An off-the-cuff tribute from one of Detroit's current heavyweights. As Dwele posted on youtube: "june 25th, at home washing clothes for upcoming tour. . .had 45 minutes to set up the camera and have some fun in tribute to mike, mistakes and all, all in fun. R.I.P. mike!! "
The Motown Museum played host to one of the three "official" or authorized candlelight vigils to Michael Jackson last night, Sunday, June 29th. The other two were in Jackson's native Gary, Indiana as well as his adopted home of L.A. Not quite a thousand people showed up but there were certainly hundreds and hundreds. Radio and Pistons voice John Mason led the crowd in a sing-along (first sound sample below). Bishop Charles H. Ellis of Greater Grace Temple gave a rousing ... well, it sounded like a sermon (second sample below). A representative of Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery told the crowd that the people's impromptu memorial at the museum will be gathered after a month for a permanent resting place at the cemetery. MT Editor W. Kim Heron was there to capture it in photos.
ALL PHOTOS BY W. KIM HERON
ALL PHOTOS BY W. KIM HERON
There will be a candlelight vigil for Michael Jackson in front of the Motown Museum this Sunday, June 28th, at 8 p.m.
Thoughts on the passing of Michael Jackson:
1) When my teenage son told me the news on Thursday, my first comment was about what a sad, unenviable life he’d led, even among the ranks of sad, unenviable star lives. Son proceeded to tell me that it was too early to start making jokes. No, no, I said. I’m serious.
2) When I ran into an old acquaintance at a restaurant, she remarked on what a — well, there was a din, maybe I misheard the word — phenomenal day it’d been. I asked what she meant, and she said something about Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett, icons of her youth. I assumed she meant “phenomenal” as “monumental." But I was afraid to ask.
3) FLASHBACK: I had the pleasure of interviewing Quincy Jones between Off the Wall and Thriller. Among the things he talked about: a) The incredible respect that he had for Michael as a studio perfectionist who’d turn in endless takes of the smallest nuances, the difference between one sigh and another to get it right. b) The pressure they felt to make this upcoming Thriller as big of a hit as Off the Wall had been. It would only become clear how much effort (not just in production but also in PR and behind-the-scenes arm-twisting) was and would be poured into making Thriller something more than a black radio/R&B/dancefloor hit like its predecessor, particularly to get “Beat It” past the barriers of AOR (Apartheid-Oriented Radio, as it was often called) and MTV (likeminded at the time).
4) Back to the Quincy Jones production of Thriller. At the height of its success, I recall a Detroit DJ playing “Billie Jean” repeatedly one night, slowing the 45 down to 33 rpm. Could it have been Mojo? Who could have done that other than Mojo? Anyway, it was brilliant stuff, something to drive the long way home to hear more of. Little obbligatos on trumpet or synthesizer that flit by at regular speed come into focus at the slower speed. And the song’s paranoia becomes all the stronger. And speaking of Michael Jackson's achievements, the large ones are being cited everywhere: the size of his fame, “We Are the World,” his messages for brotherhood and against racism, here's a small one: In the world of music, all the longing and wooing and sex rarely leads to procreation. Hank Ballard’s “Annie” and Michael's “Billie Jean” were exceptions to the rule (whoever fathered “the kid”).
5) Later Thursday night, a friend called to ask when it would be appropriate to go from mourning to dispelling tension with MJ jokes. Not that he had one. He was just curious. Which brought up the subject of “Michael Jackson’s Original Nose,” a tune our old band, Dry Guitar, had performed at least once in public. Rumors that we’ll reunite to perform our sub-underground hit are widely exaggerated.
6) Actually, that should be rumor-singular, and it began (and probably ended) with the aforetyped sentence.
7) My old friends Bruce Britt and Donna Britt grew up in Gary, Ind., in the same neighborhood as the Jacksons. This proximity to the lightning bolt of superstardom was a sometimes topic of joking conversation, a sort of lighthearted variation on Job: Lord, why not us? At least as members of the entourage? Both of them, rather than cursing their fate, went on to become excellent journalists, Donna, for a longtime as a columnist for The Washington Post. I wish I could put my hands on the Metro Times piece that Bruce wrote in the heyday of Jackson-mania, I believe at the time the brothers went to the White House to meet President Reagan. Speaking truth to stardom, Bruce wrote to the effect that the Jacksons were America’s worst fear come true, and I’m paraphrasing from memory: effeminate black men who dressed like Muammar Qadaffi.
8) FLASHBACK: I saw Michael Jackson at the Silverdome (I mistakenly wrote the Palace originally) after spending the day reporting on the crowd scene and then watching the King of Pop in action. What stands out for cynical jazz-guy-me was Michael’s emotional rendering of one of his ballads. Wish I could recall which one. He actually seemed to be on the verge of giving in to the emotions called up. On the second night I felt … well … a little conned when I realized that the touching moment had been choreographed, including every sigh and muscle micro-twitch. Was that artistry or a bar on a prison?
9) I expect at any moment that my phone will ring and another old friend will revisit his certainty that those 1993 sexual abuse allegations against Michael — which is to say, the point where his kingdom began to unravel — were racially motivated, a vendetta to bring down the King of Pop. Meanwhile, The Washington Post has reposted something Donna wrote at the time, about seeing a pre-star Michael and reflecting on the bizarre adult he’d become: “Whatever the tabloids, self-crafted appearances and his own actions suggest, most of us haven’t a clue as to who Michael Jackson really is. Certainly, he once was a child who needed more help, more protection, than we knew.”
The mainstream press is reporting he was rushed to the hospital, not breathing and in total cardiac arrest...but TMZ is reporting that the former Motown Records child star and self-appointed "King of Pop" has died. Hate to say it 'cause we think Harvey Levin is the devil these days, but much like the print tabloids, TMZ usually has it right when it comes to this kinda stuff. Will post more when something is confirmed.
UPDATE: The L.A. Times and now NBC News have confirmed it. Michael Jackson dead at age 50 in Los Angeles.
This is probably the way we prefer to remember him...
A tragic life ends in L.A.: Back in much better times....
Sorry to hear of the death of Sky Saxon, one of the pioneers of what became known as garage rock and one of the more colorful characters in all of rockdom, in Austin earlier today. He was supposed to play a show (with a new version of the Seeds) at the Magic Bag in August with the Electric Prunes and an updated version of Love featuring Johnny Echols and Baby Lemonade. Was really looking forward to it. Bummer...
Check out regular MT contributor Serene Dominic's obit, titled "Better Than Jagger: The Only Sky Saxon Obituary You'll Ever Need" by clicking here. That headline kinda says it all.
Similar to their "Who's the Greatest Rapper Alive?" poll competition last year, which Eminem swept hand-down (despite five years of inactivity), Vibe Magazine is currently sponsoring a "Who's the Great Rapper Ever?" on their Website.
Yeah, we think polls are kinda silly, too...but hasn't hip hop always been about competiton -- first on the streets and now on the Internets? Anyway, the contest has entered its semi-finals stage, with the contenders narrowed down to four spots. Em is in the running for first place with the late Tupac, the equally late Notorious B.I.G. (who narrowly escaped defeat by Nas with 53 percent of that vote) and Jay-Z (who took down Rakim by 20 percent). At least we think that's what's going on; it's awful confusing...but we do know for sure that Eminem is competing for the first place title.
We're not suggesting ballot stuffing, of course (though it seemed to work in Florida, as well as in Chicago for years), but if you feel like casting a vote and care to decipher what's going on there (and when you do, fell free to explain it to us), do it by clicking here. Do it for Marshall Mathers. Do it for Detroit.
***
Speaking of musical revolutionaries, Sonic Youth is in town next week for a show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Monday, June 29th (check out Laura Wikowski's review of their 16th album, The Eternal, in tomorrow's issue). But our friend Cary Loren has informed us that all the band members will be at Book Beat & Street Corner Music earlier that day, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., for an in-store joint book and record signing.The group will be signing various book projects including; Sensational Fix and the band's David Browne-penned biography, Goodbye 20th Century (just released in paperback), as well as volumes of poetry, small independent press journals and art catalogs. (Note: Street Corner Music, next door to Book Beat, will be officially opening in its new location on July 1st but will be selling Sonic Youth recordings at the event; you also get to check out the store two days before its official opening!). Book Beat is located at 26010 Greenfield in Oak Park; call 248-968-1190 for more info.
Sonic Youth: Be there or be square (for real...)
*The Los Angeles rock community is all in a tizzy about the show Jack White's new band, the Dead Weather, played at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip Wednesday night, June 17th, similar to the "surprise" show they did last Friday here at the Magic Bag. It wasn't the show itself that had everyone super-excited today, though we're sure it was just fine. No, what everyone was buzzing about was that after the show, a lot of people out front of the theater saw one Jimmy Page -- he of a little-known band called Led Zeppelin -- exit the Roxy and hail a cab.
*The ever-prolific Deastro has released yet another EP, this one entitled Live At The Lime, recorded on March 29th of this year at Dubway Studios in New York City. The sessions include an alternate version of
"Michael, the Lone Archer of the North Shore" off his Ghostly
International debut, Keepers, as well as three brand new never-before-released tracks. Click here to download the latest offering from Mr. Chabot.
*Callahan's Bar & Grill in Auburn Hills -- the home of some of the best roots and Americana music in the area -- has just officially changed its name to Callahan's Music Hall, which owner Mike Moss feels is more in tune with the type of entertainment his club presents. There are some great acts booked there this summer, including Cyril Neville of New Orleans' legendary Neville Brothers (July 19th) and Tommy Castro (August 13th). But we're most excited about eccentric Austin guitar hero Junior Brown, who's slated to play the club on Friday, July 31st. If you've never seen him before, well, you should. Callahan's is located at 2105 South Boulevard, south of the Palace and just east of Opdyke.
*It looks like the Rationals' reunion at the Magic Bag on July 24th, in conjunction with a new two-disc anthology, that we mentioned last week isn't going to be a full-fledged reunion after all. According to MT contributor Mark Deming, who ran into Jim Diamond last week, the show will actually be the group's leader Scott Morgan backed up by Matt Smith on guitar, Diamond on bass and Dave Shettler on drums, sort of the same band that backed Rodriguez last year.
*My, how the mighty have risen. Iggy Pop was ignored by the lofty New York Times back in the Stooges' original heyday. Now, he's one the subjects of the newspaper's "Summer Times Talk Series" at The Times Center, 242 West 41st Street, New York City. That's right. Next Wednesday, June 24th, from 6.30 to 8 p.m. New York Times Live will feature "A Conversation With Iggy Pop," moderated by the paper's pop critic, Ben Ratliff. Admission is $30.
*Finally, legendary Detroit music photographer Leni Sinclair's images will be the subject of an exhibition reception at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History tomorrow night, Friday, June 19th, from 5 to 7 p.m. Immediately after the exhibit, there will be a Motown Vs. Stax music presentation in honor of Black Music Month outside on the lawn. Bring your lawn chairs. The museum is located at at 315 East Warren at
Brush Street, Detroit; 313-494-5800. Sinclair's music photos will be on display at the museum through October.
Jimmy Page: Jack's friend...
We've been a little lax here regarding recent news about our old friend Stewart Francke, who's not only one of this region's better-known and dedicated musicians but used to be a regular columnist right here at Metro Times back in the day. But it's been quite an eventful year for the blue-eyed soul singer-songwriter thus far.
He released a live album, Alive and Unplugged (recorded at the Ark in Ann Arbor), this past January that's received a great deal of national attention thus far. (The album can be purchased and downloaded at stewartfrancke.com, to download on the new site's homepage, where all his catalog is on sale for a special summer rate of $5). He was the Grand Marshall if the Assembly Line Concert, a marthon 240-hour benefit concert that took place at AJ's Cafe in Ferndale this past winter to raise money for and awareness of the plight of Detroit's auto workers; his composition, "That's The Way We Do It In Detroit," was the event's official theme song. And he also published a book, Between The Ground & God: Lyrics Essays & Interviews: 1990-2005, earlier this year via Roseville's Ridgeway Press, which includes interviews he conducted with subjects ranging from John Mellencamp to Laurie Anderson and Yoko Ono. There's some general celebration of Detroit within its pages, and many of the features were first published in this newspaper. The book is also available at his Website and via Amazon.com.
He and his band are also slated to perform at at New Jersey's famed Stone Pony in Asbury Park this September as part of the Second Bruce Springsteen Symposium, where he'll join such other Springsteen faves as Joe Grushecky, Jesse Malin and Gaslight Anthem, among others. And last month, he received a 20th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Arts Award from his hometown of Saginaw, where the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission honored him for his "passion for music and the joy his songs bring to so many in his home state and beyond."
But more timely is the concert he and his band have planned tonight at the aforementioned Ark (such a great venue -- the Alejandro Escovedo show there earlier this week simply killed) in Ann Arbor. A leukemia and bone marrow transplant survivor, Stewart is donating all proceeds from tonight's show to the family (including two children, aged 5 and 1) of Ann Arbor policeman Jason Zobabib, who tragically lost his own battle with leukemia earlier this year. On his site, he writes: "As a leukemia/transplant survivor of 10 years, I've lost many friends over the years, but no loss shocked or saddened me more than Jason...We hope you'll come out and honor a true hero and his family while enjoying a night of music."
It's a great cause, so if you're anywhere in the A2 area tonight, definitely check it out.
Was kinda touched to discover that Question Mark (yes, that Question Mark -- are there any others?) left me a voicemail yesterday, personally inviting me to the Mysterians' local show this Sunday night. So, just in case you missed it when we posted it earlier this week. The legendary ? & The Mysterians will be playing a show this Sunday, June 14th, at at the All Around Bar, 25621 Ecorse Rd. in Taylor. Phone 313-292-6838 for more info. I saw them at the Hamtramck Festival during the summer of '07 and they were terrific, certainly not an "oldies" act (remember, Smash Mouth had a hit with their "Can't Get Enough Of You, Baby" earlier this decade and they were the template for so much music that followed them. They also do the best version of "Stand By Me" you'll ever hear...and that's saying something). By the way, the entire schedule hasn't officially been announced yet...but Question Mark will also be part of Don Was's upcoming second Detroit Super Sessions show during the Concert Of Colors on Sunday, July 18th at Orchestra Hall. Others appearing include such legends as Sir Mack Rice and Amp Fiddler, as well as such more recent acts as Gorevette, Blanche and the Go, among many others. Sounds great.
And, oh, yeah, it's official. Better go get in line now, folks...
Collage art that came enclosed with Cary Safarian's letter.
An interesting item came by post yesterday: a genuine letter from former Graystone Hall promoter Cary Safarian. You may recall our piece; on the fundraiser that had hoped to come up with money to support and a bid for clemency on behalf of MDOC Prisoner 207905;. Well, the letter has all the usual bad news and more. For a copy of the full correspondence, e-mail mjackman@metrotimes.com, but here’s the juicy stuff, as well as a glimpse of some of his prison-made art (see above).
I read your article on my benefit show at the Miami. Thanks for publicizing it and giving some background as to who I am and what the whole thing was about. I had to smile when I read some of the anecdotal history of the Graystone. Where did you get your information? I want to say that some of the stories were exaggerated, but not too much. I especially liked the description of me as a “Bluto-like fireplug.” Really!
I’m writing this to update you on my situation. The state is attempting to confiscate the money. The pretext is the SCFRA, or Prisoner Reimbursement Act. The state treasurer has frozen my account, and I stand to lose not only those funds but my own as well. I have to prove where the money came from and what it was intended for. I will be able to, but the state will still try to argue they can take it. It will be a tight fight.
This is part of an ongoing battle with the Department of Corrections. They have destroyed my property, retaliated against me by transferring me around the state, and denied me medical care. They have harassed my visitors, denied me access to my attorney and the courts, and lost my mail. The reasons for this are in part a mystery to me. For the most part, however, this harassment is just business as usual for the department. …
I know that I have a biased view of the MDOC. But I have to ask the question: why is the subject off limits to the media, for the most part? Why is there such a shortage of genuine information about what the Department is doing to cut costs? The real scandal is why most of these prisoners are serving such long sentences and why there is no mechanism for release? …
Thanks for taking the time to read and hopefully respond to this letter. I am eternally grateful to Greg, José, Machelle, Katie, and everyone who collected signatures on my petition, and helped organize these benefits. Thank you for writing about me. I look forward to meeting you. I will be applying for a commutation soon, as my last one was unsuccessful. I have these signatures and many letters of support. I will be looking for more as soon as I file. Again, thanks. —Cary Safarian (Scary)
To write to Cary, send mail (and maybe a few stamps) to:
Cary Safarian 207905
E.C. Brooks Correctional Facility
2500 S. Sheridan Dr.
Muskegon Heights, MI 49444
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