Maurice Jarre Dead at 84

I don't know the names of film composers as well as I do directors, cinematographers, or actors, but there are some composers whose names and work are so ubiquitous in the history of classic cinema that one never forgets them. Max Steiner. Bernard Herrmann. Elmer Bernstein. Nino Rota. Ennio Morricone. Michel Legrand. Georges Delerue. Maurice Jarre.

In addition to about 155 other movies, Maurice Jarre composed the score for Georges Franju's "Eyes Without A Face" (1960), David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), "Doctor Zhivago" (1965), "Ryan's Daughter" (1970) and "A Passage To India" (1984), Luchino Visconti's "The Damned" (1969), Volker Schlondorff's "The Tin Drum" (1979), and Peter Weir's "Year of Living Dangerously" (1982) and "Fearless" (1993). And in case you're not impressed by those credits, he also composed the score for "Mad Max III: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)."

From The Washington Post:

'Dr. Zhivago' composer Maurice Jarre dies at 84

By RACHID AOULI
The Associated Press
Monday, March 30, 2009; 6:50 PM

PARIS -- Oscar-winning composer Maurice Jarre, who captured the majesty of the desert in his music for "Lawrence of Arabia" and wrote the haunting "Lara's Theme" in his score for "Doctor Zhivago," has died. He was 84.

Jarre died in his villa in California, where he had lived for decades, Bernard Miyet, a friend of the composer and leader of the French musicians' guild SACEM, said Monday. No cause of death was given.

"The world of film music is mourning one of its last great figures," Miyet said. "As well as his talent, Maurice Jarre cultivated an eternal good nature, a way of living and a simplicity that became legendary."

From The Guardian U.K.:

"One of Jarre's final public appearances was at the Berlin film festival on 12 February, where he was feted with a lifetime achievement award. Festival director Dieter Kosslick said at the time: 'Film composers often are in the shadows of great directors and acting stars. It's different with Maurice Jarre – the music of Doctor Zhivago, like much of his work, is world-famous and remains unforgettable in cinema history.'"

Lux Interior Dead at 62

I haven't been connected to the internet for a month and a half so I only learned of Lux Interior's passing a few days ago by chance, tuning in to WFMU midway through a Cramps Tribute.

The Cramps never wrote a tune that didn't make you lose control of your limbs and do "The Zombie Dance." From what I've read and heard about their live shows (which I never got to see), Lux Interior would give Iggy Pop (whom I've seen) a run for his money. Songs the Lord Taught Us is a perfect album, which I still listen to repeatedly after many years.

R.I.P. Lux Interior

you ain't no punk, you punk
you wanna talk about the real junk?
if i ever slip, i'll be banned
'cause i'm the garbageman.
well you can't dig me you can't dig nothin'
do you want the real thing, or are you just talkin'?
do you understand?
i'm the garbageman.
yeah, somethin' from the garage and down the driveway
now get outta your mind and get outta my way.
now do you understand?
do you understand?
louie, louie, louie, lou-i
the bird's the word and do you know why?
you gotta beat it with a stick
you gotta beat it 'til it's thick
you gotta live until you're dead
you gotta rock 'til you see red.
now do you understand?
do you understand?
i'm a garbageman.

The Cramps - Garbageman from Off the Bone (1983)

Miriam Makeba dead at 76

As you may already know, the great South African singer and activist, Miriam Makeba died recently. My first acquaintance with Miriam Makeba's music was only a few years ago (2003?) through her song, "Pata Pata". To further my knowledge of this mellifluous singer's work and in the process, edu-ma-cate myself about the sprawling, organic mass of vibrant music known simply as "world music", I bought a compilation of her songs from 1960-65 called Africa. Makeba's voice connects with you even though you may not understand the words she sings (she sings in several languages--Xhosa, French, and English among them). It is a voice that will be missed all over the world.

MAKEBA: "MAMA AFRICA"'S BODY GOES HOME

(AGI) - Johannesburg, 12 Nov - The body of Miriam Makeba has been flown back to her home country, South Africa. The important singer who was a symbol of the struggle against apartheid had died Sunday night at the end of her performance in the anti-camorra concert Sunday held in Castel Volturno. The casket was flown into the Or Tambo airport in Johannesburg and was met by the relative of the 76-year-old Mama Africa and by the Minister for Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan, at the head of a government delegation, who relayed President Kgalema Motlanthe's condolences to her family. Reports were from a spokesman for the South African Foreign Ministry, Ronnie Mamoepa. The ministry got involved to help her relatives with all the bureaucratic paperwork, and thereby get the documents necessary for her repatriation in the shortest time possible.

The singer's corpse will be cremated after the funeral, the date of which has not yet been set. Makeba, a good will ambassador for her country, activist for civil rights and famous the world over for such successes as 'Pata Pata' or 'The Click Song', fell ill at the end of her performance in Campania and was immediately hospitalized, but soon died. Considered a sort of alter ego for Nelson Mandela, in 1960 she had her South African citizenship taken away by the apartheid regime, at that time solidly in power and which later did not allow her to come back even for her mother's funeral. She therefore was forced to spend over three decades in jail, living in the United States, Guinea and other countries.

Miriam Makeba - Olilili (Africa, 1991)
Miriam Makeba - The Click Song (Africa, 1991)
Miriam Makeba - Qhude (Africa, 1991)

Mitch Mitchell Dead At 62

A moment of silence for one of the greatest drummers ever.

I used to try (emphasis on try) to play "Fire" off of the first Hendrix album on my shitty Pacific kit all the time. Mitchell had such preternaturally precise timing and force. His genius intimidated me the way Hendrix' legacy makes guitarists feel like sawing off their fingers and packing it in. Still does.

Here is Mitch Mitchell's obit in today's New York Times.

I've wanted to compile and upload a list of songs featuring my favorite drummers/drum tracks for a while now. Hopefully, I'll get around to it soon. For starters, here's what I would include among that list:

Mitch Mitchell on The Jimi Hendrix Experience's Fire
John Bonham on Zeppelin's Kashmir (Save the Moby Dick theatrics for Captain Ahab. The way the drums build on this track is mesmerizing.)
Prince on Lady Cab Driver off of 1999
Topper Headon on The Clash's Brand New Cadillac
Robo on Black Flag's Rise Above
Rat Scabies on The Damned's Noise, Noise, Noise
Stephen Morris on Joy Division's (whom I'd take over New Order any day of the week) Dead Souls
Stephen Perkins on Jane's Addiction's Ted, Just Admit It
Marky Ramone on Blitzkreig Bop
Moe Tucker on Oh! Sweet Nuthin'
Max Roach on the Jazz at Massey Hall live recording
Jaki Liebezeit on Can's Mushroom
Zigaboo Modeliste on 9 'Til 5 off of The Meters' Look-Ka-Py Py
Scott Asheton on The Stooges' Down on the Street
Hunt Sales on Iggy Pop's Lust For Life (if I had a nickel for every time I heard this beat ripped...)
Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown's band)
Phil Rudd (AC/DC)
Dave Lombardo (Slayer)
Michael Shrieve (Santana)
Elvin Jones (John Coltrane quartet)
Jane Weiss (Sleater-Kinney/Quasi)
DJ Bonebreak (X)
Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo)
etc. etc.