Massive Wagons are launching a national anti-bullying campaign and invite you to join them, and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, to help stamp out all bullying, everywhere.
Massive Wagons recently launched their Fuck The Haters single, a supportive rallying cry for those who have been affected by any form of bullying. The band were moved by stories they received from fans and so have decided to donate a proportion of proceeds from all sales of a range of Fuck The Haters, and more child-friendly Forget The Haters merchandise, including t-shirts, patches, foam hands, and a goodie pack to The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.
“I took a lot of crap at school,” Barry ‘Baz’ Mills said. “It seemed like my universe at the time revolved around being picked on, going to school and just coming home in one piece. I got it in the neck from kids and teachers all the time.
“I wasn’t the smartest lad and I was very, very small for my age. Both things I believe contributed to the shit I got. This carried on all through school and college, not being from a big town I just became the target guy.
“Joining the RAF was the best thing I ever did. I moved away, new start, new faces. The military is like a brotherhood. It strips you back, makes you all the same, and then just rebuilds you. I just became a different human.
“When I eventually left and came home, the same old losers were living the same old lives but I wasn’t prepared to fall back into that trap. I hooked up with a few guys, we started the band and here we are.
“Long story short, that abuse will never leave me – it crosses my mind at least once a day every day – but it didn’t beat me.
“I use that shit as a tool to be who I am now. It reminds me every day that I can do anything I want. It has taught me to be kind, sympathetic, and understanding with others. I never ever want to be the bully or abuser – fuck them, fuck them all.
“They aren’t in a rock band, working for themselves, doing something they love, touching people’s lives with words and music, taking my daughter to school and bringing her home, doing what I like when I like. I’ve done this, you can do this, don’t be beaten down, don’t let them win, live your life how you wanna live it Fuck The Haters.
“It means a lot to be able to share this message through our music, and even more to be partnering with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation to help support the anti-bullying work they do in schools.”
Massive Wagons have shared the first in a short series of personal interviews on their social media. The first episode features frontman Barry “Baz” Mills discussing the inspiration and some personal experiences behind the single and ensuing anti-bullying campaign with bandmate Adam Thistlethwaite.
The Sophie Lancaster Foundation intends to use the proceeds from the Massive Wagons initiative to deliver S.O.P.H.I.E. workshops in schools which are designed to increase levels of empathy in young people and help them understand that actions have consequences.
S.O.P.H.I.E. stands for Stamp Out Prejudice, Hate, and Intolerance Everywhere.
“The message in this Massive Wagons song ‘wear what you want, be who you want to be, and be proud about it’ absolutely reflects the core message of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, Adam Lancaster, from The Sophie Lancaster Foundation said. “The unprovoked gang attack on Sophie was solely because of her Gothic appearance.
“Our work focuses on educating people that difference should be celebrated not feared and we all have the right to be who we are without harassment or violence. It’s great that this campaign has such a strong anti-bullying message as we know how devastating the effects of bullying can be.
“We are so grateful that the band will be donating a proportion of merchandise sales to the Foundation and we will use any proceeds to deliver much-needed anti-bullying workshops in schools.”
Use these hashtags on your social media, and if you feel able, share your own experiences: #FuckTheHaters #StopBullying
For more information on bullying and to receive support, visit:
https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk
https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying
https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-bullying-and-harassment
