The Who, Ossie Clark, and Paul Jones/ Uber-Mod London Freak Out

This is a little fascinating TV history- super early footage of The Who with an interview with one of my all-time favorite singers Paul Jones. London designer Ossie Clark is also featured as well. The documentary is from 1966, and I believe it's from a Canadian TV show.



Part One



Part Two



Part Three

What Has Tosh (TamTam Books) Been Doing?

Besides wasting my precious time on the Goodreads.com website, I have been working on a memoir about my childhood. Which come to think of it is totally insane. I haven't the foggiest idea why I even started writing something like that. Cary at Bookbeat asked me to write an essay about my father Wallace Berman for a website called "Blast." I received great feedback, and of course I now feel like I have an audience so I must go on. But nevertheless it's nerve wracking to go back to one's past - especially in the murky area of one's childhood. The one thing I found that was interesting is that I haven't changed one bit since I was Eleven years old!

On the TamTam Books' front, Boris Vian's "The Dead All Have The Same Skin" is completely finished and now getting ready to take it to the printers. I am planning (unless something bad happens) to have this masterpiece out by Spring 2008. As well as another Vian title, "To Hell With The Ugly" which should come out Christmas 2008. A fantastic artist Jessica Minckley will illustrate the book. Check out her artwork at:

http://www.jessicaminckley.blogspot.com/

And on top of that we are working on the translation for Gilles Verlant's magnificent biography on Serge Gainsbourg. It's over 600 pages long and it promises to be the last word on this great artist. Paul Knobloch, who translated Vian's "Autumn in Peking" and "Manual of Saint Germain-des-Prés" is doing the translations for all three books.

So yes, I've been very busy.

More obsessions regarding Francis Carco

I finished reading Francis Carco's "Perversity" and haven't stopped thinking about the book and the author himself. Who is this man? What I know of him is that he was born 1886 and died 1958 and he's French. I need to locate the book "Frenzy," it looks like a sister to "Perversity."



The great press Green Integer sometime ago released a collection of poems by Carco called "Streetcorners: Prose Poems of the Demi-Monde." I haven't read this one as well.





Portrait by Jacques Dyssord



So the journey to discover a new author from the past is on...

My all time favorite band: JEAN PAUL YAMAMOTO on December 18

TamTam Books' Tribute to DIRK BOGARDE

Dirk Bogarde is one of my all-time favorite actors. If his name is attached to the title or project, I am always there for him. He also had a second career as a writer - both memoirs and novels. Here are some of his film works:



"Song Without End"



"The Night Porter"



"Despair" by Rainer Werner Fassbinder



"Victim"



"Damned" by Visconti



Making of "Death in Venice"



This is an excellent memoir of his movie years.



Some may feel that this is a little bit campy, but I love this album. Bogarde basically recites the great American (and British?) songbook. Bryan Ferry anyone?





The Dirk Bogarde masterpiece in my opinion is Joseph Losey's "The Servant."



Based on this great little novel by Robin Maugham

Guardian blog about Boris Vian by Tony O'Neill and other stuff

Everyone check out the Guardian book blog about Boris Vian's "I Spit on Your Graves."

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/12/boris_vian_still_spitting_from.html

It's a good piece, and I really appreciate Tony O'Neill's article.

I am exhausted at the moment. Lun*na had an opening last night that was fun. But got home late, and woke up early - and basically I am drooling at this table. Not a beautiful sight (site) my beautiful readers.

I took this image recently and I am obsessing about it. Why?

Lun*na Menoh's Statement regarding her Mini-Art Exhibition: Yakuza Papers

“Battle Without Honor & Humanity”: THE YAKUZA PAPERS Vol. 1-5’
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku. First released in Japan in 1973 through 1974.

This five part film series is based on a real story regarding the Yakuza’s (the Japanese Mafia) survival from right after the war to the 70’s. And to this very day the film series is very popular in Japan.

In 2004 this DVD was released in the United States with English subtitles. When I saw the DVD again in the States I felt similar to the Yakuza with respect to those who are Japanese and living in the U.S. A lot of us who are Japanese have a personal dream to come to the United States and most of us who are living here, in what feels like we are on the fringes of Society. A lot of us here desire a friend or to be part of a family to be devoted to.

There is a battle everyday to reach the bridge between those who live in America and its open society and those who carry the Japanese spirit: Honor and Humanity.
The dialogues on the artworks are from the movie written by Kazoo Kasahara and Kouji Takada. These words touch my soul so I want to hang them on my living room wall.

These pieces are not only for the Japanese, but also for all of us who love THE YAKUZA PAPERS. We can all share this with people who feel “jingi.“ - honor and humanity.

All the artworks in this exhibition are priced $89.30.

The reasons are:

8 we pronounce yattu = ya
9 we pronounce ku or kyu= ku
3 we pronounce san which sounds like =za

So these are all “Yakuza Prices.”

- Lun*na Menoh, December 11, 2007

The Book I am Currently Reading: PERVERSITY

A short noirish novel written in the 1920's that takes place in Paris and it's about a pimp, prostitute and her borther - how can one go wrong with this book?

I know very little about the author Francis Carco, but I can feel another "obsession" in my bones, and I will surely hunt down everything possible about his work. The translator is the well-known novelist Jean Rhys.

Ossessione A GO-GO

i just finished watching Luchino Visconti's "Ossessione" (Obsession) which is the first film version (of three made) of James Cain's novel "The Postman Always Rings Twice." And if I am not mistaken it is also the first film by Visconti. So far I am half-way through the short novel, and I prefer the Visconti film than the original source.

What's interesting is Visconti added a 'gay' subtext or story that is not in the novel. It gave the main male character more depth, which is interesting due to the fact that Cain's novel has no backstory or background of its main characters. When I finish the novel I will add more thoughts...

Karlheinz Stockhausen, composer, born August 22, 1928; died December 5, 2007

James Cain, Luchino Visconti, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Ossessione

This weekend I plan to stay home and read James Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice and then watch Luchino Visconti's first film "Ossessione."



I was never a huge fan of Cain's work, but I haven't read this book since I was a teenager. It was time for me to re-visit my youth in a sense.



On the other hand, Visconti never disappoints me! If I have the time I will also see the Tay Garnett film version with Lana Turner and John Garfield. It seems Garnett was a gag man for Mack Sennett, which is fantastic.

Film footage from David Bowie's "Baal" by Bertolt Brecht

This is rare for the David Bowie and Bertolt Brecht fan! The BBC production of "Baal" starring David Bowie plus two film clips of Bowie singing Brecht's songs. This is so fantastic you should kiss me when you see me on the No. 4 bus. Fantastic!

A Brief Thought on "Fantomas"

Fantomas, down below, is something that is part of my DNA at this point. I have a fascination with characters that can change identities and this particular character fits the model to a 'T.' Plus the fact that you get actual film footage of Paris circ. 1915 is simply amazing and beautiful.

But what is Fantomas? To me he always seems to be the collective fear of the powerful - and therefore is the 'charm' of the Fantomas series.

Excerpts from the films of Louis Feuillade

Fantomas!

David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's 'Baal'

My friend Nick made me a CD of some old vinyl I had for awhile. One title is David Bowie's "Baal," which is one of my favorite recordings by this icon. For reasons I don't know, Bowie never released the long playing E.P. soundtrack, which is a shame.





"Baal" is Bertolt Brecht's first play and it is about a traveling musician who seduces and destroys lives with the ease of a dog drinking from soiled water. David Bowie starred in a BBC production as Baal, and it seems to be the perfect role for him. Yet there is no DVD or even VHS version of this production available to the open market.


Bertolt Brecht

Les Zazous' Illustration in the original French Edition of Boris Vian's Manual of Saint Germain-des-Pres

My favorite band SPARKS Ultimate show of all shows

Does it get better then this? I mean really? Sparks are probably the most out there band ever. I live in Los Angeles and I plan to go to the show. Somehow? Someway? I must!

The announcement down below came from Sparks myspace page:



SPARKS LIVE! SPECTACULAR – 21 ALBUMS IN 21 NIGHTS

May 16th – June 11th 2008. Album No. 1 – Album No. 20 at Carling Academy, Islington,


June 13th 2008. World premiere of Sparks' as-yet-untitled 21st album at Shepherds Bush Empire


When faced with the challenge of what to do next, pop innovators and musical legends Ron and Russell Mael aka Sparks have, in the past, not just risen to the challenge but surpassed any expectations.


So when asked what plans they had for their 21st album (yes you read it right…"21st" album) their answer was typically audacious:


"How do we best unveil our new album, Sparks as yet untitled 21st? How about playing in concert every single song off of every album that preceded it, all 20 albums on 20 consecutive nights, culminating in the premiere of our latest? That's approximately 250 songs, or for you musicians, 4 million, 825 thousand, 273 notes. Come celebrate each and every one of those notes with us!" Sparks, Los Angeles


Not many artists can claim to have 21 albums in their repertoire. Very few of those could say that their 21st album is as groundbreaking as their previous work. Only Sparks would dare to take on this challenge – this mammoth undertaking, this melodious epic, this groundbreaking concept, this celebration of musical greatness past and present.


The Sparks Spectacular will be taking place in London in May and June 2008 - one album per night, played in its entirety, starting with 1971's album Halfnelson and concluding with the brand new, as yet untitled, 21st album. The only concession made to man's physicality is that, whilst the order of the albums will be chronological, there will be some days off during the run!


www.allsparks.com



SPARKS SPECTACULAR - 21 ALBUMS IN 21 NIGHTS


At Carling Academy Islington, N1 Centre, Islington, LONDON, N1 0PS
www.islington-academy.co.uk doors open at 19.00

MAY
16th Halfnelson/Sparks (1971/2)
17th A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing (1972)
18th Kimono My House (1974)
20th Propaganda (1974)
21st Indiscreet (1975)
23rd Big Beat (1976)
24th Introducing Sparks (1977)
25th No.1 In Heaven (1979)
27th Terminal Jive (1979)
28th Whomp That Sucker (1981)
30th Angst In My Pants (1982)
31st In Outer Space (1983)

JUNE
1st Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat (1984)
3rd Music That You Can Dance To (1986)
4th Interior Design (1988)
6th Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins (1995)
7th Plagiarism (1997)
8th Balls (2000)
10th Lil' Beethoven (2003)
11th Hello Young Lovers (2006)

JUNE 13th WORLD PREMIERE OF SPARKS' 21ST ALBUM (2008)

At Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherds Bush Green, Shepherds Bush, LONDON, W12 8TT
www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk

INDIVIDUAL TICKET PRICE: £20.00 PER SHOW


3 NIGHTS OR MORE BOUGHT TOGETHER: £18.00 PER SHOW


GOLDEN TICKET – ALL 21 SHOWS - £350.00 (includes signed poster and exclusive Sparks song on CD). This offer is exclusive to Ticketweb.

www.ticketweb.co.uk cc line 0844 477 2000


TICKETS SUBJECT TO BOOKING FEE

Frédéric (Fred) Chichin

Frédéric (Fred) Chichin, although I never met him, is someone I thought of on a daily basis for the last 20 or so years. A friend of mine Eric Blum invited me to his studio sometime in 1985, and played me their "The No Comprendo (1986) album and the first song hooked me. I think like a crazy goon I searched high and low (before the internet) for their first album “Rita Mitsouko,” another winner by the way.

A good friend of my wife and I, Nakano, made a video for them – and he gave us an old 8mm video collection of all their visual works. It was magnificent. Many years later some thugs broke into our house and stole the camera with the Rita Mitsouko tape in it. I wanted the death penalty for those who stole something so precious to me.

A decade later I can now watch all the missing videos on YouTube. So technology can do good things, but I wished it could have cured Chichin’s cancer, so he can be here with us.

Meanwhile here are some images of Fred and Catherine Ringer (singer and partner of Fred). Look in the October menu on this blog for their videos.

The Late and Great Frédéric Chichin of Les Rita Mitsouko 1954-2007

Les Rita Mitsouko is one of my all-time favorite bands period. The death of Frédéric Chichin is too fresh for me to comment on - except to say at this moment my thoughs are to Catherine Ringer, their children, and to all the fans of this fantastic band.