David M Varon-
these are a few of my favorite things-
( not in particular order )
"Time is a river,
see you downstream"
-Terence McKenna
1946-2001
Newest Addition - Brion Gysin- 1916-1986
'He talked about artist as heroes, "challenging fate in their lives and art" For me he was precisely that. Painter, writer, sound poet, scholar, philosopher, traveler, explorer, metaphysician-the labels are so many words. Cut up, isolated each word cutting away from the big picture, they bounce off Brion the Indestructible like so many rubber bullets. No painting without the magic. No magic without the words. No words without the sound. No sound without the music. "if you want to disappear, come around for a private lesson." He was slippery, Brion. You had to learn him whole before you could see him at all. ' - Robert Palmer in the 1987 forward to a reissue of Gysin's novel the Process.
Brion was a fascinating character, a Renaissance man who bridged the intellectual Old World into the Brave new post War World. An Innovative Painter, Linguist and exiled-Surrealist, he was a major influence on the most important members of the international Beat Generation and many other cultural icons. He was a brilliant explorer of the new Inter and Outer zones of Art and Sound poetry. Dream Machine Inventor, Colorful expatriate, Exotic Traveller, promoter and supporter of "Music as psychic hygiene." Brion is man that "cut up" and "Rubbed out the word." It is our challenge and privilege to attempt to assemble all the piece back together in "present time" so we can better understand why we are here. As Brion said "we are here to go."
1. Genesis P-Orridge
He is "Fab and Kinky", but he is so much more! He is Brilliant, Perceptive, Brave, Creative, Daring and Original. To others he is "A Wrecker of Civilization", "the Most Dangerous Man in Britain" or as Charlie Manson says "Retarded or from another Planet." Love him or hate him, this multi-media Artist has pushed his Art beyond the known boundaries of every media he has touched. Performance Artist, Musician and Sound Researcher, Writer, Fine and Graphic Artist, Creator of "Post-Modern Industrial Culture", Filmmaker, Developer of Ultra-Sonic Weapons and yes, even Cult leader! "Fab and Kinky" seems an understatement. He has been a key factor and a driving undercurrent in the redefinition of Art and Counter Culture for over 30 years. His goal has been remained consistent and simple, "To get people to think for themselves." His techniques are often shocking, disturbing, confusing, perverse, deliberately misleading, even vile and disgusting to the most self-professed fringe artist. He is constantly challenging us to question the "process control" he challenges us to question all that we think we know to be right. His deep creative drive and commitment to "Art Means Life" sets him miles above every other "so-called Advant Garde artist." He challenges the hypocrisy and Bullshit of the pretentious "Art World". Thankfully in recent years there have been several books and sources to study his life, art and music. Check out "Wreckers of Civilization" by Simon Ford for a great overview of Coum Transmissions through Throbbing Gristle, and the beautiful 2002 "Life and Art of Genesis P-Orridge" by Soft Skull Shortwave Press, for a comprehensive overview of his work.
So how did he end up as a new addition to my list? It's really kind of ironic, it was his short, one paragraph contribution to the recent book, "Lexicon Devil" about the life of LA Punk Darby Crash. As I read that book I became increasingly frustrated and surprised at my inability to make any sense at all of Darby's sad and self destructive life. It was the very last paragraph and the only entry by Genesis that brought Darby's life and the whole book into total focus, clarity and meaning. Brilliant!
2. Tim Leary's Brain
Kindly Dr. Tim, the Controversial 60's icon and "LSD Guru" was called "the most dangerous man in America" by Richard Nixon. Leary was a self proclaimed Agent of Change, a prolific Writer, Rouge Philosopher, Political Exile, and a Brilliant Social and Cultural historian. Tim was perhaps one of the most hated, most misunderstood, most misquoted and clearly one of the most controversial personalities of the 20th century. His many writings include Biographies, Social and Historical Commentaries, enthusiastic explorations of new and emerging Technologies, pretty much all matters of Life and Death are dealt with in his dozens of books. Among the most fascinating of his works is his theory that outlines the various stages of Biological, Social and Cultural Human Evolution based on his model of the 8 circuit- 24 stage Human Brain. His theories are so complex, yet so simple, his perceptions and thought process is so advanced it may take humans another century before they are really understood and fully appreciated. Tim's dangerous philosophy consisted of one basic principal, "Think for yourself !" WOW, is that really so dangerous? Don't believe the ongoing government campaign of media slams and misinformation (that shockingly continue today, even after his death!) This daring "Intelligence Agent" questioned authority, and challenged the Status Quo, read his books and you decide.. . "think for yourself."
3. Antiquity
If History is the road map of humanity, certainly a rich and diverse Cultural legacy has been left behind for us to discover, ponder and plunder. Ancient wisdom shared the quest for knowledge, and simple understanding of our place in the Universe with a respect for the Sacred Earth. Dozens of Ancient sites scattered around the Globe: Newgrange, Stonehenge, Chichen Itza and the Nile Valley indicate a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and the Cosmos. Throughout history the development of Science, Art and Architecture, the ongoing definition of form and function has ranged from the purely decorative arts to practical invention. For centuries man has continued to explore, develop, improve and even control his surroundings. From the cave paintings at Lascaux, the awe inspiring pyramids of Gizeh. the ancient temples and cities of Aztecs and the Mayans to the great Classical temples and monuments of the ancient Greeks, from the Italian Renaissance to the Arts & Crafts movement, Man has been driven by both a spiritual and artistic quest to explore and to share his appreciation of the beauty of life. From the Dark Ages to Age of Reason, from the Exploration of this planet and beyond, Man has been driven to create, explore and yes, too often to plunder and destroy. Even the Industrial Revolution spawned the quest for understanding, innovation and new application for natural beauty. Ancient Wisdom is found in every Culture in every corner of the globe. Where do you have to look? anywhere... from Site to Spirit, "Split a piece of wood: I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me".
4. Street Style and Fashion
I have always loved those who dare to have and flaunt Individuality and Personal Style, whether it be on the High Street, back alley, or strutting down the extravagant and eccentric runways of Paris and Milan. Personal style and fashion continue to be an always changing barometer of culture, of what we love and of all we can't stand. Conforming or rebelling, new, retro or any combination, its always amazing to see the cycle from subculture to runway, from designer to trend to mass market, post peak and finally the closeout sale racks, and eventually reborn in a modified retro version. The cycle is never ending. Style and Fashion separates the leaders from the followers, the innovative from the boring, and ultimately those with good taste from those without. From the Couture set just look the recent collections of Galliano, McQueen, Mugler and Gautier for their over the top, theatrical and super sexy styling. Or just look down the streets in any major City, just keep an eye out for what is around the corner.
5. British Design and Aesthetics
The beautiful detailed metal work of the ancient Celts, the rich illuminated manuscripts from medieval monasteries, the aesthetics of the English village, a beautiful Manor House, Historic Castles or Futuristic Modern Architecture, the British are always about good design. Throughout the expanding empire, to the genius of the Industrial Revolution epitomized by Paxton's Crystal Palace of 1851, design has always been integral to British Life. My favorite is perhaps the Arts and Crafts Movement and pre-Raphaelite movements lead by people like William Morris, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and Rossetti. They were host to an amazing collection of talented artist including painters Burne-Jones, Waterhouse, Watts, Alma Tadema, craftsman like William De Morgan, Dearle and illustrators like Walter Crane and Beardsley. The Architects like Norman Shaw and Philip Webb. For hundreds of years a plethora of talented artist, designers, visionaries and architects including Adams, Nash, William Blake, Sloane, Lyteuns , Pugin, created amazing Art, Buildings, structures, homes and castles, they built and empire that stretched onto every continent. The new moderns lead by Richard Rogers and Norman Foster to the new wave of architects and designers like Nick Grimshaw, Nigel Coates, Ron Arad, Terrance Conran, Eva Jiricna, Jasper Morrison, Rasshied Din, Tom Dixon, David Linley and Rodney Fitch continue to set the global standards for good design. Breaking the rules and redefining how we see, other British designers like Timney Fowler, Vaughn Oliver, Terry Jones, Jaime Reid, Peter Sevile, English Eccentrics, and Neville Brody. The list goes on and on, from tribal, medieval, Classical, Colonial, Victorian, Pop, Modern, Post-Modern, Hi-Tech or Punk, when it comes to Design and aesthetics, the Brits RULE! by breaking the Rules.
6. UK Punk 1977
Attitude, Music, More Attitude and Energy created a new subculture that reflected the troubled times, Boring! No future! The only way to do something different, something new, something that was all there own, was for them to "Do It Yourself", This new DIY sound shocked the World and was quickly dismissed as "rubbish" by the almost all the music critics and the press. Ironically a song about "No Future" would change the very future of Music for the next three decades. GOD Save the Sex Pistols! In 1976-7 Music was in a sorry state, it was Record Company controlled, the sounds of crappie sappy disco pop and pathetic whiny crybaby rock topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Glitter was past its prime, The time was right, The NY and London club scenes coincidentally collided with one and another and gave birth to a whole new set of Musical options and priorities. I can't even talk about it without getting all excited and feeling the urge to jump up and down and bounce of the fuckin'' walls. You can read "England's Dreaming" for a fairly complete and fascinating history, or look at any of a dozen great punk picture/history books for the imagery, the style and the attitude, but most important, Listen to the Music...the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned, X Ray Specs, Siouxsie, Generation X, the Jam and The Buzzcocks. Then listen to amazing variety of the post-punk bands that were spawned from the first wave, bands like Joy Division, the Fall, U2, OMD, and Depeche Mode to the diverse Gothic and Industrial sounds that emerged because of the doors Punk Blew Open. By breaking the rules the echoes of this new music for a "Modern World" would reshape music forever. Listen to it Loud and Pogo.
7. Good design- any media
I don't care if its a little green pea pod in my garden or a F-18 Hornet at mach 3, I love good design. OK, Nature rules, life can't be beat for detail, variety and function, a jellyfish, a palm tree, an orchid, the motion of the tides on a beach or how about, Mt. Everest, or the Milky Way on a clear night. Natures handiwork is beyond amazing from the subatomic level to the immense beauty of the galaxies. Natural design is the very fabric of Life itself from the hand of God. But, OK, Man-made design is also impressive, the ax and spear, the alphabet, the village and the city, the book and the laptop, the ox cart and the Porsche Carrera, the flute, the microchip. a vaccine, the flat screen TV, Apollo 11, my i-pod! Let us not forget the artist designers and craftsmen that bring good design to us, Botticlelli, Durer, Breugel, Morris & Co, Crane, Rackman, Eames, Meier, Graves, , Brody, Apple, Nike and NASA, just to name a few. So I contend, be it a starfish clinging to rock being pounded by the waves or the Space Station orbiting the Earth, Organic or man-made, good design is everywhere.
8. Communication
From the primitive tribal shaman and the ancient hunters telling stories around the fire. From ancient lost scrolls and manuscripts, from the printed book to newspapers, from the telegraph, broadcast radio and TV to the latest state of the art wireless, wi-fi, e-mail, web, GPS, palm, mp3 player, pocket, tablet pc's. "Holy Shit, Batman! " we've come a long way baby! OK. so now we have this broadband and all this streaming media and all these tools for communication. Yes, we can store more and more data cheaper and yes we can send and process more and more data faster and faster. How about the message? In today's world of Information Overload is the media is the message? or is the message the media? Do you even need a Message if you have enough media? Well, I believe it all comes down to good "Information Design" in any media. What is the simplest, easiest and clearest way to convey your message? An interactive webpage? or the letters HELP carved out on a beach? How do we find The balance of "What we say" and "How we say it".
9. Garbage (the band)
Garbage rules! Shirley Manson ROCK's, Period. That's all I need to say. You don't believe me? just Listen to almost anything they have done. This is a band beyond comparison. Their songs and albums are complex, pop and familiar but also disturbingly different, rich, dark and daring. Shirley and the "Smart Boys" are a winning combination. The lesser known B-sides are great, ranging from punky, grungy, pop-rock to sweet and tender. But the very BEST are the dance mixes. Yes, those Awesome, Hard driving, Powerful but melodic remixed Techno, Spacey, Exotic dance mixes are probably the best kept musical secrets of the past decade. Garbage is a hard working band that really cares, always recording or touring, their dedicated to producing great Live shows, diverse Singles, Raw and energetic B-sides and the absolute top of the line dance mixes. Just listen, they WILL blow your mind, pure Garbage is pure genius.
10. Novelty- a blessing
Bless those who think a little different (or a whole lot different) Bless Those who surprise us, Bless those who look ahead, Bless those that challenged the Status Quo (right or wrong). Bless those who have been persecuted, hung stoned and burned at the stake for what they thought. Bless all those who swam against the grain, for daring to have and express a Novel thought, for going where others had not gone before. Bless all those who have allowed us and inspired us to open our minds and look at things even a little differently. Bless all those great thinkers, great dreamers, visionaries, even if they were wrong, even if they were kooks and crackpots. Bless, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Bruno, Jesus, Buddha, Newton, di Vinci, Einstein, Lewis Carroll, William Blake, McLuhan, Lilly, Duchamp, Eno, Leary, P-orridge, Fuller, Laffoley, , Gysin, Huxley, Borroughs, Gleick, Sagan, O'neill, Campbell, Gaudi, Putman, Cage, Dawkins, Huysmans, Starck, Brody, Jobs, McKenna, Westwood, Wurman, Botta, Nouvel, Wagner, Coates, Tuft, Wilde, Wain, Mucha, Warhol, (just to name a few)
Who are your favorite Novel thinkers?
11. BurningMan
Like a giant "Do-It Yourself Disneyland" the Annual Burningman festival outside Reno, Nevada continues to grow and evolve as an ongoing experiment in community and Sanity. The dedication of the organizers have met the challenge of growth and have kept this event noncommercial and about Art and the experience. They have created the largest outdoor Art Gallery, no walls no limits. A very unique place, where anything might and probably will happen.
"Leave your expectations on the side of the road. Once you turn off the highway and enter the flat dusty cracked playa, you leave civilization as you knew it behind. Welcome to New World Dis-Order. You are entering a temporary and spontaneous community, both primitive and futuristic. Forget everything you know, expect the unexpected. For a wonderful week in late summer, the stark Nevada desert blossoms into both a Heavenly Paradise and a Devilish Hell. For seven years in a row I participated in perhaps the most amazing event this side of the coming Armageddon, beyond a Survival-Art-Happening; Is it a religious experience? Or more? Much, much more? Burningman is truly what you make it. A vast resource of self-knowledge and unexpected fun. From weather and storms that can feel like the very Gates of Hell, to relaxed strolls under a beautiful calm moonlight sky. It's all that and more, much more than words or pictures capture. Is it real or an illusion? You'll have to judge for yourself. For me it is truly one of my favorite places on Earth." -1995
12. Music-in General
Music is a category onto itself :
- From that first night I lay awake in my dark room, turning that big round dial on my little plastic clock-radio, scanning the AM airwaves looking for that special song, something new, something hot, something wild, something different, I knew even then I was addicted to music.
- It was 1962 there was no FM, no alternative, no Beatles, no Stones, no Jimi, no Reggae, no Bowie, no PUNK, no MTV, no World, no Techno, no Trance, but somehow I knew it would all come, it would have to. Even at age 12, even then I knew there had to be more to life than just Frankie and Annette.
- Well it has. It has all come and gone, sometimes it went too fast and sometimes it just kept coming back again and again. Over the years we have seen all types of Music and styles, new genres and sub-genres, we've seen way too many Stars and Superstars, but not enough Hero's, We've had Mods and Rockers, Rock Gods and Anti-heros, One Hit Wonders and 4 decade old Rock Bands (not even I expected that). Take a little trip down Memory Lane and checkout some of my favorite Music of the past four decades... now through the miracle of digital technology, forget your MTV.....
- GIVE ME MY MP-3s
- Check out the Record Ranch Site for more details on my eclectic musical taste.
WOW.... the interwoven treads of continuity of my favorite things are beginning to scare even me !
So, lets summarize... Quality and Design, Individuality and Creativity, Revolution and innovation, Oh yes, British, British, British.
Unique, Thoughtful, Original and Different.
High Energy, High Intelligence and High Design.
High Ideas, High people, High style, I guess I seem to like them all,
Across all categories, If it's Smart, if it's New & Hot, I Like it!
Think for yourself.