Just days away from Art Bell's DARK MATTER premiering on Sirius XM radio, controversy is heating up on the message board Bellgab, formerly CoastGab..
As reported on the HORROR REPORT, George Noory himself took to the message board weeks ago to confront the 'haters.' .. But things have become more personal since Noory had David Oates appear on his program Coast to Coast AM--the same Oates who Art Bell sued for defamation of character over a decade ago..
Among the comments Noory posted on the message board,
Folks I have never lied to any of you--its something I just don't do. I sent a lengthy email to Art this afternoon.I trust he got it.....and tells you so.
The contents were for his eyes only
Believe what you want folks..youve been taking potshots at me for years. So there is NOTHING I could say or do...to change your minds.I did make one mistake. Coming to post here thinking it would help and make a difference.Be well....move on.Life is too short.Im outta hereNoory has been repeatedly barraged with criticism since deciding to post on Bellgab.. Noory dignified some comments with responses, others not.. But the most recent message Noory left, "Im [sic] outta here," implied that perhaps Noory was done posting.
When users became critical as to whether Noory was taking shots at Bell, the current Coast host without the most said,
He KNOWS it was not a shot at him...for 11 years I have done everything I could for him. Things you aren't even aware of...which includes defending him from that fraudulent philipino letter, supporting him at public events, getting an immigration attorney for his new wife...understanding his grief. Why in God's name would I want nothing but the best and happiness for him.Good grief. IT WAS SETTLED..no one...and I mean NO ONE told us other wise.And enter Art Bell, who has occasionally posted on the site and decided to again on September 10--saying many things, among which a comment that he was still waiting for Noory's supposed email to Mindspring.. Bell wrotes fans on the message board,
Hello all, I have NO email from George, at least nothing today and nothing that relates to Oates at all.There are several things I do not understand. I said I no longer hold a grudge with respect to Oates and that is true, that kind of thing will make you sick but I will NEVER forget or forgive. Many of you remember, or if not, know what was said now as does George, he Twitted that he plans to have him on again, really?
I thought that there was possibly a chance that George did not know the history, I no longer believe that. At this point it no longer matters, it's done. I think coincidence occurs all the time, George I think has a contrary view, to be sure this was a monster one. I did ban Oates for life. If George does not respect that after reading what Oates said about me then there is nothing left for me to say about George.Bell further wrote a subsequent message,
More to clear up, then to bed.
1. George got a Atty for me? First I had heard of that. Karen Jackson is the one who got it done back here in Pahrump through a congressman almost 3 Years ago.
2. I indeed can guess who wrote that awful letter (Not George). 3. I still do not have that email, please feel free to resend.
4. Thank you for understanding my loss of Ramona
5. When somebody calls you a Child Molester and claims you were arrested for Porno, you do not forget and you do not forgive, that I truly hope you never have to find out for yourself.
Look, this thing is over because it is a done deal, I had not thought for Years of any of this until Thursday, as of now I would like to let it slide into history again. It was a shock but I will deal with it. Public figures have to develop thick skin, however I am older now and I think mine is thinning a bit. night all....
And while the war of words gets amplified with the help of free form text from both Bell and Noory themselves, TIME MAGAZINE has taken notice to Bell's return in its newest issue..
The September 23 issue also has a bombshell: The apparent return of Ross Mitchell as the voice for DARK MATTER.. More:
TIME reports: "... he's [Bell] even recruited the old Coast announcer to set the mood."MORE..
TIME QUOTES ART BELL ON PREMIERE RADIO: "It's not personal. It's just an institutional hatred. I really hate them."
TIME WRITES:
"He traded his Marlboro Lights for electronic cigarettes, and his 29-year-old fourth wife Airyn and their 6-year-old daughter Asia keep him spry. He looks like a droopier version of his 1990s self--not a bad outcome given the hours he keeps. (Bell never goes to bed before 2 a.m.) He says his time abroad rejuvenated him too. He moved to Manila to marry Airyn in 2006, three months after his wife's unexpected death from an asthma attack."As to whether he will return with a vengeance to a whimper: TIME writes.
But more than a decade away can sow doubts, even among the best. "Memories grow fond over time," Bell says, fretting over his return. "My listeners may remember me being better than I was."On salary and politics:
Though the deal was modest by his standards--Bell says he'll earn $75,000 annually, plus half of the show's profits for three years--he was drawn by the freedom it offered: few commercial breaks, total creative control and the chance to prove that his brand of weird still has a following among America's overworked and underslept.And with that, the autumn nights will heat up.. competition for Noory was discounted with original announcements of Art Bell's return--he was set to broadcast until 10pm PDT, just in time for Noory's program to open.
The audience for conspiracies and antigovernment screeds is vast, but Bell says he doesn't want them. "George can keep them," Bell says with a smile. He's after a different demographic: "The sane fringe."
But ....
Perhaps things have changed..Bell is going to have free reign to broadcast--either his show will repeat or he will stay on the air live as long as he wants..
It's yet to be seen how long Bell wants to stay on the air each day.. "My listeners may remember me being better than I was."
Whether Bell is just being humble about his own radio personality of the past, they know full well how bad things became once he left.. Noory and company seem to meander late into the night, offering shows without context and subjects without constraints..
Bell may be right: People get sentimental about the past, no matter how bad the 'worst of times' were. However, the worst of times have come to late night radio--and perhaps DARK MATTER can help bring back some magic..