John Sutherland of FT has a well written, provocative piece about the recent glut of alcoholic memoirs or “drunkalogues”.
Another sign of the times is the obsession with celebrity alcoholism. It has become as bloody a spectator sport as bull fighting, and as sadistic.
These books, chronicling the alcoholic careers of people in the public eye, seem to be everywhere. I have often wondered if this whole “movement” is counter productive.
The alcoholic memoir will soon merit its own section in the high-street bookshops. Do they do any good – or are they merely another money-spinning line of goods for opportunists?
Sutherland answers this question and tackles the subject comprehensively, check it out, here.
You can be a gambler
Who never drew a hand,
You can be a sailor
Who never left dry land,
You can be lord jesus,
All the world will understand.
Down where the drunkards roll,
Down where the drunkards roll.Richard Thompson “Down Where The Drunkards Roll”
Related posts
Tags: alcoholism, Celebrity, drunkards, john sutherland, richard thompson
Pat wrote,
so… d’logs ? I learned a long time ago I can’t drink and draw, or type… so I had to manage my draughts, now I don’t imbibe anymore… nuthin’ but a memory forgot.
Pat’s last blog post..Philosophy and Philm: Federico Fellini - Amarcord
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Gary wrote,
I recorded that song with my friend Phil Graham (http://myspace.com/philmaharg) last year - it is on his myspace playlist along with several more of our recordings from that session. We play it at our occasional duo/trio gigs.
Gary’s last blog post..Blitzkrieg Tickets here
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 11:25 am
J wrote,
Everybody wants to see Humpty Dumpty fall; –makes for good entertainment news and song lyrics. Quite a good niche market!
Personally, I “let the Whiskey kiss me –Goodnight!”
(sorry Jack, I couldn’t resist!)
;-)
J’s last blog post..2 Minutes with Pat McMakin
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Pribek wrote,
Phil Graham says: “Gary is a good musician friend of mine. An excellent guitarist in any genre.”
Davey Ray said; “The problem with being friendly to musicians is, pretty soon they come over to the house and break all your shit.”
Nice job on “Drunkards”, Gary.
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Gary wrote,
Cheers, Jack - I have actually broken one of Phil’s expensive cameras, but he forgave me!
Gary’s last blog post..Blitzkrieg Tickets here
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Pat wrote,
Title: The screen door on a Submarine argument; it must be the Texas Navy!
This may be my last comment: ah, quit your cheering!
I am listening to Mr Graham at his mys-pace… but I can’t comment there unless I login… therefore I have to put Pribek on pause, to have only the one tab playing at a time… huh?
So I will use Pribek’s mgb up to comment on Mr Graham’s. I want to say this, “…that is a great site, and I am very happy this Sunday morning, in my romp thru my new musician friend’s post Sat-nite gigs wakeup roll calls. I especially enjoy “strange kind of way..” good harmonies and slides.. from my humble perch.
I know I, along with many others are just plain sick of the repetitive story of innocence to rock’n'roll to the life to the rehab to the epiphany… or death, oh well. Still rebellious youngsters enroll. That story was already old to me by the time Duane Allman died… he enlisted livin’ “the Life,” so we bury him.
For example Willie Nelson is one who had his epiphany when I was twenty ish,up yonder in Luckenbach, TX… My engineer boss David Villareal really hated Nelson for his drunkenness, plundering and looting… however, Willie donned running shoes and started paying his taxes; but everyone in Texas stayed a little apprehensive, skeptical about the turn around. Then humbler and clearer, Willie surprised us as he showed up at a Leon Russell concert in ‘76, and we all gave him the standing O.
After all said and done, it is what he has accomplished after hitting brokenness this era that impresses even the most diligent Christian engineer. Willie has a repertoire of thousands of songs and has recorded as much of the history of music in attempt to preserve the music we grew up with.
Knock me down and spit on me if I am falling for yet another promoter’s wet dream, in one article I am impressed that Willie is actually been on one of two trains since his epiphany in the 70’s. “There’s two trains,” eh, Pribek, no?
And Mr Graham… you may have hit upon the crux of this biscuit… “it is on his mys-pace play list along with several more of our recordings from that session. We play it at our occasional duo/trio gigs.”
All of youse musician Joneses get to recording every damn thing you do… or else. Your most productive years in your art form are here now…!!!! One song a day, and I’ll do a painting a day, till me fingers knurl and the load falls on me head.
YOur friend, and ally, roger that–
Patrick
Pat’s last blog post..Philosophy and Philm: Federico Fellini - Amarcord
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Gary wrote,
Pat said: “So I will use Pribek’s mgb up to comment on Mr Graham’s. I want to say this, “…that is a great site, and I am very happy this Sunday morning, in my romp thru my new musician friend’s post Sat-nite gigs wakeup roll calls. I especially enjoy “strange kind of way..” good harmonies and slides.. from my humble perch.”
Aw shucks, that is me on slide and harmonies!! And Phil wrote the song - I’ll tell him!
Gary’s last blog post..Blitzkrieg Tickets here
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Pribek wrote,
whooooooooooooops….
J threw me a plug and it sailed right past me, thanks for that one-annnnnnnnd..Pat slipped one in there as well-yoohoo!
That’s a good idea, a Chocolate YooHoo! what are those things made with, anybody know?
Epiphany or spiritual awakening?
Sometimes it takes a while to wake up, you know?
Link | April 13th, 2008 at 2:05 pm