Greil, the zeitgeist passage above is a piece unto itself & as good as anything you’ve written in years, and as good as anything I can remember written about that time in the context of those now dying around us. Thank you.
I am a long-time admirer of your work and always come away learning how to listen to anew to artists ranging anywhere from Elvis to the Beatles to the Doors to Dylan to Bruce to punk and British post-punk. So, even as I look forward to your "Ask Greil" and "Tube" columns I always have some trepidation on how you'll think about insulting Millenial socialists this month. It is often a bummer to see how disdainful you are of the movement, my generation and/or those of us who are appalled by what is going on in Palestine. I think your reading of Mamdani's campaign is pretty backhanded. I wish people of your generation would have more faith in youth today and, in some cases, step aside politically altogether frankly. I do think Mamdani's campaign has opened up a new chapter for a left-liberal alliance that can move past the bitter rancor of the last decade on the Left. Brad Lander is a class act and has gotten on board. I hope some day you will too.
With today's announcement of the ranked choice results in the mayoralty race, and Mamdani's really landslide win, I was lifted. Better he goes in with a mandate and a charge to do what can't be done. Though I'd stay away from city run grocery stores. Who's really going to run them? Brooklyn food coops enforcing food ideologies on everybody else? Well-groomed Mob fronts? Or incompetent city agencies staffed with people being paid too much? Better give tax credits or subsidies to supermarkets already operating, or enforce a penalty if they don't open outlets in food desert neighborhoods. With all problems there are solutions so long as you are willing to cut and paste.
Dear Anthony - Greil M. is ok with me reposting his commentary on Mamdani at www.firstofthemonth.org and he'd like to add on his response to your comment above. Would you be ok w/ me including your prompt? Thanks for your attention...Best, Benj DeMott
"I Will Survive" popped up during two painful moments in my life, both within the space of a year or so. The first was when I was put on hold during a call where I denied my biological mother access to my adoption records. The second was when I was leaving a doctor's office after a frantic search for a same-day HIV test, prompted when an ex told me he had just tested positive. (I tested negative and still cried and cried and cried when I found out.) In both cases, I knew it would be apt to find inspiration and comfort in it—so many other people had, so many queer people especially, right? But I felt like I was being mocked by God. Every time I hear the song in public now I watch my back.
I'm an old guy now (soon to be 77) but I wouldn't trade my time in the 60's and early '70's if it made me 50 again. A unique historical period personally and otherwise and in more ways than it's possible to explain. Let's just say, "You had to have been there" and leave it at that..
As an ex New Yorker who has many friends there, and regularly follows the NYC political scene, I would like to respond to your comments on Steve O'Neill's excellent post. You read my mind in your response. I literally said the same thing to someone a day or so ago, and ended my conversation saying that if he wins, he could possibly succeed if he made Brand Lander deputy mayor!
I know some moderate centrist but left-leaning friends who still live in NYC, and they assured me that unlike Mamdani, Lander is not opposed to Israel's existence and is against Hamas, and never has made the kind of excuses Mamdani has made during his campaign. He has already made it clear that he would gladly accept a major position in Mamdani's administration, if he asks him. Given his close ties with him during the campaign, it amounts to a suggestion to Mamdani to offer it to him once in office.
Lander campaigned as a man of the center, who is considered a democratic left-winger close to others more to the left than him, like those in DSA. (he is apparently also a member of the group) Lander is considered by most people- including the editorial board of the NY Times- as a viable, knowledgeable figure in the NYC administration. Almost everyone praises his work as NYC Comptroller.
He would avoid trying to institute pie-in-the-sky proposals like free buses, city groceries, etc. Not having the charisma or stance of the much younger Mamdani, not enough people made him their first choice in the ranked ballot in the Democratic primary.
To date, Mamdani has not apologized for his "globalize the intifada" position, including on yesterday's talk shows. He is obviously scared to put off his own base, and most likely, believes in the slogan which is clearly antisemitic. As for his opponent Eric Adams, most New Yorkers are fed up with him, rightfully consider him corrupt and a proto Trumpist whom he catered to in order to have his prosecution in NYC courts ended.
One way or the other, NYC might be doomed when he becomes Mayor---which seems at this point rather likely.
Pearl-clutching liberals & centrists—afraid to denounce genocide, afraid of free buses, afraid of anything that threatens the status quo—provide cover for the right to continue to destroy life. Mamdani has nothing to apologize for; on the contrary, it is those who have spent the last two years complaining more about slogans than about the ongoing slaughter of thousands of children who might examine their consciences.
Israel, the Israel government, is as Haaretz and Ehud Barak are saying, is committing war crimes on a daily basis, and,by ordering the shooting of people gathering for aid, turning its own soliders into Nazis. In truth it seems that the committing of war crimes is their policy. It's not a strategy, as if has no rational strategic goal (as the Hamas attack in 2023, had, among several strategic goals, and along with sadistic pleasure, the blowing up of the looming Israel-Saudi rapprochement, something that was clear at the time to anyone who was looking ), unless it's to remove the Gaza population and turn the territory over to the Trump Organization). It grows more horrible by the day. The same thing is happening in Ukraine, with the same U.S. government assent and approval--against which, one might notice, there are no protests in the West, let alone on college campuses, where students wouldn't even know what a Ukrainian flag to drape around their necks even looks like. And slogans are not just words. "Globalize the intifada" means attacking a march in Boulder calling for the release of Hamas's hostages--about which Netanyahu cares as much as Hamas does about the death count in Gaza, or rather they do care, as every Gazan death is a win for Hamas toward delegitimizing Israel--and killing people.
Greil, you know we're not going to agree here. As I've said to you before, the comparison to Ukraine is simply a non sequitur. Russia, not the US, invaded Ukraine. What would students protest? Is the US arming Russia? Are people losing their jobs for criticizing Russia? Whereas every single bomb that falls on Gaza, every IDF bullet through the skull of a child, was paid for by American taxes. There is no Israel exception here, just a simple recognition that Israel is a US client state, the recipient of hundreds of billions of American dollars in military aid. The US is precisely where the protests are most relevant.
As for slogans, no, my friends who have chanted them in the streets do not want to kill Jews.
Hey Michael - Greil M. would be ok w/ me putting the back and forths about Mamdani up at First of the Month. You cool if I put yours up too so it all makes senses...Best, Benj DeMott
The term "pie in the sky" simply must be retired. Again, the Boomers were hit with this shit 60 years ago and they're doing what their parents did to younger generation. Also, Bloomberg ran on free crosstown buses in 2009. He just didnt give enough of a shit to get it done. That's the difference.
Spoken like someone who didn't live through the McGovern campaign. (No value judgment implied.) The opportunity for the left should Mamdani win is that he turns out to be some kind of genius technocrat. I think a wise course in the more ambitious goals is to pick one thing. Subsidized child care seems to something with wide appeal.
Hey Ron - Greil M. would be ok w/ me putting back and forths about Mamdani up at First of the Month. You cool if I put yours up too so it all makes senses...Best, Benj DeMott
Re: John Fogerty, I can understand why he felt Saul Zaentz was his enemy. But after a while, the story of his contractual travails gets old. He got out of his CCR contract in the 70's and sold off his publishing in order to do so. But heavyweights like David Geffen and Bill Graham helped him with his problems and John was free to make new music and hit #1 with his Centerfield 'comeback' album in 1985. That should have ushered in a re-birth, but instead, he stumbled a bit with the next album and then shut down again. And the vindictiveness between him and Zaentz even made it to the Supreme Court, if you can believe it. But his old bandmates, while estranged from him, remain his old bandmates, I'd like to think and they had a hand in making those original CCR records so great. So, why re-record the songs and for what purpose other than to shut them out of any further financial rewards or notoriety? As Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) asks Michael (Al Pacino) in The Godfather: Michael, you've won. Why do you have to destroy everyone? And Michael's answer: I'm not out to destroy everyone, Tom. Just my enemies.' Why make your old bassist and drummer your enemies? And your brother's memory? I don't get it. Just re-master Chronicle and the rest of the albums and be done with it.
tremendous!!!!!! "And then the same voice said, the time is over, and they were left stranded." this is gonna make me cry forever. inspired pieces here answering questions deeper than the ones posed. so grateful.
Greil: i enjoyed your observations and comments in this weeks post - especially your comments about the best books on Rock history and your 45 collection. My go to books when preparing lectures for CalDiscoveries trips on the origins of American music are Ed Wards two volumes on Rock n Roll. As far as your 45’s i am wondering if you still have the Bob Luman 45 i gave you, the faux Tom Parker song entitled “The Great Showman. “
I was studying at Stanford for a few weeks in the summer of 1967. My alma mater RPI gave me a free ticket. My group designed a more efficient shower head. A professor at Stanford had us to his home to discuss assigned reading. Lewis Mumford's "Technics and Civilization" was one book among others. The professor suggested that we all go to the Haight to see what was happening. I did not sign up for the course to design a shower head. At first I was somewhat shocked by what I saw and heard in the Haight. The grifters had some easy pickings there and I could sense that things had already started to crumble. I did have a good time and met some good people. Three groups at the Fillmore for $3. The Electric Flag was probably my favorite. The Grateful Dead for free somewhere outdoors in Palo Alto.
Greil, the zeitgeist passage above is a piece unto itself & as good as anything you’ve written in years, and as good as anything I can remember written about that time in the context of those now dying around us. Thank you.
I am a long-time admirer of your work and always come away learning how to listen to anew to artists ranging anywhere from Elvis to the Beatles to the Doors to Dylan to Bruce to punk and British post-punk. So, even as I look forward to your "Ask Greil" and "Tube" columns I always have some trepidation on how you'll think about insulting Millenial socialists this month. It is often a bummer to see how disdainful you are of the movement, my generation and/or those of us who are appalled by what is going on in Palestine. I think your reading of Mamdani's campaign is pretty backhanded. I wish people of your generation would have more faith in youth today and, in some cases, step aside politically altogether frankly. I do think Mamdani's campaign has opened up a new chapter for a left-liberal alliance that can move past the bitter rancor of the last decade on the Left. Brad Lander is a class act and has gotten on board. I hope some day you will too.
With today's announcement of the ranked choice results in the mayoralty race, and Mamdani's really landslide win, I was lifted. Better he goes in with a mandate and a charge to do what can't be done. Though I'd stay away from city run grocery stores. Who's really going to run them? Brooklyn food coops enforcing food ideologies on everybody else? Well-groomed Mob fronts? Or incompetent city agencies staffed with people being paid too much? Better give tax credits or subsidies to supermarkets already operating, or enforce a penalty if they don't open outlets in food desert neighborhoods. With all problems there are solutions so long as you are willing to cut and paste.
Dear Anthony - Greil M. is ok with me reposting his commentary on Mamdani at www.firstofthemonth.org and he'd like to add on his response to your comment above. Would you be ok w/ me including your prompt? Thanks for your attention...Best, Benj DeMott
Ok with me!
"I Will Survive" popped up during two painful moments in my life, both within the space of a year or so. The first was when I was put on hold during a call where I denied my biological mother access to my adoption records. The second was when I was leaving a doctor's office after a frantic search for a same-day HIV test, prompted when an ex told me he had just tested positive. (I tested negative and still cried and cried and cried when I found out.) In both cases, I knew it would be apt to find inspiration and comfort in it—so many other people had, so many queer people especially, right? But I felt like I was being mocked by God. Every time I hear the song in public now I watch my back.
I'm an old guy now (soon to be 77) but I wouldn't trade my time in the 60's and early '70's if it made me 50 again. A unique historical period personally and otherwise and in more ways than it's possible to explain. Let's just say, "You had to have been there" and leave it at that..
As an ex New Yorker who has many friends there, and regularly follows the NYC political scene, I would like to respond to your comments on Steve O'Neill's excellent post. You read my mind in your response. I literally said the same thing to someone a day or so ago, and ended my conversation saying that if he wins, he could possibly succeed if he made Brand Lander deputy mayor!
I know some moderate centrist but left-leaning friends who still live in NYC, and they assured me that unlike Mamdani, Lander is not opposed to Israel's existence and is against Hamas, and never has made the kind of excuses Mamdani has made during his campaign. He has already made it clear that he would gladly accept a major position in Mamdani's administration, if he asks him. Given his close ties with him during the campaign, it amounts to a suggestion to Mamdani to offer it to him once in office.
Lander campaigned as a man of the center, who is considered a democratic left-winger close to others more to the left than him, like those in DSA. (he is apparently also a member of the group) Lander is considered by most people- including the editorial board of the NY Times- as a viable, knowledgeable figure in the NYC administration. Almost everyone praises his work as NYC Comptroller.
He would avoid trying to institute pie-in-the-sky proposals like free buses, city groceries, etc. Not having the charisma or stance of the much younger Mamdani, not enough people made him their first choice in the ranked ballot in the Democratic primary.
To date, Mamdani has not apologized for his "globalize the intifada" position, including on yesterday's talk shows. He is obviously scared to put off his own base, and most likely, believes in the slogan which is clearly antisemitic. As for his opponent Eric Adams, most New Yorkers are fed up with him, rightfully consider him corrupt and a proto Trumpist whom he catered to in order to have his prosecution in NYC courts ended.
One way or the other, NYC might be doomed when he becomes Mayor---which seems at this point rather likely.
Ron Radosh
Pearl-clutching liberals & centrists—afraid to denounce genocide, afraid of free buses, afraid of anything that threatens the status quo—provide cover for the right to continue to destroy life. Mamdani has nothing to apologize for; on the contrary, it is those who have spent the last two years complaining more about slogans than about the ongoing slaughter of thousands of children who might examine their consciences.
Israel, the Israel government, is as Haaretz and Ehud Barak are saying, is committing war crimes on a daily basis, and,by ordering the shooting of people gathering for aid, turning its own soliders into Nazis. In truth it seems that the committing of war crimes is their policy. It's not a strategy, as if has no rational strategic goal (as the Hamas attack in 2023, had, among several strategic goals, and along with sadistic pleasure, the blowing up of the looming Israel-Saudi rapprochement, something that was clear at the time to anyone who was looking ), unless it's to remove the Gaza population and turn the territory over to the Trump Organization). It grows more horrible by the day. The same thing is happening in Ukraine, with the same U.S. government assent and approval--against which, one might notice, there are no protests in the West, let alone on college campuses, where students wouldn't even know what a Ukrainian flag to drape around their necks even looks like. And slogans are not just words. "Globalize the intifada" means attacking a march in Boulder calling for the release of Hamas's hostages--about which Netanyahu cares as much as Hamas does about the death count in Gaza, or rather they do care, as every Gazan death is a win for Hamas toward delegitimizing Israel--and killing people.
Greil, you know we're not going to agree here. As I've said to you before, the comparison to Ukraine is simply a non sequitur. Russia, not the US, invaded Ukraine. What would students protest? Is the US arming Russia? Are people losing their jobs for criticizing Russia? Whereas every single bomb that falls on Gaza, every IDF bullet through the skull of a child, was paid for by American taxes. There is no Israel exception here, just a simple recognition that Israel is a US client state, the recipient of hundreds of billions of American dollars in military aid. The US is precisely where the protests are most relevant.
As for slogans, no, my friends who have chanted them in the streets do not want to kill Jews.
Hey Michael - Greil M. would be ok w/ me putting the back and forths about Mamdani up at First of the Month. You cool if I put yours up too so it all makes senses...Best, Benj DeMott
No, sorry.
The term "pie in the sky" simply must be retired. Again, the Boomers were hit with this shit 60 years ago and they're doing what their parents did to younger generation. Also, Bloomberg ran on free crosstown buses in 2009. He just didnt give enough of a shit to get it done. That's the difference.
Spoken like someone who didn't live through the McGovern campaign. (No value judgment implied.) The opportunity for the left should Mamdani win is that he turns out to be some kind of genius technocrat. I think a wise course in the more ambitious goals is to pick one thing. Subsidized child care seems to something with wide appeal.
Hey Ron - Greil M. would be ok w/ me putting back and forths about Mamdani up at First of the Month. You cool if I put yours up too so it all makes senses...Best, Benj DeMott
Re: John Fogerty, I can understand why he felt Saul Zaentz was his enemy. But after a while, the story of his contractual travails gets old. He got out of his CCR contract in the 70's and sold off his publishing in order to do so. But heavyweights like David Geffen and Bill Graham helped him with his problems and John was free to make new music and hit #1 with his Centerfield 'comeback' album in 1985. That should have ushered in a re-birth, but instead, he stumbled a bit with the next album and then shut down again. And the vindictiveness between him and Zaentz even made it to the Supreme Court, if you can believe it. But his old bandmates, while estranged from him, remain his old bandmates, I'd like to think and they had a hand in making those original CCR records so great. So, why re-record the songs and for what purpose other than to shut them out of any further financial rewards or notoriety? As Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) asks Michael (Al Pacino) in The Godfather: Michael, you've won. Why do you have to destroy everyone? And Michael's answer: I'm not out to destroy everyone, Tom. Just my enemies.' Why make your old bassist and drummer your enemies? And your brother's memory? I don't get it. Just re-master Chronicle and the rest of the albums and be done with it.
tremendous!!!!!! "And then the same voice said, the time is over, and they were left stranded." this is gonna make me cry forever. inspired pieces here answering questions deeper than the ones posed. so grateful.
James Erl Ray killed king, didn't know that, thanks 4 bringing me up 2 speed
Lots of good questions and even better answers in this one.
Greil: i enjoyed your observations and comments in this weeks post - especially your comments about the best books on Rock history and your 45 collection. My go to books when preparing lectures for CalDiscoveries trips on the origins of American music are Ed Wards two volumes on Rock n Roll. As far as your 45’s i am wondering if you still have the Bob Luman 45 i gave you, the faux Tom Parker song entitled “The Great Showman. “
I was studying at Stanford for a few weeks in the summer of 1967. My alma mater RPI gave me a free ticket. My group designed a more efficient shower head. A professor at Stanford had us to his home to discuss assigned reading. Lewis Mumford's "Technics and Civilization" was one book among others. The professor suggested that we all go to the Haight to see what was happening. I did not sign up for the course to design a shower head. At first I was somewhat shocked by what I saw and heard in the Haight. The grifters had some easy pickings there and I could sense that things had already started to crumble. I did have a good time and met some good people. Three groups at the Fillmore for $3. The Electric Flag was probably my favorite. The Grateful Dead for free somewhere outdoors in Palo Alto.
visiting some "hippies" in the Height in 1969: our host said "dont roll one of those thin Berkeley joints, make it fat"
the fact that Clinton etc backed Cuomo show how these democratic figure heads never get it. and always loose.