RIP Wayne Kramer

One of the greatest musicians and guitarists, gone but not forgotten? Unfortunately not many know his name and work today.

A musician's musician, Wayne Kramer was one of the founders of MC5, a very ephemeral but iconic group, proto-punk, and more political than the whole rock scene of the day. They put out three albums forever to "Kick Out The Jams". That was the title of their first, a live album in 1969. Then Back in the USA and Hight Time, 1970 and 1971. They disbanded in 1972.

Kramer was radical, he was political, a leftie of course, he became a junkie, did time in jail for selling drugs, converted, played free jazz, punk, put very deep meaningful lyrics to rock and roll. His solo work I love most, from The Hard Stuff  to Dangerous Madness, Citizen Wayne and Adult World. 

He played last on Alice Cooper's album, Detroit Stories. He was planning for an album of new music, produced by Bob Ezrin. Wayne Kramer was 75. LLMF...

Auto-biography here.

                     "Wayne S. Kramer 'PEACE BE WITH YOU' April 30, 1948 – February 2, 2024."^[

 "His band the MC5 basically invented punk rock music... Wayne came through personal trials of fire with drugs and jail time and emerged a transformed soul who went on to save countless lives through his tireless acts of service." (Tom Morello) 

RIP Carl Weathers

 Apollo Creed died. Actually Creed died in Rocky IV. But the amn who made him legend, Carl Weathers died Thursday, he was 76. He was last in The Mandalorian series. He was great also in Predator. 

obit in Variety.

Alin Ludu Dumbrava -An Interview for Hope@M9TV 29.01.2024

In cadrul Interviews for Hope la Televiziunea M9TV Romania din Tg. Mures m-a invitat prietenul Corneliu Tepelus sa vorbim despre film si muzica, film romanesc, Cannes, Brasov, Transilvania Blues si Bluesferatu.

Intreg interviul este acum pe youtube aici. Mersi, Corneliu, Let There B. Light :D

Perfect Days (2023)

"Now is Now and Then is Then."

Perfect Days is a masterpiece, a Japanese film made in Tokyo in Japanese by a German filmmaker. Wim Wenders, made at 77 years of age. Like Wenders' Tokyo Story. 

But Yasujiro Ozu is Wenders' master. And Ozu being a poet, this homage to him (Wenders did also a documentary, Tokyo-Ga, about his trip to Ozu's Tokyo, back in 1985), is also a Poem. A poem in the rhyme of Rock 'n Roll. 

Do yourself a Favor and do go to the cinema. It's in limited release and it will vanish shortly. Kudos again Bad Unicorn for bringing it on the big screen ! Click on the link , scroll down and you'll see where it screens in Romania. ! And if you go, stay 'til the end of the credits !!! 

It's slow, it's dreamlike, it's funny and tender, it's beautiful and sad, it's heartfelt. About the meaning of life (really!). Not in the Monty Pythonesque sense. More like budhism. 

Absolutely gorgeous soundtrack, Lou Reed (the title comes from Lou's "Perfect Day" song) , Patti Smith, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Van Morrison, Ottis Redding, Nina Simone, The Animals & House of the Rising Sun (in Japanese even), Sachiko Kanenobu, and all with a purpose. Like a shiver in the trees leaves.

One of last year's best, should've been in my 2023 Top Films but I saw it in january 2024 ! It is nominated for the Oscar for best foreign film. Won best actor in Cannes and Koji Yakusho's performance is one of the best there is. Also won the Ecumenical Jury in Cannes. 

Also it's one of Wenders' best, up there (for me) with Paris Texas, Das Himmel uber Berlin, Der Amerikanische Freund, Der Stand der Dinge. Shot beautifully by Wenders' collaborator since Land of Plenty (204), Franz Lustig, in the academical format of 1.33.1 (4:3), sharply edited and with a subtle sound design (re: the leaves, the dreams). 

great interview with Wenders on Eye for Film here.

Wenders' favorite films on Kombini Video here. A lot on Ozu at the beginning of the video.

Komorebi...