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Re: (TV) Arthur Lee
"If God made anything better than Heroin, he kept it for
himself" Thelonius Monk.
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>From: "Jeffrey Germaine" <jpg@sirius.com>
>To: <tv@obbard.com>
>Subject: Re: (TV) Arthur Lee
>Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2000, 4:52 PM
>
>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
>>
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>
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