Re: grumpy loopers, genius vs. jerk

["L Tremblay" <ltct@concentric.net>]

For anyone interested in looking below the surface into
Fripp's philosophical and political orientation, one will
find the root of his animosity, bitterness and outright
hostility toward the "marketplace" and its attendant
participants.

(How's that for oblique?)

- Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: James Pokorny <j.pokorny@worldnet.att.net>
To: Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com <Loopers-Delight@annihilist.com>
Date: Sunday, October 31, 1999 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: grumpy loopers, genius vs. jerk


>>>If you must dis Fripp's stage demeanor, please do so elsewhere. :-)!
>>
>>Apart from the artist-in-question's attitude, Mr. Pokorny never said how
he
>>otherwise enjoyed the performance... Nor did he reveal who the ornery
>>looper was for that matter
>
>Good call, Tim!  I should have mentioned that the music itself was
>absolutely incredible.  The performer, whom I would prefer not to name, 
>had
>a virtuosic command of the instrument (which was NOT a guitar, but did 
>have
>some of those unmentionable taut wire things on it ;-} ), and also had a
>real mastery of the technology, pedals, and looping equipment.  I was most
>impressed by the textures, melodies, rhythms and complex arrangements all
>generated by one person through one instrument and devices.  If the music
>had not been so compelling I would have left after the first piece because
I
>resent being insulted by any performer.  I don't expect every musician to
>"work the crowd" or to win an audience over with their charming
personality,
>but I don't think it's too great a stretch of the imagination to realize
>that people who have paid money to hear you play should be treated with
>decency and respect.
>
>This brings up a somewhat off-topic point that's been brought up recently
>and has been plaguing me for quite some time:  how to separate the art 
>from
>the artist, especially when the art is sublime but the artist is a
>miserable, misanthropic so-and-so.  Some examples that immediately come to
>mind:  Richard Wagner, Ezra Pound, Pablo Picasso, Graham Greene, Lou Reed,
.
>. .  I'm sure that everyone can think of many other examples from the
worlds
>of music, art, literature, etc.  It's impossible not to admire their
immense
>talent or genius, but hard to reconcile the pain and grief that they
brought
>either to immediate friends and family, or to vast numbers of people
unknown
>to them (e.g., the very public anti-Semitism of Wagner and Pound).
>
>I don't want to get too far OT, but I always have difficulty in isolating
>the greatness of the art because conscience kicks in and urges "Yeah, but
he
>was such a jerk!"
>
>James Pokorny
>
>