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Re: (TV) Arthur Lee
At one time Lee was creative and interesting. But I bet real money he has
been on nothing but a downer for years. That's what I meant.
----- Original Message -----
From: SCOTT ALDRICH <scott.aldrich@worldnet.att.net>
To: <tv@obbard.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 6:16 PM
Subject: 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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