the Promised Land” by Claude Brown and you’ll discover that jive is a derogatory term. Seems fitting!

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  26. God, they suck. Why don’ they at least use some of the good musicians from Gold like Tamia, Charlie or even Kenny?

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