Things I Saw In San Francisco

I saw a kid spinning in front of me at Starbucks. I took a picture of him.

I saw several middle-age men in Mill Valley with ponytails wearing berets. Or maybe I just saw the same guy over and over again.

I saw Jaimie get a bogus speeding ticket on the Golden Gate Bridge. She turned me down when I asked her if she wanted me to drive.

I saw Watchmen on Imax. There were some very good bits, but overall it wasn't very satisfying. Now I have to read the novel and see where they screwed up. I figured out it cost six and a quarter cents for each minute I watched. The best part was after we left...two guys were talking, one of them ranting on moving saying something to the effect of "why do they always have to do that?" It went back and forth with no reveal on what "that" was, until finally he blurted out, "Why do they always make the villain the gay guy?" Then he and his boyfriend bounded down the stairs.

I saw a pigeon in Safeway eating from the bottom of the bulk grain shelf. I almost caught a picture of it but a shopper walked by him /her and he/she flew up and landed on the light fixture.

I saw I guy turning left on a yellow light have the front end of his car taken off by a woman running the yellow light from the opposite direction.

I saw a cashier ring up 15% off $72 as $1.50.

I saw a man on Mission Street. His pants and underwear were down around his knees and he was holding a piece of paper torn from a brown paper bag. I chose not to take a picture. Although, if I had, maybe the image wouldn't be emblazoned on my brain.

Enjoy whatever is left of your Sunday.

I Spy With My Little Eye

Speaking of spying...if anyone asks, you didn't see me here. I'm supposed to be writing. Writing a TV pitch, not a blog post.

I was trying to figure out what to post today, wishing I was home so I could go through some unknown negatives. Since I'm still out of town, hitting the external hard drive was the next best thing. Inside my EISID folder is a Concert Photography folder. Pictures I've scanned of musicians that were not in my book. Mostly stuff I've already posted here.

But one folder I spied in there is called Personal Stuff. I figured there had to be something I could use for a post. There was only one file. A contact sheet that I had scanned on June 2, 2006. Probably checking for musician photos for the book. There weren't any. Just some personal pictures that I had to have taken during my last week or two in Vancouver. Right before I moved to L.A.

I figured that out because of this picture...

I had my car packed up and I was about to hit the road about six weeks before I actually left Vancouver. I had met up with some friends (and my mother) for lunch on the day I had planned to leave. Halfway through my meal I chucked my food. By the time I got to my car I was feeling even worse and my mother convinced me to stick around until I felt better. Within two days (the most miserable two days of my life where I actually my roommate to get me a gun so I could shoot myself) I was in the hospital with a severe case of spinal meningitis.

Back to why I know the pics on the contact sheet are from then...the guy in the picture was one of my nurses during my ten day stay at the hospital. And he was kind enough to help me recuperate once I was released. And I am not kind enough to remember his name.

Anyway, all that has nothing to do with this post. Except the part about not seeing me here. Because I'm not really here. I put this post together three months ago and scheduled for today, knowing that this is the day I would be writing the pitch and would need something to magically appear. Got it? Okay, back to the real post...

So, when I was looking at the contact sheet tonight I became mesmerized with all these eye pictures. I remember taking them but for some reason, when I looked at them tonight I couldn't figure out whose eyes they were. Or how many different eyes there were. If the eyes are the windows to the soul why couldn't I figure them out? We should be able to recognize our own eyes, our friend's eyes, our family member's eyes...shouldn't we? Even when it's just a shot of the eye without the rest of the face?

Check these out. How many different eyes do you think there are?













As far as a photographic critique, I like 2, 3, 4 and 6.

I think the first five all belong to my friend and roommate at the time, Bonnie. We lost touch forever ago. She was/is an amazing artist and there have been many times since the birth of the internet that I have tried to find her...with no luck. I just googled her again and I think I may have hit paydirt. I'm going to send an email and see if it's her.

And after staring at those last two photos for about 30 minutes, I think they could be mine. Although I'm still not convinced. That's really creepy. I can't recognize my own soul.

Creativity and Heath Ledger

No, I didn't shoot him. But, unfortunately, he is dead. And he fits in with the sadness I carry for many of the musicians in my book -- he left way too soon. Right when he was on the cusp of greatness. His performance in The Dark Knight was the most (maybe the only) entertaining part of the movie.

Why do so many creative and talented people check out so young? Can anyone give me a definitive answer to that question?

Maybe it's that feeling of immortality we seem to carry with us through our youth. But if that were the case none of us would survive past the age of 30.

Maybe there's something to the idea that creative types are sensitive, angst-ridden and too insecure to survive in this oh-so-cruel world. But I'm pretty sure there are lots of sensitive, angst-ridden and too insecure to survive creative types walking this planet well into their old age.

Am I still alive because I am not the creative person I think I am? Or am I a creative person that managed to allude Mr. Death during those formative years when I was hanging with the crazy rock'n'rollers? Hopefully, it's the second one 'cause if I'm deemed to be uncreative that would probably be the death of me right there.

I don't know why I think about this death thing so much. But I do. It's one of the things that can keep me awake at night, along with what is the Univierse, how did we get here, why are we here... It's really hard to imagine not being here. Maybe not so hard to imagine but it really freaks me out when I think about it.

Wow, maybe the question should be why am I pushing this doom and gloom on you? Especially on a Friday night? The start of what I'm sure you were hoping would be a great weekend.

My apologies. I'm stopping now.

Hopefully these words from the late great Oscar® winning Heath Ledger (sent to my daughter by the infamous Cucumber Rob right before she had to undergo brain surgery) will shine a light on your weekend and beyond...

Keep smiling!

Things I Observed on the Way to San Francisco

The. Best. Mohawk. Ever.

The stormy skies were not stormy.

Mohawk Man was in my row and
seems to have had a religious experience.

I do not want to Exit to Terminal.

A cool picture taken in 1960.
The sadness that there is no longer a Pan Am aeroplane.

You can make plant leaves with skylights.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today

Following up yesterday's post "Last Night" here is "Today."

Busy.

I was still bagged from "Last Night" last night but then I couldn't get to sleep and of course today was a major crazy (but fun) day. The days I get a lot accomplished are always fun.

I have some very cool things in the works - my movie, for one, and that something with Everybody I Shot Is Dead that I just can't talk about yet - and I made some progress on both of those projects today through a couple of meetings, a bunch of phone calls and endless emails etc, etc, etc.

So, now I'm not only bagged from "Last Night" and last night, I'm also bagged from today. And I'll be even more bagged by the time morning rolls around because I'm getting myself packed up (yup, that entails laundry) to fly the stormy skies up north for a quick trip to the Bay Area. Miss J needs me. Not for her ongoing brain issues...it seems they have finally figured out how to keep her valve adjusted correctly so she's doing really well on that front. This time she is getting her wisdom teeth extracted - geez, it's always sumpin' - as well as another doctor's appointment that requires my assistance.

I plan to get a ton of writing done while I'm there. And some design work done. And maybe even a little sleep?

Now, just for fun, can anybody identify my picture of the day?

I'll give you a hint. I took it.


That is so not a hint. I just wanted to make sure I credited myself. I'm weird that way.

Last Night

We - my brother, Corky Laing and me - started the evening at my favorite Mexican food restaurant, Lucy's El Adobe...

I was taking these pictures with my iphone and wanted to get a candid shot of Corky at Lucy's. Only problem...I was sitting next to him. So, I stretched my arms out and turned the phone around. I had no clue what I was shooting. This is what I got...

Corky Laing and Me

...possibly my favorite self portrait, even though it wasn't meant to be a self portrait. I think the photo also captures the feel of Lucy's in the background. Oh, and that straw pointing at me is coming from my very large yummy, yummy margarita. Very yummy.

From Lucy's we headed over the hill to Burbank to check out a jam band my friend Jeff plays with. I brought my "real" camera along for that portion of the evening entertainment. Only problem...the place was very dark and dingy and only had one tiny stage light that was also dark and dingy. But I had loads of fun shooting wide open at 1/10th of a second. I coulda shouted, "Everybody hold still." Like that would ever happen.

Here's the ones I like best...

These pics are a miracle...the place was so dark I couldn't even see Jeff.

But I could hear him and he sounded great.

I introduced the two drummers...

They seem to be getting along just fine. Ah...drummers.

Jeff and his very cool wife, Judith.

Corky and brother John (as you know, he plays guitar).

And my favorite picture of the night...

The bar girls. I especially like the three hands that are visible. They say everything. Click on the photo to view it bigger and see if you agree. The one girl is almost breaking through her own skin...and enjoying it.

Rory Gallagher

Happy Birthday, Rory!!!

If you're not a fan of Rory Gallagher, you probably have really crappy taste in music. If you've never heard him play, it's not too late to become a fan.

If you play guitar and you've never listened to Rory Gallagher, you don't actually play guitar.

Rory Gallagher

3/2/48-6/14/95

If this doesn't rock you, you better call a doctor...'cause you ain't breathing...






You can see lots more pictures and learn more about Rory Gallagher and the 47 other musicians in my tribute book, Everybody I Shot Is Dead.

Fun Times With My Brother

I'm sick. My head cold is quickly moving downward and taking up residence in my lungs. Ugh.

My brother is on the return leg of his trip from Australia to Canada and staying at my place for a couple of days.

I took this of him this morning at Mel's, where we had breakfast.

In honor of his visit and the fact that I feel like complete shit, I thought it might be FUN to revisit a time long ago. A time when I was up in Toronto printing my first book. A time when I was getting from place to place via mass transportation...as in the cleanest subway system on the planet.

Then my brother showed up for a visit. He had a rental car. He picked me up from the printer's one afternoon and we drove downtown for something or other.

I only remember the other. The other turned out to be this...



It took a full year for the last bit of windshield to work it's way out of my head. I still have the scar on my leg.

He's not driving on this visit.

I'm filing this under Fun Times With My Brother.

Happy Birthday John Fahey

I've mentioned this before. It really bugs me when people die right before they reach their next birthday. There are several musicians in my book that have died a week or two before their birthday. Shit, Alex Harvey died the day before his. When I die...I mean if I die...I want it to be at least one week after my birthday and no less than six months before my next birthday.

Anyway, John Fahey is another one. The anniversary of his death was just last Sunday and the anniversary of his birth is today. The 70th anniversary of his birth.

John Fahey

2/28/39-2/22/01

In last Sunday's post I think I intimated that my Fahey story was one of my best. Did I mention that it also includes the dog? The Santa in this picture is Mark Wilson, the Warner record rep who was so instrumental in helping me with my rock'n'roll photography career.

Here's some more John Fahey for your Saturday listening pleasure...




You can see lots more pictures and learn more about John Fahey, Mark Wilson and the 47 other musicians in my tribute book, Everybody I Shot Is Dead.

Salem Witchcraft

I left that CSNY/CANNED HT slide box on my desk after I shot it for yesterday's post. Today I decided to take another look inside since I hadn't been in there in a couple of years...back when I was looking for my Canned Heat pictures. At that time I probably zipped through the box at breakneck speed because I was trying to put a book together...quick-like. This time I went a little slower and found that, indeed, half the box contains CSNY...here's one I scanned to show you. It's the audience at the Vancouver Coliseum...lots and lots of fans...a new found photo that I really like...

The first picture I pulled out had nothing to do with CSNY or Canned Heat...

It's Jerry Jeff Walker - he's the one with the picture of himself in front of his face flipping me the bird - and a bunch of other people that may or may not have been in his band. They'd done a show at a Calgary bar called The Sports Page. I must have taken this on one of my trips home. I was hanging out with the owner of the bar and I think he actually paid me to take the pictures. His name was/is Mike Barnett and, after he was done with me and his bar, he went on to become hockey-stud Wayne Gretzky's agent, among others. I just googled him and it looks like he's now working with the New York Rangers. Maybe I should have stuck around.

And last but not least, I found a small stack of slides of the opening act from the Canned Heat bus across Eastern Canada in the dead of winter tour. I couldn't believe. And just as I was busting my brain trying to remember the name of the band, I pulled out this slide...

OK...I'm staring at it...something 'm' 'Witch', then I found another slide that gave me the 'Salem' part. With a google here and a google there, I came up with Salem Witchcraft. It was all coming back to me. I found their myspace page which linked me to Arlen Rocks. Arlen. I remember Arlen! Shit. He was the guitar player! The guy in the picture above. Totally remember him. I wonder if he'll remember me. I'm going to email him and find out.

Here's a couple more shots of him...

Arlen could jump.

Arlen liked to jump.

And they even had their own streaker. Not quite big enough to be The Bear. Too bad.

Canned Heat

Today is Bob Hite's 66th birthday. Affectionately known as The Bear, he remains to me the bane of my existence. Or the thorn in my side.

Why? Because I spent three weeks on the road with Canned Heat (plus a folk singer and a Detroit glam rock band - it was me and 19 guys) on a bus touring the far reaches of Eastern Canada in the dead of winter...

And I don't have one picture to show for it...other than this...

Bob Hite

2/26/43-4/5/81

The 'CANNED HT" on the side stands for Canned Heat. I'm sure you can figure out the CSNY. I also recall a yellow slide box that just said CANNED HEAT. And there had to be a lot more...since I was the tour photographer.

Where are the pictures? I have no idea. Since I was paid by the promoter/folk singer's manager I suppose I might have been required to give him everything I shot. Or they could have gone missing in one of my many moves over the years (I'm missing a lot of other pics, including the great Muddy Waters).

And it kills me.

It haunts me.

Every single day.

Where are they? Like where's the Turkish harem ring my dad gave back when I was in junior high school...where is it? My prized possession. Gone.

Does somebody out there have my stuff?

Can you please return it?

Now?

Crap...now I'm bummed. I want my pictures back. Maybe this will cheer me up...

Happy Birthday to The Bear!!

The Ever-Expanding World Wide Web

The mind boggles.

How long has this thing been going on?

When I moved up to Vancouver in '94 for a respite from the Northridge earthquake, among other annoyances, the world wide web was in its infancy. A few stagnant web pages forging a trail. I even did a little graphics work for some of the pioneers...a masthead here and there, a few buttons. When I decided to come back to L.A. in '95 I searched for a moving company on the web. There were less than five.

There were a few networking opportunities - I used to hang out in an AOL chatroom aimed at film industry folks - and there was email...but nothing like myspace, facebook, plaxo and linkedin blah, blah, blah.

Not a day goes by that I don't get a request from someone somewhere wanting me to sign up to the next best networking network. Do we really need all of them? In this time of unemployment is networking the new full time job? That's what it feels like to me.

I recently joined facebook - you can find me under my real name and become my friend - which I am just realizing its benefits. It's a way for me to reach out to people that are into the musicians in my book, helping me attain my goal of keeping their memory[ies] alive. And it will also be a great way to publicize an event that I'm planning in the coming months. However, I still don't know all the ins and outs of facebook and am finding the learning curve annoying, even though I'm pretty sure a two year old could do it.

And this brings me to the latest networking thingy I've been told I MUST join and utilize...

As you can see in the picture I'm 'following' no one, I have no 'followers' and I've made 0 'updates'...whatever all that means. Oh, I know...it means I've done nothing. And do you know why I've done nothing? Because I've come down with Twitter Paralysis. It's the latest malady that I'm sure the prescription drug companies have already designed a pill for. I liken it the Restless Leg Syndrome. Anyway, I'm on the jumping off point of the learning curve and I don't have a clue. Go ahead and laugh. I hear the echoing..."ha, ha, ha... a two year old could do it."

I've heard I can have this very blog go out through Twitter and people will flock to read my sometimes witty words. But I don't know how to hook it up.

I want to get a ton of followers so I can invite everybody to the way-cool event I'm planning. But I don't know how to get followers. Heck, I don't even know how to follow.

Where's Jesus when I need him. He's gotta be the authority on followers, right? How do I get followers without looking like the complete idiot I am in the process? How long do you think it will take me to get a million? Should I go for a million? Hmmm, I think 5 million sounds better.

I'm sure there's a lot of other interesting ways I can make use of Twitter - wait, I have to learn how to tweat, don't I? But that's a bird thing, not a Chesher Cat thing. My Oh My. And I've seen people doing that @so-and-so thing, which I get but I don't get at the same time. Is the room spinning or is that what's left of my brain?

As I was muddling my way through this whole Twitter thing, a friend posted a link that showed up in my facebook newsfeed. I clicked it and was presented with this ever so timely cartoon...

My sentiments exactly.

The mind continues to boggle.

Help.

George Harrison

It's George Harrison's 66th birthday today...time to party.

George Harrison

2/24/43-11/29/01

This is cute...



This if fab...just like George will always be...



Happy Birthday, George!!





You can see more pictures (including photos I took of his fabulous house, Friar Park, and learn more about George Harrison and the 47 other musicians in my tribute book, Everybody I Shot Is Dead.

Oscar® Hangover

Yes. I had a glass of wine.

I was doing really well on my picks through the first part of the show. I think I began to tank about halfway through. At least that's when I stopped keeping track. So, let me take stock now.

Best Picture - Correct
Best Director - Correct
Original Screenplay - Correct
Adapted Screenplay - Correct
Best Actor - Oops, WRONG.
Best Actress - Correct
Best Supporting Actor - Correct (Loved the acceptance speech)
Best Supporting Actress - Correct
Foreign Language Film - WRONG (That was an upset)
Animated Feature - Correct
Documentary Feature - Correct
Short Film Animated - WRONG (Another upset)
Short Film Live Action - Correct
Documentary Short - WRONG (How could they ignore MLK?)
Original Score - Correct
Original Song - WRONG (OK so the Academy could tell the songs apart...my bad)
Art Direction - Correct
Cinematography - Correct
Costume Design - Correct
Make-up - Correct
Sound Mixing - WRONG (Fine...give another one to the Slumdog)
Sound Editing - Correct (That makes two for The Batman, but they shoulda got the mixing too)
Visual Effects - Correct
Film Editing - Correct

I got 18 correct and 6 wrong. 75% right. What's that in school ? B+? Meh. Shoulda done better. I am impressed that I went 7 for 8 in the technical categories.

The show itself? It was just OK.

I liked the stage with the sparkly frame around it. I like sparkly things.

About ten minutes in I thought I was watching the Tony Awards.

The five actor/actress presenters talking to each nominee was weird...like a teacher commenting on your oral report. I prefer a film clip.

The film montages showing bits from all the '08 movies were pedestrian, except James Franco in the comedies one was cute as could be.

Kunio Kato had the best acceptance speech.

Do all the women going to the Oscars call each other to see what they're wearing? There was way to much cream and brown...not exactly glitzy colors. When I go, I'll probably wear black and slinky...with diamonds. Sparkle, sparkle.

The best part of the night? Hanging out at the Benson's.

Fun folks:

That's hostess Shawna second from the left dazzling us in her stunning blue gown.

The scrump-deli-icious food...

That's hostess Julie tearing up the red carpet in her sexy black number.

And lastly, the quintessential Joker wins gold...

That's it from Hollywood. Now go out and make your own Oscar® winning film. That's what I'm going to do.

Papa John Creach and John Fahey

It was 15 years ago today that we lost fiddler Papa John Creach and 8 years ago today that guitarist John Fahey passed away. Both very talented musicians.

Papa John Creach

May 8, 1917 - February 22, 1994

I really loved shooting Papa John Creach.

I posted this video before but it's so sweet I'm putting it up again. It's a little reunion of Papa John and his Hot Tuna bandmate, the great Jorma Kaukonen.

John Fahey
February 28, 1939 - February 22, 2001

John Fahey was an amazing guitarist. My encounter with him is one of my stranger rock'n'roll stories. In this case, my usual position as photographer took a back seat to me being John's road manager for an out-of-town gig. It's a great story but you're going to have to read it in my book because it's far too entangled to post here.

This one's called Lion, and that he was...




You can see lots more pictures and learn more about Papa John, John Fahey and the 46 other musicians in my tribute book, Everybody I Shot Is Dead.