The Death Will Not Be Televised--Goodbye Gil Scott-Heron

One of America's true poets died yesterday in NYC. A courageous, gifted man who, nevertheless, had his own demons to battle. I used to play The Revolution Will Not Be Televised in my Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill! sets with the hopes that people will ask me who it was expressing this rage with so much passion and charisma. I play it often to remind myself to stay angry, stay hungry. Goodbye and thank you.

Here's the Guardian obit. As with most cult figures, he had always had more recognition out of his own country: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/28/gil-scott-heron-obituary?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

This is the funk version that I always play on my sets. I can't think of a more powerful message that made you want to dance at the same time:


Battling demons:

Where was I? Oh yeah, Istanbul

Meat packer, Taksim

Early morning, Taksim

Aksemsudden Mahmed mosque--love the gothic mood

Now That's What I Call Pretty Good: Beastie Boys

80s legends? They're all crawling out of the woodwork!
When they started, Beastie Boys were for me a frat boy equivalent to hip hop--loud, boorish and not very smart.

But then, they got better...



and better...



and better...



and better...



Oh, don't get me goin'!
They're celebrating 25 years of License To Ill with Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 and this killah video featuring EVERYBODY.



Know what? Needs more cowbell.

Now That's What I Call Pretty Good: Sade

She's got a greatest hits album after 28 years. Bless.



This is such an awesome video--one of the best openers set to music. Anton, is that you? Would you believe this came out in 1986? I think it must have heralded all cinematic MTV vids to come. Still, an 80s vid isn't an 80s vid without some random shot--in this case 2 old gits at the pub playing cards--wha??

footnote: Still looks like a goddess at 52.