Tony Wilson 1950-2007

Saturday August 11, 2007

Tony Wilson founded Factory Records, rightly famous forever for Joy Division and New Order. He was portrayed by Steve Coogan in the film 24 Hour Party People. A crazy, inspirational guy. In his big hair and bigger collars, he fronted the brilliant So it Goes in the late 70s, and I have several editions on battered video to prove that the excellent Ian Curtis really did exist and wasn’t just something of legend.

Tony Wilson

I take my hat off to Tony Wilson – I always found him interesting, amusing and infinitiely wise. So long!

In Pictures: Tony Wilson’s Career

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Lee Hazlewood 1929-2007

Friday August 10, 2007

Lee Hazlewood was probably best known for writing These Boots Were Made For Walkin’ for Nancy Sinatra. They also recorded several albums together during the 1960s, notably Nancy and Lee in 1968. I have this album on vinyl but have been tempted to download it from iTunes after hearing about his death.

He was also instrumental in creating the distinctive Duane Eddy guitar twang, and continued recording as a solo artist until very recently with his final release Cake or Death.

Lee Hazlewood

But the sixties claim him forever. If you’re looking for a gravelly voiced and dark vision of that decade then look no further. He looked great too. I love Lee Hazlewood because he’s remained on the fringes, not as fashionable as Scott Walker or The Velvet Underground – although he’s arguably more important and influential than his more famous peers. There’s also the country element to his songwriting, an influence evident in current artists such as Richard Hawley.

And in the time I’ve taken to write this post I’ve made my decision, downloaded the album and I’m listening to it now. The wonders of modern technology. The wonders of Lee Hazlewood.

Lee on MySpace

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Freddie Francis

Friday March 23, 2007

Freddie Francis was a prolific director for film and television, best known for his British horror films of the 60s and 70s. He worked for the two great production companies Hammer and Amicus. Highlights of Freddie Francis’ directing career, providing me with colourful and comfortable late night horror in my formative years, were Dr Terror’s House of Horrors (1965), The Skull (1965), Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968), Tales From the Crypt (1972), The Creeping Flesh (1973), Tales That Witness Madness (1973) and The Ghoul (1975).

Dr Terror's House of Horrors

Although these films are all excellent, he was very much a jobbing director, and there are other films in the Hammer and Amicus canon not directed by him that are equally good. It’s his work as an accomplished cinematographer that has gained him the most respect, including such gems as Room at the Top (1959) and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960). Best is The Innocents (1961), a very eerie and disturbing adaptation of The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. This is always worth seeing, and Francis manages to create a menacing monochrome atmosphere that matches the original book. If you haven’t seen it, please make a point of doing so.

David Lynch also employed Francis for The Elephant Man (1980), another black and white masterpiece, and The Straight Story (1999), but I’m only touching the surface of his achievements. See the IMDb for the full story.

Freddie Francis, 1917-2007.

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