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hstisgod's blog
| Tuesday, May 24th, 2005
Taking Back The Industry...Your Industry
Ah, the beautiful music industry… Once pure and true to its emotional and human nature is now strapped to the gurney at the local mental hospital. Put there by some slick-haired, goatee sporting executive who wouldn’t have the first inkling of a new thing if it sat on his/her face and rubbed till it chaffed. Lately it seems artistry has become the ultimate marketing report. Who’s buying what and where is their only concern. Who will be the next make-up wearing freak from a corner of the world to grab our attention and most importantly our expendable dollars? These are the artists who garner the focus of the executives in this trillion-dollar industry. One would think we’re choosing these artists, but we’re not. What is really happening right before our eyes is simply sickening, and we’re ALL a part of the problem.
Rather than choosing the most original or most creative record makers, marketing executives up at the top of 45 story towers are spending their time sitting in their cubicle ignoring demo after demo, choosing only to listen to the next MTV spotlight. All the while in front of their Apple computers crunching sales numbers of Ashlee Simpson rather than surfing the web, or digging for the most talented,
Isn’t it time for the people who spend their expendable cash flow going to local shows, and buying CD’s to choose what we listen to? Aren’t you sick of being force-fed what some trend following pacifist felt was just radio-friendly enough to give a five album deal? Sure you are…its been going on for decades now. But what can you do about it? Here are five people from different corners of the earth unfolding the waves of the music industry who may be able to offer up some advice.
Twenty-five year old Dallas, TX resident DJ Burdick, who originally hails from Seattle, Washington remembers his first CD (Top Gun Soundtrack), and first concert (Michael Jackson), now he listens to artists like Fugazi, Underworld, and Jimi Hendrix. Being a part of the staff at iSound.com (formerly known as bandhunt.com), DJ has watched on as droves of indie artists have swarmed onto the site.
"I don’t think they (major labels) are necessary anymore. In the past you’d have to have an avenue out to major retailers." Though this explains why artists have been so enamored with the contemplation of signing a major record deal, D.J. seems to think these days are behind us. "In the future I think it’ll be less and less necessary. I think in the future we’ll have to have a lot more smaller labels."
Which leads us to one of the few problems with independent artistry on the web. The droves are massive indeed as everyone and their grandmother’s domestic friend have found themselves with artist profiles, message board forum’s and streaming mp3 sections setting everyone at the same internet marketing level. Sites like Myspace.com and Purevolume.com have been leading this industry thusfar, and its consumers like DJ who download music from these websites just about everyday that will soon run the industry. Biased, but informed, DJ points out iSound.com makes life simpler then most of the other sites out there. "Its easier to find the songs you want based on the quantity of the genre, you know it’s not such a crap shoot having to look through a ton of bands to find a few that you like."
Though he is not as prone to independent artistry as most of the subjects, 22 year-old Toronto, Canada native Adam Gonshar is proprietor of his own site, andpop.com. Adam listens to a plethora of different sounds (Wyclef Jean, Nelly Furtado, Boyz To Men, Linkin Park). Although he rarely downloads and buys most of his music from monster retailer Best Buy (who can blame him at those prices), Adam has stumbled onto quite a few artists thanks to online streaming and audio samples. One artist in particular is a Kanye West disciple, John Legend. "Yea, the first time I heard John Legend, I heard nothing about him, from the second I first heard his music (over the net) I knew he would be big." Just like DJ, Adam feels the internet provides an alternate marketing tool most indie artist’s may not even realize. "It allows indie artists to get that exact same resources that major labels would provide. I think indie artists have taken advantage of over the last few years." Though, the internet isn’t for all artists, you’d be surprised who doesn’t grab much attention on the net. "P diddy doesn’t have a large fan base over the internet. We were trying to promote an interview we did with him (P Diddy), but there wasn’t a lot of fans (interested)."
Greg Sieme, 20, who heads up the new media (internet) marketing department at Equal Vision Records (Coheed and Cambria, Alexisonfire, Armor For Sleep) even admits most of his listening pleasures are speared by the internet. "Definitely, I find out about most bands through the internet, a lot of the bands I listen to I’ve found over the net. Minus The Bear, Hot Snakes, Mars Volta, American Analogue Set." Though Greg doesn’t believe all labels are completely useless, he does feel the sites like iSound.com, Myspace.com and Purevolume.com are a great beginning. "I think they’re awesome, they’ve helped out so much as far as featuring and giving a space to artists. It’s a great place to check out bands that you hear about and kind of investigate further." But what’s the difference between labels and record companies? "There’s so many big labels that just throw money at things. We’re not a label. I’m just not into them (major labels) cause so many artists get lost in the shuffle. There’s so many amazing bands, and they have to worry about Mariah Carey to keep them afloat, and I don’t think that’s really fair to them."
Most disheartening is the ongoing secnario at the top of those smoke tinted towers. Monopolization and price fixing has become a reality and further clouded their vision. Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, BMG Music and EMI Group, and a few accompanying chain stores (Musicland Stores,Tower Records) settled out of court in regards to price fixing between the years of 1995 and 2000. Settled for a drop in the bucket (approx. 160 million dollars), the labels were off the hook. Though any Tom, Dick or Harrietta who paid enough attention during these proceedings and purchased CD’s during the time in question were given an equal sharing of the settlement; the labels were given a slap on the wrist and sent to bed.
So it’s now 2005, and the same old complaining can be heard amongst executives. Exlcuding internet sales, slumping CD sales have been an issue without a tissue for quite sometime. While most labels will blame this disease on free downloading and file sharing, most true consumers are quick to point out the cause to this result, the price of a full length CD. Which forces 25 year-old Rob Todd of crushmusicmag.com. "I always check Myspace.com, then Purevolume.com. If I don't have their music I try to find as much available to stream before I even think about downloading." Like most of our subjects, Rob believes $10.00 is a more than fair price for a round piece of mirroring plastic glass. Since the innovation of the CD back in the early eighties, CD’s prices have managed to drop in very small amounts. Starting out in the twenty-twenty-five dollar range, still today you can’t walk into a major chain retailer without seeing $15.99 on most price tags. While you can receive this price at a few retailers (such as the aforementioned Best Buy), it’s simply not realistic to find it at the majority of outlets. Due to these prices and a lack of wholesaling discounts for small business, we are watching the gradual decline in Mom and Pop CD stores. Even the few Indie music stores that are lingering are being forced to send their cash flow to cheaper Canadian distributors. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I prefer the confines of the half-cleaned, speaker blaring, hang-out ridden run down indie CD store to the bright lights of Wal-Mart any day of the week.
Simple as can be, indie artists are everywhere. Pre-internet days, we needed labels to go out there and find these artists. It’s only now that we’re realizing most of the labels just don’t do this. But now that we have the resources right at our fingertips, isn’t it time to re-evaluate the entire relationship between artist, listener, and record producer.
Helping re-evaluate the relationship are a few web sites out there. First on the list is musicemissions.com, a site that prides itself on its trademark phrase, "Music Reviews For The Rest Of Us". Though from time to time you’ll find a billboard heat seeker, the perspective between these HTML codes is simple, passion. "MusicEmissions.com is an independent music review site that sets itself apart by unbiased reviewers." In the eyes of Dennis Scanland (editor/owner), indie artists have a better future on their own. "They easily do and quite often create a bigger buzz than major label artists. Grass roots marketing and street teams are the way that an unknown artist can make waves online. Look at the latest album from Spoon, one of the greatest albums of our time and they were dumped by a major label."
Jodi Krangle who runs musesmuse.com (industry tips, reviews and skills for songwriters) doesn't feel conglomerate record companies do enough for the up and coming artist. "If they were actually going to promote artists that deserved to be promoted, they'd serve a purpose. I mean, the problem I see is that the record companies aren't willing to take any chances at all. They sign people who they think are really good, the person that signs them disappears because of high turn-over, and the newly signed band languishes on the back shelf somewhere... The big record companies would rather promote U2. U2 doesn't need any more promotion. It's just very frustrating and a lot of artists who are really good don't get the promotion they deserve." Disassembling this clustered mess, Jodi further explained. "Record companies won't wait longer than a year for a band or artist to achieve super stardom, so there's no artist development. It's hugely frustrating for the artists, I'm sure, and it's frustrating to me as a consumer."
This all reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend a while back. The difference between a label and a record company is the labels just want stick their logo on your spine. The record companies would love to release your music. How about we all grab our share of the music industry. Do what you can by supporting your favorite indie artist, label or reviews site. Let’s all stop polluting the beautiful music industry with the limits of predictability.
Posted By hstisgod @ 2:12 PM | Comments: 5 |
| Wednesday, May 11th, 2005
Weighing Me Down While I Sleep
What is this madness in my pockets? Holding me down to the ground with steel strong stresses. Who knows where these words lead, its enough to believe after a little re-reading its in my own head. I cant act like this. So pesimistically insane, paranoid I'm always to blame. It's just easier to watch others leave. Why must things rhyme, instead following some line of names, numbers nations and complaints. Yea I've come so far I cant go back. the pockets wont always drown me in the sand with the strong stress. Its just messier when you overanalyze your stream of dispair. Clutch onto another cap, move forward two after one step back.
Theres been so many connontations that seem the same...Ive sat here twice this week, trying to force myself to sleep. Why is everything I'm wearing , Im writing with a darker shade of red. From my plaid redrum boxers, my bright SXSW staff shirt and my pen bleed like gore. No wonder I cant sleep, Im far too jumbled, my mind is racing. If only I could some how record my inner thoughts. I'd be lumination free, and on my way to anti-venom deprevation of sleep.
Posted By hstisgod @ 4:49 PM | Comments: 0 |
| Friday, March 25th, 2005
Rest In Peace Darrell
Rest In Peace
"Dimebag" Darrell Lance Abbott (August 20th, 1966 - December 8th 2004)
Last night, December 9th 2004, as I prepared myself for a night of massive draught consumption, I was floored momentarily. As I clicked through the channels, a teaser for the local news caught me off-guard. "Metal guitarist shot and killed, details at eleven." I thought to myself surely it can not be anyone worthy of tears, or my phone would have been off the hook. Not to mention, we all know of a guitarist or two we wouldn't mind being snubbed off the scene or maybe even the planet for that matter. Nonetheless, further information said the incident involved a Columbus Ohio setting, and inexplicably, I was immediately reminded of the unfortunate incident in Rhode Island involving Great White nearly two years ago. 'Can never be too careful,' I said to myself as I plunged for box of wires and knowledge.
No longer was my shock momentary as the rest of the information finally jumped from the screen back at me. Darrell Abbott, otherwise affectionately known to the rest of the world as one "Dimebag Darrell" was shot and killed tonight. Abbott, 38, and his brother and long time drummer, Vinnie Paul, had been re-visiting the depths of ground level artist promotion touring with their new formation Damageplan. "It just kind of got narrow-minded, and we just wanted to bust it open a little bit more and just broaden it up, go for the Baskin-Robbins 31 flavors instead of the one, you know what I mean?," Darrell Abbott told CNN news back in April 2004 of the finally confirmed Pantera break-up.
Back to Friday night (12.9.04), not long into Damageplan's live set at Alrosa Villa night club, 25 year-old Nathan Gale from nearby Marysville was said to have charged the stage and shot Darrell in the side of the head from close range. After shooting the legendary lead finger picker, the heavy set man dressed in his said-to-be usual attire (Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey jersey and a hoodie), moved his attention sporadically and successfully towards the rest of the stage area and eventually onto his peers in the crowd. By the time local police officer James Niggemeyer had shot and killed Gale, four others were dead, including the head of Damageplan security, Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson. Acting tour manager Chris Paluska (critical but stable condition) and drum tech John "Kat" Brooks were also injured during the shooting. Although, early reports had said Vinnie Paul was also shot and possibly killed, these reports were later nullified.
As for a next day clear cut motive, it was still unclear to police as to what, if any motive Gale had for his senseless rampage. Some witnesses at the show said he was yelling accusations as he attacked. Perhaps suggesting Dimebag had been the reasoning behind the Pantera break up, but police had not verified those reports. Eery reports say hands stamped 21 and over allegedly marked the word assassin. In an interview conducted with Fox News with one of his hometown friends, Gale has said to have accused Pantera of allegedly stealing his lyrics, and even his identity. Even further investigation led to many other stories of exemplified reasoning as to how this random individual could've been guilty of this heinous crime, but let's keep a journalistic integrity and stick with the real story here...saying good-bye to a legend.
Born and raised in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by his father, Jerry Abbott, Darrell was known for his electrifying and mind-boggling guitar solos. Though some of his influences included fellow metal guitarists such as Black Sabbath's late guitarist Tony Iommi, or even contemporary performers such as James Hetfield (Metallica), and Kerry King (Slayer), it may have been his father's upbringing that molded this genius. Jerry Abbott, a country songwriter, owned a recording studio. So often times, Darrell would watch on as blues guitar legends came through the studio with their quick gun style. And some will remember Dimebag for his amazing characteristics and antics. Such as the Godzilla-like claws that climbed over the top of his roof at his home in Arlington ,TX.
Not always Dimebag, as Diamond Darrell and his brother formed Pantera originally formed back in 1982, they were as Glam as they came. From the high pitched stereotypical 80's vocals, to the dredges, bayou's and beliefs of deep southern metal. It was their Glam/Metal hybrid and major label debut with Elektra records, "Cowboys From Hell," that helped sit them atop the metal industry in 1990, when it rose up the Billboard 200 charts, going as high as 27th . And even though their 1992 sophomore release only peaked as high as 44th, "Vulgar Display Of Power," with its unforgettable fist to the face album cover art, it's said to have embedded the act forever into the historical lesson plan of influential heavy metal for years to come. Although songs like "Respect (Walk)," "F*cking Hostile" and "Rise" were over-aggressive moments of lyrical bigotry, the music itself became the life raft that saved those who were lost at sea during the dying days of Grunge. That deep bottomed out feel of Rex Rocker's (Bass/Pantera) strings, or the double bass feel of Vinnie Paul pounding away at the pedals combining with the music's heartbeat, the 6 strings of Dimebag's trailblazing charting on the neck of his signature geetar. Later on, by releasing a slew of videos and albums such as "Far Beyond Driven", "The Great Southern Trendkill", and "Reinventing The Steel", Pantera only secured their place in the impending creation of a Metal Hall of Fame.
Whether or not it's tactful to admit, after I learned of the fatal tragedy that night, I kept my plans for draught consumption because Dimebag would have wanted it that way. Most of the night, my brain shifted back towards the early days of my musical afflictions. I could almost taste the days of high schools halls. Hiding in the back of my Introduction to Keyboarding class, writhing and sliding my hands in an air guitar motion with each amazing chord, one after another as "Hollow" played on my borrowed classmate's walkman. Its epic-like rhythms blaring loud, surely defining the musical preference of the tiny hairs in my ears. (But) never will I forget the first time I saw his presence on stage. Focused, and never intent on anything but the perfect trails of scrunching Classic Rock and Heavy Metal together enamored in a blend of distorted equalizers.
Although other stories here may very well be that of lame gun control laws or slacking event security, the real focus should spotlight this as yet another isolated incident of what happens when idolization of performers (music, sport, television etc...) simply gets out of hand. For whatever reason this the press may drudge up eventually (and you know we will) as to why this selection of flesh and bone decided to take it upon himself to end another human's life, and so now we're left to pick up the pieces, I suppose we should be alright. Just dig through that CD collection, and next time you see you're "Vulgar Display Of Power" CD, throw it on for old times sake, and say a prayer every so often for the recently passed on guitar god.
Written by
Brian 'hstisgod' Rutherford
hstisgod2000@yahoo.com
Posted By hstisgod @ 11:36 AM | Comments: 0 |
| Friday, March 25th, 2005
One Blog at a time...
So sick to death I am of sitting here going there and everywhere while my mind is continually pre-occupied with the shear negative results of the worlds constant arrogance. As my friend Thais would probaly wonder similiarly, When and why did we as a citizenship and human kind take a wrong turn in the evolution? So magnetically attracted we've become to traumatic moments of disbelief and tragedy. Today alone I have watched Phil Anselmo's eulogy of Darrell, A History channel special on the Columbine shootings and the final hour of Flight 11 on 9.11. In addition to the numerous articles in regards to the enormous tsunami tragedy on the Asian coastlines.
Is it ok for me to feel so enamored with this madness? I surely feel dirty as I indirectly condone each of these moments by investing all of my waking hours fretting its horrible circumstances. Wether its my recent realized epiphany that another airliner attack does not feel far away. Only this epiphany is giving me the feeling of a more brillant and strategic attack. Granted, it wasn't shortly after my refill of Gods green gift to earth that this epiphany ran vividly in my mind, but it was quick and gut wrenching. Who's not to say somewhere in shit town usa just outside 15 cities across the continental United States sits 15 terrorist would be martyrs waiting to follow in the footsteps of those 9.11.01 performers.
Fuck...Fuck..Fuck...this cant possibly be what life is meant to be....It must have been easier during times previous... even just yesterday seemed easier. Fuck will today be that much harder? Is it just me? Am I just over sensitive...or am I simply one of few actually noticing that the entire world is obnoxiously headed for a massive wake-up call. An overhaul of humanistic flavoring is indeed a requisite. Only a gut check for the masses could now possibly pull us out of our insurance leathered minds. Ah insurance....simply another story all together...
I suppose my original intent here was to release the anger and aching resentment im beginning to feel as I watch the world slowly destroy itself. One Channel, One Page, and One Blog at a time...
Posted By hstisgod @ 11:35 AM | Comments: 0 |
| Friday, March 25th, 2005
The Music Industry Steps Up For Tsunami Relief Efforts
As the days go by, the world slowly revolves further from those beautiful blue skies that were so wretchedly shredded by a tragedy of massive proportions. The music industry and its extreme range of musicians in every genre have really stepped up, and used some of that ridiculous star power to help rebuild what was destroyed.
For whatever reason mother nature woke up December 26th, 2004, and simply unleashed her wrath in the form of a 9.0 earthquake causing an enormous ocean swell which engulfed shorelines across the Indian Ocean. There is really no need to spend time focusing on the gut wrenching conditions those poor humans must face everyday for years to come. In order to do what we can, we here at Crush Music Magazine felt a joyous heads up should be written – or at least contemplated.
Since this tragedy, everyone and their grandmother’s bridge partners have come out of the woodwork with their dispensable fortunes. Unthinkable collaborations such as super celebrities Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell co-producing a remake of Eric Clapton’s "Tears In Heaven.” All the while wrangling in names like Gwen Stefani, Velvet Revolver, and of course The Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, will join a panel of other contemporary pop voices already lending their tones to the project. In addition to the public service announcement the Osbournes hosted asking for donations, they also coughed up $190,000 of their own stash to be given to the Disaster Emergency Committee. “We can save lives and get people back on their feet,” Poppa Ozzy said in the ad, “We need to give money to help the survivors.”
On January 9th, Willie Nelson along with friends, Kelly Willis, Patty Griffin, and many others piled into the Austin City Music Hall raising nearly $75,000.
After donating $100,000, Linkin Park have hitched up with the Red Cross of America to form the ‘Music For Relief’ charity fund to benefit survivors of the tsunami. I have to admit, I am first to take a stab at these boys of generic rock. But they’ll force me to respect them, managing to recruit more bands to spread the word. 311, Hoobastank, Incubus, Sevendust, Mudvayne, Taking Back Sunday, Otep, Jay-Z, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Puddle of Mudd, Staind, Static-X, Story of the Year, and Trust Company to name just a few.
“As a band, we were in a position to help, but this needs to be a lot broader effort – both by our fans and by other musicians,” said Linkin Park guitarist, Brad Delson, in a interview posted on mtv.com, “Obviously, there’s been a horrendous, unparalleled loss of life. But a lot more people are going to die from being homeless and the problems with the water and diseases.”
The telethon hosted by NBC Universal, “A Concert of Hope” really led the herds of elite raising $18.3 million dollars (that’s in addition to the $10 million dollars raised by separate telethons). Mega-stars like Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz and Elton John all contributed to the show. But don’t fool yourself into thinking it was just the mega-stars digging deep into their finely knitted pockets
Finland’s metal act NightWish posted the following statement on their web site, “Since NightWish is having a break from touring at the moment we do not have any chance to participate in any of the Asia-charity concerts organized in January. This is something we really would have wanted to take part in. So now we did the only thing we could: a direct donation in the name of the band [10,000 euro; approximately $13,000 USD]. [We] wish we could do more. All those going through the tragedy, you are in our thoughts.”
Radio stations across the continental United States are also getting heavily involved. West coast signals like KROQ helped chip in by throwing around a little weight. The Los Angeles based KROQ, one of the most well-known American rock radio stations has raised nearly half a million dollars auctioning off artist meet and greets, signed guitars, and memorabilia.
MTV has re-dubbed their Asia awards scheduled for February 3rd “The Aid for Asia” benefit. Simple Plan, Good Charlotte and Hoobastank are just a few of the artists who will perform alongside popular Asian artists with all proceeds headed straight to UNICEF. The conglomerate video network expects over one billion viewers, as it will air the event on every one of its channels globally.
Internationally, Sting who previous-to-the-tsunami was scheduled to play February 9th in Sri Lanka gets pushed back to February 10th, and over to Australia’s 6,000 person Leeuwin Estate Winery in Perth. The 12th and 13th have been reportedly sold out as well. According to billboard.biz, Clear Channel Communications will spearhead a benefit concert January 29th in Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of the headliners will include Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan and Chantal Kreviazuk.
But it may have been Virgin Megastores who steamrolled through to the finish line of corporate showoffs with 100 live performances in a 24-hour span. After just 13 days of planning, on January 20th each of the twenty participating Virgin Megastores hosted as live venues. From Boston to Burbank, Ozomatli to The Psychedelic Furs and national to local, fans turned out in droves to show their support. No exact donation tabulations were available.
Sure many of these fat cat rockers and rollers have shown that they actually care about the little people. And, if we’re lucky, this unfortunate turn of events may even steer their generosities in a more consistent direction. [Insert skeptical cough] My money’s on the assumption most contributors will soon forget about the monstrous wave of 2004. Seriously, where will these sunken-hearted saviors be in a few months when the 10 o’clock news isn’t covering at least two segments worth of tsunami related stories. Back to the drawing boards of reality television creations, touring schedules, and album releases, that’s where. Just to prove we’re not just talking smack perhaps we should practice what we preach…
In the spirit of generosity Crush Music Magazine will be giving away free schwag to those who donate through CMM. Starting February 1, we’ll be ready to give back to you, our readers, in order to show our gratification for your generosity. Please, check back starting Feb. 1 to find out how you can make a difference. Until then, visit the following links to find out how you can lend a hand to those whose lives were destroyed by the tsunami.
http://www.musicforrelief.org/
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Tsunami_Aid:_A_Concert_of_Hope/
https://www.redcross.org/
http://unicef.org/
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
http://www.dec.org.uk/
Posted By hstisgod @ 11:34 AM | Comments: 0 |
| Friday, March 25th, 2005
"Death Of An American Writer"
February 20, 2005, Hunter S. Thompson, the doctor of intellectual ramblings has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Synonymous for his creative instinct in book’s such as “Hells Angels,” or “Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas,” Thompson was widely known to the world as an offbeat talent with counterculture power for almost all of his nearly five decades of journalism.
Before I begin with a paragraph of credible injections and facts, it’s only fitting that I first consider beating the living soul from this thing called English grammar; it’s just how he would have preferred it. His inspirations included Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, and a few others. Though you can call him a ranter,a menace; some may even call his existence that of a burrowing beaver. Only showing his bushy haired tail often enough to express his trails of experience and floundering, Thompson lead the life of a pirate, seeking only slithers of spotlight and media frenzy. This bald headed rare breed of flesh and bone lead the way for many new writers, and minds alike, clearing the path with cries of “The Death of The American Dream.” It may be the end of his life is only just beginning.
Hunter Stockton Thompson, better known to his wittingly followers as HST, was born July 18, 1937. Raised by his mother, Virginia Thompson, in Louisville, KY, after his father’s untimely death in 1954, Thompson took a hoe to the creative journalism field and replanted it as a soul-bearing stream of consciousness. Mountains of fiction and non-fiction stories and assignments paid the bills, but letters were his love. But not yet, only a fool would dip into that pot too quickly.
Originally a sports writer/editor while enlisted at Elgin Air Force base, it was this southern gentleman who had a taste for experimentation and free will that coined the term “Gonzo Journalism.” Gonzo journalism, though more of a natural floodgate than a taught trade, is the finishing arch of a full circle. Begin with a subject text of perhaps Jimi Hendrix’s fine finger layering. Inspiring smiles, frowns, tears and chuckles in between the mix of random descriptions and analogies, only to close things up at the end of the paragraph with one more tangent about Mr. Hendrix. Picture the sewing together of every emotion of human affection (good or bad,) inside a large pillow of life. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force Thompson hopped back and forth in every aspect of life. Bouncing from city to city, like his first ever realized novel “Prince Jellyfish,” Thompson learned the ropes of journalism by rolling with the punches of life.
Living life day to day, consuming all the wine and spirits he could get his hands on, New York City, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Big Sur (California), and Middletown, NY were just some of the cities that helped mold this man of vivid descriptive in the late 50’s and 60’s. A Caribbean correspondent for Time magazine (1959), he also wrote as a hired gun for nationally distributed magazines such as The National Observer, Rolling Stone, and High Times in the 70’s. However, it was really the year Thompson spent with the Oakland, California based Hells Angels motorcycle club that set the tone for his entire spicy-flavored career. Soon after the initial success of “Hells Angels,” Thompson would begin his career as a walking, talking, smoking and cursing political novelist during the documentation of the his 1973 release “Fear And Loathing On The Campaign Trail 㥐.” Most notably to world, he created the venomous drug crazed novel, “Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.” Whether it was the jump from book to big screen (also rent Universal’s 1980 release of “Where The Buffalo Roam,” starring Bill Murray), or the incomprehensible drug abuse which solidified his standing as the pioneer of new journalism, it was his own. Gonzo journalism.
In the years to come he would soon release “The Great Shark Hunt Strange Tales from a Strange Time; Gonzo Papers, Volume One,” “Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s; Gonzo Papers, Volume Two”, and Songs of the Doomed: More Notes on the Death of the American Dream; Gonzo Papers, Volume Three.” But it was during the 90’s that his career began to resurge with the release of “The Proud Highway: The Saga of a desperate southern Gentleman.” It may have been his knack for mere honesty, and deceptive correspondence that truly grabbed his readers in this coming of age treasure trove of love letters, poverty stricken screams, and journalistic inquiries. Sentences address to Faulkner, LBJ, aggressive creditors, and many others. This man who nearly became Sheriff of Pitkin County Colorado never gave into the pressures of government, or aspects of swimming downstream.
It’s only fitting for this white-eyed Gen-Xer that he die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Kurt Cobain’s birthday. Ironically, rather than become the face on the evening news, the effective media outlets are boiling over President Bush uttering the words “It was a mistake,” in response to drunken driving and marijuana use accusations. But if Thompson instilled anything in this reader it’s: nothing can be gained by moping over a dead journalist. Funny how things work out though, as Thompson came full circle (like a needle and thread) in recent years before his demise, writing sports rants for www.espn.com. Thanks for telling it like it is Doc., you’ll be forever remembered
HS Thompson is survived by wife, Anita (Sandy) Thompson, son Juan, daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson William. My deepest condolences.
"So the difference I think, boils down to this: you can either impose yourself on reality and then write about it, or you can impose yourself on reality by writing it." intercepts from "The Proud Highway"-Hunter Stockton Thompson.
Written by Brian Rutherford (hst~is~god)
Let the new generation begin
Posted By hstisgod @ 11:32 AM | Comments: 0 |
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