Going through the “free movies” listings last night on cable, I came across Stoned, the story of Brian Jones’ last few months before he “drowned” in his swimming pool in 1969.
At first the movie looked like it might be really awful. The actors didn’t look like the Stones; Keith wasn’t rugged enough, Mick wasn’t cute enough and the actor playing Jones had to be in his mid-thirties, unlike the actual Brian who died at 27 and joined the pantheon now known as the “27 Club ”.
Even though the movie got absolutely panned at Rotten Tomatoes, I found the story pretty fascinating and told from an angle that I’d never heard before.
Enter Frank Thorogood, a building contractor for Jones’ residence turned gopher/companion for the rock star. Frequently head tripped by Jones (“You’re an awful carpenter, what’s for dinner?”) and also growing painfully jealous of all of that 1960’s free lovin’ going on that he was no part of, Frank may have had some sour grapes turn into bitter wine. He was also owed a lot of money.
Whether accurate or not, the movie shows that things can get very weird when the famous isolate/insulate themselves too much.
The Spin I'm In: Heart of Stone
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Godstar (Cotchford Farm Mix) |
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Who? |
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55 |
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The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man |
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Sister Morphine |
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2120 South Michigan Avenue |
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Rootz!
Dodd!
DONITA!!
Donita!
Going to see Marianne Faithfull perform in SF Saturday night. Should be fun.
Swopa @ 4
Oh, wow. That’s a show I’d love to see.
Woo, didn’t expect to see psychicTV in a playlist here, though I must admit that I’m not that into that era… I prefer the weird acid house stuff with Fred G.
hi donita
poor brian jones. that rock n’ roll saga always breaks my heart.
great playlist! never heard 2120 s. michigan ave……ROCKIN!
love,
nora
Hey Donita
googling around now. I can’t believe I have never heard of this guy Frank Thorogood until now. very interesting. love the new time slot for you on Fridays.
have a great weekend.
With an appetite for gigabytes (on a kilobyte budget), we witness the Griffin Email as it becomes Rove’s albatross at TPM:
Chow down…
Lorna Doone wants the report that found that she violated the Hatch Act thrown out – link via Thinkprogress:
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0507/052506p1.htm
There’s a Ted Nugent song called “Death by Misadventure.” Ted sez the tune is about Brian Jones and the title comes from the “cause of death” as noted by the coroner on the death certificate.
Sometimes breakin’ up is hard to do Democrats. But time changes everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD42nCMIHsI
El_Hornito @ 11
Yes, that was from the coroner’s report He supposedly wasn’t that intoxicated .
TRex @ 5
Meeee tooo.
Hi T!
Whats up firepups? Technical difficulties at my end. My TOOBZ! are tied or something.
the very first album i ever got was “got live if you want it” by the stones, a gift from my older sister.
i was 11 years old and i played that thing until my parent’s ears bled.
love that song, thanks for the memories Donita
have you heard her recent stuff, the covers of the brecht/weill songs???
she’s a fuukin AMAZING chanteusse…
.
Donita—great song.
The Stones were the first concert I went to, the STP Tour in 1972. Stevie Wonder played first! Amazing.
I remember watching them on the Ed Sullivan show, and laughing when I realized they changed “Let’s Spend the Night Together” to “Let’s Spend Some Time Together.”
Poor Brian, and so many others lost.
It makes me very glad for the musicians we still have today.
And I saw Dick Dale last week, he was wonderful! No break, a 2 hour show, played like 4 instruments.
Donita Sparks @ 13
Have you heard the tune? Granted it’s Ted and all, but it’s got one really nasty lead guitar lick. Say what you will about Ted, that boy can play guitar. And “Death by Misadventure” is a nugget.
TRex @ 5
She’s a great performer. I saw her on her previous tour a year or two ago, and she was very funny, razzing the audience in her refined British accent for requesting songs (“Oh, shut up — I’ve been in this business for 40 years! You think I don’t know what I’m going to play next?”) or putting on reading glasses to check the lyrics of a PJ Harvey-written song (“She’s watching, and I mustn’t fuck it up, or she’ll be very cross.”)
Oh, and she introduced “Broken English” by saying, “This is the song I came over to America to sing.”
Donita @ top:
Donita, what relevance could this observation possibly have on a website about politicians, who serve and respond to the publlic will?
(Pause)
Oh, right. Never mind.
Brian Jones… he already had three kids at the age of 19 from three different women/girls, right? Respect to the man!
We’re happy that you don’t withdraw and give strangers the opportunity to discuss your thoughts on topics. :-)
Margot @ 18
Was his son Jimmy playing with him? D.D,. is one of my faves.
Just went and checked that “27 Club.” Wow. I never knew. I would only add this: d. Boon deserves to be listed up there with the superstars!!!
i’ve never heard of frank thorogood either, but i’d take anything these insider types take with a grain of salt. these guys are trying to sell books, make movie/tv deals etc. so they could be playing fast and loose with the truth.
i also think that, in some instances(but not this one, of course) the celebrity and the friend have some sort of falling out and the proverbial gravy train has been derailed, so the friend will try to put the celebrity in the worst possible light.
Indian Thriller
El_Hornito @ 19
No I haven’t. What album is it on. I’ll check it out. And yes, Ted is a kick ass guitar man.
Hey, Donita! I tried to email you last week but it bounced back. You asked about covers and I’ve always wanted to do “Oh, Bondage, Up Yours!” by X-Ray Spex, but like an Elvis/rockabilly rave-up with hollow-body guitars, upright bass, and trash-can drums.
“Ah wawnna be a slave to y’all,
Oh bawndage,
Up yours!
Oh, bawndage,
No more!”
RIP Brian……….I’m going to a pool party this weekend. CANNONBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tommy
El_Hornito @ 24
was he 27?
Great playlist, thanks for the heads up about the flick.
Have a good weekend.
Sid
It’s on Cat Scratch Fever. You can skip the schlock and go straight to the B.Jones tune.
TRex @ 29
Oh hell no! That would RAAAAAWK! Are we talking like maybe Reverend Horton Heat style?
Dang, now I understand why The Stones felt the need to hire the Hell’s Angels for protection!
Ahem.
I have a much better voice than the Reverend, thank you.
wgg: tokin liberal @ 17
I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time; in fact, I saw her in concert back in 1983.
I’ve already used the “when I was still in the womb” joke in an FDL thread, so I’ll merely state that I was below legal drinking age at the time.
Donita @ 23,
No, Jimmy wasn’t with him. He really bragged on him a lot though, said he matched him note for note. He appears to, on the YouTube I’ve seen of them playing together. I see on his tour schedule that his son plays with him pretty seldom, probably due to school.
nicelyput @ 8
Coincidently I’ve heard the name Frank Thorogood for the first time earlier this week after watching a TV show that briefly mentioned Brian Jones. I don’t know what I should think of the rumors of his confession at the death-bed. “They” is he most accurate description of the source that I found on the web for that…
… There are conspiracy theories about the deaths of Hendrix and Cobain as well.
d.Boon, aged 27.
b. April 1, 1958 (no foolin’) d. Dec 22, 1985:
The Day the Music Died… for a lot of people.
Has anybody mentioned the fact that the fate of the three (now two) captive USer soldiers held by insurgents in Iraq seems to be inextricably and immediately linked to the Abu Bin Gonzales’ position on the Geneva Conventions?
just askin’
.
TRex @ 36
Yes you do, but the Rev has that high energy rockabilly sound which is what I was referring to. Either way, your version of that tune would be awesome.
TRex @ 29
That sucks that it bounced back. I was (and maybe still am) having server problems. I’d love to hear that version of Oh Bondage”! Get on it.
El_Hornito @ 24
You can just edit it. It’s Wikipedia after all. :-)
We have a band here with an Elvis impersonator called Bigger Than Elvis that could back you on that tune well T.
Norman Wagner @ 39
right. apparently their was only one witness. sort of a Melvin and Howard kind of thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD42nCMIHsI
TRex @ 28
Mmmm….covers….cherry bomb with joan jett
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF9TCwxorFY
We should put that clip up. It’s awesome.
Hi, Donita!
Great playlist!! I didn’t still know this movie, but I’ll try to get it to watch!
About band’s movies, I watched some movies about The Beatles… the actors seemed really with them! A movie that I like very much is “In his Life – The John Lennon Story – Inglateraa 2000)”. When I watched the movie and I saw the actors, I thought: “John Lennon comes back to the life”!
Donita, I’m very happy! I’m buying imported albuns of L7, here in Brazil it’s not easy to find it to buy… I bought “Smell The Magic” yesterday!! I’ll complete all the collection of L7! Have a great Saturday!
;-)
I missed that concert but D I think that was right around the time we got to be friends, no?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPIuIwSJ41s
Hi Donita and Fini and all!
I’ve been playing “Curtains for Cathy” and “Dare Dare” all day! It’s KILLERZ.
Hope my neighbors agree. If not, oh well…
Jacqrat @ 53
Its the Jacqrat! Yeah, Donita’s new mix of Curtains for Cathy and the new tune Dare Dare are both on that MySpace page. If you all haven’t checked those out they effin rock hard!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 51
Nice.
Jane Hamsher @ 47
Ha! I don’t think that I’ve seen that one before.
this general, batiste, sez there needs to be 100k nire army, and 50k more marines to ‘accomplish the national strategy.’
Amy didn’t ask what that ’strategy’ is.
is it the prosecution of the hunnert-year GWOT?
invading/conquering Iran?
wtf…
/
Watch Obama reply to McCain and Romney hitting him on his funding vote last night.
thanks for the heads up on “cherry bomb”. for someone like me that’s the best of possible worlds.
Jane Hamsher @ 50
I do believe, I do believe. I’ll give you a ring ding in a bit.
Scarecrow @ 57
Scarecrow, thanks for that link, I’ve got Pelosi’s presser CSPAN1
TRex @ 28
Heh. I’ve always thought an acoustic sing-songy version of ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ would be both great and hilarious.
Kinda like Aztec Camera’s version of ‘Jump’.
Jacqrat @ 52
thanks hon. how’s your FDL mug treating you???
Oklahoma kiddo @ 47
Oh I love western swing. Take Me Back to Tulsa!
Donita Sparks @ 59
Yeah I spoke with Howie when I was in DC yesterday. Or the day before. Can’t remember.
You’re such a fucking rock star in that clip. Well, always really.
Jane Hamsher @ 48
I used my podtube to rip it to my iTunes. Does that count?
THANKS for posting it, Jane.
El_Hornito @ 39
I remember. I was a college radio DJ at the time. A sad day indeed.
I have forgotten how much I like the Eagles.
Donita Sparks @ 62
Very well! I haven’t crossed many bridges lately but when I do, I’ve got my “Donita Sparks” stickers at the ready to stick on the toll booth entryway!
Margot @ 63
mebbe it was 10 years ago, i danced with the last ex-mrs tokin lib’rul in an OKie City parking lot to a band made up of the last living members of thelast Bob WIlls Band.
i usta go to rodeo dances in santa fe when i was a kid, everybody went, nobody checked id.
santa fe was a small rodeo in those days; dint draw big bands to the lil dance venues; there was always a rodeo dance at la fonda, though.
circa 1960…
Scarecrow @ 58
First evidence I’ve seen of Obama changing his dialect.
I just got a new ipod and am going through a learning curve. But as I burn all my old cds, it has given me a chance to listen to some great music I forgot I had. Right now, I am burning a Marvin Gaye album and listening to Laurie Anderson “Statue of LIberty” from “Life on a String”. Haunting and so prescient.
BTW–does anyone know some good ipod for windows software. I am not happy with this itunes thing. Esp since I am using it on 2 computers.
El_Hornito @ 11
Ted Nugent is a Loyal Bushie. Plus, he has no talent and he is not a real rock and roller.
Woodhall Hollow @ 71
Try MediaMonkey, I just started using it on the recommendation of one of my fellow computer/music geek friends. I love it and it syncs with most kinds of portable players including iPods I think. I have a Creative NOMAD player instead of an iPod so I’m not sure.
2120 S. Michigan Ave. was the street address for chicago’s Chess Studios; -thus the name of the stones tune/instrumental. brian jones was an amazing swimmer by all accounts, thus part of the curiosity of his pool death.
Here is a link for MediaMonkey.
FiniFiniTOOBZ! @ 74
thanks! I’ll check it out.
FUCK ted nugent!!! he lost me when he referred to feminists as fat, ugly pigs who aren’t getting any. i hate reality tv but i have an idea for a new series- we should put donita and ted on an island and whoever is left alive gets a million dollars. the smart money, of course, is on you, donita. any takers? fox, are you listening?
FUCK ted nugent!!!
Swopa @ 4
I saw her about fifteen years ago in SF. Every woman in the house cried at one point but it was a great show.
Especially for Margot. Who loves western swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPIuIwSJ41s
Eureka Springs @ 78
as tears go by
OT-Melanie Morgan on Hardball to discuss Clinton books.
ha- i was dancing around to “blue millionaire” today…
solai @ 81
I’m so glad I’m watching anything else.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 79
You should write a short description what’s behind the links you post instead of posting them twice to make more people click. :-)
solai @ 81
My blood pressure just raised 4 points reading that.
you wanna great singer – the late dusty springfield….sings rings around marianne
wgg: tokin lib’rul @ 70
Hey, I was a kid in Santa Fe then. I don’t even remember any rodeo dances!
I have a new CD that I highly recommend for picking up lefties spirits or otherwise.
The new Mavis Staples – We’ll Never Turn Back – with Ry Cooder producing and performing on the whole album. It’s fantastic..all the reviews at amazon are helpful.
and for fun and Jane here is Lou Reed with Pavarotti on youtube
The guy from MOVE ON did a very good job knocking down MM’s ridiculous statements. The final round had MM saying that the decisions should be up to Bush and generals. He said everytime a general disagrees they get fired or dissed. Last remark went to MM: “Abraham Lincoln did it”
Am I supposed to know what that means?
Frank @ 72 and Eric @ 77: I hear you, men! I was really only making reference to the Brian Jones song and the notable title “Death By Misadventure.” [Well, I suppose I did give him props for being a great guitar player, but even Donita will back me up on that one.]
Let me say this, Ted Nugent couldn’t carry d. Boon’s [guitar] strap.
{{{ESAR}}}
I recently saw that Lou Reed/Pavarotti clip, its cool. Strange pairing but it worked!
juslin @ 86
you don’t have to say you love me
FiniFiniTOOBZ! @ 91
I found it last night (just got high speed this week so music o-rama) and couldn’t stop laughing while trying sing along…)
solai @ 89
must be a
newold version of IOKIYARNorman Wagner @ 84
That comment was not meant to duplicate.
I’ll say again: for Margot:
What?
When was he EVER cute?
FYI, new thread
elliot@92
ahhhhh you know the song lol – you know a great singer ;o}
juslin @ 98
Believe me. Believe me.
Believe me.
For Margot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDPoQa1Ptt0
Oklahoma Kiddo—
Thanks so much, that was beautiful!
ahhh elliot all i see is youuuuuuuu
Eureka Springs @ 89
Thank you, Eureka Springs!
how old were you then? where’d you live?
i lived in pojoaque, dated a barrel-racer from los alamos…we went to rodeo de santa fe dances every year…a big one on saturday night in the main ballroom of la fonda…but at the american legion, the elks, the vfw; and jimmy’ tiny’s and a buncha commercial places…
…
wgg: tokin lib’rul:
I would have been 7 in 1960.
Dang, I missed out. I lived off the Old Taos Highway near the Cross of the Martyrs.
Fitzgerald recommends 3 years for Libby
Loo Hoo. @ 103
No kidding – thanks!
Yeow! I listened to the samples. The CD is now waiting for me where I’ve been buying my music for years & years.
Elliott @ 92
Just re-smoke the ham.