Tosh Berman's Blog, page 84
July 9, 2021
"Terminal Boredom: Stories" by Izumi Suzuki
One of the more interesting new authors, at least for me, is Izumi Suzuki. A science-fiction author but also an actor in the Japanese pink film industry and worked with the great Shūji Terayama. She is also a muse of sort for the photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. She commited suicide when she was 36-years old. A truly fascinating life. Her book, "Terminal Boredom: Stories (Verso) is a fascinating read.
July 7, 2021
ANNETTE - PRESS CONFERENCE - CANNES 2021 - EV
What can I say? I love everyone here.
Les Sewing Sisters - Fashionable Nonsense (Official Video)
The new Les Sewing Sisters video "Fashionable Nonsense" which is off their first album "Les Sewing Sisters." There's great and then there is something beyond great. Les Sewing Sisters rule! https://youtu.be/XZ_BeD2_rQ8
Sheree Rose & Tosh Berman in conversation
Performer and photographer Sheree Rose freaks forth with thoughts on poetic restraints, sadomasochism, love’s lasting impact, and artistic collaboration within the Beyond Baroque scene throughout her life spent with poet and artist Bob Flanagan. This program is part of a series, Beyond Baroque and Beyond, in which Tosh Berman, writer, poet, Los Angeles publisher of the postwar French literati, and beloved host of the 1980s cable talk show Tea With Tosh, returns to the screen to confabulate with figures from the Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center’s haunted hallways. Summoned to Berman’s virtual sofa are a host of poetic voices, each of whom have been central to the center’s programs at a point between 1980 and 1996. Not merely interviews, Beyond Baroque and Beyond is equal parts séance, chat show, reunion, literary production, past life regression, tea time. No nostalgia. In conjunction with the exhibition Made in L.A. 2020: a version. This is a recording of a program broadcast live on June 29, 2021.
July 2, 2021
Playlist for Jack Skelley's "Dennis Wilson and Charlie Manson" (Book Musik)
Jack Skelley's magnificent little book "Dennis Wilson and Charllie Manson" is the subject matter for the recent episode of BOOK MUSIK, with Jack as a guest. We also put together a playlist of deep (really deep) cuts from Dennis and his Beach Boys, as well as some Charlie/Terry Melcher/Bruce Johnson into the mix. You can hear it here:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TZZfHGNKgrPg8LZhpJnDI?si=b4faf91a9731423f&nd=1
Apple Music: Dennis Wilson/Beach Boys/Charlie Manson Playlist
July 1, 2021
Jack Skelley, David Trinidad & Tosh Berman in conversation
I had a wonderful chat with the poets/publishers David Trinidad and Jack Skelley. The focus of our talks was on Beyond Baroque during the time when Dennis Cooper and Benjamin Weissman were program directors. Incredible people such as Ed Smith, Amy Gerstler, Sheree Rose, Bob Flanagan, Jim Krusoe, and others become part of the narration that ook place at Beyond Baroque.
BOOK MUSIK #49 "Dennis Wilson and Charlie Manson" discussion with author Jack Skelley
Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Jack Skelley to discuss his new book DENNIS WILSON AND CHARLIE MANSON. How did fun-loving, handsome surfer-dude and famous Beach Boy drummer Dennis Wilson become entangled with the creepy, dark, murderous cult leader Charlie Manson? As we all know, there are two sides to every coin and Skelley takes the real-life intersection of these two men as well as the pop culture of the era and those around them as its jumping off point to explore the high and low, the dark and the light in this stunningly poetic, strikingly illustrated chapbook.
