Buddy Miles died a few days ago and I didn’t see much mention about it. Hendrix “Band of Gypsies” was the dopest project he was involved with of course, but I went with this “Playboy after Dark” clip for an even Foxier Vibe - bad audio syncing due to overdub presumably done in the name of volume. It’s nice to see such a “substantial” cat laying it down behind the kit, so many waify drummers out there. Everyone seen in this clip shortly thereafter either penetrated, or was penetrated, but strangely, none of them remember it…
This will be “old hat” to some English druggies and serious electronica fans, but I just saw it for the first time a few months ago and am realizing it may not be as well know among some peers as anticipated. It’s Chris Cunningham’s video for an Aphex Twin song, done in ‘05. *WARNING - it’s twisted and far out. But I would argue also with artistic merit*
Here a link to creepy stills and interviews with Warp and Pitchfork. And the video, also by Cunningham, for Come to Daddy.
So Thanksgiving has come and gone but you still feeling patriotic. Here’s an animated piece made by Vince Collins back in the days when you could get the govt. to fund such projects. Made in 1975 for the coming bicentennial celebration, he made sure to include elements of American hedonism and crass commercialization. Way to stick it to the man! They also don’t make endless noodle jam music like that anymore…
I had a “what ever happened to” moment with this distinctive comic artist recently. I was a fan of ‘Stray Toasters‘ in the 80’s, apparently there has been some work on a film project - not sure how I feel about that, but I guess this would be the era in which to do it. If it does happen, hopefully they will keep it nice and dark. His main site. He’s also been working with Roger Waters, which is one of those “surprising, but not” discoveries…
On this day 22 years ago, Nintendo corporation released Super Mario Bros, which may still be the best selling video game in history. It featured the music of Koji Kondo, who also worked on the Zelda series.
I’m around cable again these days and am watching Kubrick’s brilliant film right now (screw that remake shit, I’m not even gonna discuss it). Never mind how young many of we Gen X’ers were when we first saw it, it’s still delightfully horrific stuff - King’s novel too. I love how an underlying theme of the entre story is a writer struggling to deal with alcoholism and how it relates to his family. King was completely wrong in thinking this angle had been downplayed, and as far as criticizing the selection of Nicholson for the role…well, I think the history of films adapted from his horror work speaks for itself-
So Nicholson completely nails the role of Jack Torrence. Think for a moment of how many memorable lines have become iconic American injokes, and you realize much of this to do to his delivery. He and Scatman Crothers, who plays head chef Dick Hallorann in the film, were friends in real life and appeared in four films together before his death in ‘86. If anyone knows where I can obtain paintings similar to those in Halloran’s Miami hotel room, please let me know (they don’t even have to have lights embedded, like the amazing piece that hangs in Athens’ Manhattan Cafe…).
The idea that inspired my research: what ever happened to “Danny”, played by actor Danny Lloyd, age six at the time? He worked in only one other film, and Kubrick, due to the actor’s age, somewhat sheltered him from what he was working on during the shooting. Apparently Lloyd never even realized it was a horror film until years later.
And then there is Shelly Duvall’s amazing performance, perfectly capturing the vulnerability and panic of a woman being attacked by her devolving husband, but carries the Will and Stamina to survive, without it turning into some Hollywood “victimized, now vigilante hardass” cliche. However, cryptic remarks behind the scenes make one wonder to what extent Kubrick may have ‘extracted’ this performance from her. Anyway, her screams, eyes and panic are a big part of what make The Shining so terrifying. Check out this cool animation of Wendy running around and freaking out with the knife, a bit of limping Jack, as done by Saskia Panjii Sakti.
Other things: The Overlook Hotel location was Timberline lodge on Mt. Hood, Oregon (good luck getting so many snowy shots these days, but it was most likely augmented even then…), though the hedgemaze was actually somewhere in England and the illusion of their proximity is cinematic “magic”. The actor who plays Delbert Grady, meddlesome ghost butler, is Kubrick regular Philip Stone. And the music! The electronic stuff comes from Wendy Carlos (who also worked on Tron) and Rachel Elkind-Tourre, and pieces based on works of Hector Berlioz. Actually, look more into the soundtrack if you’re interested - it’s complicated. Licensing issues prevented from it even being released beyond vinyl - again, something I’d love to own, so contact me if you have a specific lead.
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