"This guy must have done something mental and terrible"

August 21, 2015 8:42 AM

Russell Brand is putting The Trews on hiatus. He's also taking a break from Twitter and Facebook: "I'm going to be learning, because I know that real change is coming, and I want to be part of that." He provides a good short overview in his last posting about some of the hilites of his run. Like many people, I've particularly enjoyed the pokes in the eye he gave to Fox news, especially Hannity and O'Reilley (and they've responded in their usual dyspeptic way).
posted by anothermug (14 comments total)

Russell Brand did an amusing appearance on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe earlier this year.
posted by Nevin at 9:33 AM on August 21, 2015 [5 favorites]

Is Russell Brand the new Barbra Streisand?
posted by biffa at 10:19 AM on August 21, 2015

Good on him.
posted by subdee at 10:24 AM on August 21, 2015 [1 favorite]

What's he going on about, I saw The Trews last Friday here in Lindsay Ontario! They're not on hia-ohhhh I see what's happening here.

But seriously, check out the Trews. Fun band.
posted by Lemurrhea at 10:27 AM on August 21, 2015 [5 favorites]

Seriously I thought the same thing - what's Brand got to do with an indie Canadian band?
posted by GuyZero at 10:39 AM on August 21, 2015 [6 favorites]

(for a revolution!) i'd try to learn about the link between the breakdown of 'productivity' and the monetary transmission mechanism [1,2,3] :P
posted by kliuless at 10:45 AM on August 21, 2015 [2 favorites]

What's he going on about, I saw The Trews last Friday here in Lindsay Ontario! They're not on hia-ohhhh I see what's happening here.


I thought the same thing and was SO CONFUSED. Russell Brand is a member of The Trews?? Thank goodness for Wikipedia disambiguation.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:39 AM on August 21, 2015

I thought hilites was an ancient Greek tribe.

If only Russell Brand was half as bright as he wishes he could pretend he isn't.
posted by opsin at 12:37 PM on August 21, 2015 [2 favorites]

Never heard of a hilite. Maybe the Hittites?
posted by Nevin at 12:40 PM on August 21, 2015

Hoplites?
posted by mfu at 4:24 PM on August 21, 2015

Hopalongs?
posted by MeatLightning at 10:27 PM on August 21, 2015

@ospin Whether he's as smart as his pseudo-intellectual, pretentious-goth comedy character (isn't) or not, I think it's great that he's decided he's gotta learn more if he wants to participate in, like, public policy and opinion-making.

Plus I disagree that Russell Brand was ever trying to seem not-intelligent... if that's what you meant.

Anyway I think that saying that positive social change is possible and that you gotta know something to affect it is a good message; that if he's gonna make a living making fun of the ignorance of others he should have some (structured) learning and not just native intelligence to back that up; and that going back to school / taking classes / studying under masters / whatever he's gonna do is is exactly how I would choose to spend my millions if I was that rich.

So... good on him.
posted by subdee at 11:05 AM on August 22, 2015 [1 favorite]

I like Russell a lot. It would have been easy for him to coast on his money, but since he returned from the US he's tried to reinvent himself.

He's seemingly successfully staying clean and sober, better than many former addicts in public life. "Russell Brand back on heroin" is probably the story the Daily Mail, The Sun and all the other papers would love to print more than any other.

He also puts his money where his mouth is, for example by opening the Trew Era Cafe near where he lives, as a social enterprise for recovering addicts. It's a great cafe - if you live in London you should visit it.
posted by DanCall at 4:02 AM on August 24, 2015 [1 favorite]

Much as I like to make fun of Russell Brand, he provided some great insights when he appeared in 2012 before the Committee on Addiction.
posted by Nevin at 8:44 AM on August 24, 2015