Thriller. He Made Thriller.

Some initial thoughts on the death of Michael Jackson.

I could say 'alleged death' because although it's probably a foregone conclusion that he's dead, it's still not totally confirmed by everyone in the world. But if TMZ reports that he's dead, he's probably dead. They're pretty good with getting their reporters to sneak into places. I'm sure some Hollywood nightclubs have better security than most hospitals. At the time that I write this, CNN doesn't have confirmation that he's dead, just the noted fact from a family friend that the "family is sobbing". I don't know how often a whole family sobs over a coma, so let's assume Michael's passed on. So here's some thoughts.

I heard something on the drive home from work that really irked me. Some lady called into the radio station I was listening to and said that it "wasn't that I don't care, but I think he got what he deserved. He has been punished for his sins on earth". I had to really ponder this comment, which certainly on the surface seems like some smug religious "I told you so" garbage. And it is, but as I listened to more and more of the calls-in, I could hear a definite thread to most of the calls. A startling majority of what I heard confirmed a notion that nobody cares about Michael Jackson anymore, that he's a pervert, that he's a psycho and that the world is better off now that he's gone. I just can't agree to that, and here's why.

Every news story is going to have two angles right now: Jackson the artist and Jackson the accused child molester/weirdo. Sadly, it's the latter that is going to, and has gotten, everyone worked up. I have chosen to look at this passing of Jackson pragmatically. I'm going to look at the facts, not as a fan or a detractor, but as a purveyor of the truth. And the truth is this: The world will forever be in debt to him. That's a fact, worthy of dispute or not. There are things that are undeniable: He was one of the greatest performers of all time, some could argue the absolute greatest. His music transcended all boundaries, both natural and man-made. His influence on future generations of people from any walk of life is incredible and eternal. His musical credits are immortal. It's safe to say that Michael Jackson will be immortal.

Those are facts as I see them. Regardless of our own feelings about his personal life, there are things that aren't facts. Aren't true is everything that has been written in the tabloids, mainstream media or any other medium that doesn't concern his music or things that Jackson himself hasn't admitted to. I have to believe in innocence until proven guilty. I have to believe in the law. If the law could not prove, confirm or convict any of the things that he allegedly did, I can't objectively say that he "got what he deserved" by dying. In life and now in death, I can only imagine that he lived a horrid, tortured life where half the world despised him. So why would we want to cloud his passing and smear his legacy with hearsay?

Am I a huge fan? No. But I have to give credit where credit's due. I think the correct viewpoint for us would be that we look at what Michael Jackson actually DID, not what he was accused of doing, and judge him based on that. Therefore, I will remember Michael Jackson as an unsurpassed talent, a legendary artist and a phenomenal performer, something that will never been seen again.

And Thriller. He made Thriller.

RIP Michael Jackson. You're finally going to be left alone.

The Truth Does Make A Noise

And The White Stripes are the truth.

You know what I'm talking about if you've seen them live. Thankfully, pretty much all of Canada has, thanks to special tour two years ago.

Continuing with a little more news involving Jack White, I've come across another wonderfully exciting story today. It's been reported that the Stripes are going to be releasing a documentary film about the cross-Canada tour they did in June and July of '07. This makes my mind melt. In a good way, though. Like the way cheese slowly melts on a perfectly barbecued burger. Or when you let your favourite popsicle get soft and drip just a tiny bit before you eat it. My mind has melted because this news gives me the chance to watch and own a concert that was 6 years worth waiting for. A concert that was the celebration of musical talents I dreamed of seeing. Yearned to see. A concert I was often heard to remark that I'd "fucking die to see". And it happened on June 30, 2007.

I had picked up The White Stripes third album, "White Blood Cells" in the spring of 2002 in a shitty CD store in mall near my home (for anyone familiar with St. Albert, remember "AV Entertainment"? Yeah, it sucked). I had recently seen the absolutely mesmerizing video for "Fell In Love With A Girl", directed by Michel Gondry, and needed to have whatever album that song came from. Lego had never gotten me so excited. For the whole summer of 2002, I played that disc, and the preceding two albums relentlessly. I couldn't believe how much raw power came from a band with only two members. As the years went on, the Stripes became one of my favourite bands, a band that I would use songs by to represent my own emotions, thoughts and other things I thought would be better expressed by the howling blues-symphony the band created. And then one spring, in April of 2007, the Stripes announced that they would be touring Canada. And not just Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. But the whole damn country. Every province. Every territory. No Canadian act had ever done it, so they'd be the first of any nationality to accomplish the feat. I had to check the tour schedule, and I wasn't to be disappointed. There it was: "Edmonton - June, 30. Shaw Conference Centre".

Alright, maybe a little hint of disappointment was felt. I mean, a band as great as this, playing in a cave-like auditory graveyard like the Shaw? Granted, Rexall Place would be too artificial and unfriendly, and no promoter would let them play a small venue. I had to really look at the big picture. I mean, the fucking White Stripes were going to be playing Edmonton! When the tour actually started, you could feel that it was going to be something special. Right from the onset, rumours of secret shows started to surface. Then those rumours became fact. The Stripes played on busses, boats, in parks, anywhere. You didn't know where they might play, but there were hints on their message boards. In Edmonton, they played at the Hope Mission's youth shelter, which can be seen in the video here:

And word was coming out that the main shows were becoming legendary experiences. As for my own experience at the Edmonton show, it was marred a bit by my misguided need to witness it with somebody specific who was also at the show. A certain person who has been both the utmost desire and cruel bane of my existence for many years, and only recently whose memory I've now shed from my mind. I kept on trying to look for this person, with whom I could share the wondrous experience, but I never found her. Instead of concentrating on the music, my attention was divided. I'll now never forgive myself for that. This documentary will allow me to at least re-live some of that concert in the way it should have been viewed: by me and for me.

The documentary will show the White Stripes as they are: the truth. And that truth will make an substantial noise.

It Might Get Messy

On August 14th, it may get a little bit out of control. In my mind.

Provided that at theatre in Edmonton carries it, this film may just put me so far over the edge, sonically, visually and emotionally, that I might just lose it. All of it. And I'd be embarrassed if it wasn't because of something immensely awesome, but something less than spectacular. Like have you ever found yourself close to a friend or family member and witness them just wig out for no good reason? Have you ever been just sitting at your desk, checking off items on your menial work task list, when a co-worker explodes in a bat-shit insane rage, throwing paper and random office objects around while uttering a slew of cuss words a mile long, only because the fax number he dialed was busy? Yeah, that's embarrassing. Or maybe it's Thanksgiving, and after you mention to your mother that the turkey "could use a bit of salt or something", she upends the dining table using the strength of ten men, then chases you and the rest of your family around the house with a meat cleaver, uttering vague threats like "I'll show YOU what needs to have a little salt!"? Yeah, that's kind of embarrassing, but also a little scary. Your mom needs help.

Well, I won't feel any embarrassment or awkwardness if I go a little crazy when I see It Might Get Loud. Not only does it have two of my favourite musicians in Jimmy Page and Jack White, but it also has The Edge from U2 thrown in for good measure. It's sure to be a wonderful documentary about two legends and one certainly on his way to gaining that special status. Check out the trailer:



Yeah, I'm pretty much going to look like this for all 97 minutes of the film.

A Legend Has Passed Away

David Carradine has been found dead.

RIP Caine. RIP Bill. You've taken the pebble from our hands, and now it is time for you to leave.