R.I.P. GARY GRIMSHAW

Rest in peace GARY GRIMSHAW, legendary Detroit poster art and fine artist of the Grande Ballroom in the 1960s and '70s plus numerous others. HE both pioneered and adopted the universal underground graphics style of the era and worked extensively with the MC5, termed Minister of Art for the band's Trans-love association with John Sinclair and the White Panther Party. Check his website for gallery of art and book goodies here LINK and Detroit News feature here LINK.  

AT THE RANCH TODAY

 

Today at the horse boarding ranch 1.9.14 ... at what were my National Show Horse Indy and his Arabian pal Cody staring so intently?  A: a wayward egret in the turnout paddock.

1974: ROY WOOD & WIZZARD, THE PANDORAS, MR. TWISTER

This was my answer to the Facebook Pandoras (see LINK) Fanpage question on what you were doing in 1974 (most of them were in elementary school):

"In 1974 as now I tried to photograph those artists whose music meant something to me (although I'll shoot anyone for money, I'm easy.) This is Roy Wood with Wizzard at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1974 (above left.) Once introduced to same I adored The Move, then and now. Recently graduated from UCLA, my day job out of college was assistant art director at the L.A. Weekly News, a spin-off from the L.A. Free Press (underground press.) It went bust, then I did the same work for Designers West, #2 magazine to Achitectural Digest in that interior design field, while photographing and writing for Performance Magazine at night. 

Social life: my obsession with Mr. Twister (of the band Christopher Milk) took a hiatus when he emigrated to England to get in on nascent pub-rock evolving into punk rock scene in England, (pub rock kept non-prog hard rock sufficiently on life support to miraculously awaken into punk.) We hooked up after he was deported (troublemaker, plus turned in by jealous bands) and returned to L.A. in 1975; he founded punk band Chainsaw in Hollywood circa 1976 and we have been together ever since."

My other photograph above adorned The Pandoras' 45 single cover for Thunder Alley with its Roger Corman movie retro-biker look (in 1985.) For younger persons they cared about the past those Pandoras, hence the initial question.

Below, Roy Wood & Wizzard & bagpipes; Mr. Twister back in the day slightly later.

P.S. the above right photo depicts Mr. Twister doing his circa 1970s Bruce Dern impression.

IGGY AND THE STOOGES, San Jose C2SV Festival T.K.

 

Coming soon: my photofeature for Paraphilia Magazine on Iggy and The Stooges headlining the C2SV Music and Tech Festival, San Jose CA. "T.K." is oldskool journalist edit-ese for "to come."

A FABULOUS THUNDERBIRD!

This fabulous Thunderbird in the top image indeed is the same one depicted on The Fabulous Thunderbirds' release Different Tacos, as I took the photo as well as co-designed, with Nannette Freeman, this CD cover for Denny Bruce and his clients.

The sky blue, 1967 4-door Thunderbird with suicide doors has remained all in the family for 3/4 of its existence. First my brother purchased it from my uncle's collection of 30 1967-1970 4-door Thunderbirds, all garaged in his "Bird House" in Tennessee. Then my better half Mr. Twister bought it from my brother in New Mexico, and we drove it back to California along as much of the old Route 66 as we could. Twister eventually sold it back to my brother, who then peddled the classic car to our mutual friend Rico Cardinale, and drove it back to California a second time. I've known A-List hairdresser Rico since 1966 so he's almost family. 

Top photo taken 1.6.14 in our driveway, Rico on the left, Twister on the right.

FIRST PHOTO OF 2014 et al...

 First photo of 2014, our new tree at New Year dawn; last photo of 2013, my maternal unit; and...

 ...my best photo of 2013, Iggy and The Stooges, San Jose, C2SV Music and Tech Festival...

JOHN R. NEILL illustration / HAPPY NEW YEAR

I've excerpted a public domain illustration by John R. Neill from the book The Silver Princess in Oz to offer heartfelt good wishes to all Fastfilm readers for the 2014 Happy New Year. Neill's horses were every bit as amazing as his more fanciful characters.

 

Best of the bunch, photographer ROBERT MONAGHAN

Above, guest photographer: Robert Monaghan

A peak inside the toy chest of Fastfilm's holiday presents to others. I like to give (affordable) art. I've been fortunate to give giclees by musicians/fine artists Niagara (of Destroy All Monsters, Dark Carnival; art, see LINK) and Marijke Koger-Dunham (of The Fool; art, see LINK) upon occasion. This year four amazing friends, three of whom played there, received Robert Monaghan's wonderful and respectful photograph of what remains of Detroit's Grande Ballroom while it's still recognizable. The one recipient who was there in the audience, Retrokimmer noted in her blog about this print (see LINK) that when MC5's Machine Gun Thompson went in to shoot this same venue somewhat recently, his foot went through the floor. There is a plethora of global documentarians of Detroit's physical downfall, but I think that Monaghan's photos of this subject overall show the most heart because he's a local. Check Retrokimmer's link for contact info on purchase of this or any of Monaghan's superior art of important architectural decay in action...

IT CAME ! ! !

It's just not Xmas without my posting this. Yes, it's my drawing for the 

most tasteless card I ever sent out as self-promotion in the 1980s.

R.I.P. Dr. YUSEF LATEEF

Goodbye and rest in peace to Dr. Yusef Lateef, maker of music of one of my own top ten favorite albums ever, "Eastern Sounds," music professor and pretty much the first world music fusion guy circa 1961. Enjoy the below video and read more about him on his personal website: LINK