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Re: (TV) Arthur Lee
To Joe,
Bravo ! Well said, I couldn't have put it better. Thank you! M T C
----------
>From: Joe Hartley <jh@brainiac.com>
>To: tv@obbard.com
>Subject: Re: (TV) Arthur Lee
>Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2000, 11:37 AM
>
>jpontrelli@nallmiller.com wrote:
>> JPG wrote: Sounds like another pathetic loser.
>>
>> The man responsible for the first three Love records was no pathetic loser.
>> "Forever Changes" is on an equal plain with "Marquee Moon."
>
>I find JPG's attitude amazingly harsh. I have known people with drug and
>alcohol problems, and have broken off dear friendships because of it, and have
>had friends die because of this. There is a big difference between JPG's
>smug moral superiority and necessity of pushing someone away because they
>either need to get better or worse. I wonder whether JPG has ever
>personally known anyone seriously addicted. Doesn't sound like it.
>
>Artistic genius is often coupled with psychological problems that draw
>such people to drugs (including alcohol) like a moth to a flame. On
>a very simplistic level, such people can be said to "feel" more strongly
>than the average "normal" person. How people react to this varies with
>each person. Sometimes purging themselves through their art is
>sufficient, sometimes it's not. The drugs come into play because they
>dull that feeling. Some people can control it, others can't. The drugs
>that are most often abused to the point of addiction by artists are
>opiates and alcohol. This isn't a coincidence - these are the drugs that
>are most effective at toning down these feelings.
>
>You can look down your nose at the people who can't handle the reality
>(or the drugs), but there's a fiendish circle at work against the artist.
>The feelings help put the genius in the art, but make the artist feel
>that he (or she) is not really in control. Oddly enough, the drugs at
>first make the artist feel in control. Used often enough, though, the
>physical addiction will rear its head, and then there's a whole new
>problem to deal with.
>
>I'm fortunate; I don't feel so out-of-balance that I need strong drugs
>on a regular basis to help me feel in control. A beer or a toke from time to
>time does fine, and I won't go nuts if I don't have it. I also don't have
>the spark of creativity to be a good musician or writer or any other type
>of artist. I enjoy playing guitar, but I have no personal "voice" and
>don't write my own music. I don't mind; I understand the tradeoffs.
>
>Yes, there are people who can make music and don't really seem to have
>demons to fight. Their music is usually dull and boring. Even people
>with their demons can make dull music - there are no hard and fast rules.
>
>When I hear stories about people like Arthur Lee, I'm saddened to think
>of the losing battle against keeping balance they're in. Of all the
>feelings I have, contempt is not among them.
>
>Much of this message came from a looong conversation I had with a friend
>of mine, one of the best guitarists I've ever heard, at a time when he
>was off heroin and seemed to have a handle on his life and career. Sadly,
>koyaanisqatsi (life out of balance) took hold later and he OD'ed just as
>his career seemed to finally be taking off. We'd gotten onto the topic
>when I casually remarked I'd give anything to play as well as he did, and
>he replied he'd glady give it up if he could get control of things.
>
>Paul, I still miss you.
>
>--
>======================================================================
> 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
>
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