Rockphiles Blog

BROWNE v. McCAIN

One of the more disturbing aspects of the McCain campaign was the illegal use of music created by artists who had very essential differences with the Republican party.  Jackson Browne, a long-time liberal, went to law to correct unauthorized use of his 1978 hit, "Running On Empty." The Federal courts have jurisdiction, and the issue is First Amendment rights.

The case is now cleared for trial, after a Federal judge denied motions by the Republican party to have the case dismissed. Jackson has passed the first hurdle.  The outcome will set a legal precedent for the rights of politicians to appropriate works of art without the permission of the creator of the work, as if somehow politicians are above the law. 

Case progress so far here.

DEPP TO NARRATE DOORS DOCUMENTARY

The Doors documentary, When You're Strange, screened at the Sundance Film Festival a couple of weeks back.  The three remaining Doors were in attendance, albeit in their now-customary configuration of Krieger and Manzarek in one corner and Densmore in the another.  However, filmwise things went pretty well, though the critics, praiseful of the film - culled from the Doors' prodigious archive - and music - were not so well-disposed to the narration by director Tom DiCillo, who stepped in to handle the voice-over chores at the last minute while talks were underway with actor Johnny Depp, who has now signed on to provide the narration for the upcoming worldwide theatrical release.

Depp's involvement was announced at the Berlin Film Festival this last weekend, where the film is currently screening.  Depp is one of the film industry's most versatile and bankable stars, following his portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.  So, very good news for the future of this movie, directed by Tom DiCillo, and produced by veteran Dick Wolf, Pete Jankowski, and Jeff Jampol, the Doors' manager.

BUDDY HOLLY, RITCHIE VALENS, J.P. RICHARDSON - NOT FADE AWAY

  50 years ago -  February 3, 1959 - a small chartered plane crashed in heavy snow fall over Clear Lake, Iowa; those aboard:  Charles Hardin Holley, better known as Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson aka The Big Bopper, and teen rock success, Ritchie Valens, who won his seat on the plane as a result of a coin toss with back-up playerTommy Allsup.  Waylon Jennings, then in Holly's back-up band, gave up his seat to The Big Bopper, who was recovering from the flu.  Dion and The Belmonts, also on the bill, skipped the plane ride.  Dion couldn't rationalize spending $36 for a plane ride, and took the bus.  Buddy Holly, 22, J.P. Richardson, 28, Ritchie Valens, 17, and the 21 year old pilot all died on impact.

This date, now remembered as "The Day The Music Died,"  marked the first major disaster in rock history. 

Ironically, the music has never died. Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens went on to have succesful bio-movies made of their lives, and Buddy Holly's considerable artistic and monetary legacy is still protected by his widow, Maria Elena Holley, who recently won a legal battle against the city of Lubbock, Buddy's home town, to stop exploitation of Buddy's name

Memorial celebrations are taking place in Clear Lake at the Surf Ballroom, the venue where Buddy. Ritchie and JP had just performed before the plane crash.  The Surf is recognized as one of the nine landmarks in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Great early and rare photos of Buddy and Elvis, and info about the music scene in Lubbock back in the day.

Scotty Moore site.