2009 – As we reached the second decade of the 21st Century, there occurred a greater than usual number of important, or significant pioneers and icons who passed on. I thought it was odd, kept track, and have wanted to post it to remind myself that, if you choose to draw significance from these passing moments, something may have shifted in the culture forever.
In sort of order (which puts Marilyn Chambers first – and because we went to the same elementary, junior high, and high schools) they are:
Marilyn Chambers
Pioneer mainstreaming of porn
Ed McMahon
Pioneer in the origins of TV late night talk
Walter Cronkite
Pioneer of TV news in its last heyday
Merce Cunningham
Dance Pioneer
Les Paul
Pioneer The Electric Guitar
Michael Jackson
Icon of all popular entertainment
Farrah Faucett
70’s Feminist/Pinup Pioneer
Bud Schulberg –
Screenwriting Pioneer
John Hughes
Pioneer 80’s teen movies
Don Hewitt
Pioneer of TV Journalism and class investigation
Ted Kennedy
Icon of Progressive Democracy
Soupy Sales
Pioneer of wacky children’s television
Paul Harvey
Pioneer Radio News
Claude Levi-Strauss
Pioneer humanism and ethnology
Billy Mays
Pioneer infotainment
Robert S. McNamara
Icon of Military Amorality and the masters of war
William Safire
Icon of Language
And Great Lost Icons
Arnold Stang – of nerdishness when it wasn’t yet cool
Patrick Swayze - sexiness and dance
Jim Carroll – neo beat poetry and arts
Mary Travers – of 60’s folk
Lou Albano – of Wrestling and rock and roll camp
John drew his film “Honeydripper” from his short story, “Keeping Time”. He’s wanted to do it as a reading with drums for years, and we finally did. At the Coolidge Corner Theater February 2008.
(There are about 30 sec. of diminished sound near the top – the sound the rest is smooth) Good story – listen and enjoy!!!
Shot by Students at the New England Institute of Art under guidance of Mary Cardaras, with help from Mason Daring
Video Cameras – Thomas Dill, Dustin Hunt
Audio by Brian Smith
Edited by LaShawn McGhee
It’s too bad that Howard Stern is no longer part of the public conversation. As unsavory as he could be, he carried forward the needed tradition of both shtick and what Barbara Kruger called the “ironic musings of an examined life, but the fascinating arrogance of stupidity”. I would add that, to paraphrase McLuhan, ‘all comedy is complaint’, and that there is still plenty to complain about. The feel good age of the Obamas is a small comfort to the greed , hypocrisy, and entertaining distractions of the last 20 years that has left us in a desperate and unreal place. Art is pulled from the schools, few patronize the theater, no one wants to read subtitles in movies, museums are forced to mount blockbuster shows, Paula Abdul is drunk, and Randy Jackson is supposed to define hip. Stern’s humor replaces the cranky commentary of Lenny Bruce, Morton Downey , Joe Pyne , Andrew Dice Clay and that turf of iconoclastic humor, which we no longer seem to take to. There are, of course, Chris Rock, Lewis Black and others, but no one tweaking us on such a regular and base level. His clown chorus to the pop idiocracy is in Krugers words, “the wake up call America deserves”.
W.M.Thackery
The dinner was full of japes and witticisms from a singular life of both waggishness and caring ministration to those in their last days. A performance artist of his own life, he seemed not to need an audience only to live authentically. Everyone there had breathed that spirit. One speaker fittingly called a him ’secular holy man’.
For his Obituary – scroll down
I’ll print some of the lyrics he wrote for Vas Deferens songs in the days ahead, and post the music where i can.
Starting with this:
Vas Deferens
Nellie – lyrics, vocals
CJ Allen – music, guitar
Peter Hoffman – G Richard Gates – B Larry Luddecke – Keys Tim Jackson – D
Young Men can’t say enough
We love to get them going
And show them all our stuff.
Forget the lines on legs and face
Forget the stretch marks, too
Forget the fill around the waist
This just distracts from glorious grace
Anaïs and Collette and Nins
Doubled the ages of their men
They know what they were doing
And it’s better now than then
Talkin’ about maturity
Someone who’s been through
The things we have to suffer
And think and feel and do
In Praise of Older Women
One just can’t say enough
I dig my Older Woman
It’s the highest form of love
Years and years of living
Some giving everyday
In pays off in these later times
With depth and sense and play
If its sex you’d like to try
These women are the best
There’s nothing to hold back for
Just periodic rest
Some famous ones I think about
I’d like to get to know
Like Georgia Holt or Cleo Lane
Or gorgeous Jeanne Moreau
In Praise of Older Women
One just can’t say enough
We love to get them going
And kiss them in the muff
Fullness of the body
The best on Mother Earth
They’re grounded more than younger ones
One way is giving birth
Their men don’t understand them
Such tension
Soft (?) and foot message can get us through the day
Their (?) is so glowing
Their presence is so strong
All their lives been growing
It’s time for Praise on Song
I ‘m posting this obituary I found from March 25,2001. Today is Nellie’s memorial, and he would have appreciated it. And Sarah Palin, the most dangerous woman in the world probably believes it. It’s a great read.
This is an entry I’d never imagine writing. Nellie was a great performance artists of his own life. Authentic, inspiring, unique, gifted. This is a huge loss. I’ll miss him and his spirit which has been an inspiration for 30 years. Vas Deferens was a great band and his lyrics deserve recognition. To be continued. Obit below begins to show what a unique fellow he was.
Known as “Sandy” to his family and as “Nellie” to his many friends, died peacefully in his home on Friday, August 22 at the age of 63. He had been diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease just two months before his death. Sandy was a licensed practical nurse and for 20 years he was a personal nurse of extraordinary skill, caring for terminally ill members of many prominent Boston area families. His calm competence and patience were the hallmarks of his service. After graduating from Washington & Jefferson College, Sandy tried many pursuits before focusing on nursing. These included joining VISTA, and working as a Good Humor man, a bicycle messenger, warehouse worker, English teacher, social worker, trash collector, minister and encyclopedia salesman.
Kind and compassionate, he had no pretensions and an unusual ability to relate to people from all walks of life.
A lover of music, Nellie was an award-winning songwriter who recorded and preformed as the lead vocalist for the local punk rock band, Vas Deferens. He was a clever lyricist with a biting wit and his songs were replete with satire and socio-political commentary. His most popular songs included, “Commitment”, “My Emotion”, “In Praise of Older Women”, and “Bernie, the Pimp”.
Although not a fan of professional sports, Sandy passionately followed collegiate and high school teams, traveling as far as Texas for a special high school game. He was a season ticket holder and avid fan of BC football. A dedicated cyclist, Sandy navigated Boston’s downtown traffic with finesse and he joined friends for numerous long distance charity rides. Sandy was also an accomplished gardener, often bringing a summer bounty of homegrown produce to his friends and family. He proudly mentored his grand niece Anabelle and grand nephews Walter and Oliver as they planted their first vegetable gardens. On the day of his death, brilliant sunflowers bloomed outside Sandy’s bedroom window.
We need more great anti war art and music – except there are few commercial stations allowed to play it (what country IS this again?).
So with that in mind here’s an offering by the The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
You will love this song. Too long lost
What If They Gave a War and Nobody Came?
On Thanksgiving they posted a letter in the Times that I wrote in response to a David Brooks Op-Ed piece.
Misc
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