I think I've just made up a joke, but it is so obvious that someone must have made it up before me. But here goes:
Do you think strippers have a recurring dream where they go to work and realize they are wearing clothes?
As you can probably tell, there's not much going on in the Advanced world today.
Friday, January 07, 2005
More Vaclav Havel and Lou Reed
There is an article in at praguepost.com about the relationship between Vaclav Havel and Lou Reed. Here are some bits (some of it you know if you read the blog a lot):
It's not clear if Vaclav Havel is a bigger fan of Lou Reed or if Reed is a bigger fan of Havel. The two of them will be together for Stage Talk, as the series of public conversations at Svandovo divadlo is called.
When rock musician Reed was in Prague for a May 2000 concert, he had high praise for then-President Havel. "I think in this world it is very rare to have some heroes. I think President Havel is a real genuine 100 percent hero," Reed told The Prague Post at the time. Havel, on the other hand, has credited Lou Reed's music with helping to set off the chain of events that ended in the Velvet Revolution.
Reed's praise is well-founded. Havel has been short-listed for the Nobel Peace Prize several times. Havel's comment needs a bit of explanation. Reed's band, the Velvet Underground, was a major influence on the Plastic People of the Universe. The arrest of the Plastic People in 1976 led to Charter 77, which Havel was closely involved with. The Charter 77 movement is seen as the start of the downfall of communism in Czechoslovakia.
...When Havel was invited to the Clinton White House in 1998, he brought Reed along as his musical guest. Hillary Clinton, then the first lady, said, "The Velvet Underground became the Velvet Revolution," although that probably massively oversimplifies matters.
...Reed and Havel became friends during an interview in 1990. The interview appears in Reed's collected writings, Between Thought and Expression. Following the 2000 Prague concert, the two stayed up well into the night talking at a hotel bar near the show's venue, followed by a visit to Havel's villa the next day. They've met other times as well.
...Reed has a reputation for being a little difficult in interviews. When he was here in 2000, he explained his refusal to play in Austria while it had a right-wing government by saying, "My action was my statement." When asked to comment further, he said, "I'm not a political analyst," and moved on. For one particularly pointless question, his answer was, "That's his question? Next question."
...The evening [Stage Talk] will conclude with music from the Plastic People of the Universe and the Velvet Underground Revival Band. Reed likes the local revival band, and once allegedly mistook them for an old live recording of his real band. Reed himself is not scheduled to perform, but nothing is stopping him from deciding to jam.
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When you ask whether Lou Reed is worthy of the praise he is given, well, how many other rock'n'rollers have brought down a government?
That last bit about his liking the revival band and mistaking them for the real Velvet Underground, if true, is classic Advancement.
It's not clear if Vaclav Havel is a bigger fan of Lou Reed or if Reed is a bigger fan of Havel. The two of them will be together for Stage Talk, as the series of public conversations at Svandovo divadlo is called.
When rock musician Reed was in Prague for a May 2000 concert, he had high praise for then-President Havel. "I think in this world it is very rare to have some heroes. I think President Havel is a real genuine 100 percent hero," Reed told The Prague Post at the time. Havel, on the other hand, has credited Lou Reed's music with helping to set off the chain of events that ended in the Velvet Revolution.
Reed's praise is well-founded. Havel has been short-listed for the Nobel Peace Prize several times. Havel's comment needs a bit of explanation. Reed's band, the Velvet Underground, was a major influence on the Plastic People of the Universe. The arrest of the Plastic People in 1976 led to Charter 77, which Havel was closely involved with. The Charter 77 movement is seen as the start of the downfall of communism in Czechoslovakia.
...When Havel was invited to the Clinton White House in 1998, he brought Reed along as his musical guest. Hillary Clinton, then the first lady, said, "The Velvet Underground became the Velvet Revolution," although that probably massively oversimplifies matters.
...Reed and Havel became friends during an interview in 1990. The interview appears in Reed's collected writings, Between Thought and Expression. Following the 2000 Prague concert, the two stayed up well into the night talking at a hotel bar near the show's venue, followed by a visit to Havel's villa the next day. They've met other times as well.
...Reed has a reputation for being a little difficult in interviews. When he was here in 2000, he explained his refusal to play in Austria while it had a right-wing government by saying, "My action was my statement." When asked to comment further, he said, "I'm not a political analyst," and moved on. For one particularly pointless question, his answer was, "That's his question? Next question."
...The evening [Stage Talk] will conclude with music from the Plastic People of the Universe and the Velvet Underground Revival Band. Reed likes the local revival band, and once allegedly mistook them for an old live recording of his real band. Reed himself is not scheduled to perform, but nothing is stopping him from deciding to jam.
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When you ask whether Lou Reed is worthy of the praise he is given, well, how many other rock'n'rollers have brought down a government?
That last bit about his liking the revival band and mistaking them for the real Velvet Underground, if true, is classic Advancement.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Motown Remixed
According to billboard.com, some classic Motown songs are getting the remix treatment:
Remix pioneer Tom Moulton has been busy revisiting nuggets from the Motown vaults.... "Too often, the instruments on these older songs were recorded without much care," Moulton tells Billboard. "You listen to the master tapes and it is not uncommon to hear things recorded in a sloppy manner or to hear lots of noise in the mix."
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So, in other words, Motown was "Hissville, U.S.A." I'm just glad that Tom Moutlon has come along. Maybe now that he's cleaning up some tracks, Motown will finally get the recognition it deserves.
Remix pioneer Tom Moulton has been busy revisiting nuggets from the Motown vaults.... "Too often, the instruments on these older songs were recorded without much care," Moulton tells Billboard. "You listen to the master tapes and it is not uncommon to hear things recorded in a sloppy manner or to hear lots of noise in the mix."
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So, in other words, Motown was "Hissville, U.S.A." I'm just glad that Tom Moutlon has come along. Maybe now that he's cleaning up some tracks, Motown will finally get the recognition it deserves.
Southernactalistic
From reuters.com:
Andre "3000" Benjamin, one-half of hip-hop duo OutKast, has signed on to his first major studio project, a Paramount Pictures drama starring Mark Wahlberg. The untitled film, formerly known as "Four Brothers," revolves around four brothers who seek to avenge their mother's death.
Tyrese ("The Flight of the Phoenix") and Garrett Hedlund ("Friday Night Lights") also are on board. They'll play Andre 3000's siblings along with Wahlberg, who was previously announced as one of the brothers. Principal photography is scheduled to begin Monday in Toronto. John Singleton will direct.
Andre 3000's previous forays into cinema include the upcoming MGM feature "Be Cool" and Guy Ritchie's "Revolver." He also is starring in HBO's untitled OutKast movie.
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I keep waiting for the backlash against OutKast (and particularly Andre 3000) to begin, but maybe it will never happen. Let's hope not.
Andre "3000" Benjamin, one-half of hip-hop duo OutKast, has signed on to his first major studio project, a Paramount Pictures drama starring Mark Wahlberg. The untitled film, formerly known as "Four Brothers," revolves around four brothers who seek to avenge their mother's death.
Tyrese ("The Flight of the Phoenix") and Garrett Hedlund ("Friday Night Lights") also are on board. They'll play Andre 3000's siblings along with Wahlberg, who was previously announced as one of the brothers. Principal photography is scheduled to begin Monday in Toronto. John Singleton will direct.
Andre 3000's previous forays into cinema include the upcoming MGM feature "Be Cool" and Guy Ritchie's "Revolver." He also is starring in HBO's untitled OutKast movie.
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I keep waiting for the backlash against OutKast (and particularly Andre 3000) to begin, but maybe it will never happen. Let's hope not.
Giving Your Seven Inch to Robert Plant
According to Big News Network, Lou Reed will be at the South by Southwest music conference. Here's more:
Reed will submit to a formal interview March 18 at the Austin Convention Center as part of the conference, then play that night as a headliner at the BMI showcase at the Austin Music Hall. Reed joins former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, who will deliver SXSW's keynote speech and also perform at the annual music industry gathering.
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I can see why Lou Reed is going to be there, but Robert Plant seems like a strange person to give the keynote speech. I always thought of South by Southwest as more of an indie-weirdo thing, but I guess not. These big industry gatherings are kind of silly, but I guess they're kind of fun, too. I believe my brother's band got to play for John Paul Jones at SXSW, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Reed will submit to a formal interview March 18 at the Austin Convention Center as part of the conference, then play that night as a headliner at the BMI showcase at the Austin Music Hall. Reed joins former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, who will deliver SXSW's keynote speech and also perform at the annual music industry gathering.
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I can see why Lou Reed is going to be there, but Robert Plant seems like a strange person to give the keynote speech. I always thought of South by Southwest as more of an indie-weirdo thing, but I guess not. These big industry gatherings are kind of silly, but I guess they're kind of fun, too. I believe my brother's band got to play for John Paul Jones at SXSW, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
John Lydon Says No "Anarchy" for Megadeth
According to something called blabbermouth.net, John Lydon has "reportedly refused to give permission for the lyrics to the PISTOLS' "Anarchy in the U.K." to be used in the forthcoming new complete MEGADETH anthology." Here's more:
Rotten was reportedly quoted as saying, "They got them wrong the first time round so there's no reason to believe they'll get them right this time." (MEGADETH covered the song on their 1988 album "So Far, So Good...So What", with famously incorrect lyrics — "...and other council tendencies" was sung as "...and other cunt-like tendencies.")
Helpfully, the people of blabbermouth explained the nature of the original song:
"The song's lyrics espouse a nihilistic, emotive, and violent concept of anarchy that does not correspond to the views of any major trend of anarchist philosophy. The lyrics can be interpreted as satirical, mocking not only the government but also directionless or purely fashionable rebellion."
I wonder if he would give permission to a band like ZZ Top. I feel like he probably would.
Rotten was reportedly quoted as saying, "They got them wrong the first time round so there's no reason to believe they'll get them right this time." (MEGADETH covered the song on their 1988 album "So Far, So Good...So What", with famously incorrect lyrics — "...and other council tendencies" was sung as "...and other cunt-like tendencies.")
Helpfully, the people of blabbermouth explained the nature of the original song:
"The song's lyrics espouse a nihilistic, emotive, and violent concept of anarchy that does not correspond to the views of any major trend of anarchist philosophy. The lyrics can be interpreted as satirical, mocking not only the government but also directionless or purely fashionable rebellion."
I wonder if he would give permission to a band like ZZ Top. I feel like he probably would.
Saaa-lute!
Here's something from Reuters:
Despite the lack of a big retail push, three new DVD compilations of classic TV series "The Buck Owens Ranch Show" have not gone unnoticed by fans of Bakersfield, Calif.'s legendary Country Music Hall of Famer.... "The sound on those things was just half-ass -- but the singer was good," Owens jokes about the shows. "You see us in our Nudie suits and it reminds people of younger times when they didn't have such big credit card debts. But I don't have the slightest idea why people find them so special," Owens adds. "The secret is there ain't no secret. You just do the best you know how, and the rest is up to whoever it's up to."
Though I'm not familiar with this show, I have some really good memories of watching "Hee-Haw." In reality, I think I sort of hated it at the time, but I always loved Buck Owens and his red-white-and-blue guitar.
Despite the lack of a big retail push, three new DVD compilations of classic TV series "The Buck Owens Ranch Show" have not gone unnoticed by fans of Bakersfield, Calif.'s legendary Country Music Hall of Famer.... "The sound on those things was just half-ass -- but the singer was good," Owens jokes about the shows. "You see us in our Nudie suits and it reminds people of younger times when they didn't have such big credit card debts. But I don't have the slightest idea why people find them so special," Owens adds. "The secret is there ain't no secret. You just do the best you know how, and the rest is up to whoever it's up to."
Though I'm not familiar with this show, I have some really good memories of watching "Hee-Haw." In reality, I think I sort of hated it at the time, but I always loved Buck Owens and his red-white-and-blue guitar.
This Just In: Music Industry Is Sleazy
There is an interesting article about the demise of payola at Salon (you have to view an ad, but it's for Powells.com, which I support). For many years, record companies have been paying independent middlemen to basically bribe radio stations into playing their artists. Of course, the record companies were charging their artists to pay for it, but that's another story. The indefatigable Eliot Spitzer is investigating the practice, which appears to be barely legal (my hits just went up!) and very unethical. So the record companies are putting a stop to the practice to avoid bad publicity. There is some question whether this will have a positive effect for smaller record companies who could get their songs on the radio with the right middleman. There is also a mention of how the Who, along with some other "marquee bands," broke a boycott against one of these "indies" in the 80s because their songs weren't getting played. It's an interesting read if you are interested in the business practices of the music industry.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
A Mostly Unrelated Post About Subway
Actually, this post is about Jared. I'm worried that he is a little too slick in his delivery now. If he's not holding a giant pair of pants, he's just another guy pitching fast food. I fear that his time is coming to an end, but he sure has done well for himself. By the way, making fun of Jared is Overt, as is making fun of "Sandwich Artist," the title Subway gives its sandwich makers. It's just too easy. But I have to admit that I wonder (inspired by Britt's thoughts about the different types of Sandwich Artists there might be--cubists, impressionists, fauvists, etc.) if there are Advanced Sandwich Artists out there, and if they exist, how do they make their sandwiches?
Hands-Free Parenting
The daily telegraph lowers the bar for fathers everywhere:
When his youngest son Lucas was born, Mick Jagger was hardly the world's most doting dad. The Rolling Stone disputed the child, born to Brazilian model Luciana Morad following a backstage fling, was his and demanded DNA tests to establish the truth. Five years on, however, a close bond has clearly developed between father and son. Sir Mick, 62, and his girlfriend L'Wren Scott took Lucas out for a meal in London at Christmas. The pair have also been spotted in Hyde Park, where the Stones played a free concert in 1969. On their latest outing, Jagger helped Lucas on to a slide and, despite talking on his mobile phone, applauded as he emerged safely.
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A Christmas dinner, a trip to the park, and paying partial attention at the playground. That is some pretty impressive parenting. Of course, Mick Jagger might be a wonderful father. What I can't figure out is why anyone bothered to write this story in the first place. I think it they just wanted to show a picture of the child's mother.
When his youngest son Lucas was born, Mick Jagger was hardly the world's most doting dad. The Rolling Stone disputed the child, born to Brazilian model Luciana Morad following a backstage fling, was his and demanded DNA tests to establish the truth. Five years on, however, a close bond has clearly developed between father and son. Sir Mick, 62, and his girlfriend L'Wren Scott took Lucas out for a meal in London at Christmas. The pair have also been spotted in Hyde Park, where the Stones played a free concert in 1969. On their latest outing, Jagger helped Lucas on to a slide and, despite talking on his mobile phone, applauded as he emerged safely.
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A Christmas dinner, a trip to the park, and paying partial attention at the playground. That is some pretty impressive parenting. Of course, Mick Jagger might be a wonderful father. What I can't figure out is why anyone bothered to write this story in the first place. I think it they just wanted to show a picture of the child's mother.
U2: Apples and Oranges
Here's something good from billboard.com:
Bono and the Edge won't be on hand to rub shoulders on stage with Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Clarkson and Trace Adkins, but U2 will have a presence during tonight's (Jan. 4) FedEx Orange Bowl 2005 National Championship Game halftime show. A two-minute version of the video for the band's "All Because of You" will receive its world premiere during ABC's live broadcast of the game.
The clip will be seen as the background for highlights of the first half of the game between the University of Southern California and Oklahoma at Miami's Pro Player Stadium.
The game and halftime festivities will be broadcast live on ABC. Following the halftime airing, the full video will be available on demand through ESPN.com. The full song will also provide the soundtrack for highlights of the game during the midnight (ET) broadcast of ESPN's Sportscenter.
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One thing U2 knows how to do is promote itself. I think the deal they have with Apple is really brilliant, and this deal with the Orange Bowl will expose their new single to millions of people who may not be U2 fans. I also love that you can see the video at ESPN.com because, as I've written before, appreciating sports is Advanced.
Bono and the Edge won't be on hand to rub shoulders on stage with Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Clarkson and Trace Adkins, but U2 will have a presence during tonight's (Jan. 4) FedEx Orange Bowl 2005 National Championship Game halftime show. A two-minute version of the video for the band's "All Because of You" will receive its world premiere during ABC's live broadcast of the game.
The clip will be seen as the background for highlights of the first half of the game between the University of Southern California and Oklahoma at Miami's Pro Player Stadium.
The game and halftime festivities will be broadcast live on ABC. Following the halftime airing, the full video will be available on demand through ESPN.com. The full song will also provide the soundtrack for highlights of the game during the midnight (ET) broadcast of ESPN's Sportscenter.
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One thing U2 knows how to do is promote itself. I think the deal they have with Apple is really brilliant, and this deal with the Orange Bowl will expose their new single to millions of people who may not be U2 fans. I also love that you can see the video at ESPN.com because, as I've written before, appreciating sports is Advanced.
Being Petty
I think the time is right for someone like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers--no matching outfits, no gimmicks, no fancy haircuts, just good rock'n'roll--to emerge.
Nothing to Crow About
I've read that Sheryl Crow has finished two records, one a "pop" album and one an "artist" album. I like a couple of her songs, and she is a good singer, but this really annoys me for some reason.
Child's Play
There is a nice little article here about kids' music made by bands like They Might Be Giants and the Flaming Lips. There is a mention of Lou Reed's contribution to "Mary Had a Little Amp" as well as a list of CDs that parents won't hate. I have a three-year-old nephew, so I know the value of such information.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Is the Advanced Theory Elitist?
I got into a conversation about the Advanced Theory over the holidays with someone in my family. To him, it sounded elitist, which I think is not quite right. It is true that there is an appreciation for an elite artist, the Advanced genius, but that does not preclude the enjoyment of artists who are not Advanced. In fact, I think if you believe in Advancement, you are able to get pleasure--without guilt--from music that you would not have considered if you didn't believe in it. For instance, without the theory, I couldn't enjoy "Long Cold Winter" by Cinderella as fully as a I do. Of course, this album isn't great, but I really do like a couple of songs on it. Were it not for the theory, I would have dismissed "Long Cold Winter" without hearing it, which is the worst kind of elitism. I'd like to add one more time that "overt" does not mean something is bad, and you don't have to become Advanced to be great. Everything the Velvet Underground did was Overt. So is "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars." If Lou Reed or David Bowie never became Advanced, they would still be geniuses.
Formatting Error
According to nme.com, listeners of BBC Radio 2 chose a list of 25 songs to be considered the best British song since 1977. Here's the list:
‘Heroes’ David Bowie
‘We Are The Champions’ Queen
‘Wuthering Heights’ Kate Bush
‘Night Fever’ Bee Gees
‘London Calling’ The Clash
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ Joy Division
‘That's Entertainment’ The Jam
‘I Don't Want To Talk About It’ Rod Stewart
‘Look of Love’ ABC
‘Golden Brown’ The Stranglers
‘True’ Spandau Ballet
‘Careless Whisper’ George Michael
‘Holding Back The Year’ Simply Red
‘Sledgehammer’ Peter Gabriel
‘Sacrifice’ Elton John
‘Unfinished Sympathy’ Massive Attack
‘Why’ Annie Lennox
‘Fields of Gold’ Sting
‘Kiss From A Rose’ Seal
‘Wonderwall’ Oasis
‘Angels’ Robbie Williams
‘Yellow’ Coldplay
‘Babylon’ David Gray
‘Leave Right Now’, Will Young
‘Dry Your Eyes’ The Streets
What an interesting list this is. It would look so different if the poll were taken in America. I also find it interesting that the listeners of one station would have such varied tastes. I know radio there and here (America) are quite different, but still. I wonder if we would benefit from stations that weren't stuck in certain formats. Before you say yes, just think about how terrible it is when you are listening to a station that plays the best hits of yesterday and today, and the DJ follows one of your favorites of yesterday with something crappy from today.
‘Heroes’ David Bowie
‘We Are The Champions’ Queen
‘Wuthering Heights’ Kate Bush
‘Night Fever’ Bee Gees
‘London Calling’ The Clash
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ Joy Division
‘That's Entertainment’ The Jam
‘I Don't Want To Talk About It’ Rod Stewart
‘Look of Love’ ABC
‘Golden Brown’ The Stranglers
‘True’ Spandau Ballet
‘Careless Whisper’ George Michael
‘Holding Back The Year’ Simply Red
‘Sledgehammer’ Peter Gabriel
‘Sacrifice’ Elton John
‘Unfinished Sympathy’ Massive Attack
‘Why’ Annie Lennox
‘Fields of Gold’ Sting
‘Kiss From A Rose’ Seal
‘Wonderwall’ Oasis
‘Angels’ Robbie Williams
‘Yellow’ Coldplay
‘Babylon’ David Gray
‘Leave Right Now’, Will Young
‘Dry Your Eyes’ The Streets
What an interesting list this is. It would look so different if the poll were taken in America. I also find it interesting that the listeners of one station would have such varied tastes. I know radio there and here (America) are quite different, but still. I wonder if we would benefit from stations that weren't stuck in certain formats. Before you say yes, just think about how terrible it is when you are listening to a station that plays the best hits of yesterday and today, and the DJ follows one of your favorites of yesterday with something crappy from today.
Gray Areas
I was asked by a friend of the Advanced Theory whether the "The Grey Album" by DJ Danger Mouse is Advanced. That is the project that combined Jay-Z's "Black Album" with the Beatles' White Album. He also wondered about the Easy All-Stars' reggae version of "Dark Side of the Moon." This seemed like a blog-worthy topic so I'll share with you the answer:
"The Grey Album," while a good idea, is not Advanced. One reason is that almost everyone loves the Beatles and Jay-Z. And while it might seem like Danger Mouse is treading on sacred ground by messing with the White Album, just about everyone thinks the idea of combining it with Jay-Z is a cool idea. Plus, he's not redoing his own beloved material, it's someone else's. If Ringo Starr were to release "The Grey Album" (or even initiate it), that would be Advanced. If would have been Advanced for Danger Mouse to combine some recent Paul McCartney (or something similarly unhip) with Jay-Z. If Paul McCartney loves "The Grey Album" and says it's better than the White Album, then that would be Advanced.
As for the reggae version of "Dark Side of the Moon," that is almost definitely Advanced, as long as they aren't making fun of the record or reggae music in general. Here's why: I don't think there is any less cool weirdo band than Pink Floyd. Of course, I love some Pink Floyd, but the band has become synonymous with idiot stoners. They are completely out of fashion among weirdos. (Side note: People who say they prefer the Syd Barret version of Pink Floyd are almost always being Overt.) And doing a reggae version of anything is about as outdated as you can get. If they love Pink Floyd and reggae, this project is Advanced. If they are just being ironic, however, the whole thing is just Dread Zeppelin II.
"The Grey Album," while a good idea, is not Advanced. One reason is that almost everyone loves the Beatles and Jay-Z. And while it might seem like Danger Mouse is treading on sacred ground by messing with the White Album, just about everyone thinks the idea of combining it with Jay-Z is a cool idea. Plus, he's not redoing his own beloved material, it's someone else's. If Ringo Starr were to release "The Grey Album" (or even initiate it), that would be Advanced. If would have been Advanced for Danger Mouse to combine some recent Paul McCartney (or something similarly unhip) with Jay-Z. If Paul McCartney loves "The Grey Album" and says it's better than the White Album, then that would be Advanced.
As for the reggae version of "Dark Side of the Moon," that is almost definitely Advanced, as long as they aren't making fun of the record or reggae music in general. Here's why: I don't think there is any less cool weirdo band than Pink Floyd. Of course, I love some Pink Floyd, but the band has become synonymous with idiot stoners. They are completely out of fashion among weirdos. (Side note: People who say they prefer the Syd Barret version of Pink Floyd are almost always being Overt.) And doing a reggae version of anything is about as outdated as you can get. If they love Pink Floyd and reggae, this project is Advanced. If they are just being ironic, however, the whole thing is just Dread Zeppelin II.
Czech It Out
According to Czech Happenings, Lou Reed will be joining his friend Vaclav Havel in a "joint discussion evening" in Prague's Svanda Theatre. Here's more:
The discussion evening is staged within the popular theatre cycle of "scenic" talks. Since May 2003, a total of thirteen discussion programmes have presented a number of famous Czech and foreign cultural personalities. Among them were U.S. songwriter and singer Suzanne Vega, American writer Robert Fulghum, Czech- born opera director David Radok and Czech conductor Libor Pesek, Kadlecova said.
Due to people's high interest, the evening with Havel and Reed will take place in the theatre's large hall which houses up to 350 people. The tickets were sold out within three days, Kadlecova added. This evening will have a different structure, being divided into two parts with a break in between. Czech groups inspired by Reed's music, The Plastic People of the Universe and The Velvet Underground Revival, will play at the beginning and at the end of the programme.
The "talk-show" will be as always moderated by theatre director David Hrbek and simultaneously interpreted from English to Czech and vice versa by Dana Habova. People can send questions to the programme guests via an e- mail form available on www.svandovodivadlo.cz until January 6. Havel, 67, former dissident and playwright, occupied the post of Czechoslovak President after the collapse of Communism, from December 1989 to 1992, and after Czechoslovakia's split in 1993 he became Czech President (in office January 1993-February 2003).
Reed, 62, won fame as a member of the the legendary Velvet Underground band which he formed in the late 1960s, along with other musicians as John Cale and Maureen Tucker. A couple of years later, Reed left the band and started a solo career as an original songwriter and performer.
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Prague is the world's most Overt city for Americans to visit, but Havel has often cited the Velvet Underground's music as a big influence on him and the movement he was a part of. And, as I've written before, Havel requested that Lou Reed play at the White House when he visited Washington.
It's nice to be back. Happy new year to you all.
The discussion evening is staged within the popular theatre cycle of "scenic" talks. Since May 2003, a total of thirteen discussion programmes have presented a number of famous Czech and foreign cultural personalities. Among them were U.S. songwriter and singer Suzanne Vega, American writer Robert Fulghum, Czech- born opera director David Radok and Czech conductor Libor Pesek, Kadlecova said.
Due to people's high interest, the evening with Havel and Reed will take place in the theatre's large hall which houses up to 350 people. The tickets were sold out within three days, Kadlecova added. This evening will have a different structure, being divided into two parts with a break in between. Czech groups inspired by Reed's music, The Plastic People of the Universe and The Velvet Underground Revival, will play at the beginning and at the end of the programme.
The "talk-show" will be as always moderated by theatre director David Hrbek and simultaneously interpreted from English to Czech and vice versa by Dana Habova. People can send questions to the programme guests via an e- mail form available on www.svandovodivadlo.cz until January 6. Havel, 67, former dissident and playwright, occupied the post of Czechoslovak President after the collapse of Communism, from December 1989 to 1992, and after Czechoslovakia's split in 1993 he became Czech President (in office January 1993-February 2003).
Reed, 62, won fame as a member of the the legendary Velvet Underground band which he formed in the late 1960s, along with other musicians as John Cale and Maureen Tucker. A couple of years later, Reed left the band and started a solo career as an original songwriter and performer.
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Prague is the world's most Overt city for Americans to visit, but Havel has often cited the Velvet Underground's music as a big influence on him and the movement he was a part of. And, as I've written before, Havel requested that Lou Reed play at the White House when he visited Washington.
It's nice to be back. Happy new year to you all.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Happy Holidays
So, I'm off for the holidays now. I may be able to post here and there over the next week, but I won't be back to regular until 2005. So I'll see you then, if not sooner.
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