Britain’s Got Talent 2012: Johnny Gunner claims Jive Aces tried to brainwash him with Scientology…Ian Clarkson hits back!
A former member of swing band The Jive Aces has claimed that they once tried to brainwash him.
The group reportedly all joined Scientology – favoured by stars such as John Travolta and Tom Cruise – decades ago and former guitarist Johnny Gunner claims that when he didn’t want to dedicate himself to the church with his bandmates, he was pressured into leaving the band.
Jive Aces were featured on Saturday night’s episode of Britain’s Got Talent, when they brought a smile to the face of normally grumpy Simon Cowell, with their rendition of ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ from The Jungle Book.
The music mogul told them they were the first act to put him in a ‘good mood’ during the whole day of Cardiff auditions.
However, their former member claims that he had to leave the band back in the 1990s, because they wanted him to move in with them and follow the religion, which was started by L Ron Hubbard in 1953.
He told The Sun:
“They were being brainwashed.
“I thought I was in danger. I was in the band to play music not be part of a secret religion. It got to the stage where they said join us or leave. They were a strange bunch.”
Jive Aces singer Ian Clarkson hit back saying that his religion has nothing at all to do with his music and added:
“Scientology has helped me and the band creatively. If anyone asks, I suggest people read L Ron Hubbard. There’s no brainwashing.”
He also tweeted Unreality TV saying:
“Rubbish as Johnny Gunner was asked to leave the band over a year before the Jive Aces were even Scientologists!”
Britain’s Got Talent continues this weekend, when the acts that have made it through to the semi finals will be revealed.
The live shows will start then on Sunday night and continue every night next week.
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The Jive Aces are a straightforward and positive band. The Sun probably paid this Johnny to lie for a headline.
Straightforward are they Louanne? The Jive Aces are the Scientology cult’s in-house shill band. They are all Scientology Sea Org members, the most devoted fanatics in this cult.
Johnny Gunner was just doing the public a service. More and more people are going to be speaking up like this, including the thousands of ex-members of Scientology itself. Word is out. Scientology is a scam.
“Maggie” is a Scientology Office of Special Affairs internet pr-person who sometimes posts as “Louanne”.
Wow. what a story. I met Johnny a couple months ago and really liked him, top guy, great performer and easy to work with.
Ian Clarkson saying “he was asked to leave a year ago” sounds like total bollocks, the band trying to save face at someone else’s expense. Seen this kind of backstabbing before.