Tosh Berman's Blog, page 259
May 3, 2013
My Office/Studio Space by Tosh Berman May 2013 (while working on my memoir)
Books dealing with Boris Vian and other TamTam Books subject matter
Close-up of my Boris Vian/Paris/Situationists books
The Original Gilles Verlant "Gainsbourg" plus other titles
Books plus some CD's.
CD's plus some DVD's
Books plus DVD's (mostly Godard films here)
File Cabinet plus blow-up of my Vian Manual of Saint-Germain des Prés cover
My writing desk working on my childhood memoir
Books of course
May 1, 2013
"Ziggyology: A Brief History of Ziggy Stardust" by Simon Goddard
In my (very short?) life time, the one beautiful narrative in my life is the one called Ziggy Stardust. In what seemed like weeks the very first David Bowie album I bought "Hunky Dory" somehow turned into Ziggy. The moment it happened I felt the world was not exactly all right, but at least someone was fighting for our side. That little pipe bomb of vinyl was called "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars."
Simon Goddard's odd form of biography on the Bowie character is a must-read for the glam damaged fan. And that is something that i am. Like all great characters, the Ziggy motif has a lot of fingerprints on it, including those belonging to the great Vince Taylor and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy - both perhaps insane, but nevertheless the spark that started Bowie into another world of his making. That, plus Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" and "2001" laid out a future that Bowie felt was a perfect fit for his creation.
And what is Ziggy but the ultimate outsider re-sold as a rock n' roll star. Even Elvis seemed to come from another planet. Maybe Memphis is another part of the universe. Yeah Memphis, Tokyo and London. Outside our planet. Goddard traces the star steps from early Bowie to himself turning into Ziggy. I like this book a lot due that he lists all the Ziggy cultural influences that somewhat is even more interesting than Bowie himself. And I think the glam god would appreciate this.
The Influences: All The Young Dudes down below:
Vince Taylor
Legendary Stardust Cowboy
Alex from A Clockwork Orange
Kabuki
Iggy Pop (Stooge)"Sparks-Tastic"' by Tosh Berman
ISBN: 9780983925583$14.00Published by A Barnacle Book (Distribution by Publishers Group West)Publication Date: May 14, 2013
In 2008, Tosh Berman--author and publisher of TamTam Books--got on a plane with a single motive: "Sparks Spectacular." It had been announced that the band Sparks would perform all twenty-one of their albums in a succession of twenty-one nights in London...a monumental experience for any Sparks fanatic. Part travel journal, part personal memoir, Berman takes us through the streets of London and Paris, observing both cities' history and culture through the eye of an obsessive Sparks fan's lens. Including album-by-album reviews of all twenty-one albums and beyond, "Sparks-Tastic" defines a place and time in music history that's too defining to be ignored.
On May 14, "Sparks-Tastic" will be officially released and one can get it on their favorite online shops as well as Independent bookstores through out the U.S.A and the U.K. Also I imagine various music stores will be carrying this title as well. And remember, if you can shop at your favorite neighborhood bookstore or music shop please do so. They can more likely special order the book (just in case they don't have it in stock) and send it off to you.
And at the moment, Book Soup, Stories, Powell's Books, and City Lights have signed copies in their stock. Do contact them (easily findable on the Internet) and they will mail it out to you.
April 28, 2013
Tosh Berman reads and signs "Sparks-Tastic" at Book Soup April 29
Ladies and Gentlemen (and anyone else) of Los Angeles, I will be doing a reading/signing/chit-chat for my book "Sparks-Tastic" at Book Soup on Monday April 29th at 7:00 PM. For those who can't make it to the reading or from some other part of the world, one can contact the store at 310-659-3110 to pre-order a book. Do enjoy.April 22, 2013
The Latest L'écume des jours Coming Attraction
Another and more recent preview of Michel Gondry's cinematic production of Boris Vian's classic "L'écume des jours. My press TamTam Books publishes the English language translation of this novel which is called "Foam of the Daze." Translated by Brian Harper with endnotes explaining the various aspects of Vian's life during the writing of this wonderful novel.
There will be another translation of this novel published by FSG in the late summer. That version is based on Stanley Chapman's British translation of L'écume des jours called "Froth on the Daydream," but will be re-named "Mood Indigo" to tie-in with the film when it comes out in the States and the U.K. Which is not to be confused with an older American translation with the same title. Both versions were from the 1960's. "Foam of the Daze" was translated in 2003.
Anyway I have high hopes for the film. It seems to be an ideal fit to have Gondry to do this material.
April 18, 2013
"Sparks-Tastic: Twenty-One Nights with Sparks in London" by Tosh Berman
ISBN: 9780983925583$14.00Published by A Barnacle Book (Distribution by Publishers Group West)Publication Date: May 14, 2013
In 2008, Tosh Berman--author and publisher of TamTam Books--got on a plane with a single motive: "Sparks Spectacular." It had been announced that the band Sparks would perform all twenty-one of their albums in a succession of twenty-one nights in London...a monumental experience for any Sparks fanatic. Part travel journal, part personal memoir, Berman takes us through the streets of London and Paris, observing both cities' history and culture through the eye of an obsessive Sparks fan's lens. Including album-by-album reviews of all twenty-one albums and beyond, "Sparks-Tastic" defines a place and time in music history that's too defining to be ignored.
2013 Book Tour:
April 21: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Rare Bird Booth No. 065. Signing books from 12:30 to 1:00 P.M.
April 23: Stories Books in Los Angeles (Echo Park)
April 24: City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco
April 25: Powell's Bookstore in Portland, OR
April 29: Book Soup in West Hollywood (Los Angeles)
More to come.....
Right now due to the reading tour that will soon take place, the book "Sparks-Tastic" is available at the above independent bookstores. Feel free to contact them if you want to pre-order a signed copy of the book by yours truly.
On May 14, "Sparks-Tastic" will be officially released and one can get it on their favorite online shops as well as Independent bookstores through out the U.S.A and the U.K. Also I imagine various music stores will be carrying this title as well. And remember, if you can shop at your favorite neighborhood bookstore or music shop please do so.
- Tosh Berman
April 17, 2013
April 16, 2013
April 15, 2013
USA: Poetry, Frank O'Hara (1966)
Amazing footage of the great poet Frank O'Hara. Interview, poetry reading, etc.
April 14, 2013
Television /Ork's Loft 1974
Television with Richard Hell, Richard Lloyd, Billy Ficca and Tom Verlaine. Recorded at Terry Ork's loft sometime in 1974. Excellent.
