R.E.S.P.E.C.T
March 15th 2007 20:55
I was at a mate’s place the other day staring at his refrigerator. It’s wall-to-wall pasted with magnets back-slapping The Beatles.
I hate The Beatles. I’ve always maintained nothing they wrote comes even close to Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkeys.
But I don’t care.
I admit it’s not a popular position. In Collector’s World anything with the Fab Four stuck on the front is worth dollars. Old women still talk about looking up at hotel balconies screaming. Even within the depths of some sub-woofer pounding hot-four there’s a lotta respect for them Beatles – man.
It’s woeful.
Radio Birdman’s, Aloha Steve and Danno was about respect.
I remember asking their manager why they did the song. I was about twelve and Hawaii Five-O was my favourite TV show.
He went off about how Jack Lord was a legend – how he acted out the main role and produced the show and made it all happen. Jack’s still cool and so is Birdman.
But sadly so many aren’t.
Hemmingway said artistic integrity is like virginity – once you lose it that’s it. Oh Yeah, when you trade self respect for superannuation you’re setting yourself up for nothing more than a comfortable retirement in artistic hell. For a film it’s called Town and Country, a TV show it’s called jumping the shark, in music it’s called Elvis at Vegas.
You’ve got to love his style.
In fact, I’m thinking – James Brown standing on the pounded bonnet of his car shotgun in each hand, wild eyes, with the words; NOT GUILTY.
Now that’s a fridge magnet.
Until next time and happy film-making.
| 40 |
| Vote |











Comment by Duke
When it comes to music buddy, stick to the "new Rose Tattoo of the eighties" and leave the rest to me!