Re: (TV) Arthur Lee

["Jeffrey Germaine" <jpg@sirius.com>]

Joe,
The problem that I have with many of these "artists" is that to me what they
did just isn't that significant. Yes, Hell wrote "Blank.." but I honestly
don't find it to be that monumental as some believe it is. I gather
tremendous energy from an artist such as Coltrane because his art is much
more profound and rooted in a universally significant cause. Twenty-five
years ago my thoughts were that the Lower East Side ( forget about punk)
scene was more about a neighborhood then about a universal message.  It was
unique: it was bohemia.Then it got hyped and exposed. Was it ever better
than when it was unknown? Were the "artists" tremendous genius"? Perhaps
some showed the possibility. Did they mature and reach genius? Genius?
That's a very serious word.Genius is thrown around too loosely. Or as Oscar
Wilde said the thing is either good or its not. Food for thought.In that
respect I find  the "scene" marginal.  I can say that in many ways I also
lived a marginal existence in the bohemia of San Francisco much like living
on the Lower East Side.I'm glad I experienced it and I've got some great
memories but as they say you gotta move on.
Just thoughts from a middle-aged man .
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Hartley <jh@brainiac.com>
To: <tv@obbard.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: (TV) Arthur Lee


> Jeffrey Germaine wrote:
> > Be honest now. You mean to tell me that drugs,etc. have little or no
bearing
> > on the "craft" of such folks as Thunders & Hell? Gimme a break!!
> > Those two were nothing but a walkin' talkin' drugstore!!
>
> It has a *lot* to do with their music.  How many other songs capture the
> sheer angst and desperation of youth as well as "Blank Generation?"  In
> order to capture that feeling, Hell must have felt it.  If he'd been a
happy,
> well-adjusted lad, we'd never have had that song.  Is it not worth
listening
> to because it was written by a junky?  Should I not read any WSBurroughs
> because of his addictions?
>
> These pieces of art are compelling to me because they convey the horror
> of feeling helpless, unable to control their own lives.  I couldn't
possibly
> write something like that because I've never been that close to the edge
> myself.
>
> I don't "love the addiction," as you seem to think I do.  It's with horror
> that I see people constantly flirt with that edge, ready to tumble into
the
> abyss at any moment.  Of the emotions that come into play, there's sorrow,
> pity and a bit of revulsion at some primal level.  Scorn and contempt
> aren't among them.
>
> I cannot separate the work of someone like WSB or Arthur Lee from their
> addictions.  It is a part of them, for better or worse.  Of course one
> hopes that anyone can overcome an addiction, but no one can do that
> except the addict.  Many succeed, many fail.  It's generally none of my
> business unless the addict has asked me to become involved, or has coerced
> me into involvement.  (I have a looong Jaco Pastorius story that
illustrates
> how people get sucked into an addict's orbit.  Some other time.)
>
> The terse "Fuckin' junkie" response we've seen repeatedly focuses on
> one aspect of an artist - that inability to control the addiction - and
> leaves no room for discussion of the artist or the work.  It's a sordid,
> dirty part of the whole, but only part.
> --
> ======================================================================
>        Joe Hartley - UNIX/network Consultant - jh@brainiac.com
>      12 Emma G Lane, Narragansett, RI  02882 - vox 401.782.9042
> Without deviation from the norm, "progress" is not possible. - FZappa
>
> --------------
> To post: Mail tv@obbard.com
> To unsubscribe: Mail majordomo@obbard.com with message "unsubscribe tv"
>

--------------
To post: Mail tv@obbard.com
To unsubscribe: Mail majordomo@obbard.com with message "unsubscribe tv"