[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: (TV) Arthur Lee



Yeah, and Monk was a wonderful composer. True talent not some hack who
barely plays three chords.
----- Original Message -----
From: MICHAEL CARLUCCI <subterraneannyc@mindspring.com>
To: <tv@obbard.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: (TV) Arthur Lee


>     "If God made anything better than Heroin, he kept it for
> himself" Thelonius Monk.
> ----------
> >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
> >>
> >> --------------
> >> 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"
> --------------
> 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"