Read Stanley Kubrick’s Full Interview in Playboy Magazine From 1968
Playboy: If life is so purposeless, do you feel it’s worth living?
Kubrick: The very meaninglessness of life forces man to create his own meaning. Children, of course, begin life with an untarnished sense of wonder, a capacity to experience total joy at something as simple as the greenness of a leaf; but as they grow older, the awareness of death and decay begins to impinge on their consciousness and subtly erode their joie de vivre, their idealism — and their assumption of immortality. As a child matures, he sees death and pain everywhere about him, and begins to lose faith in the ultimate goodness of man. But, if he’s reasonably strong — and lucky — he can emerge from this twilight of the soul into a rebirth of life’s elan. Both because of and in spite of his awareness of the meaninglessness of life, he can forge a fresh sense of purpose and affirmation. He may not recapture the same pure sense of wonder he was born with, but he can shape something far more enduring and sustaining. The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death — however mutable man may be able to make them — our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.
Here’s the full interview as it appeared in 1968:
Via Flashbak
Sook-Yin Lee’s Eyeball Theatre on MuchMusic
With a small, crappy, high 8 video camera, MuchMusic VJ Sook-Yin Lee wandered and taped whatever she found interesting & called it Sook-Yin’s Eyeball Theatre. I only recall seeing this once, and hope she still digs it. It’s an excellent watch.
Wanna Hear What Bands Argue About In The Studio? Check Out The Byrds From 1967
In-studio arguing from a Byrds recording session, as David Crosby nags drummer Michael Clarke to play his part the right way. Whatever THAT means. In August 1967, during the recording sessions for The Notorious Byrd Brothers album, Clarke walked out on the Byrds and was temporarily replaced by session drummers Jim Gordon and Hal Blaine. Clarke had recently become dissatisfied with his role in the band and didn’t particularly like the new material that the songwriting members were providing. However, Clarke continued to honor his live concert commitments, appearing at a handful of shows during late August and early September 1967.
How Great Was Columbia House?
One of the most heartfelt jingles you’ll ever hear celebrates Columbia House with 8 CDs for a penny and 6 VHS tapes for 39 cents each.
Micky Dolenz doing a glam version of “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” from “The Greatest Golden Hits of The Monkees” TV special in 1976
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart is an album by the group of the same name, released in 1976. The group consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Dolenz and Jones had been members of 1960s pop group/band The Monkees while Boyce and Hart had written many of the group’s biggest hits such as Last Train to Clarksville and (Theme from) The Monkees. In mid-1976 the foursome filmed a television special (directed by Dolenz) called The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees, which showcased the group performing musical numbers and comedy skits inspired by their live concerts. It was later syndicated across US television stations. A videotape of the special was sold in Great Britain and Japan in the early 1980s.
54.40 gets instruments stolen in New Westminster, BC, offers $5,000 reward.
West Coast rock band 54.40 was robbed of their instruments from an 18-foot U-Haul cube van parked in front of Queens Park Care Centre (315 McBride Blvd.) in New Westminster last night. The theft occurred between midnight and 9:30 a.m. following preparations for tonight’s and Saturday’s shows at the Commodore Ballroom. The band is asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or knows anything about the instruments to call:
Allen Moy, 54.40 management at (604) 761-2025 AND New Westminster Police Department, (604) 525-5411, file number 18-19100.
The band is offering a $5000 reward for the safe return of the equipment or information that leads to the safe return of the equipment.
The seven stringed instruments stolen are:
● 1957 Fender Esquire electric guitar, serial # 20378. Blonde, some wear and finish checking. Back slightly stained with red dye. weathered road case
● 1974 Fender Jazz Bass, serial #646897 (black w. white pickguard, maple neck. Black gator case.
● 1966 Fender Stratocaster, serial #119921 Sunburst, heavy wear. Re-issue tuners and bridge. Straps locks Installed. Routing under pickguard. weathered road case
● 1966 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard. #823870 Cherry, heavy wear. Replaced fretboard and tuners. Strap locks installed. Non-original Bigsby vibrato, previously drilled for a stop tailpiece. weathered road case
● 1954 Gibson Florentine Electric Mandolin.#2221 Very rare double cut-away, solid body. road case
● Gibson SJ200 acoustic guitar serial # 877023 with aftermarket Fishman soundhole pickup. Some finish checking. Poly acoustic case
● Gibson Dove acoustic guitar with aftermarket LR Baggs soundhole pickup. Average wear. Poly acoustic case
54.40 thanks the public in advance for any assistance solving this crime. The instruments are irreplaceable and hold great value to band members beyond their monetary worth. This weekend’s shows will go ahead as planned.
That time musical guests on an 80s Australian talk show all performed covers of Stairway to Heaven
The Money or the Gun, hosted by Andrew Denton, had an interesting concept: Each week a guest would perform their own version of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. Versions would occasionally tie in with the theme of the episode (“Guns – the Musical” had a Broadway-style version by Jodie Gilles as the conclusion, while the episode on Australian Comedy had the Doug Anthony All Stars performing it with the assistance of Barry Crocker) but the most surprising of all was the version by Rolf Harris which eventually reached number 7 on the UK singles chart. Generally the performance of “Stairway” would be a break in the program and the artists would have no other part in the program. The CD release won an Aria Award in Australia in 1993.
Performers and styles included:
Kate Ceberano and The Ministry Of Fun, in a cool funk style with woodwind
John Paul Young, in the style of “Love is in the Air”
Pardon Me Boys, in a swing style (with numerous references to Glenn Miller songs)
The Beatnix, a Beatles tribute band, in the style of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “Please Please Me”, and “Twist and Shout”
Nick Barker & The Reptiles, in a heavy blues style
Rolf Harris, in the style of “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”
The Australian Doors Show, in the style of “When the Music’s Over” by The Doors
Sandra Hahn, Michael Turkic and chorus, in the style of an epic Wagner opera
Robyne Dunn, in the style of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles
Elvis impersonator Neil Pepper, in the style of “Viva Las Vegas”
Toots – Jenny Lovell in the flesh, voice by Helen Jones, a femme fatale performance in the style of
The Whipper Snappers, in an indie rock girl group style
Friends Of The Castanet Club, as a sea shanty
Toys Went Berserk a post-punk version
Bob Downe, in the style of a lounge singer
The Rock Lobsters, a B-52’s tribute band, in the style of “Rock Lobster”
Jodie Gillies, in the style of a Broadway musical (with numerous references to “One” from A Chorus Line)
Etcetera Theatre Company, as a techno dance in the style of Talking Heads
The Jeff Duff Orchestra a chamber orchestra with vocals
Fargone Beauties, as a country thrash in the style of “Dueling Banjos”
Judi Connelli, as a gospel song
Barry Crocker and Doug Anthony All Stars in a unique style
Vegimite Reggae, as a modern reggae
The Symphony Chorus of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, as an a cappella chorus
Leonard Teale, as a dramatic poem
Rory O’Donoghue in the style of an advertising jingle and an Australian ballad
Neko Case on putting words to emotions
“Poetry, music, art — you’re making a language to explain things that your native language or any language you know isn’t quite enough for you to explain something. Sometimes it’s really difficult to explain what an emotion is. And so art and music and poetry and things like that are a way to attempt that and to feel you can stretch much longer than you’re capable of.” – Neko Case