#fan recollections: 1980s

[harrisonarchive]

At rehearsals for Dylan's 30th anniversary concert, October 1992. Photo by Ken Regan/Camera 5 via Contour by Getty Images.

“The one time I ever met George, weirdly enough, was at Tom [Petty]’s house for Christmas. I knew what a big fan he was of the Beatles, so I found an old Life magazine with them on the cover and wrapped it up. When we sat down for the gift giving, George, who I worshipped — like everyone else — sat down next to me. Tom opened the gift, and there’s the Beatles. George turns to me and goes, ‘Oh, yeah, the Fabs, I remember them.’” - David Wild, Rolling Stone, January 17, 2002

[thislovintime]

Onstage, 1980s (photo 2 by Jim Steinfeldt; photo 3 is from Houston on July 18, 1987).

“‘Peter! Peter! I love you!’ bellowed a dark-haired teen-ager who was taking photographs.” - The Daily Items, September 24, 1986

“Peter was the most crowd-conscious. He made sure attention was given to the section of the audience that was missing out on the action while the stage was facing the other way in its revolution. By conducting the audience and leading the crowd in clapping, he managed to hold high the crowd’s energy and slowly built the tempo until the fans leaped to their feet at the close of the show. He paid attention to what the crowd wanted, even signing ‘I love you‘ to some girls who brought a ‘We Love U Peter’ banner.” - The Berkshire Eagle, August 14, 1987

[idontwanttospoiltheparty]

ok I need you to discuss this John is My Son thing because like I also feel that Sometimes I Felt Like His Priest is also really underdischssed!

okay here we go!!!

The quote you're referring to is from the Foreword of The Lyrics. I grabbed some more of it because it's all quite interesting to me.

This was about the same time that I met John Lennon, and it’s pretty clear now that we were a huge influence on each other. Readers might detect duelling emotions in my recollections of John; that’s because my relationship with him was very mixed. Sometimes it was filled with great love and admiration, but other times not, especially around the time The Beatles were breaking up. In the beginning, though, the relationship was a young Liverpool guy looking up to another guy a year and a half older. It was hard not to admire John’s wit and wisdom. But as I came to see him as a person and a human being, there were, of course, arguments, though never anything violent. There’s even a movie out there in which John’s character punches my character, but the truth is that he never punched me. As with many friendships, there were disputes and there were arguments, but not many. Sometimes, though, I certainly thought John was being a complete idiot. Even though I was younger, I would try to explain to him why he was being stupid and why something he’d done was so unlike him. I remember him saying things to me like, ‘You know, Paul, I worry about how people are gonna remember me when I die.’ Thoughts like that shocked me, and I’d reply, ‘Hold on; just hold it right there. People are going to think you were great, and you’ve already done enough work to demonstrate that.’ I often felt like I was his priest and would have to say, ‘My son, you’re great. Just don’t worry about that.’

It's like… there's so much going on here, you know? John is almost paradoxical to Paul: the source of one of the biggest hurts of his life and also one of his great bringers of joy; he's forever petrified as a teenager in Paul's mind and also on some level remains his fairground hero whose shadow Paul cannot escape; a traitor and yet don't you dare depict him being violent towards me; wise and simultaneously stupid.

At its root, I think many of these contradictions exist because Paul is on some level aware that a lot of the pain John dealt him was at least in part due to something John could not help (i.e. mental illness). He can't bring himself to blame John entirely, in a similar way a lot of us fans wrestle with John's behaviour that we know came from a place of great anguish. This has contributed to Paul infantilizing the memory of John; he has an instinct to look after John, and it's exacerbated by the fact that he has aged whilst his conception of John has not (you can see this in the way Paul constantly circles back to the early days of their friendship), which is in great contrast to Paul's memory of, say, Brian:

"I find that one of the interesting aspects of ageing: Brian Epstein never got beyond thirty-two, but I think of him as an older guy even though I’m already twenty years older than he ever got to be." – Many Years From Now.

But there's another element to this… A lot of people on here speculate about why Paul "can't get over John". My answer:

1) John's death was uniquely traumatic to John's loved ones in a way we tend to gloss over.

2) We are not letting Paul get over it! Paul has been asked about John in interview after interview for four decades and his image directly suffered due to the lionization of John post-1980 as well as the way he (Paul) was judged for not grieving correctly. Perhaps he's started bringing John up a lot in interviews in part because he feels he has to, lest he be deemed callous and cold again. (and perhaps he is seeking to nip the Lennon Question in the bud before the questions become, ahem, horribly insensitive) That's not to say Paul isn't weird about John – I think he is! But I think the way he's been made to both carry John's legacy and accept criticism used to build John up and bury his own unresolved anger at John and grieve over a senseless murder publicly and defend John now that his image is being torn down… it accounts for a huge chunk of this weirdness, IMO. Again, I want to reiterate: I think these are generally Paul's genuine feelings and thoughts (and I certainly don't want to imply that all of this only started post-1980... but perhaps there's a reason Paul seemed more measured throughout the '70s) but I think it's naive to act like society didn't help shape the way Paul talks about John and sees him. When you live as publicly as he does and your childhood friendship is one of the most talked about relationships in music history, you are bound to be affected by the general reception.

I also think Paul is often doing reputation damage control. It is very important to him that he and John are remembered first and foremost as friends (hence the offense he takes in the depiction of John punching him in Nowhere Boy) and it seems like, since at least Goldman, he's been trying to emphasize John's softer, more lovable traits. I think this, mixed with the infantilization mentioned above, is where you get stuff like the clip of Paul calling John a little baby or a lovely broth of a boy.

It's all so damn complicated you know? And so fascinating.

[mashasnaill]

Alexander Skarsgård Is A Better Werner Herzog Than Werner Herzog

By:

Keegan Kelly

October 20, 2022

Documentary Now! has returned to IFC for its long-awaited fourth season, and the documentary parody anthology certainly didn’t disappoint the film nerds and comedy fans who had waited three long years for more episodes of the Bill Hader, Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers-led series that dares to ask, “What if Werner Herzog made a multi-camera sitcom?”

The first two episodes of Season Four, titled “Soldier of Illusion: Part I and II,” satirize the controversial “making of” documentary, Burden of Dreams, which chronicled the chaotic production of Werner Herzog’s epic adventure film Fitzcarraldo. Playing the monotone Bavarian auteur is Alexander Skarsgård, fresh off of the starring role in A24’s Viking epic The Northman. Skarsgård's performance is as impassioned, transfixing, and grimly absorbing as every Herzog film put together. He’s somehow more Herzog than Herzog.

The two-part episode opens in the modern day on a desolate landscape nestled in the mountains of Eurasia where Skarsgård’s Herzog character recollects one of the most ambitious and confusing undertakings of his career: In the 1980s, he attempted to simultaneously film a documentary about the native people during the mating season of the goats on which they have built the foundation of their meager existence, and a CBS sitcom pilot called Bachelor Nanny about a free-wheeling ladies’ man who is forced to adopt his twin nieces. As Skarsgård utters gravely, “He must juggle babies and babes.”

“Soldier of Illusion” uses its surreal setup merely as a launching pad as it careens wildly between different touchpoints in Herzog’s exhaustive filmography — at one point, the production crew of the sitcom/documentary are assaulted by a pair of Kamchatka brown bears, only for the beasts to be butchered by a sleepless monk wielding a bowie knife. In his perfect Herzog deadpan, Skarsgård poetically laments the bears, saying, “The Kamchatka bear and his girlfriend would survive 68 stab wounds before escaping to the safety of death.”

Skarsgård is pushed to find the outer limits of his Herzog embodiment at the act break between the two episodes with the arrival of the Klaus Kinski character, played by August Diehl, best known to American audiences for his role as a formidable Nazi officer in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds. The chemistry between Skarsgård and Diehl is as violent and electric as that of Kinski and Herzog, who, on more than one occasion, came deathly close to ending each other’s lives.

Also appearing in “Soldier of Illusion” is Skarsgård’s Succession castmate Nicholas Braun, television’s go-to guy whenever they need to cast a 6-foot-7 sad sack. Braun plays a washed-up child star looking to revive his career on Bachelor Nanny.

The entire two-part episode is as whimsical and grim as we could have ever hoped for once Documentary Now! inevitably set its sights on Germany's most doleful documentarian. Of all the powerful performances in the history of the parody series, none has been more accurate, more focused and more artful than that of Skarsgård’s Herzog. Skarsgård does not just do a good Herzog impression — he captures the filmmaker’s very being, and shows us what it would be like to witness Werner Herzog greeting a live studio audience by reading off a list of all crewmembers who had died during the filming of a family sitcom.

Later this season on Documentary Now!, we will be treated to “My Monkey Grifter,” a parody of My Octopus Teacher, and “How They Threw Rocks,” based on When We Were Kings — new episodes will come out Wednesdays on IFC

source : https://www.cracked.com/article_35743_alexander-skarsgard-is-a-better-werner-herzog-than-werner-herzog.html

[freddiemercurydaily]

Gallery update the game tour 1980 Detroit

Gallery update the game tour 1980 Detroit

20 September 1980, Queen rocked out The Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan “The Game Tour” Around this time the Detroit Lions football team had adopted ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ as an anthem. When Queen performed it as an encore with Freddie donning a Lions’ cap, the arena exploded. Here’s one very lucky, young fan’s recollection of this concert: It was September 20th, 1980 and it started…

[freeoldiesmusicportal]

Loving Oldies Music - Nostalgic Tunes from the Past

In a world filled with ever-evolving melodic plans and sorts, there's something ever-enduring around the tunes and verses of oldies music. These tunes, as regularly as conceivable from the mid-20th century, bring out a sense of insightfulness and warmth that rises over periods. Whether you are a die-hard fan or an inquisitive bunch of spectators, investigating the world of oldies music can be a travel into the heart of melodic history.

The Charm of Oldies Music

Oldies music generally infers to tunes from the 1950s to the 1980s, checking classes like shake n roll, doo-wop, Motown, and more. What sets these tunes separated is their effortlessness and energized resonation. They continually turn around subjects of love oldies music, stagger, and the human incorporation, told through noteworthy tunes and catchy rhythms.

Why we cherish oldies

Enduring Offer

Oldies music has driven forward decades since of its all comprehensive subjects and relatable verses. Tunes like “Can't Offer offer assistance Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley or “My Girl” by the allurements reverberate with bunch of spectators people of all ages.

Melodic Craftsmanship

Different oldies tunes were made with fastidious thought to tune and understanding. They appear off the capacities of unfathomable performers and pros whose influence proceeds to shape appear day music.

Feel-Good calculate

Tuning in to oldies routinely brings a sense of mindfulness and delight. Whether it's considering back around enthusiastic days or basically getting a charge out of the classic sound, these tunes have a one of a kind capacity to advance spirits.

Rediscovering Oldies Music these days

In today's advanced age, getting to adore oldies music has never been less asking. Spilling stages offer colossal collections of classic hits, permitting gathering of individual’s people to make personalized playlists or find dismissed pearls. Whether you're appearing oldies to an unused period or reviewing your recollections, there's a tune for each manner and event.

Meddle through Music

Music highlights a soil shattering capacity to relate individuals over times and social orders. Oldies music, with its persevering charm and enthusiastic noteworthiness, serves as a bridge between the past and show up. It sparkles talks, rouses recollections, and makes a shared affiliation that rises over time.

Getting a handle on the legacy

As we celebrate the charm of oldies music, we respect the stars and lyricists who molded its legacy. Their inventive capacity and energy proceed to convince performers these days, influencing progressed sorts and styles.

Whether you are a truly partner or an inquisitive newcomer, analysing the world of oldies music may be a travel worth taking. It's an affirmation to the holding on control of tune and verses, reminding us that mind blowing music stands the test of time. So, taking after time you're interior the disposition for music that warms the soul with love oldies music why not tune in to the classics? You might sensible find yourself falling in worship oldies music all over once more.

[marketingcirclehub1]

Celebrating Classic Football Moments with Retro Jerseys

Football, the lovely amusement, is not fair wear but a social marvel that has captivated millions around the globe for over a century. The history of football is filled with notorious minutes, incredible players, and exceptional matches that have cleared a permanent check on the hearts of fans. One of the best ways to celebrate these classic football minutes is through retro shirts. These vintage shirts are more than fair pieces of clothing; they are images of the sport's wealthy legacy and serve as a nostalgic update of its wonderful past.

A Glimpse into Football’s Glorious Past

Retro shirts have a substantial association with the history of football. They offer fans a chance to remember the enchantment of yesteryears, bringing back recollections of exciting matches, unimaginable objectives, and gallant exhibitions. Each shirt tells a story, speaking to a particular period, group, or player that has contributed to the sport's legacy.

The Allure of Retro Jerseys

Nostalgia: Retro shirts are soaks in sentimentality, taking fans back to the days when they to begin with fell in adore with the diversion. The plans, colors, and logos of these shirts inspire recollections of a less difficult time when football was played with unadulterated enthusiasm and enthusiasm.

Unique Plans: Not at all like cutting-edge shirts, which regularly take after current design patterns and branding rules, retro shirts brag interesting and unmistakable plans? From the basic and rich shirts of the 1960s to the striking and colorful designs of the 1990s, these shirts stand out for their distinction and creativity.

Tribute to Legends: Retro shirts are a tribute to the legends that have graced the football field. Wearing a vintage shirt with the title and number of an incredible player is a way for fans to honor their heroes and celebrate their commitments to the sport.

Wearing Retro Jerseys Today

Retro shirts are not fair for show; they can be worn with pride and fashion in different settings. Here are a few ways to consolidate retro shirts into your wardrobe:

Casual Wear: Combine a retro shirt with pants or shorts for a casual and energetic see. Whether you're heading to a coordinate, observing the diversion with companions, or fair-going approximately your day, a vintage shirt includes a touch of football sentimentality to your outfit.

Match Day: Appear your back for your favorite group by wearing a retro shirt on coordinate days. It's an extraordinary way to stand out from the swarm and show your dependability to the club.

Collectible Show: For ardent collectors, retro shirts can be surrounded and shown as memorabilia. They serve as a confirmation of the sport's history and your energy for the game.

Special Occasions: Retro shirts can also be worn to uncommon occasions, such as football reunions, fan social occasions, or themed parties. They are beyond any doubt to start discussions and bring back fond memories among fellow fans. Check out myretrosports, a reputable source for vintage football apparel.

Iconic Retro Jerseys and Their Stories

Brazil 1970 World Container Shirt: The yellow and green shirt worn by the Brazilian national group amid the 1970 World Container is one of the most notorious shirts in football history. It speaks to Brazil's wonderful fashion of play, driven by the incredible Pelé, who guided his group to a third World Container victory.

Manchester Joined Together 1999 Treble-Winning Shirt: The ruddy shirt with white and dark trim worn by Manchester Joined Together during the 1998-1999 seasons is synonymous with the club's noteworthy treble-winning campaign. Beneath the administration of Sir Alex Ferguson, Joined together clinched the Chief Association, FA Glass, and Champions Alliance titles in a single season.

AC Milan 1988-1990 Domestic Shirt: The ruddy and dark stripes of AC Milan's domestic shirt from the late 1980s are an image of the club's dominance amid that period. With a squad highlighting legends like Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and Straight to the point Rijkaard, Milan won sequential European Mugs and set up themselves as one of the most prominent groups in football history.

Argentina 1986 World Container Shirt: The blue and white striped shirt worn by Argentina amid the 1986 World Container is until the end of time related to Diego Maradona's brilliance. Maradona's exhibitions, counting the notorious "Hand of God" objective and the staggering solo exertion against Britain, drove Argentina to their moment World Glass triumph.

The Immortal Offer of Retro Jerseys

Retro shirts have an ageless request that rises above eras. They are cherished by more seasoned fans that experienced the minutes firsthand and more youthful fans who appreciate the history and convention of the wear. Wearing a retro shirt is a way to interface with football's past and celebrate the minutes that have molded its present.

Conclusion

Celebrating classic football minutes with retro shirts is a brilliant way to honor the sport's wealthy legacy and keep the recollections of incredible matches and players lively. These vintage shirts are more than fair attire; they are images of the enthusiasm, convention, and history that make football a lovely amusement. Whether you're a long-lasting fan or an unused devotee, retro shirts offer an interesting and important way to interface with the past and celebrate the minutes that have characterized football's bequest. So, wear a retro shirt, remember the wonderful days, and wear your adore for the amusement with pride.

[musicarenagh]

"The Beginning of a New Era: Melody Alex. Patrick's '1980' Melody Alex. Patrick, the versatile artist from the French Riviera zone of the world is preparing her first show disc “1980” and from this disc start a seven disc series that she proposed to release and this is called “The Non-Sense Anthology. With renowned guitarist Lorenzo Sarli by her side, Melody Alex is ready to take on the nation and conquer it. Patrick is excellent and the daring and raw nature of his performance is sure to entice new viewers while leaving long time fans eager for future performances. “1980” is a contemporal carefree recollection of that period that the new generations have no idea about. The lyrical and musical video for Electro Mix, one of the songs from the track, is a great teaser for the new album as it causes excitement and curiosity. The musicality is evident throughout the album, as Melody showcases her ability to incorporate touches of the contemporary into her music while incorporating a vintage twist as well. [caption id="attachment_55812" align="alignnone" width="2000"] “1980” is a contemporal carefree recollection of that period that the new generations have no idea about.[/caption] Sarli is able to incorporate guitar work under the guidance of Melody to enhance the strings and variety of the track by giving a singing quality to the strings and adding incredible force to them. Her overemotional and autistic inclination pushes her to create art for the sake of the art, turning her past misery into volumes of artistic expressions. This emotional intensity is captured in “1980” and not only provides a throwback to past memories, but also opens a window into Melody’s world, the world that is alive with passion and creativity. As with all good pop stars, it’s about more than the first song; ‘1980’ is the preface to an artist’s evolution. Melody Alex. This song and music have been created by Patrick and Lorenzo Sarli to give listeners a taste of the future and what the subsequent albums will be like. Through the power of singing and the art of performance, Melody Alex promise to be captivating. Patrick is thus set to make his mark on the music scene of his generation. Watch 1980 below  https://youtu.be/mIyPXZPRX8Y Follow Melody Alex. Patrick on Facebook Spotify Soundcloud Youtube Instagram Tiktok

[jellogram]

OKAY I have finished Netflix's Fall of the House of Usher and I have some thots.

Spoiler free review for interested viewers:

Firstly a disclaimer, if you are a superfan of Edgar Allen Poe and want this to be a faithful adaptation, you will be disappointed. That's not what it is and not what's trying to be.

It's based on his works kind of how Castle Rock is based on Stephen King novels. Each episode is loosely based on one of his stories and details how one member of the Usher clan met their demise, while a framework inspired by The House of Usher and The Raven connects them all. There's also lots of easter eggs for Poe fans to spot and the stories have a lot more depth if you know the source material, but a vague recollection of each plot is plenty.

Many of the characters are a little underdeveloped, but they're all interesting and well-acted. The show is juggling a large cast and a lot of material and I think they may have been better off cutting out a character/story or two and developing the others a little more.

All that said, I thought it was a super fun show. It's a lot more soap opera-esque than Flanagan's other work, and I like this direction for him. At times it borders on trashy and even ridiculous, but I didn't mind because it was always entertaining. It often feels more like a campy 80s slasher than the family drama Flanagan is known for. If you can let go of the idea that this must be a brilliant show to measure up against Poe, and just let it be a fun, flashy, and occasionally gory ride, it's a pretty enjoyable watch.

A few more opinions that contain spoilers, beneath the cut:

I was disappointed that the most interesting and flashy characters went down first. Perry, Camille, and Leo all had the most compelling stories in my opinion and they brought a kind of spiciness to the show that their white collar siblings didn't quite match. I would have liked to see their level of debauchery carried through the show more than it was, because they were all super fun to watch.

I think out of all the children, Victorine was the most poorly written. The idea for her character is solid and her acting is okay-to-great, but she goes from "appearing to have it mostly together" to "gutted her girlfriend and didn't realize it because she's #insane" WAY too quickly.

I think the 1980 flashbacks dragged on at times. Given how rushed a lot of the rest of the story was, I think some of these flashbacks could have been cut down instead of repeating the same basic plot points over and over.

While it's sad, I was glad that they didn't wimp out and find a way to let Lenore survive. That would have been lame. The bloodline had to end the way Carla Gugino said it would, or the whole story would have been meaningless.

[spinka362]

The Unpredictable Universe of Steampunk

In our continuous reality where improvement pushes dangerously speedy, there exists a subculture that recollects the past while at the same time embracing what's to come. Steampunk, a sort that wires portions of the Victorian time period with innovative turn of events and sci-fi, has gotten the hearts and minds of darlings all around the planet. In this article, we'll plunge into the captivating area of steampunk, investigating its early phases, rich, social importance, and moving beyond improvement steampunk weddings ideas .

The saying "steampunk" was produced in the last piece of the 1980s as a request portrayal for a mix of sci-fi and dream that envisions an elective history where steam power, exactness structures, and diverse, stunning plans are at the front line of improvement. Steampunk draws motivation from the State of the art Resistance and the Victorian time, a period known for its careful craftsmanship and multifaceted arrangement.

Key to steampunk's appeal is its irrefutable visual exquisite, which joins specific parts with best in class imaginings. Key pieces of the steampunk tasteful include:

Steampunk fans constantly wear clothing suggestive of the Victorian time. Undies, slips, formal covers, and strip parasols are well conceived plan decisions.

Nonexistent machines and contraptions are frequently embellished with flexible precision gear-tooth wheels, pinions, and switches. These mechanical parts are indispensable for the class' visual individual.

The grouping extent of steampunk is overwhelmed by warm metallic tones, especially metal and copper. These materials awaken a tendency adequately mature and craftsmanship.

Steampunk characters continually wear pilot style goggles, which serve both a reasonable and elaborate clarification.

Creation and Progress: Steampunk universes are piled up with fantastical headways like carriers, mechanical creatures, and time machines, all filled by steam and accuracy instruments.

Steampunk isn't bound to visual feel alone; it fundamentally impacts creating and standard society. Two or three recognizable models include:

However not a steampunk essayist in that frame of mind of the workmanship sense, Jules Verne's works, for example, "20,000 Relationship Under the Ocean" and "From one side of the World to the other in Eighty Days," have hugely impacted the class with their gutsy soul and creative turn of events.

One more trailblazer of sci-fi, H.G. Wells, added to steampunk with works like "The Time Machine" and "The Dispute of the Universes," which part elaborate Victorian-period contraptions and speculative mechanical gathering.

Contemporary creators like Philip Pullman ("His Weak Materials") and China Miéville ("Perdido Road Station") have added their own stand-apart goes to the steampunk gathering, growing its scholarly endpoints.

Steampunk focuses have advanced into film and TV, with motion pictures like "The Class of Striking Excellent individuals" and the enlivened part "Steamboy." The television series "Master Who" sometimes explores steampunk parts in its time-traveling attempts.

Steampunk-themed computer games like "BioShock Interminable" and "Shamed" have pleased gamers with their rich, striking universes and innovative turn of events.

Steampunk's aiding through request lies in its capacity to move fans to a world that changes care for the past with an energy for what's in store. Past style and making, the subculture has further agreeable importance:

Steampunk connects with inventiveness and craftsmanship. Fans routinely participate in Do-It-Yourself endeavors, making their own groups, contraptions, and headways. This powerful framework creates improvement and conclusive capacities to reason.

Steampunk shows and occasions give potential open doors to equivalent people to get together and praise their typical advantages. These get-togethers cultivate strong regions for an of neighborhood crew.

Steampunk considers assessment of "ponder how possible it is that" conditions ever. It maintains unequivocal thinking about the effect of progression and social decisions.

Steampunk's thought on reusing and upcycling lines up with contemporary practicality endeavors. Different steampunk signs join recovered materials, fostering the opportunity of typical responsibility.

Steampunk proceeds to advance and change as per contemporary sensibilities. It fills in as a wellspring of motivation for gifted specialists, scientists, style coordinators, and creators. Its subjects of progress, creative mind, and care resonate with people looking for a break from the speedy, improvement driven world.

As the world turns out to be consistently robotized and digitized, the allure of steampunk, with its hand uniquely crafted contraptions and romanticized past, offers a reviving offset. Steampunk stays an appearance of the assisting through interest with a past time's energy and the immense potential consequences of human imagination. Whether you're an energetic fan or simply an inquisitive passerby, the incautious universe of steampunk welcomes you to research and embrace the grandness of a past period's vision tending to what may be not too far off.

[harrisonarchive]

Photo by Chris Cuffaro.

“I’ve told this story before. Meeting and shooting George at Warner Brothers Records. How we talked about Hard Days Night and how spent an amazing amount of time hanging out with my favorite Beatle. Blah blah blah. This moment is from the video shoot for Got My Mind Set on You directed by Gary Weis. During a break in production I showed George the cover of Musician Magazine that I had shot of him at the first shoot. I got a early preview copy from the Art Director. George told me he liked it and signed it for me. (one of the only 3 times I ever asked for an autograph) I was there with the director and a producer. Eventually they got up and had to get to work. George and I stayed there and just kept on talking for another 15-20 minutes. It was surreal cuz there I was sitting with George Harrison alone. To this day its probably one of my favorite moments ever. I can’t tell you how nice he was to me. The nicest!!!!” - Chris Cuffaro, cuffarophoto.com, November 17, 2016 (x)

[thislovintime]

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From Nick Rocks in 1987, Peter, Davy, and Micky with contest winner Adrianne.

"Peter explained that, while Davy is a vegetarian, he himself isn’t because he only eliminates red meat from his diet. Micky took the time to explain hippies to Adrianne and mentioned that he guessed that no one had ever told Henry [Diltz] he couldn’t be a hippie anymore. The guys each took a turn in the D.J. booth at the restaurant, and Davy visited with Talia and Sarah. Adrianne presented the letters from her class to the Monkees, and Peter took the time to write each child’s name on an 8x10 photo before passing it on to the other guys for autographs. […] Adrianne says her favorite part of the whole thing was 'doing the Monkee walk’ with the boys for the Nick cameras. Connie [Adrianne’s aunt, who’d entered her niece into the contest] described her favorite part as 'being around Peter Tork. He was just incredible the whole time, very nice… made us feel really welcome and special.’ The evening was not without its flaws, however. Although neither lady would have traded the experience for anything, there were some things that weren’t exactly as they had been led to believe. The dinner wasn’t as intimate as it had been promoted — the camera crew was on the scene constantly and the confusion level was out of this world. Micky seemed very tired and removed from the scene, while David spent a lot of time visiting with his daughters. Only Peter seemed devoted to the family and the event." - Monkees Business Fanzine, March 1988

* * *

Q: “What are your memories of The Monkees Contest event as an 8 year old?” Adrianne Bommer: “I have lots of memories....I remember the guys teaching me to do the Monkeewalk. I remember being scared and overwhelmed a first. Something funny...I was so worried that the boom guy was going to hit me in the head. The guys were very patient. They made me feel at ease. Just like talking to regular people. It all was exciting. Shopping for a dress, the hotel we stayed at, going to California, riding in limos, eating at a fancy restaurant.” [...] Q: “Are you still a hardcore monkees fan to this day, and how does it feel to be a small part of monkees history?” Adrianne: “I never really thought about being part of a monkees history but I guess I am. Being in a video and in magazines and all. Yup, I'm still a fan!” [...] Q: “Which Monkee did you connect with the most? Who made you feel the most comfortable?” Adrianne: “Peter. He was very sweet. I remember after dinner we were all in the parking lot getting ready to leave and the zipper on my coat was stuck and Peter pulled me away from the cameras and all the people and fixed my jacket. I don't remember what he said to me only that he was really nice. He was very attentive the whole day.” [...] Q: “What did you like the most about each individual member of the group?” Adrianne: “Peter was very nice and so was Davy. [Micky] was very funny. At the hotel when he first came out, he kept pretending to fall in the pool.” - via Facebook (2010); for the full interview, read on here

* * *

(For those interested in the detail, the dinner orders were: a grilled cheese sandwich, fries, and a vanilla malt for Davy; fried chicken for Peter; and chili and a malt for Micky, according to Monkee Business Fanzine.)

You can watch more here.

[yorkshirewerewolf]

Yorkshire Werewolf: My Comedy Heroes

Mike Yarwood RIP

Alas, another British Entertainer has exited stage left.

Comedy impressionist Mike Yarwood has died aged 82.

Mike, in my opinion, was Britain's first legit TV impressionist, working on stage and small screen in a career spanning many decades.

I myself grew up with "light entertainment" TV shows. They had the magic to unite the family, sitting together, watching the Google box and sharing the laughter.

Mike's uncanny ability to capture the mannerisms of the celebs he "took off" plus a generous use of catchphrases gave his early shows a certain gravitas, putting him in the same tier with Morecambe and Wise, Michael Crawford, and Stanley Baxter.

He would later try a more satirical take, targeting British politicians, and his impersonations of Harold Wilson, Ted Heath, and Denis Healy were legendary.

Yarwood was born in Manchester in 1941 and began his career as a stand-up comedian. He made his television debut in 1961 and quickly became a household name. The "Mike Yarwood Show" ran for 12 years, and his impersonations covered a wide range of figures, from politicians to pop stars trying to stay relevant and connect with a younger audience.

Yarwood was always spot-on, and with the help of his writers, he was able to capture the essence of his subjects with just a few well-chosen words and gestures. He was a truly gifted mimic, his ability to perfectly reproduce the facial mannerisms without using make-up was uncanny.

Sadly, Yarwood's popularity started to wane and by the early 1980s, his shows lacked the magic of his mimicry, but his use of split screen technology allowing him to appear as several characters at once was ground breaking. TV work dried up but he continued to perform on stage and in television specials. He was awarded an OBE in 1986 for his services to entertainment.

I had the privilege as a child of seeing him live in a summer show in Blackpool, England, in the early 80s.

He was sharing the bill with " Basil Brush", the TV puppet. My main recollection was my gran slept through most of the show, and at times I think I did. To be truthful, it wasn't his fault.

Comedy was evolving, becoming more edgy. Satirical comedy grew with "Not the Nine O'Clock News" and the puppet show "Spitting Image," which showcased the voice talent of young mimics. Alternative comedy slowly replaced sitcoms and double acts. Shows such as "The Comic Strip Presents," "The Young Ones," and "Black Adder" foreshadowed the end of light entertainment comedy.

Impressionist shows did eventually evolve, with "Dead Ringers," "The Alistair McGowan & Ronnie Ancona Show," and "Rory Bremner, Bird & Fortune" continuing the art.

Yarwood's death has surprised many people who thought erroneously he had already passed away. Which is a sad reflection on how we treat our yesterday heroes.

He retired from public life in the mid-2000s. He had personal demon's, maybe due to the pressure to stay relevant when TV bigwigs decide that you aren't funny or young enough anymore. He was a true original, respected by every decent mimic as "the gov'nor" and as it is traditional in the UK, the TV channels will show repeats of his shows, some classic moments, wheeling out "z list" celebs saying how much he meant to them, making various remarks about " how it was different back in the seventies" rather than repeating his back catalogue when he was around to enjoy it himself and find new fans! (Sigh! But if you haven't seen any of mike's TV output, there are a number of clips on YouTube, some do require trigger warnings due to dubious make up decisions, plus there are some DVD sets but they are very expensive and hard to come by)

My sympathy to his family and close friends. So shall we raise a glass in the memory of a true British comedy legend.

Until next time,

Seethee soon!

[greenwood106-blog]

Darkness Of December 8th

December 8th is a day that represents significant music loss.  Both John Lennon and Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott were murdered on this day in separate years.  Both had significant music impacts in very different ways and on very different groups of people, but the depth of their loss musically is really comparable.

The following is my recollection of the day it happened and my feelings and inspiration from both.

In 1980 I was 12 and hanging out in my room listening to the radio when the DJ said that John Lennon had been shot and killed in from of his place in New York.  I had recently been formally introduced to his music with the Double Fantasy album and was learning his history and contribution to music.  I got up to walk in to my mom's sewing room and told her that John Lennon had been shot and killed.  We were both shocked, but my mom's understanding of his music history was far deeper than mine.

I was floored watching all of the various gatherings and responses to his death and knew that I had to learn more about his music.  While I was much more of a metal head at the time, it was impressive to me all he had done and how he was revered.  I remember when Elvis Presley died and it seemed to me the response was very similar.

As I've gotten older and my music love has expanded, The Beatles music and Lennon's music have become much more relevant and inspirational.  Not to mention Lennon's desire to see peace and equality and how he went about making the issues public.  Whether you agree with his positions or not, the idea that one of the most recognized and regarded celebrities would utilize the fame and constant media attention to do this is impressive.

I won't share any attention for the guy who shot him, but knowing later that the only reason he did it was Lennon was the most famous person accessible to him was even more nauseating.  This pig didn't oppose his music, didn't find his political or human rights positions troubling, he simply chose him as the most famous target he could reach. I'm thankful that the system has denied his release every time it has come up (twelve times total thus far).  His next parole hearing will be in 2023 unless he dies before then.  Rest In Peace John Lennon.

This brings us to 2004.  At 36 I had been playing guitar and was working with a friend of mine to establish better recording practices.  He is a lifelong metal head and has played and recorded for years.  We are both huge fans of the playing of Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott.  His band Pantera changed the heavy metal music sound and his playing technique was incredible.  His brother Vinnie was the drummer both in Pantera and in the band that came after Pantera disbanded, Damageplan.

It was while he was touring with Damageplan in 2004 that they played a show in Columbus, Ohio at the Alrosa Villa.  This venue, as all of them on this tour, was much smaller than he had been playing with Pantera.  I had seen them at what is now called Chase Field on a New Year's Eve show and at an outside venue that had a massive crowd and the largest mosh pit I had ever been next to.  These Damageplan venues were more like nightclubs or maybe the size of an Elk's Lodge Hall.  At the time, these venues had fairly light security and I've stood next to these venues and seen the artists just walk in and out of the side of the venue and be completely accessible. Moments into their set on December 8th, 2004 a mentally disturbed former Marine whose name will also not be mentioned by me ever came through the side door armed, walked right across the stage from stage right to stage left where Darrell was playing, raised the gun and fired five times, hitting him all five times in the head, right in front of his brother.  People tried to stop him or help Darrell, and Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, head of band security and Alrosa Villa employee Erin Halk were killed trying to stop the dirtbag.  Audience member Nathan Bray was killed for trying to perform CPR on Darrell and Jeff.

Drum tech John "Kat" Brooks and tour manager Chris Paluska were both shot but survived.  Brooks was shot three times trying to stop the maniac.

The police arrived in just a few quick minutes after being called.  Officer James Niggemeyer snuck up on the lunatic who had taken Brooks hostage when he saw the officers in front of the stage.  When he raised the gun up toward Brooks' head, Niggemeyer shot the loser in the head, ending the chaos.

Sitting out at my friend's house late into the night, I received a call that it had been reported on the radio that Darrell had been killed.  We started searching around online, which 18 years ago wasn't nearly as fast and responsive as it is today.  We started to see some possible subtle confirmations, but it wasn't for quite some time before we were able to actually confirm it and we were both devastated.

Darrell's picking, his technique with harmonics and his rhythms were so inspiring for a metal player.  He was also a very open, joyful person and embraced talking with fans and doing instructional videos online and for guitar magazines. I can't imagine seeing a brother murdered in front of you while you were doing what you both lived for, something as innocent as playing music and entertaining fans, but Darrell's brother Vinnie seemed to mourn every day afterwards.  He joined another band called Hellyeah which was a bit of a supergroup of metal musicians and they toured regularly.

In June of 2018, Vinnie died from heart issues.  His heart was forever damaged watching his brother die and from his active drinking and partying lifestyle, which I also attribute to his sadness. December 8th will forever have sad memories for me and many, many other people.  As a guitar and bass guitar teacher, I try to educate people about the amazing techniques and music produced by these two while skipping the pathetic nature of their death.

[no-reply95]

Jealous Guys

Something I’ve been thinking about for a while now is the different ways jealousy manifested for John and Paul over the course of their friendship.

I’m going to look at John and Paul in turn and have a look at some of the key ways jealousy appeared, before, during and after the Beatles period. This will be a looooong post so if you want to go on deep dive keep reading below.

John

Jealousy was something that John acknowledged as a big part of his personality, as far as I’m aware, he only acknowledged his jealousy publicly in terms of his relationship with Yoko but I believe jealousy was a feature of all of John’s major relationships. John’s first real partnership was with Pete Shotton, his childhood best friend, and Pete has outlined how John’s jealousy and possessiveness was a feature in their friendship with them falling out when Pete first started showing interest in girls and with John acting out when Pete started to spend more time with other friends, instead of him, here Pete recounts John’s reflection on this period of their friendship:

“Years later John confessed to having felt acutely jealous throughout that interlude: “I was scared shitless I’d lost you after our fight in science class, when you starting playing with David Jones. I really thought I’d gone too far with you that time.“

Pete Shotton, John Lennon: In My Life , 1983

Pete’s recollections establish a pattern in John’s life of acting out due to a fear of abandonment and losing those who are closest to him so it’s not surprising that once John had formed a strong bond with Paul that would stir similar fears in him. 

Below I’ve categorised the groups of people that were the focus of John’s jealousy and have picked one person from each group as an example:

Family - Jim McCartney

Paul’s family was and continues to be a big part of his life. From the outset of their friendship, John was made aware of how important Jim was to Paul and vice versa. John and Paul had to skip school to hang out together because Jim wouldn’t have John in their house initially and John confessed his resentment of Jim’s influence over Paul’s life. It appears that after some time John grew tired of having to contend with Jim for the position of the most important person in Paul’s life, and this culminated in John giving Paul a pseudo ultimatum as John discussed in 1971:

“But Paul would always give in to his dad. His dad told him to get a job, he fucking dropped the group and started working on the fucking lorries, saying, "I need a steady career." We couldn't believe it… “So I told him on the phone, "Either come or you're out." So he had to make a decision between me and his dad then, and in the end he chose me”

St. Regis Hotel interview, Sept. 5, 1971

Friends - Mal Evans

Throughout the active years of the band it was typical of them to refer to each other as their best friends and, given the lives they led, I think the simple fact that no one else could understand what it was like to be a Beatle would have meant they all shared a special bond. However, they all had friendships outside of the band and this was something that could cause issues for John when it came to Paul.

According to Tune In, Mal initially became friends with Paul during the band's initial shows at the Cavern Club then, after a suggestion from George, Mal became a part of the Beatles entourage thereafter. Mal had friendships with all the Beatles, as part of their inner circle, but from his comments it appears John took umbrage with the closeness of Mal’s friendship with Paul:

“Paul would suddenly come in with this circle saying, “This is Magical Mystery Tour, will you write that bit?” And I was choked that he’d arranged it all with Mal anyway, for a kickoff, and had all this idea going”

St. Regis Hotel interview, Sept. 5, 1971

Mal also comes up when John discusses his recollections of the writing of Eleanor Rigby:

“So rather than ask me, “John, do these lyrics—” Because by that period, he didn’t want to say that – to me. Okay? So what he would say was, “Hey, you guys, finish off the lyrics,”... “ Now, I sat there with Mal Evans, a road manager who was a telephone installer, and Neil Aspinall, who was a not-completed student accountant who became our road manager. And I was insulted and hurt that he’d thrown it out in the air”...” There might be a version that they contributed, but there isn’t a line in there that they put in.“

Playboy interview, David Sheff 1980

John’s discomfort with the closeness of Paul’s relationship with Mal was something that wasn’t lost on Mal’s wife Lil:

“He was always at their beck and call. He was a nice fella to have around, so much so that it could provoke little jealousies within the band. When I met Yoko years after Mal died, she said John had told her he’d been very jealous at one point of Mal’s relationship with Paul.”

Lil Evans interview with Ray Connolly, 2005

Love interests - Linda McCartney

Throughout their friendship both John and Paul had quite a few love interests, which (to varying degrees) prompted jealousy between them.

Although John displayed jealousy of a few of Paul’s love interests this was no more apparent than with Paul’s first wife Linda McCartney, which is confirmed by both John’s words and actions regarding Linda and her partnership with Paul:

“"Then Klein informed Lennon that McCartney had secretly been increasing his stake in Northern Songs. ‘John flew into a rage,’ recalled Apple executive Peter Brown. ‘At one point I thought he was really going to hit Paul, but he managed to calm himself down.’ One unconfirmed report of this meeting had Lennon leaping towards Linda McCartney, his fists raised in her face"

Peter Doggett, You Never Give Me Your Money

"Int: When did you first meet her [Linda]? John: The first time I saw her was after that press conference to announce Apple in America. We were just going back to the airport and she was in the car with us. I didn't think she was particularly attractive, I wondered what he was bothering having her in the car for. A bit too tweedy, you know. But she sat in the car and took photographs and that was it. And the next minute she's married him."

St. Regis Hotel interview, Sept. 5, 1971

“I was reading your letter and wondering what middle aged cranky Beatle fan wrote it... "What the hell—it’s Linda! . . . Linda— if you don’t care what I say—shut up!—let Paul write—or whatever.”

"Of course, the money angle is important—to all of us—especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws—and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL—see you in two years—I reckon you’ll be out then"

Draft letter from John Lennon to Linda McCartney, circa 1971

"The presumption is a) the Beatles would get together again or are even thinking about it and b) if they got together, John and Yoko split, Paul and Linda split"

John (with Yoko) talks to John Fielding on Weekend World, 1973

"John often speculated on why Paul and Linda remained married while, at the same time, resenting their evident happiness, to the extent that he had Green do a tarot reading to ensure him that Paul and Linda were really secretly miserable and were going to divorce within a year"

According to Fred Seaman and John Green, source

Paul

Of course jealousy wasn't a one-way street in the Lennon-McCartney relationship. Unlike with John, for Paul I'm focusing more on the key people I believe his jealousy, regarding John, was directed to:

Stuart Sutcliffe

John met Stu at Art College and struck up a really close friendship with him. At the point that John met Stu, John had already become friends with Paul so Paul felt threatened when Stu entered the picture:

"When he [Stu] came into the band, around Christmas of 1959, we were a little jealous of him; it was something I didn’t deal with very well. We were always slightly jealous of John’s other friendships.

When Stuart came in, it felt as if he was taking the position away from George and me. We had to take a bit of a back seat."

Paul McCartney, Anthology 2000

"Paul was saying something about Stu’s girl – he was jealous because she was a great girl, and Stu hit him, on stage. And Stu wasn’t a violent guy at all."

John Lennon, 1967 Anthology 2000

"I looked up to Stu. I depended on him to tell me the truth. Stu would tell me if something was good and I’d believe him. We were awful to him sometimes. Especially Paul, always picking on him. I used to explain afterwards that we didn’t dislike him, really."

John Lennon, The Beatles Hunter Davies 1968

Yoko Ono

Of all the relationships I've already discussed, the relationship and jealousy displayed from Paul towards Yoko is probably the most widely discussed in Beatles historiography and general discourse. From the official start of Yoko's relationship with John in 1968 it was clear that Paul resented her presence in John's life and her proximity to the band:

"He even sent them [John and Yoko] a hate letter once, unsigned, typed. I brought it in with the morning mail. Paul put most of his fan mail in a big basket and let it sit for weeks, but John and Yoko opened every piece. When they got to the anonymous note, they looked puzzled, looking at each other with genuine pain in their eyes. ‘You and your Jap tart think you’re hot shit’, it said."

Francie Schwartz, Body Count 1972

"Cause she’s [Yoko] very much to do with it from John’s angle, that’s the thing, you know. And I – the thing is that I – there’s— Again, like, there’s always only two answers. One is to fight it, and fight her, and try and get The Beatles back to four people without Yoko, and sort of ask her to sit down at the board meetings. Or else, the other thing is to just realize that she’s there, you know. And he’s not gonna sort of – split with her, just for our sakes."

Paul McCartney, Let It Be Sessions, 1969

"I told John on the phone the other day that at the beginning of last year I was annoyed with him. I was jealous because of Yoko, and afraid about the break-up of a great musical partnership. It’s taken me a year to realise that they were in love. Just like Linda and me."

Paul McCartney, interview with Ray Connolly, 1970

What are the similarities and differences in the way jealousy manifested for John and Paul?

I think it's obvious but bears repeating that both John and Paul displayed jealousy towards other people who they felt would threaten their relationship so that's central to all the instances I have flagged, Jim, Mal, Linda, Stu, Yoko all posed real or imagined threats to John and Paul's partnership.

However, you'll note that I included more sources to display John's jealousy regarding Paul and that I categorised John's jealousy targets whereas I only pulled out two key individuals for Paul, this isn't to say that John was more jealous than Paul was, as jealousy isn't something you can quantify, but to highlight my opinion that Paul's jealousy regarding John was more targeted than John's jealousy regarding Paul. I think what stands out to me is that, I think generally Stu and Yoko are held up as the prime examples of Paul's jealousy of other people getting close to John, as far as we know, Paul never had significant issues with other people who formed close relationships with John like Pete Shotton, Cynthia Lennon, Magic Alex etc., why was that? I think that Paul was more threatened when he felt that John was replacing him so by bringing Stu into the band (even though he wasn't a musician) and Yoko into the studio (one instance where Paul was especially hurt was when John gave Paul's line in The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill to Yoko to sing), Paul perhaps felt that his place as John's primary collaborator was in jeopardy and that he could lose a partnership that had become central to his self-worth as a person - that, I believe, was when his jealousy was most likely to rise to the fore. John, on the other hand, had a much wider range of targets when it came to jealousy regarding Paul, why was John jealous of Linda? Linda wasn't trying to replace John as Paul's collaborator, if anything she wanted the Lennon-McCartney partnership to be stronger. Why was John jealous of Mal? Mal wasn't a musician, Mal was a huge fan of the band and constantly worked to fulfil their requests, so why was John so threatened by his friendship with Paul? For me, John's jealousy regarding Paul was more than just a fear of directly being replaced, I believe John's jealousy was fundamentally triggered by a fear of abandonment. I think the childhood trauma John experienced, of being left by both his parents, meant that whenever any of his close friendships and relationships were threatened, or he felt that someone close to him may leave him, he would act out. John fell out with his childhood best friend Pete when he got a girlfriend, John hit Cynthia when he saw her dancing with Stu, John was rude to several of Paul's love interests and ultimately John never fully accepted Paul's relationship with Linda because, although he could see that she could offer Paul the family life he always wanted, John didn't want Linda to take Paul away and give him a family that meant that Paul would no longer be able to prioritise John in his life as he had in the past.

Ultimately, we'll never know all the ways that jealousy factored into John and Paul's relationship with each other and those around them, as I'm sure it impacted several relationships in more complex ways than I can articulate (i.e. I suspect jealousy played a part in Paul's initial resentment of Brian but they grew closer over time so maybe Paul's jealousy lessened over time or Brian became less of a threat?). I do think it's important to consider that jealousy was present on both sides and was likely a factor in the breakdown of John and Paul's relationship, the breakdown of the Beatles and was a continued factor in disrupting reconciliations between John and Paul into the 70s and 1980.