The Many Names and Abilities of David Bowie

Today is the birthday of David Bowie - but when Bowie was born his name was David Jones.

It seems somewhat appropriate for an iconic musician who shed his apparent identity with each new album to have selected a new name to start his career.  Actually adopting a stage name is not all that uncommon, and David Jones/Bowie allegedly selected his new name thanks to the popularity of the bowie knife and a desire to not be confused with the Davy Jones who was heating up the music and television world as a Monkee.  But even with the Bowie moniker in place, David Jones became famous under yet another name…Ziggy Stardust.

It should probably be no surprise that an artist so talented at creating characters from his work would be equally adapt at fashioning concept albums.  Many of Bowie’s albums follow through a concept in form of character or world.  Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was an exploration of the inner alien rock star – his success and corruption.  The album was influential in its visual attributes which were coined glam rock.  Bowie had toyed in the sci-fi realm earlier with the song Space Oddity at the time sci-fi was really just emerging as a vital component in everyday society from film (2001 A Space Odyssey) to the real moon landing.  Bowie’s future concept albums would draw on sci-fi elements from Diamond Dogs which gained life as an interpretation of George Orwell’s 1984 to Outside which took listeners to a dire future society where art could have dark origins and influence.  I greatly enjoy all of David Bowie’s work, but Outside is a particular favorite – although only after multiple listenings which I often find to be the case with Bowie’s innovatively rich out put.

Due to Bowie’s changing musical viewpoints, he is often referred to as a chameleon of music.  No surprise then that a character master should find his way to the theater.  Bowie portrayed John Merrick – better known as The Elephant Man – on the New York stage.  His film work has been more numerous – although still usually in a role of an outsider.  There is no surprise seeing him in The Man Who Fell To Earth as an alien seduced by Earth’s vices as he attempts to complete an mysterious mission.  Other notable roles of Bowie’s include his rapidly aging  vampyric character in The Hunger from directot Tony Scott and as cult favorite scientist Nikola Tesla in director Christopher Nolan’s enigmatic meditation on magic called The Prestige.

Of course Bowie’s contribution to film isn’t limited to acting.  He’s provided soundtracks to many notable films.  In fact his theme of Putting Out the Fire from the remake of Cat People is what first brought the David Bowie name to my attention!

Laugh

Those of you who have read past blogs of mine are aware I'm quite the fan of things sci-fi and spooky.  But sometimes we all need a laugh - as they say laughter is the best medicine.  So as a devoted tv viewer and coach potato, here are my favorite funny bone ticklers.

Vicious - The only new program to truly tickle my funny bone.  Sir Ian McKellan and Sir Derek Jacobi are fabulous as a long time couple who trade barbs with abandon.  Everyone in their circle of friends are splendid eccentrics, such as their young friend Ash whose family seems to have an extraordinarily high conviction rate.  I find the episodes a marvelous mix of sharp writing and fun physical comedy.  A wonderful Britcom airing new episodes in the states via PBS.


Myself & William Sanderson

Newhart - Much like the legendary Jack Benny, Bob Newhart is a master of reacting to comedic situations.  Therefore his sitcoms generally placed his sane central character amid a cornucopia of zany misfits.  The setting of Newhart was a historic inn located amongst the beautifully tranquil countryside of New England.  But things were never very peaceful for innkeeper Dick Loudon (Newhart) who dealt throughout the long running CBS series with a millionaire heiress as maid (Julia Duffy) as well as three bizarre backwoodsmen brothers.  Of the brothers two were named Daryl and the only one of them who ever spoke was Larry (William Sanderson).

 

The Honeymooners - Jackie Gleason portrayed Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden.  His next door neighbor was sewer 'technician' Ed Norton (Art Carney) who often aided in Kramden's numerous mad money making schemes.  Comical highlights included Ralph and Ed appearing on TV to promote the kitchen tool of the future and leaving the set in ruins after Ralph botched his lines.  The action of The Honeymooners generally transpired in the modest lodgings of Ralph and his wife Alice.  Alice Kramden and Trixie Norton rounded out the show's regulars and were played by various actresses throughout the evolution of The Honeymooners from a series of sketches on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars variety show to 39 classic self-titled sitcom episodes to Jackie Gleason's Variety Show on CBS.

 

Car 54 Where Are You?  The officers of police car 54 in the Bronx kept citizens safe and in good humor.  Misunderstanding was a mainstay at the 53rd precinct, such as the time a rumor took root that a temporary captain had previously served as a Nazi general.  The series boasts clever writing.

The Monkees - In the 60's, a group of charmingly zany young musician/actors were assembled in aspirations of bringing a type of Hard Day's Night allure to the small screen.  The Monkees were Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones.  In an era when many musicians were protesting political decisions the network mandated that the show remain largely family friendly as the adventures of The Monkess spoofed almost every genre or thing you could think of - from spies to fairy tales.  The enthusiasm and fun of the production still remains in each episode as well as great tunes from such prestigious pens as Neil Diamond and Carol King.  One of The Monkees songs was called Laugh.  How appropriate, and just the note to end on.

Peter Tork of The Monkees and I - October 2015.

 

More Fun Than A Barrel Of...

Peter Tork & I at the Shoe Suede Blues birthday bash/fan party.

Thankfully the looming threat of an approaching hurricane veered away from Maryland last weekend, leaving only an overcast sky on Sunday - which did nothing to dampen the lively spirits of those within Edgewood's Club 66 enjoying the music of Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues.

Peter Tork is undoubtedly best known for playing Peter Tork in the TV series The Monkees which gave birth to an actual band also known as The Monkees.  The Monkees (both TV show and band) have weathered highs and lows since their 60's inceptions.  Everything was sort of originally modeled from A Hard Day's Night - the black and white classic movie from The Beatles with cutting edge editing by director Richard Lester.  The Monkees TV series featured the band in zany antics, often accompanied by their music.  And what music it is, featuring tunes penned by Neil Diamond and Carol King, as well as memorably awesome contributions from The Monkees themselves.  The Monkees are Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and the late Davy Jones.

When I was in high school, long ago in ye far away 80's, I became a huge Monkees fan.  Repeats of The Monkees were regularly airing and one of the group's reunion tours was a hot ticket - which, alas, I didn't get.  But my time would come.


Peter Tork  

New albums have been released over the decades as various groupings of the Monkees have taken the stage on tour.  The individual Monkees actively appear on stage and at conventions.  I've been very lucky in that I've got to see (individually) all four Monkees at cons and three of them perform in small, approachable venues.  I must say that each of them have been quite charming in person and nice to their fans.

The band Peter Tork is currently making the rounds with is called Shoe Suede Blues and upon October 4th 2015 the band had a special fan party/birthday bash at Club 66 in Edgewood Maryland.  I take the following facts from facebook - "Shoe Suede Blues was formed in 1994 when Peter Tork and friends, Tadg Galleran and Michael Sunday, were asked to put together a band for a benefit dance at the Beyond Baroque Foundation in Venice Beach for Felicity House, a women's recovery home and child care program. This year we happily celebrate the 21st anniversary of what was supposed to have only been a one-time event."



The Tork dummy at the selfie station.

The special event was memorable fun.  Shoe Suede Blues performed a set of songs ranging from blues to rock, with some solo classical keyboard numbers from Tork thrown in for good measure.  Of the actors/musicians recruited to be The Monkees, Peter Tork was squarely in the musician's camp and his abilities were certainly in top notch at the birthday bash.  The room vibrated with emotion as he sang.  His humor shown from the stage as he interacted with the audience and fellow band mates.

Tork was certainly in good humor signing albums and photos.  I have to say that I inadvertently made him laugh.  There was a slight lag in the line behind me and I figured I might as well mention that my family got a kick out of his appearance on The King of Queens.  In the heat of the moment I said "My family enjoyed your work on The King of Brooklyn."  Whoops!  Still, it was nice to get a laugh out of he who played the fun, quirky, innocent Monkee. 

Fun is the perfect description for the event.  Fans were dancing, posing with Peter Tork as well as his dummy version at a selfie station and submitting jokes for Sunday Sillies found at The Real Peter Tork facebook page.  All in all I'd describe the day as more fun than a barrel of Monkees.