OUTSIDERS: Difformi E Deformi D'ogni Epoca E Sorte

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

OUTSIDERS: Difformi E Deformi D'ogni Epoca E Sorte www.aracne-rivista.it Stefano Isidoro Bianchi #1 2012 – Artisti fuori OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni epoca e sorte OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni music e segnalando una serie di dischi tra i più epoca e sorte folli e assurdi della storia del rock. Adesso abbiamo deciso di tornare sulla scena del delitto di Stefano I. Bianchi con una serie di articoli non più basati su semplici recensioni ma sui ritratti di alcuni dei musicisti già Questo testo ricalca l’introduzione pubblicata su presenti nel tour (oltre che, naturalmente, su Blow Up (#160, settembre 2011) alla serie di articoli altri): la filosofia di fondo che ci guiderà sarà dedicati all’outsider music che sono comparsi e simile ma non esattamente sovrapponibile, tuttora trovano regolarmente spazio nella sezione perché la follia e l’isteria non saranno le nostre “Outsiders” all’interno della rivista. Segue un uniche linee guida. Lo saranno invece la contributo inedito di Federico Savini su una difformità e la deformità rispetto ai canoni selezione di autori riconducibili al fenomeno. correnti, l’eccezionalità degli eventi prodotti, il mancato calcolo oppure il calcolo ossessivo e maniacale sul/per il suono, gli estremi risultanti L’idea, inutile dire, ci è venuta dopo la morte di e/o gli estremismi che li motivano, la naturalezza Larry ‘Wild Man’ Fischer, lo scorso 16 giugno. e istintività dell’ispirazione oppure la sua Avevamo già compiuto un “Magical Hysteric indulgenza e la sua intellettuale soavità. In breve, Tour” esattamente 10 anni fa (BU#40 e #41), tutto ciò che non rientra nella normalità così girando attorno alle marginalità dell’outsider come essa viene comunemente declinata e 1 www.aracne-rivista.it Stefano Isidoro Bianchi #1 2012 – Artisti fuori OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni epoca e sorte accettata, sia essa relativa alla musica prodotta o Diremmo certamente che è un dropout o un che riguardi magari solo la vita personale del freak, per lo più ingenuo ma non sempre e non musicista che di volta in volta ci farà da cavia; ed del tutto inconsapevole, spesso naif ma è ovvio, ma va ricordato, che ‘usi e abusi’ di raramente stupido, forse folle ma non demente. qualunque tipo sono elementi che rientrano nella L’outsider non ha sempre la coscienza che il suo normalità del cosiddetto ‘rock’n’roll lifestyle’ e disegno musicale sia ‘outsider music’, spesso è quindi in questa sede non ci interesseranno. convinto che non lo sia e altrettanto Alcuni dei personaggi papabili – da Daniel frequentemente ha ragione. Johnston a Moondog, da Harry Partch a Joe È però, e soprattutto, un visionario autentico Meek – li abbiamo già trattati nel passato e su di dalla cui visione altri – talvolta molti altri – hanno essi quindi non torneremo di nuovo. Attingeremo attinto idee ed esempio; ed ha, anche per questo, da ogni epoca/stile musicale e da ogni sorta di inciso in profondità nel corpo della storia del difformità/deformità; il giornalista Irwin Chusid rock/avant: persino più di nomi blasonati e nel suo “Songs In The Key Of Z” (il libro e i due altisonanti. Perché qualunque outsider è dischi) ne incluse molti ma, inevitabilmente, non destinato, nel tempo e suo malgrado, a tutti e non sempre seguendo le traiettorie che trasformarsi in insider. Toglietele tutto, alla storia seguiremo noi. Anche perché dovremmo – del rock, ma non toglietele l’outsider: ne dovremo – metterci d’accordo sul concetto morirebbe, ne morirà, in tre secondi netti. stesso di ‘outsider music’ e su cos’è un outsider. 2 www.aracne-rivista.it Stefano Isidoro Bianchi #1 2012 – Artisti fuori OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni epoca e sorte Guida ragionata all’outsider music necessario per raggiungerne anche solo qualche di Federico Savini raggio di luce riflessa. In altri casi la radice della lontananza dai sentieri più battuti può annidarsi Difficile sintetizzare in poche parole quali siano le nel semplice dato biografico, in un evidente peculiarità che fanno di un musicista un outsider. svantaggio di partenza o nell'incapacità del E dato che l'etichetta viene applicata anche in pubblico di cogliere scintille di genio in esibizioni altri ambiti (non solo artistici) probabilmente la che vengono sistematicamente fraintese e prese cosa migliore per definire la quintessenza per innocui freak-show da intrattenimento greve. dell'outsider music è partire dalla natura stessa L'outsider può però essere anche terrorizzato dal del mercato musicale con le sue ricadute sui pubblico, ma di solito in questi casi la paura nasce musicisti, che normalmente sono orientati dal desiderio represso di un confronto. Si può all'esibizionismo, alla spettacolarità e alla ricerca parlare di outsiders anche a proposito di quelle della notorietà. L'outsider di per sé è figure (di solito talentuose e poco comprese) che fondamentalmente un "diverso", eppure buona hanno cercato di scendere malamente a parte dei personaggi di cui diremo hanno un compromessi con l'industria musicale, rapporto tormentato con il successo, del quale di partorendo risultati inclassificabili e solito vanno in cerca pur non avendo (nella immancabilmente rigettati dal mercato. maggioranza dei casi) i mezzi e il talento Tra le caratteristiche tipiche dei musicisti outsider ci sono l'incapacità tecnica, la devianza dalla 3 www.aracne-rivista.it Stefano Isidoro Bianchi #1 2012 – Artisti fuori OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni epoca e sorte norma, l'estraneità dai circuiti e rimanere in piedi in un mondo aggressivo e l'inconsapevolezza, ma non si tratta né di omologante. E che per la maggior parte del esclusive né di condicio sine qua non. Il punto è tempo ci fa vivere come parassiti dei nostri che l'outsider per essere tale deve avere un desideri. problema di fondo, qualcosa che gli impedisca la sintonia con il resto del mondo e gli permetta di Nell’attuale scenario musicale, è del tutto fare cose che "voi umani non potreste probabile che l’outsider più famoso in immaginare". E per fermentare gli occorre anche circolazione sia il cantautore americano DANIEL una cultura giovane che abbia bisogno di creare JOHNSTON, idolatrato ormai da anni da una dei miti propri, fosse anche solo per riderne. Non corposa frangia dei seguaci della musica stupirà quindi scoprire che la outsider music è un indipendente internazionale. Grasso, impacciato, fenomeno tipicamente statunitense. affetto da problemi mentali non proprio banali, Ripercorrere la storia di alcune di queste figure, stonato e disadattato, eppure capace di scrivere non necessariamente le maggiori ma comunque canzoni bellissime, Daniel Johnston è il perfetto indicative delle varie sfaccettature di un universo esempio (in positivo) dell’outsider che “ce la fa” che per sua natura nasce ai margini, equivale a nonostante gli ostacoli imposti dalla natura e il intraprendere un viaggio alla ricerca della parte mondo che lo relega per tutta l’infanzia e sbagliata e nascosta di noi stessi, quella che ci l’adolescenza nel ruolo del reietto assoluto. Figlio vergogniamo di esibire, quella che ci occorre per di una coppia religiosissima, innamorato dei 4 www.aracne-rivista.it Stefano Isidoro Bianchi #1 2012 – Artisti fuori OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni epoca e sorte Beatles e dei fumetti (che realizza anche in registrazioni scadentissime, nel senso di proprio, usandoli per gli artwork dei suoi album), casalinghe e incise su un registratore da pochi Daniel Johnston è molto più che un perdente dollari da una persona disturbata e soggetta a quando molla la scuola d’arte e si mette a forti crisi, che però rivelano un’anima candida e vendere pop corn in un Luna Park. Siamo nei gentile. Daniel canta con una voce a dir poco primi anni ’80, Daniel ha vent’anni e la sua storia fragile e impastata, capitombolando malamente pare uscita da un pessimo telefilm americano. fra note e armonie sopra a scricchiolanti balletti Immancabilmente perde la testa per una ragazza, di piano jazz-vaudeville, o tutt’al più con l’incerta Laurie, che puntualmente elude le sue attenzioni bava di un organo giocattolo a fare da sfondo alle nonostante Daniel incida proprio per lei alcune sue confessioni sincere e disperate. Ed è la nudità cassette ricolme di canzoni commoventi e disarmata quello che sconvolge in questi dischi, romantiche, che oltre all’amore per Laurie impietosamente fallimentari e rozzi sul piano raccontano del suo pantheon privato fatto di eroi tecnico quanto pregni di un sentimento a fumetti, mostri caricaturali, miti musicali e dilagante. Daniel si racconta veramente senza richiami alla Bibbia. Dato che Laurie non è filtri, dal basso di una condizione che qualcuno interessata, Daniel regala le cassette definirebbe subumana (la situazione è quindi indistintamente ad amici e passanti, finché dopo diversa rispetto a quella del Syd Barrett troppo qualche anno la sua musica non arriva a orecchie lontano dal mondo per poter proseguire l’attività particolarmente sensibili e aperte. Parliamo di con i Pink Floyd). Ma dicevamo che qualcuno si 5 www.aracne-rivista.it Stefano Isidoro Bianchi #1 2012 – Artisti fuori OUTSIDERS: difformi e deformi d’ogni epoca e sorte accorge di lui, e infatti sul principio degli anni ’90 orchestrazioni di Mark Linkous/Sparklehorse. il produttore Mark Kramer (ultimo ambasciatore La storia di Daniel Johnston, che tuttora porta della stagione freak di stanza a New York) e i avanti la sua carriera disegnando anche fumetti, texani Butthole Surfers lo portano in tour e ne ha un happy end che però non è tipico delle producono nuovi album, che suonano solo (meno lineari) vicissitudini che di solito leggermente più professionali nel tentativo di contraddistinguono gli outsiders. Ad esempio un gestire alla meno peggio le esondazioni profilo piuttosto simile a quello di Daniel può confessionali a briglia sciolta di Daniel. La sua vantarlo MARK TUCKER, che però a tutt’oggi è un figura, romantica e condannata ma sempre emerito sconosciuto.
Recommended publications
  • Calendar Filled with Holes by Adrienne Belz Girl’S Soccer Game Against Bryan
    the Vol. 57 No. 5 bagpipeonline.com BAGPIPEOctober 7, 2010 The Parking Lottery Exploring Covenant’s parking vices and virtues ANNIE HUNTINGTON by Karin Olson late to class looking for one.” plaints have been from off-campus However, many students find parking. [email protected] Greg Ford, Safety and Security students. parking at Scotland Yard to be “They should either not let Coordinator, believes frustration There are an estimated 834 park- inconvenient. freshmen have cars or they need to For those driving cars at Covenant with parking anywhere is inevi- ing spaces on Covenant’s campus “I didn’t pay $100 for an off- invest more money in off-campus College, finding a parking spot can table. where students may park. This campus sticker so I could park in parking for students,” said Gore. quickly spiral into a moment of “I often feel that Covenant gets a year, the school sold about 680 Scotland Yard. By the time I get to Parking permits at Covenant anxiety and frustration. ‘bad rap’ when it comes to parking permits. Ford said the lots closer to school, I don’t have time for a long are $100 for main campus park- “You’re lucky to find a parking simply because parking is a sensi- campus are clogged because people walk up from one of the satellite ing (off-campus parking permit spot the first few lots you try,” said tive issue anywhere you go,” he are refusing to park in Scotland parking lots,” said senior Lisa Cow- free of charge), $75 for Scotland senior Alison Gore, who lives off said.
    [Show full text]
  • CMJ Directory SPARKLEHORSE: Back in the Saddle Again Story by Colin Helms
    CMJ Directory SPARKLEHORSE: Back In The Saddle Again Story by Colin Helms With his latest, Sparklehorse mainstay Mark Linkous finds gentle beauty on the other side of pain. Five years ago, Mark Linkous nearly died. He then spent over 12 months in a wheelchair, struggling with chronic depression and a crippling reliance on painkillers, and subsequently found, or so the story goes, that he couldn't remember how to write songs anymore. This year he's found the means - credit spiritual rebirth or the blackest sense of ironic humor - to not only create his most affecting Sparklehorse recording to date, but to brazenly dub the album It's A Wonderful Life. "If I've learned nothing else, it's that I should at least try to notice one little thing every day," he offers. "Whether it's not getting eaten by a bear, or seeing a little kid smile at you on the street. Before I go to bed I say 'I'm glad I didn't wake up dead today.'" The infamous day Linkous nearly woke up dead - the aftermath of a night in a London hotel room during which too many Valium and antidepressants were consumed - may have put a damper on Sparklehorse's output in the time since, but it seems to have changed Linkous's life (and life-work) for the better. Wonderful Life's scarred and cracked sonic façade strongly resembles that of 1995's Vivadixiesub-marinetransmissionplot and 1999's Good Morning Spider, but it's a gentler, somehow lighter collection, populated by horse heads and tiger hearts, fat babies and yellow birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Rolling Stone “Danger Mouse Looks Through a Label Darkly”
    Danger Mouse Looks Through A Label, Darkly | Music News | Rolling Stone Page 1 of 2 Danger Mouse Looks Through A Label, Darkly Behind his "Dark Night of the Soul" collaboration with Mark Linkous and David Lynch by: Austin Scaggs The final product isn't exactly what Danger Mouse envisioned, but the cutting-edge producer breathed a heavy sigh of relief with the release of Dark Night of the Soul , a multimedia package he created in tandem with songwriter Mark Linkous (the creative force behind Sparklehorse) consisting of a record and a large-form book of photos commissioned from filmmaker David Lynch. For the album, Danger Mouse and Linkous created moody backing tracks, then offered them to 10 vocalists who were charged to write lyrics and vocal melodies (contributors include Iggy Pop, the Strokes' Julian Casablancas, the Shins' James Mercer, Suzanne Vega and Pixies' Black Francis). "We had no intention of making a star-studded record," says Danger Mouse, born Brian Burton. "It's just when we started thinking about these people we just thought, 'Well, of course they'd sound good on a record together.' " The catch, which Danger Mouse describes as "bittersweet," is that the CD mounted in Dark Night of the Soul package is completely blank. Buyers are slyly encouraged to use the recordable disc to capture the music from the Internet, where it is widely available as a free, though illegal, download. Danger Mouse's inability to package the music with the book stems from a long-standing contractual disagreement with EMI, who retainrights to some of his music.
    [Show full text]
  • STA0151 Complet BD.Pdf
    UP NUMÉRO 151 STARTAVRIL 2010 L’ACTUALITE MUSIQUE ET VIDÉO DE VOTRE SPÉCIALISTE CULTURE Curiosité Folk AMY MACDONALD MUSIQUE MGMT 06 AMY MACDONALD 08 ARNO 10 NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB 11 WE HAVE BAND 12 LES SHADES 13 MELISSA AUF DER MAUR 14 DVD AVATAR 23 SIGOURNEY WEAVER 24 À L’ORIGINE 26 UNE PUBLICATION ÉVÉNEMENT RENCONTRE AVEC TIM BURTON 30 SOMMAIRE 06 12 08 13 News / 06 MGMT 06 /John Butler Trio 06 / Camélia Jordana 07 / Angus & Julia Stone 07 / Françoise Hardy 07 / Interviews / 08 Amy Macdonald 08 / Slash 09 / Arno 10 / New Young Pony Club 11 / We Have Band 12 / Curry & Coco 12 / Les Shades 13 / Melissa Auf Der Maur 14 / Mark Linkous 15 / Chroniques musique / 16 Pop/Rock 16 / Rap-Soul 18 / Electro 19 / Autres musiques 20 / Français 21 Chroniques DVD / 23 DVD du mois: Avatar 23 / DVD 26 Événement / 30 Tim Burton aux pays des merveilles 30 UP START est édité par la société PRÉLUDE ET FUGUE, SAS de presse au capital de 30 000 euros, 29, rue de Châteaudun 75308 PARIS Cedex 09 Tél.: 01 75 55 43 44 Fax: 0175554111 DIRECTEUR DE PUBLICATION Marc FEUILLÉE / PRINCIPAL ACTIONNAIRE GROUPE EXPRESS-ROULARTA / RÉDACTION RÉDACTRICE EN CHEF Melody LEBLOND [email protected] / RÉDACTION Paul Alexandre, Antoine Beretto, David Bouseul, Hervé Crespy, Laurent Denner, Hervé Guilleminot, Maxime Goguet, Héléna McDouglas, Bertrand Rocher, Guillaume Graf / CONCEPTION GRAPHIQUE Didier FITAN MANAGEMENT ÉDITEUR DÉLÉGUÉ Tristan THOMAS / DIRECTRICE RÉGIE Véronique PICAN / PUBLICITÉ Tristan THOMAS [email protected] / FABRICATION Pascal DELEPINE avec Laurence BIDEAU / PRÉPRESSE GROUPE EXPRESS-ROULARTA / IMPRIMÉ EN BELGIQUE Roularta Printing / Photographie couverture D.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Montclair State University Digital Commons Atomos
    Montclair State University Montclair State University Digital Commons 2013-2014 Raise the Bar PEAK Performances Programming History 3-15-2014 Atomos Office of Arts + Cultural Programming PEAK Performances at Montclair State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/peak-performances-2013-2014 Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons Dr. Susan A. Cole, President Daniel Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts Staff Jedediah Wheeler, Executive Director, Arts & Cultural Programming Office of Arts & Cultural Programming College of the Arts Executive Director Jedediah Wheeler Dean Daniel Gurskis Executive Producer Jill Dombrowski Associate Dean Ronald L. Sharps American Premiere! Associate Producer Jessica Wasilewski Assistant Dean Linda D. Davidson Production/Facility Manager J. Ryan Graves Director of Administration Marie Sparks Cultural Engagement Director Carrie Urbanic College Administrator Zacrah S. Battle Wayne McGregor | Random Dance Finance Manager Marilyn Fogarty Executive Assistant to the Dean Alyson Thelin Media and Marketing Specialist Amy Estes Program Assistant Kilolo Kumanyika American Premiere! Director of Audience Services Robert Hermida Art and Design Aissa Deebi Audio Engineer Andrew Lulling John J. Cali School of Music Jon Robert Cart Cultural Engagement Assistant Hannah Rolfes School of Communication and Media Merrill Brown Wayne McGregor | Random Dance Atomos Box Office Manager Matthew S. Fox Theatre and Dance Randy Mugleston House Manager Maureen Grimaldi Broadcast and Digital Media Facilities Nick Tzanis Concept, Direction, and Set Wayne McGregor Graphics Patrick Flood/pfloodesign.com University Art Galleries Teresa Rodriguez Choreography Wayne McGregor in collaboration with the dancers Press Ellen Jacobs Associates Program Editor Susan R. Case Music A Winged Victory For The Sullen Atomos Program Assistant Filip Ilic Lighting Design Lucy Carter Production Run Crew Andrew Boyle, Jeffrey Reid, Ravi Deepres David O.
    [Show full text]
  • Ÿþu N T I T L E
    MAKE IT • STREAM IT SPECIAL WEAR IT • SING IT ISSUE RIP IT • PLAY IT ULTIMATE GET MORE FROM TECHNOLOGY DIGITAL 48 COOL PRODUCTS MUSIC COMPARED MP3 PLAYERS GUIDE HEADPHONES SERVICES SIRIUS VS. XM DJ GEAR HOME STUDIO HOW TO USB GUITAR SIMPLE STREAMING TIPS KARAOKE EASY WAYS ...AND MORE! TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE ROCK STAR SECRETS FROM FLAMING LIPS, DEVO, AND MORE! Master Your Music Play it. Share it. Rip It. Stream it. Sing it. Scratch it. Take it with you. Our 15-page guide shows you every way to enjoy digital music. BY MIKE KOBRIN WHAT’S INSIDE PERHAPS YOU SUFFER FROM THE SAME 64 MP3 players serious addiction that has gripped me for much of my 66 Subscription Services life: I have to have music with me at just about every 66 Devo’s Mark step of my day. I wake up with John Coltrane on my Mothersbaugh JBL On Time clock radio, sip my morning coffee while 67 Brian “BT” Transeau listening to NPR streaming from a Sonos ZonePlayer 68 Wireless Streaming Devices 80, and catch a morning train with my iPod nano and 70 Front Row versus Ultimate Ears super.fi 5 Pro earphones. Media Center At work, I dock my iPod and switch to the Sennheiser 70 Convert Your CDs PX100 headphones. Lucky for me, my job involves testing 71 The Flaming Lips 74 Music Clothes and audio gear, so I get to use a variety of software (iTunes, Headphones WMP, Musicmatch) and services (Rhapsody, Napster, 74 Satellite Radio Audible, Vongo) nearly every day while I’m at my desk.
    [Show full text]
  • Style Weekly “Mark Linkous 1962-2010”
    Mark Linkous | News and Features | Style Weekly - Richmond, VA local news, arts, a ... Page 1 of 2 Mark Linkous 1962-2010 BY RICHARD FOSTER click to enlarge Richmond musicians, friends and family held a memorial at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden last weekend for departed rock star Mark Linkous, who on March 6 lost his lifelong battle with clinical depression in an alley outside a friend's home in Knoxville, Tenn. Distraught after receiving an upsetting text message, the former Richmonder left the house and shot himself in the heart. Linkous, who was 47, recorded four influential, country-tinged alt-rock albums of haunted melodies under the name Sparklehorse, performing with artists such as PJ Harvey and Tom Waits, with whom he maintained a long-distance friendship. He toured with huge bands such as Radiohead and R.E.M., both of which raved about Linkous and counted Sparklehorse among their favorite musical acts. It was while Linkous was opening for Radiohead on the European leg of its legendary “OK Computer” tour in 1997 that he had a near-fatal cardiac arrest from an overdose of prescription antidepressants and alcohol. He was clinically dead for three minutes and spent weeks in a coma. The attack left his legs atrophied, requiring him to use a wheelchair or leg braces, a source of constant frustration. A somewhat reclusive musical genius, Linkous produced albums for Nina Persson of the Cardigans, Daniel Johnston and Richmond emo band Denali. More recently he collaborated with acclaimed musician and producer Danger Mouse (of Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells) on the forthcoming album “Dark Night of the Soul.” Scheduled for release this summer, the album of songs by Linkous and Danger Mouse includes an accompanying photo album by film director David Lynch and features performances by Lynch, Persson, Iggy Pop, Frank Black of the Pixies, the late Vic Chesnutt, Suzanne Vega and the Flaming Lips.
    [Show full text]
  • Pitchfork Mental Health
    “NAME ONE GENIUS THAT AIN’T CRAZY”- MISCONCEPTIONS OF MUSICIANS AND MENTAL HEALTH IN THE ONLINE STORIES OF PITCHFORK MAGAZINE _____________________________________________________________________________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School At the University of Missouri-Columbia ____________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts _____________________________________ By Jared McNett Dr Berkley Hudson, Thesis Supervisor December 2016 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the thesis entitled “NAME ONE GENIUS THAT AIN’T CRAZY”- MISCONCEPTIONS OF MUSICIANS AND MENTAL HEALTH IN THE ONLINE STORIES OF PITCHFORK MAGAZINE presented by Jared McNett, A candidate for the degree of masters of art and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Professor Berkley Hudson Professor Cristina Mislan Professor Jamie Arndt Professor Andrea Heiss Acknowledgments It wouldn’t be possible to say thank enough to each and every person that has helped me with this along my way. I’m thankful for my parents, Donald and Jane McNett, who consistently pestered me by asking “How’s it coming with your thesis? Are you done yet?” I’m thankful for friends, such as: Adam Suarez, Phillip Sitter, Brandon Roney, Robert Gayden and Zach Folken, who would periodically ask me “What’s your thesis about again?” That was a question that would unintentionally put me back on track. In terms of staying on task my thesis committee (mentioned elsewhere) was nothing short of a godsend. It hasn’t been an easy two-and-a-half years going from basic ideas to a proposal to a thesis, but Drs.
    [Show full text]
  • Mark Linkous: It's a Wonderful Life Page 1 of 4
    Mark Linkous: It's a Wonderful Life Page 1 of 4 Mark Linkous: It's a Wonderful Life By Trevor Kelley Two years ago, as far as Mark Linkous was concerned, Sparklehorse was through. After spending nearly a decade penning albums that were critically acclaimed but commercially redundant, Sparklehorse’s lead songwriter and more often than not, lone member, had given up. He’d abandoned recording a fourth album, Dreamt For Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain, (soon to be released on Linkous’ new label, Astralwerks). He’d lost the desire to perform live, which left him unable to pay his rent. And then there was the depression. Every morning, Linkous says, he’d wake up thinking, “Fuck, I’m still alive.” Things weren’t supposed to turn out this way. Back in the early ’90s, Linkous was one of the most promising stars of the Alternative Nation—a genuine artist who had more to offer than background music for chugging smart drinks at Lollapalooza. Sparklehorse’s debut, 1995’s Vivadixie submarinetransmissionpilot, even produced the radio hit “Someday I Will Treat You Good,” and was hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the best albums of the year. Things were looking distinctly rosy. And then, while touring Europe with Radiohead shortly after Vivadixie’s release, Linkous overdosed on an ill-advised combo of anti-depressants, Valium, booze and heroin in a London hotel room. As a result, he spent weeks in hospital, was declared clinically dead for two minutes and almost had his legs amputated in the process.
    [Show full text]
  • May 2012 Complimentary Community Publication NEWSC H U R C H H I L L
    ChurchChurchWhere HillHill Richmond Began May 2012 Complimentary Community Publication NEWSC h u r c h H i l l . o r g Checked out ChurchHill.org yet? THIS ISSUE: Community Yard Sale Details Home Decor Tips Music Notes Church Hill Association Financial Reports Neighborhood News HAPPY HOURS Board of Directors Submission Guidelines: Letter from the President President, Jon Ondrak Contact: [email protected] 229.6232 | [email protected] • All submissions are due before the 15th of each Vice President, Amanda McGuire month for the upcoming month’s publication. Jon Ondrak 245-2854 | [email protected] • We can make no guarantees that all submissions [email protected] Secretary, Jan Thomas 804.229.6232 will be published - submissions are subject to space 387-7654 | [email protected] availability and publisher’s discretion. Treasurer, Mark Kronenthal • No anonymous letters or artwork will be published. 938-9818 | [email protected] • Publisher’s decision is final. Assistant Treasurer, David Comny Our neighborhood is our family... 434-825-0353 | [email protected] Past President, Aimee Perron-Seibert | 647.3140 Articles: I am always impressed by our neighborhood and our manager; and most importantly our docents, volunteers and Half-page: 225 words max. (or full-page with neighbors. Church Hill is ours, we collect pieces of it, we other helpers-out. A very gracious thank you is also due to Directors at Large: a half page of pictures) Bill Pettus | 562-0415 | [email protected] Full-page: 475 words max. (no pictures) walk in its history, and we preserve, protect and nurture it. our sponsors Cooper Vineyards and Whole Foods Market.
    [Show full text]
  • SOME SWEET MUSIC Mark Linkous/Sparklehorse on Blurt Online Page 1 of 4
    SOME SWEET MUSIC Mark Linkous/Sparklehorse on Blurt Online Page 1 of 4 SOME SWEET MUSIC Mark Linkous/Sparklehorse Mar 08, 2010 Like 0 We say farewell to the North Carolina musician, who passed away this weekend. BY JOHN SCHACHT Ed. note: With Mark Linkous' suicide on March 6, the music world lost another amazingly gifted artist; as with Vic Chesnutt's December passing , that loss seems a tragic waste. It's no secret, however, that Linkous had struggled with depression for much of his adult life, and his family released a statement that said, simply, "It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There's a heaven and there's a star for you." At the time of his death, Linkous had reportedly almost finished a new album for the Anti- label, and just this past week it was announced that the Danger Mouse-Sparklehorse collaboration Dark Night of the Soul would finally see release following the resolution of a dispute with EMI. So let the following story stand as our tribute to Linkous - it was originally published a little over a year ago by Carolina music magazine Shuffle , and Shuffle editor John Schacht (also a BLURT contributor) has graciously allowed us to reprint it, below. Reflecting on his encounter with Linkous, Schacht observed, "I liked his [sense of] humor - nice guy, very damaged, though.
    [Show full text]
  • RIP Mark Linkous | Martin S Pribble Page 1 of 3
    There ’s a Star For You – RIP Mark Linkous | Martin S Pribble Page 1 of 3 There’s a Star For You – RIP Mark Linkous Posted by Martin S Pribble on March 8, 2010 in Thoughts | 8 comments “There will come a time gigantic waves will crush the junk that I have made. When the moon explodes or floats away I’ll lose the souvenirs I’ve saved. La la la.” - Sparklehorse, Sunshine from “Good Morning Spider” -1998 Mark Linkous Imagine a universe which was at the same time incredibly oppressive and overwhelmingly beautiful at the same time, where sex, death and insects each hold a special place of power, where horses symbolise the strength of loneliness, angels are the mothering of a loved-one, where other people are both distant and close. Imagine a universe where the sunshine and the water are living beings, so beautiful and terrible as to awe and reverence. Imagine a universe with more questions than answers, where the depths of depression and the highs of jubilation walk hand in hand. This is the universe of Sparklehorse. Sparklehorse http://martinspribble.com/archives/290 15/ 07/ 2012 There ’s a Star For You – RIP Mark Linkous | Martin S Pribble Page 2 of 3 I first heard Sparklehorse in 1997 on a compilation “Diversion – A Slow River Compilation ”, a CD my friend Stephen had given me, with the song “Heart Of Darkness”. In the context of the compilation, this song really stuck out as some of the most heartfelt and tortured music I had ever heard. Later, in 1998, Stephen also gave me a copy of “Good Morning Spider”.
    [Show full text]