Re: (TV) Arthur Lee

[Noah Lopez <noahl@U.Arizona.EDU>]

Yawn.

Noah


On Wed, 23 Feb 2000, Jeffrey Germaine wrote:

> 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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