Liverpool legend Ian Rush has put his name to an extraordinarily bizarre, score-settling musical produced by AI - attacking Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler.
Rush takes pot shots at Carragher and Fowler, lambasts the legal system and various journalists and lawyers in the 90-minute 'Rush For Justice'.
In the musical shared online after being premiered in Cannes by the embattled company Rush is involved with, the strange Hamilton-style AI production is unveiled in full.
The lyrics in one song reference his anger at Carragher and Fowler for ditching him in a WhatsApp group after withdrawing endorsement videos from a controversial company he holds a stake in.
'Now here's a tale from Merseyside, surreal but sadly true, of legends draped in scarlet red, their boots once split the blue. Fowler, Carragher, icons both with Rushy, through and through, were asked to send a video clip, just something mates would do,' runs one song before the AI generated voice starts rapping.
'They never called old Rushy back, no mate-to-mate hello, just vanished from the WhatsApp thread like Gerrard missed a throw,' goes the next verse as his grievances are brought to light.
Rush, the top goalscorer in Liverpool history, is a significant shareholder in Irama Sports - a company that invests in and purchases football grounds.
When the company launched, a number of ex-pros, including Carragher and Fowler, filmed endorsements that were put on their Facebook page.
Some were later withdrawn amid claims the former Liverpool defender and striker had not intended them for commercial use.
Clearly Rush is still stung by their actions - hence the decision to call them out in his AI musical. At the time, Carragher and Fowler were questioned about their support for Irama given the controversy around the company buying up grounds of struggling clubs.
Both then distanced themselves on Twitter, now X, in April last year.
Carragher wrote: 'Just seen this thread and seen my name as an endorsement of this group. I was asked for a video message, which I did as a favour to a former LFC player. I have no idea who they are or what they do. After reading, what they do looks very grim.'
Fowler added: 'I was asked for a video from a friend and former team-mate. I have no affiliation with this group and don't wish to be associated with them. My support is with grassroots football and those effected.'
Fowler, Rush and Carragher had previously worked with each other for the Liverpool Foundation after their playing days but the relationship between the Welshman and his old team-mates now appears fractured.
One song in the AI musical details Rush's legal frustrations, with the American voiceover singing: 'Four years deep in the litigation zone, self-represented, standing on my own. Irama's case has got the core but they won't let justice through the court room door.
'They don't touch substance, no merit in view, just playing the game with a rulebook or two, £70k in costs what a feat for a £65k claim, that's elite.'
Irama is also involved in an ongoing legal dispute with a Surrey scaffolding company and Martin Calladine - one of the journalists called out in the musical by name - sums up the production as detailing: 'Rush’s and Irama’s four-year court battle with the former owners of Whyteleafe (a football club in Surrey).
'It starts as a rant about the media, attacking The Athletic, the FSA, former MP Tracey Crouch, lots of journalists (including, briefly, me), Fowler, Carragher, and Liverpool's failure to sell them Melwood.'
Melwood was Liverpool's training ground until 2020 before they moved to the state-of-the-art AXA Training Centre in Kirkby.
Rather than sell the former site, Liverpool's women's team and girls' academy now operate out of Melwood.
Irama have come under fire for purchases that have been either at clubs whose grounds are in administration or were being sold at auction.
Back in 2021, they spent £495,000 on Whyteleafe FC’s Church Road ground and £300,000 for Oxfordshire club Abingdon Town’s Culham Road the year before.
At the time Whyteleafe chairman Mark Coote told the Athletic: 'Irama don’t seem to grasp football clubs, it’s as if they’re landlords.
'This could end up finishing the club and the community I’ve built over the last 25 years. We’re in a very difficult position. Terminating the lease means Whyteleafe don’t have anywhere to play.'
Irama showcased the AI musical in Cannes in one of their properties - and Calladine says there are plans to develop a film to go with the music.
He also shared an email from Justice For Sport media company in the US - who headed the production.
The email gave notice to those named in the musical about the release 'to ensure full transparency'.
The musical was uploaded online under a Creative Commons 'Public Domain Dedication' licence, meaning the content can be used by anyone without infringing copyright.
