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Re: (TV) Arthur Lee



Does Arthur Lee qualify as some hack who barely plays three chords, or is it
his erratic behavior and drug use that make him a "pathetic loser" in your
sage-like world-view?
Scott

----------
>From: "Jeffrey Germaine" <jpg@sirius.com>
>To: <tv@obbard.com>
>Subject: Re: (TV) Arthur Lee
>Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2000, 9:04 PM
>

> 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
>> >>
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>> >
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