|
Tuesday, 05 December 2006 |
|
LONDON — German-born abstract painter Tomma Abts on Monday became
the first female painter to land the Turner Prize in the 22-year
history of one of the art world’s most controversial awards.
Abts, 38, who has lived in London for 12 years, has said that she
begins every piece — they all measure exactly 18.9 inches by 15 inches
— with no idea what she is about to paint and that they symbolize
nothing at all.
The $49,000 prize was presented by Yoko Ono during a ceremony at London’s Tate Britain gallery.
London artist Rebecca Warren had been the favorite to take the
prize; she specializes in sculptures of large cartoon women with what
the judges called “humongous knobbly breasts and enormous bobbly
buttocks.” [Knox says: be sure to click on the jump to see/read more about Rebecca Warren - he wanted to ridicule her based on this sentence, but did a little research and now he LOVES her.]
This is Marcel Duchamp's sculpture The Fountain, 1917. It is often said, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, duchamp."
The Fountain has "meaning" up the yin-yang. Recently, a cabal of modern curators has advanced the concept of the wall-mounted urinal as the perfect archival medium/repository for the collected works of Yoko Ono.
(More art fun on the flipflop)
|
|
Friday, 17 August 2007 |
|
On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley,
loaded on several prescription narcotics, paid a visit to President
Richard M. Nixon at the White House in Washington, D.C. The meeting was
initiated by Presley, who wrote Nixon a six-page letter requesting a
visit with the President and suggesting that he be made a "Federal
Agent-at-Large" in the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
Nixon, who set the FBI on John Lennon at one point, of course, thought it offered great PR opportunities. And thus the great meeting came to pass.
And then, on August 16, 1977, the King was dead from heart arrest,
brought on by obesity and a monumental drug habit. I was working at the
Record Factory, a record store in Colma, just south of San Francisco,
at the time. The day after the King died, there was a crowd of about
thirty people out in front of the store before we opened.
|
|
Saturday, 29 September 2007 |
|
|
Sunday, 21 October 2007 |
|
I've been working on a new website, dedicated solely to my music, both vocal and instrumental, in anticipation of the release of Pop Down The Years. Hence, the paucity of posts here on Sun Pop Blue.
I was doing one of my periodic walks down memory lane on youtube and found a couple of songs from Matt Monro, who was huge in the sixties. He was great. Amazing voice. I swear, I am going to do a cover of From Russia With Love in my live set someday.
I did an a cappella version of Softly As I Leave You in my last show at the DNA, with heavily processed vocals. Big mistake. That was an awful show. The audience didn't want to hear me. They were all there for Halloo, which was a Portishead wannabe band and they played the same song with slightly different lyrics over and over. And there was a table of drunks yelling and I was ready to call them all out. And I had some middle age guy who was drunk and had taken ecstacy for the first time right in front of the stage dancing like an spazz. And I made some serious song choice blunders for the set. It was one of those shows where you learn a whole lot about performing, if you have any desire to ever perform again afterwards.
Below, please enjoy some classic Matt Monro. Here is a website dedicated to this great singer of yesteryear. We need more guys like him today.
|
|
Saturday, 03 November 2007 |
|
|
Sunday, 11 November 2007 |
|
Okay, here it is ... what's been diverting me from doing anything on SunPopBlue for the past few weeks. My new site: http://www.knoxbronson.com, dedicated to my music and music related issues. I will still be posting art, articles, comics, and so on here, so don't run away ...
Please visit the new site and sign up for the newsletter (this will get you free downloads, and things like that) and also there is a forum section to which you can add stories of your own to existing topics, or create your own topics of interest to you.
Alright.
|
|
Sunday, 21 September 2008 |
|
I am happy to say that a website I on which have been assisting is
I met Amber on MySpace, of all places. I sent her a friend request.
I mean, wouldn't you?
A week or two later I got a long letter from her about my music.
If you know MySpace at all, you know this just does not happen.
99.99% of the time people take a look at your picture, decided if you are
cool enough to be a friend and hit accept or reject based on that split-second impression.
Not so with Amber. She had actually listened to the lyrics rather carefully,
and wrote about them to me with a unique and refreshing perspective.
She did add that her favorite piece was an instrumental excerpt from
a classical piece of mine "Winter Blue," which is part of the hour long
electronic/orchestral song cycle the seasons. I sent her
the whole cd and we corresponded periodically.
Amber is a woman of uncommon beauty and I harbored a secret desire to
have her grace my cd cover for the seasons when it was released,
but, jeez, how to afford a Victoria Secrets model - to pose nude, nonetheless -
when one is abroke-ass artist? That was the dilemma.
In an email one day, she mentioned that she was trying to build two websites.
I wrote and asked if she might be interested in trading services,
since my day job (yes I still have one) is in interactive design.
To my amazement, she said yes.
So we are almost finished with the site.
It has taken while, since she travels a lot, but it has been a pleasure.
I can say with authority that she is a remarkable woman, adventurous, down-to-earth,
talented, smart, beautiful, with a sense of humor, an accomplished photographer.
Coming up in the next month or two, the photoshoot for the cover.
the seasons is being mixed and mastered right now, by Charles Stella,
who also mixed Pop Down The Years.
We may release the cd before the end of the year.
|
|
Friday, 27 October 2006 |
|
Many years ago, at the dawn of my cafe-artist life, where I ceased
actually making music and began talking about it and art while exploring new dimensions of inebriation, my cafe-artist crew and I
were sitting around a going through pitcher
after pitcher of beer (we had yet to discover the efficiency of brandy,
gin, and whiskey) and there was a table full of art-school-fruityloops
at the next table, discussing something about ... i'm not sure, but I
would surmise modern dance ...
"The toe is
trivial!" blurted out a another certified cafe-artist in a shrill, nasally whine that cut through the din ...
I ridiculed then the remark, the sentiment, and even the anonymous
ass-clown who said it, and I do so again as I type these words almost
35 years later.
Berkeley is possibly the Cafe-Artist capital of
the world. I say possibly only because I've not spent any time in New
York, London, Paris, or any other boho-certified metropolis long enough
to determine. San Francisco has a new breed of cafe-artist: the Burners (a
derivation of Burning Man), but that is an essay for another day.
As
a result of my experiences in the cafe-artist world for many years, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Art School
Confidential.
|
|
Sunday, 21 January 2007 |
|
A few years back, when I was hiding out in Hollywood, I got to a point where it seemed as if the jig was up. I was staying in a friend's place.
I was in a near-suicidal state of depression. Nothing was going
according to plan. All the Hollywood bullshit (promised investors,
etc.) had become painfully apparent. I was broke, living off a few sales of HoneyBun kits to distributors, and borrowed money.
I had convinced the company that made HoneyBun Spanking Kits to put out a massage kit, with the idea of breaking out of the adult novelty industry and onto the shelf next to Dirty Girl Soap, where the money was.
They wanted to make a soft-core massage video to go with the oil. I said that was too tacky for HoneyBun. I proposed a relaxation cd. They agreed.
So I did what I have done so many times: I went down below to where the music is. Whatever storms rage above the surface cannot touch me down there.
I can only assume other artists know of which I speak, or anyone who has perhaps submerged him/herself in meditation, or prayer, or focused labor, which, now that I think about it, seem to be the main components of my creative process.
In the time that followed, about three weeks, I composed four songs. When I came out, these are the songs that had flowed through, each about fifteen minutes long:
-
Summer of '68
- Autumnal Sun
- Winter Blue
- Isle of Islay Revisited
Isle of Islay Revisited is the only song I have ever done composed entirely from samples: gongs, chimes, birds, water, guitar, and so on. The title refers to an incredibly sweet and sad ballad by Donovan, on his album Gift From a Flower To A Garden, released in 1968.
I have since reworked the first three songs, taking them from the pastels of the original versions into more technicolor realms. The label I am discussing releasing the cd with insists I redo Isle of Islay Revisited as well. I am in the process of composing a very different piece, although I hope it will have the same placid flow as the original. The label insisted I not have any of the original pieces available on the web (you can hear an excerpt of Winter Blue at my myspace page, however), but since there are issues with samples,etc., on this piece, I think it safe to offer to you for download.
Download Isle of Islay Revisited
|
|
Wednesday, 01 August 2007 |
|
You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.
And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.
Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.
© 1931 Warner Bros. Music Corporation, ASCAP
Featured in the movie Casablanca (1942)
|
|
|
Thursday, 09 August 2007 |
A: Well, how many men are in the household?
Another family-values Republican exposed as being homosexual. Will it never end?
Attention gentle Christians: ALL OF YOUR REPUBLICAN AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE g-a-y, gay, GAY, GAY!!!
At least our queens are upfront about it. Vote Democratic!
Glenn Murphy, Jr., in the upper left of this picture, the recently elected chairman of the Young
Republican National Federation (also the RNC Chair for Clark
County, Indiana and formerly the YRNF Secretary) has been accused
of sexually assaulting a sleeping man. Immediately following the
accusation, he came up with an unrelated reason to resign, and the
YRNF cleansed their website of his name.
Allegedly, Murphy and another YR were
drunk and crashing at Murphy's sister's house. The other man
apparently awoke in the morning to find Murphy giving him a
non-consensual blow job. The Clark County (Indiana) Sheriff's
Department is charging Murphy with "criminal deviate conduct", a
Class B felony.
Taking Down Words, an Indiana blog, has
been following this guy for some time. And guess what? Apparently
this isn't the first time his mouth has ended up on someone's
privates while they were asleep. Glenn Murphy has a prior arrest
for sexual battery. Here's the 1998 Clark County police report. A
snippet, for your entertainment.
Be sure to click on the links. Apparently, the Young Republicans are scrubbing the site of any reference to him. Just like when male prostitute Jeff Gannon was hired by the right-wing Texas website Talon News Services to sit in the White House steno, I mean, press pool. (click on read more for answers)
|
|
|
Tuesday, 04 September 2007 |
|
|
|
Tuesday, 25 September 2007 |
I will tell my rather short William Burroughs anecdote some other day. I wanted to do a comic featuring my three-month old kitten, Baby, and my good friend Mike. I thought they would go well together. They do, don't you think? You can become Mike's friend on MySpace by clicking here.
|
|
|
Sunday, 18 February 2007 |
That's right kiddies ... from now until the end of the month, the 28th, National Tooth Fairy Day ... or, if you prefer ... National Inconvenience Yourself Day, you can get a free ringtone from three songs off the the Flight of the Atombee* cd.
Three tones available right now are:
- Atom Bee and Birdie
- Serenity Applicator
- Molecule Men
Click here to go to Sun Pop Blue Ringtone Store and download a FREE ringtone!
Now, on the first of March, or thereabouts, we will be adding a bunch more analogue synthesizer ringtones, mostly serge, of course. But they will be for sale. Not free anymore! So get yours while supplies last! And tell your friends!
Who loves you, baby?
*official soundtrack to Flapping.
Well ... what are you waiting for? 
|
|
|
Monday, 16 July 2007 |
|
It has been reported that Senator David Vitter, R-Lousiana, was fond of being diapered by prostitutes he hired from the call-girl operation run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, otherwise known as the DC Madam.
Now, when I first heard that another Repube had been caught in a sex-scandal, I thought it inconsistent with what is known about the modern Republican Party: the prostitutes in question were neither (a) male, nor (b) underage.
But then I heard about the diapers and it all fell into place.
Here is the Senator, safe and cozy at the hotel.
Soon it will be time
for a bottle and jammies, and di-dee change!*
And here are some of his ads from a few years ago, reminding us that the Senator is an All-American Family Man. The first ad is particularly appropriate. Thank you, Talking Points Memo.
*Disclaimer: I did not photoshop Vitter's face onto a picture of Karl Rove's body here. Rove is much fatter and whiter.
|
|
|
Thursday, 20 September 2007 |
|
If six-year-olds can sound as good as q-bert and z-trip (always tooted as the "turntablist" equivalents of jimi hendrix), then ... well, you know ... a lot of them, djs, not six-year-olds, are ... uh ... good businessmen and promoters, i guess.
If I woke up in the morning and had to look in the mirror and say,"Knox, you are a DJ!," I would put a bullet through my head.
If you are a DJ, and you are reading this, it is not too late for you. You may be addicted to the easy money and easier women, and you may not ever, ever have the discipline required to make real art, but you can escape the soul-killing shame of pretending to possess some skills, knowledge, or talent, beyond sucking ass for bookings, and buying other peoples' records to play. Write me: there is a solution.
|
|
|
Monday, 22 January 2007 |
|
The Manual
at www.instrumentality.com.
I had the classic book on the science, art, craft ... the mojo required to produce a Number One Hit in Great Britain, The Manual (on how to get a #1 hit the easy way), on
my website, instrumentality.com, for many years. It was the only the
only thing people came to look at, I think. And then a couple people
asked for pdf's of the book within a week. I suggested they do the
right thing and buy the damn book. And then,
the lightbulb went on.
"Why not get a commission from Amazon?"
So I took the book down & linked to the
book through the affiliate thing. Now I realize there are no copies
available. Soooooo ... I've put this treasure back online.
I'm sorry for violating copyright. I am
sorry for stealing from the KLF. But I secretly believe they know the
extent of my crimes. And are smiling.
My intro from the site:
With all due respect to the copyright notices below,
Instrumentality presents The KLF's "The Manual" on how to get a
number one hit in England. This document is as insightful, if not moreso, into the
workings of the music business and the making of songs as any other
texts we've ever encountered.
Essential for anybody interested in music, or the music
business, or looking for a good reason to get out of the music business.
And herewith a few excerpts from the masterpiece:
firstly, you must be skint and on the dole. anybody with a proper
job or tied up with full time education will not have the time to
devote to see it through. also, being on the dole gives you a
clearer perspective on how much of society is run. if you are
already a musician stop playing your instrument. even better, sell
the junk. it will become clearer later on but just take our word
for it for the time being. sitting around tinkering with the
portastudio or musical gear (either ancient or modern) just
complicates and distracts you from the main objective. even worse
than being a musician is being a musician in a band. real bands
never get to number one - unless they are puppets.
if you are in a band you will undoubtedly
be aware of the petty squabbles and bitching that develops within
them. this only festers and grows proportionately as the band gets
bigger and no band ever grows out of it. all bands end in tantrums,
tears and bitter acrimony. the myth of a band being gang of lads
out "against" the world (read as "to change", "to shag" or "to save
the world") is pure wishful thinking to keep us all buying the
records and reading the journals. mind you, it's a myth that many
band members want to believe themselves.
so if in a band, quit. get out. now.
|
|
|
Tuesday, 17 April 2007 |
Pop Down The Years
So they told the tale of the golden sun
And the shining girl who lived within
So pretty
I'll go now
I know now
Just where I'll find her
So the story goes we wore the clothes
To make it seem all possible
The hope it was
All gone now
So long now
But not forgotten
We tried so hard to make it come true
A perfect dream, sun bouncing, sky blue
Pop down the years, still shining on you
Translucent songs that made the world new
Those summer days, your sweet perfume
Just filled the air with magic
A symphony
So bright now
All light now
They watched us dancing.
A slip of time, a ray of sun
A floating song of a perfect world
And endless love
How softly
How sadly
Young hearts were broken
We tried so hard to make it come true
A perfect dream, sun bouncing, sky blue
Pop down the years, still shining on you
Translucent songs that made our love new
I've been in the studio with a musician, of all creatures, working on
an arrangement for Pop Down The Years. I thought I needed a real musician to help me. I think these guys believe they
get paid by the note. After two sessions I gave up.
I am reminded of David Bowie's 50th birthday
concert at Madison Square Garden ... where his guitarist Reeves Gabrels
turned Robert Fripp's magnificent, timeless 3-note guitar figure for
"Heroes" into a 6-note monstrosity ... the beginning of the end of
their partnership, I believe.
In any case, I'm scrapping everything we've done. Writing the proper arrangement on my own -
as it should be - an homage to the songs of the golden era of pop music
- and then back into the studio to rerecord guitar and vocals.
Like I should have done in the first place.
Here, you can download the original, just me and my gr-33.
*"Knox,"
you ask, "what do you mean 'perfect?'" And my reply is,"Child, Pop Down The Years is my
favorite song of ALL my songs [today] and I wouldn't change a thing on this
particular rendition. Therefore I like to think of it as the perfect
love song to the music of my youth, and to a girl, of course."
But then you might just say,"Bongos, Knox, it needs bongos."
And, jeeezus, you might be right.
|
|
|
Friday, 20 April 2007 |
|
Love is patient, Love is kind,
It does not envy, it does not boast,
It is not proud, It is not rude,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil,
but rejoices with the truth.
Love always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.
Love never fails.
Corinthians 13 : 4 - 8
|
|
|
Saturday, 28 July 2007 |
I don't know the story behind this
photo essay. A friend sent it to me. I colorized it. The soldiers are
giving the little pig Kagor, a sweet red wine. The auto-translation from the
Russian wikipedia reads thusly:
Kagor
(from the French. Cahors), a sweet wine, cooked red varieties of
grapes, cultivated near the town of Cahors, partial fermentation or
deliver content and then adding alcohol.
They
differ spify temno-rubinovoy colour, the completeness, soft, velvety,
fine cocoa-chocolate tones in taste and bouquet. These are
prepared in many wine regions. The main characteristic of this type of
cooking wine-cooking.
They differ spify temno-rubinovoy colour? I like that.
Beyond that, I know only that I look at this sequence of photos several
times a day. I hope you will find as much pleasure in looking at it as
I do.
BTW, did I mention that I have launched the first social networking site for pot-bellied pigs?
I still have to pretty it up, but if you know a pig, or an animal that likes pigs, please direct said beast to These Little Pigs so they can make some new friends!
And, let us drink a toast, at last, to the brave little pig the commies shot into space.
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next > End >>
|
| Results 1 - 20 of 95 |
Comix 
