An opportunity lost

So dull he even sends himself to sleep

Despite not being desperately taken by the content of the Wikileaks cables there are some gems including this one reported in yesterday’s Obsever.

It seems that North Korea wanted the US to arrange for Eric Clapped-out to play a concert in Pyonyang,

A confidential cable dated 22 May 2007 from the US ambassador in Seoul to Washington reveals North Korean officials "suggested" to the Americans that because Kim Jong-il's second son, Kim Jong-chol, was "a great fan" of the British guitarist, a "performance could be an opportunity to build goodwill". The report adds that "arranging an Eric Clapton concert in Pyongyang… could be useful, given Kim Jong-il's second son's devotion to the rock legend".

Rock and pop are forbidden in North Korea because of their western influences but of course some people are more equal than others – Heaven forbid that one of the Kims would have to endure the restrictions of one of the family’s millions of serfs.

The request was portrayed by North Korea as a way to "promote understanding" between the communist nation and the west. Clapton apparently agreed in principle but the plan later appeared to stall, however, with Clapton denying that he had agreed to take part.

Ah given the behaviour of the Kims in the past it may have been that Clapton would have bee kidnapped – the fate of at least on Japanese film director… Frankly they would be welcome to the over rated tosser. In fact it is a shame that there had not been a whole festival. I can think of plenty of artistes who could have spent the rest of their careers performing for the Kims!