Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 187

Lou Reed Dead at 71

Terrible news, if not unexpected.  He had liver transplant recently.  Last time I saw him, at a Radio City show for Leonard Cohen a few months back,  he looked awful--moving slowly and older than years.  First intro to Lou was from seeing that WTF yellow banana cover on the record racks in college in '66.  Never interviewed him but helped arrange piece by him in Crawdaddy in '71 about being a star and warnings about the same.  (Lisa of "Lisa Says" fame also writing for us at the time.) Then there was the night backstage at a very early Springsteen show in Rhode Island where Lou looked rather Frankensteinish--in makeup, even off-stage. 

Of course, we heard various sordid tales about Lou back then, though not necessarily true.  Later, in his more mature years, I went with David Corn to see Lou give a poetry reading at the West Side Y in New York.   Was it just two years ago when he spoke up for Occupy after a Philip Glass night at Lincoln Center and video went viral?  Also, much to his credit, he inducted Leonard Cohen into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Watch full 85-minute PBS doc here.

Just yesterday I touted the Velvets' Live 69 as one of the two or three greatest live albums.  And they were certainly the greatest and most influential NY band ever.  (Yet I see young 'uns on Twitter who seem to think "Perfect Day" is true Lfou.)  A few selections from that period below, plus live "Heroin" here and live "New Age," "Venus in Furs" and Patti Smith doing "Pale Blue Eyes"  here.  And "Sweet Jane" directed by Julian Schnabel here.

The Royal Teeny Bombs

Welcome parody of very overrated Wes Anderson flicks.  Edward Norton as Owen Wilson.  I love the New York Times blurb: "They had me at...Wes Anderson."

Bridge School Benefit Streaming

The annual cool Neil Young with big star guests is at You Tube live this year. And you can go back and see what came before (Neil opened with "Heart of Gold," e.g.).

Bernstein, Beethoven and Berlin

In 1989,  Leonard Bernstein conducted a massive orchestra and international chorus (including kids)  doing Beethoven's Ninth in Berlin to mark the tearing down of the Berlin Wall just outside, as Berliners went wild--with the lyrics changed from "Ode to Joy" to "Ode to Freedom."  It was aired live on TV in Germany and around the globe.   It's featured in the new Kerry Candaele film on the Ninth, which I co-produced, and has its premiere in NYC next week (for more info and trailer).  Also featured in the film: Billy Bragg.   Here's a clip from the Lenny concert:

'Rock of Ages': Ageless

Writer Andrew Romano of The Daily beast argues that The Band's Rock of Ages (just out in expanded edition) from 1971 is the greatest live album ever.  Won't get a lot of argument from me or Charles P. Pierce.  Though hard to top Velvet Underground '69. And Dylan '66. But I was at one of the "Rock of Ages" concerts.   Here's what it looked like: 

No Woman, No Drive

Hysterical tribute video for the brave women who tried to drive in Saudi Arabia today, by a Saudi activist, with new lyrics to the Bob Marley tune.

Bragging About Beethoven

One of the highlights of Kerry Candaele's new doc (I am co-producer) about the influence of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony here and around the world is Billy Bragg's performance of his version of the "Ode to Joy" with his own lyrics, and his commentary on playing it--for the Queen.   The film premieres in NYC next week, read all about it and watch trailer right here.  For now here's the audio of Billy singing it:

Roll Over, Beethoven: New Film Coming to NYC

Tickets went on sale today for Kerry Candaele's new film Following the Ninth (I am co-producer) which will screen in NYC at the wonderful Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in Lincoln Center on October 29, after playing in several  cities on the West Coast, where it drew raves.  Seating is very limited so order tickets today.  Kerry and conductor George Mathew will answer questions, with yours truly moderating.  The film will then have a regular run for a week (or longer) at the Quad in the Village starting November 1.  I'll be appearing with Kerry that weekend.  My friend Robert Jay Lifton appears November 2.  See great trailer below.

A reminder:  I've also written a book with Kerry, now in print  and expanded e-book  editions:   Journeys With Beethoven: Following the Ninth, and Beyond, published by Sinclair Books.   It's just $3.99 for the e-book and $10.99 for print. 

Both the book and the film follow the Ninth Symphony and its enormous cultural and political influence around the world.  So we travel from Chile during the Pinochet years, to China's Tiananmen Square uprising,  to Japan (for the annual mass singing of the "Ode to Joy") and to Germany with Leonard Bernstein for the fall of the Wall, plus Billy Bragg re-writing the "Ode to Joy"--and playing it for the Queen.

Alex Gibney, the Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning director, tweeted last night,  "Hearing interesting things about 'Following the Ninth,' film about various uses of the piece by Ludwig Van."

You can write me at:  epic1934@aol.com.   Film opens in L.A. next month.  And here's Kerry's cool trailer:

Friday Night Duck Blogging

My photo of best-looking quack this side of Palin.   Duck-on-Hudson, Nyack, N.Y.

Friday Duck Blogging

My photo of best-looking quack this side of Palin.