A place to remember and to share articles, videos, and information about art and culture. My primary audience is students of the arts, with the purpose of expanding the discussion and encouraging research.
Today is the 9th anniversary of our unprovoked, pre-emptive invasion of Iraq - more than twice as long as WWII lasted - 4486 American soldiers have died, 1,455,590 Iraqi's. A moment of silent contemplation seems necessary, and simultaneously futile.
I opened my set at the Black Dog Tavern with this song the night the World Trade Center was hit (9-11-01).
30 years ago tonight, I was playing Dear Prudence in a bar. When we finished the drummer from the other band grabbed his heart, fell to the floor, and screamed John is dead. I didn't believe him at the time, he was a total prankster, but that night he spoke the truth. I never forgot what song I was playing because I didn't play that many Beatles' songs and so it was really odd.
10 years ago, on 9-11, I had a gig. It was the night the planes struck the two towers and the Pentagon. The owner, Tadd Gaither (Black Dog Tavern in Fort Worth), refused to let me cancel. He said, "people will be here, they will want community, they will need to share music." Hesitantly, I went down to the club. I was stunned by the events of the day and knew the first song would be tough. I opened with Imagine. Many friends came out and we passed the guitar until the wee hours of the morning. It was a sad, yet magical night, and I learned a lot about the power of music. The next morning Clear Channel banned their radio stations from playing Lennon's masterpiece - Imagine.
Whenever I get asked to play a Beatles cover I usually go for Working Class Hero. Okay it's not technically a Beatles song. I always thought John's songs had depth and power. Working Class Hero has changed in meaning for me through the years. It reveals itself anew with almost every performance. That's poetry.
My first memory of a rock concert was the next door neighbor's college age daughter all excited getting into a car to drive to Kansas City and see The Beatles. I can't remember her name, but I can still see the look in her eye. Sheer joy.
It's hard to imagine even now that someone would assassinate a musician on the streets of New York City. But it did happen, and in an odd way his life and his death have shaped and defined my life. These are just some random thoughts.
For the record, I always liked Yoko. She was an artist and was so hip, and I never got why people didn't like her. Yes.
One last thought. After hundreds of years of wars, I think John and Yoko are right - we should give peace a chance.
Monday, March 19, 2012 at 1:11PM 