Tosh Berman's Blog, page 92
May 2, 2021
“Gustav Metzger: Writings 1953-2016” Edited by Mathieu Copeland (JRP Editions) 2019
“Gustav Metzger: Writings 1953-2016” Edited by Mathieu Copeland (JRP Editions) 2019
I first became aware of Gustav Metzger's name due to Pete Townshend of The Who smashing his guitar against an amp while on the stage. Usually, when one reads about the violence in a Who concert, Metzger's name is mentioned. Even as a child, which was the first time I was aware of The Who, I knew that there was something totally unpractical about smashing an expensive instrument into the ground, or even worse, through the PA system. Still, the theater or spectacle of such an action taking place was exhilarating to me. Perhaps due to the built-up violence at the end of their music set and again, the waste of a perfectly good instrument was destroyed. When Pete was in Art School, he met and studied under the artist Gustav Metzger. Pete took Metzger's complicated and textural process and brought it into the Pop music world. Beyond that, Metzger spent a lifetime organizing and writing press notices about how he saw the arts as in action, not standing still.
Destruction and creation can share the same dinner table, in that it's two life forces at work. Sometimes against each other, but I see it as a workable union. Metzger, very aware of the effects of World War II in his life, as well as the threat of the atomic bomb and the landscape of the Cold War - knew that destruction was very much only inches away. One can make that into an art form or a large canvas to do one's art on the intensity of such a danger. There is a liberating feeling about specific types of destruction. Metzger, through his visual art and writings, conveys that world.
Writings 1953-2016 is very much of a work by an artist and not a prose writer. This in itself is an exciting prospect because one can feel the intensity of his thoughts and feelings on how art is produced in a somewhat Capitalist society. Capitalism itself is a combination of creation and destruction. For it to live as an institution, it must also destroy. Sexually it's an S&M relationship. Some must lose in the Capitalist system, and therefore we have the art by Metzger.
Metzger is very much a political figure in the arts. Reading through this book. He spent a great deal of time organizing conferences, talks/lectures, and art exhibitions. He was wary of the Gallery/Artist system due that is based on business. Not ideas or institutions have a hard time coming to terms that the physical aspect of the artwork is changing and not always on the physical medium of the canvas. Metzger wanted to transform the world, and I suspect that he tried to squeeze all of the poison out of its body or system. Therefore, Auto-destructive art is a very positive method of reaching visionary, moral, and healthy art for society.
The book is beautifully produced by JRP Editions in a functional design that is somewhat elegant in the manner of a manifesto zine but of excellent quality. The majority of the writings here are press releases Metzger wrote under the banner of his various organizations that he co-started or worked with, such as DIAS and PAGE. Metzger also connected with art communities such as Fluxus and organized lectures and exhibits for Yoko Ono during her Avant-garde period in London and New York City. The Metzger book is essential for one who collects documents of the 'art' 20th-century.
May 1, 2021
Subscribe to The World of Tosh Berman
Subscribe here!
Do sign up for your free subscription to "The World of Tosh Berman." On almost a daily basis, I will post new writings - some will be essays, some fiction, and half essay and half fiction. And music writing as well. If you become a PAID subscriber, I'll send you something unique that no one else has. There is a whole world to explore (inner-head and outside), and this platform, Substack, is my platform. -Tosh Berman.
Apple Music & Spotify Playlist on The Who from Book Musik
We at BOOK MUSIK put together a playlist of The Who's deep cuts and some surprises. If you can, let us know if you do listen to these playlists. We don't have a way to tell how many people are listening to the Book Musik playlists that we put together.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7sYE07ukq6HLP4zBOYOiNb?si=fNTzHpC3SJKJ1wS5YIxeuQ&nd=1
Apple Music: Apple Music: The Who Playlist
BOOK MUSIK - A Band With Built-In Hate: The Who From Pop Art to Punk with Peter Stanfield
Listen here Book Musik
Tosh and Kimley are joined by author Peter Stanfield to discuss his new book A BAND WITH BUILT-IN HATE: THE WHO FROM POP ART TO PUNK. The Who is a band rife with contradictions and easily one of the most acutely self-aware bands to come out of the British music scene of the 1960s. From recording ads on THE WHO SELL OUT to the rock opera TOMMY, The Who explored the vast continuum of what popular music could be. They were anti-intellectual intellectuals who embraced constant change and who weren’t afraid to smash a few guitars along the way.
April 30, 2021
The World of Tosh Berman: Friday, April 30, 2021 (Johnny Crawford)
https://tosh.substack.com/p/johnny-crawford My tribute to Johnny Crawford and The Rifleman on The World of Tosh Berman
[Who is in "Who is Lun*na Menoh" ] vol.11 - Vanessa Gonzalez
Vanessa Gonzalez is one of the key models in Lun*na Menoh's "Fashion Shows." She is also interviewed in the documentary film "Who Is Lun*na Menoh?" Therefore Lun*na and I devote a short video on Vanessa, and her greatness.
April 29, 2021
Top Ten Episodes of BOOK MUSIK
This is our top ten episodes of BOOK MUSIK: www.bookmusik.com
1) "Wagnerism" by Alex Ross2) "Along Comes the Association" by Russ Giguere & Ashley Wren Collins3)"A Sound Mind" by Paul Morley4) "Recombo DNA - The Story of DEVO by Kevin C. Smith5) "Relax Baby Be Cool: Serge Gainsbourg" by Jeremy Allen6)"Niche: A Memoir in Pastiche" by Momus7) "Remain in Love" by Chris Frantz8) "The Kinks: Songs of the Semi-Detached" by Mark Doyle9) " "Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock" by Nik Cohn10) "Suicide's Suicide" by Andi Coutler
April 28, 2021
The World of Tosh Berman: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 (The Who)
https://tosh.substack.com/p/wednesday-april-28-2021
My commentary on the 1960s era of The Who on my Substack blog. Come to read! And subscribe!
