Great, intelligent, interesting, multi-layered look at a complex, often unsettling figure: Mr. Crumb.
You open many doors in my brain always Paul. (most are empty closets!)
I'll take a look at the bio on iBooks, read a sample first.
I saw the documentary years ago. Humans have so many ways to be in their own bizarre bubble. An unsettling look into Crumb and family.
Crumb lived in a N. California town called Winters before moving to France.
I lived @12 miles east in Davis, CA.
I'd see him and wife strolling in town occasionally. He also played in a local band "The Cheap Suit Serenaders." Jazz with a roots music underpinning.
I'd see their posters in town announcing shows… I think I saw them at playing at the Davis farmer's market one time.
After he and wife left for France, they rented their Winters home to an acquaintance of mine. I attended a party there one time and was amused to be in the Crumb home.
My mom had many 78s and she introduced me to various jazz and blues artists from the 1940s, 50s… maybe 30's ("albums" comprised of many records in a bound book-like format, each disc in pages of separate sleeve) She was a my music maven.
Thanks for the selection of songs and recommendations of artists. Really good.
That one Blind Boy Fuller - Vol 2 cut had me good.
I'll tell ya, if you didn't know you'd swear it was Dan Hicks… similar voice, Dan loved that style.
Now we know a little more about Dan and his influences.
Maybe a quirky film someday about Dan.
Speaking of quirky and off this topic, Mike Leigh's "Life is Sweet.". One to see.
Skillful unpacking Paul. I read this biography last month. I wanted to know more about Crumb’s Philly/Delaware life, but I also felt I got a real education on the history of comics, including the ups and downs of the business, and that was more interesting than I might’ve imagined—cashing in on waves of culture. I think I always assumed that Crumb was rolling in it, rather than resisting it, almost morally.
I, too, figured he was making real money. And yes, the whole scene, as explained in the book, was fascinating to me. My experience with underground comics has been three or four issues of "American Splendor" that I bought 40 years ago (with some Crumb illustrations in it) and Zweigoff's "Crumb" documentary, which I think is really terrific. But that's it. Oddly, I have something of the same relationship with Crumb as I do William Burroughs. I'm interested in them as complex people; their art is rather secondary. Frankly, I think Burroughs is full of shit, the cut-up stuff in particular, but I'm still interested in the whole Beat scene. I'm fascinated by how social pressures generate these schools of linked artists, many of whom didn't even know each other when they started creating similar work. I think Crumb is more talented than Burroughs, though, by a considerable distance. Some of his work is beautifully conceived and is saying important things. But certainly not ALL of it.
I think Burroughs is absolutely brilliant for 4-5 pages. Much of his work, not just the cut-ups, read like vignettes randomly strung together. I also prefer him when he’s writing about ordinary things, living in the EV, working as an exterminator, etc.
I even get the shocking appeal of some of "Naked Lunch," but I also think a lot of it is garbage. Having the balls to write it is not the same thing as it actually being good.
I've been thoroughly enjoying this biography since I first saw its review in the NYT Book Review and immediately grabbed it. The writing is so comprehensive while remaining lean and limpid. I'm loving it. Your piece here is extraordinary, insightful, truthful, and uplifting. As usual. Remarkable, Paul. Thank you.
And thanks for the Blind Boy Fuller. Marvelous. I'd like to think you've been captivated by Skip James, as I have. I'm sure you'll tell me the truth.
Great piece on Crumb.! I’m almost done with the book. This is excellent supplementary reading.
I’ve many of the early Zaps saved from the 60s, and I used to compare him to Aubrey Beardsley.
Also have his Bible of Filth, which is wild and, well, filthy.
“Crumb” (the book) offers insights and perspective through really nice writing.
Great, intelligent, interesting, multi-layered look at a complex, often unsettling figure: Mr. Crumb.
You open many doors in my brain always Paul. (most are empty closets!)
I'll take a look at the bio on iBooks, read a sample first.
I saw the documentary years ago. Humans have so many ways to be in their own bizarre bubble. An unsettling look into Crumb and family.
Crumb lived in a N. California town called Winters before moving to France.
I lived @12 miles east in Davis, CA.
I'd see him and wife strolling in town occasionally. He also played in a local band "The Cheap Suit Serenaders." Jazz with a roots music underpinning.
I'd see their posters in town announcing shows… I think I saw them at playing at the Davis farmer's market one time.
After he and wife left for France, they rented their Winters home to an acquaintance of mine. I attended a party there one time and was amused to be in the Crumb home.
My mom had many 78s and she introduced me to various jazz and blues artists from the 1940s, 50s… maybe 30's ("albums" comprised of many records in a bound book-like format, each disc in pages of separate sleeve) She was a my music maven.
Thanks for the selection of songs and recommendations of artists. Really good.
That one Blind Boy Fuller - Vol 2 cut had me good.
I'll tell ya, if you didn't know you'd swear it was Dan Hicks… similar voice, Dan loved that style.
Now we know a little more about Dan and his influences.
Maybe a quirky film someday about Dan.
Speaking of quirky and off this topic, Mike Leigh's "Life is Sweet.". One to see.
Thanks again, Paul
Skillful unpacking Paul. I read this biography last month. I wanted to know more about Crumb’s Philly/Delaware life, but I also felt I got a real education on the history of comics, including the ups and downs of the business, and that was more interesting than I might’ve imagined—cashing in on waves of culture. I think I always assumed that Crumb was rolling in it, rather than resisting it, almost morally.
I, too, figured he was making real money. And yes, the whole scene, as explained in the book, was fascinating to me. My experience with underground comics has been three or four issues of "American Splendor" that I bought 40 years ago (with some Crumb illustrations in it) and Zweigoff's "Crumb" documentary, which I think is really terrific. But that's it. Oddly, I have something of the same relationship with Crumb as I do William Burroughs. I'm interested in them as complex people; their art is rather secondary. Frankly, I think Burroughs is full of shit, the cut-up stuff in particular, but I'm still interested in the whole Beat scene. I'm fascinated by how social pressures generate these schools of linked artists, many of whom didn't even know each other when they started creating similar work. I think Crumb is more talented than Burroughs, though, by a considerable distance. Some of his work is beautifully conceived and is saying important things. But certainly not ALL of it.
I think Burroughs is absolutely brilliant for 4-5 pages. Much of his work, not just the cut-ups, read like vignettes randomly strung together. I also prefer him when he’s writing about ordinary things, living in the EV, working as an exterminator, etc.
I even get the shocking appeal of some of "Naked Lunch," but I also think a lot of it is garbage. Having the balls to write it is not the same thing as it actually being good.
I've been thoroughly enjoying this biography since I first saw its review in the NYT Book Review and immediately grabbed it. The writing is so comprehensive while remaining lean and limpid. I'm loving it. Your piece here is extraordinary, insightful, truthful, and uplifting. As usual. Remarkable, Paul. Thank you.
And thanks for the Blind Boy Fuller. Marvelous. I'd like to think you've been captivated by Skip James, as I have. I'm sure you'll tell me the truth.
he is our Bruegel and Bosch