bLOGOS/HA HA: retrocentric

David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.

18 June 2017

retrocentric

Fifty years ago last month, on 26 May 1967,
The Beatles released their astonishing new LP
with an introduction to another band :

It was twenty years ago today
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They've been going in and out of style
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile
So may I introduce to you
The act you've known for all these years
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

One week later, on 4 June , The Jimi Hendrix Experience boldly opened their set at the Saville Club, London, their final gig in the UK, with the same but-go-one-better meta-fiction :

We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
We hope you will enjoy the show
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sit back and let the evening go
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
It's wonderful to be here
It's certainly a thrill
You're such a lovely audience
We'd like to take you home with us
We'd love to take you home

Then they left for the US. Paul McCartney had recommended Hendrix and The Who for the line-up of the Monterey International Pop Festival. From London, England...

The Who ended their set with My Generation, with Pete Townshend smashing his guitar and Keith Moon kicking over his drums as the band left the stage.

photo Henry Diltz

Next comes Hendrix. Electric guitar genius. To top The Who finale, to Wild Thing, he lays the black Strat on the stage, kneels and kisses it, simulates fucking it, ejaculates lighter fluid onto it and sets it on fire. He smashes his flaming axe on the stage seven times then tosses its broken remains into the stunned crowd. Fifty years ago today, 18 June 1967.

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Six months later, in Australia, kid correspondent buys Eric Burdon's record of that instantly famous, prototype youth music festival.

The people came and listened
Some of them came and played
Others gave flowers away, yes they did
Down in Monterey
Down in Monterey

Young Gods smiled upon the crowd
Their music being born of love
Children danced night and day
Religion was being born
Down in Monterey

The birds and the airplane did fly
Oh, Ravi Shankars music made me cry
The Who exploded into fire and light
Hugh Masakela's music was black as night
The Grateful Dead blew everybodies mind
Jimi Hendrix baby,believe me, set the world on fire, yeah
His Majesty, Prince Jones, smiled as he moved among the crowd
Ten thousand electric guitars were grooving real loud, yeah

You want to find the truth in life
Don't pass music by
And you know I would not lie, no I would not lie
No, I would not lie
Down in Monterey

Three days of understanding of moving with one another
Even the cops grooved with us
Do you believe me, yeah?
Down in Monterey

I think that maybe I'm dreaming
Monterey
Down in monterey
Did you hear what I said?

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