Gil Scott-Heron

[SandraDee]

Did any UK residents see the TV prog about this wonderful artist the other night? Isn't it annoying when modern rappers liken themselves to him; OK, some of them use similar political messages but Gil utilised fabulous jazzy, funky backing musicians such as Hubert Laws & not some sampled bag of wank like today's 'artists' do. :evil:

[QUINNY]

Steely: Yes I did see it (the Revolution will not be televised?)a few months back. I really didn't know how to take it.

It seemed to me that every man and his dog that had some cause to fight for, was using Gil Scott-Heron as a name to drop. The programme was a little up its own ass, no? GSH may be interesting, possibly been inventive at times, politically uncompromising etc, but the prog set him up as some kinda god. Way too much cred for a poet and musician who's always been right on the fringes. He's so bitter, he's only ever been a whisker away from being downright dangerous.

As for GSH himself........I feel he let his own anger eat him up and can't honestly say that I'm totally with his politics in music. He's obviously had some issues and agendas that only he could ever know.

That's my take.

[buckaroo]

It seemed to me that every man and his dog that had some cause to fight for, was using Gil Scott-Heron as a name to drop. The programme was a little up its own ass, no? GSH may be interesting, possibly been inventive at times, politically uncompromising etc, but the prog set him up as some kinda god. Way too much cred for a poet and musician who's always been right on the fringes. He's so bitter, he's only ever been a whisker away from being downright dangerous.

I saw this on Beeb 4 a few months back and have to concur with you Quin. I noticed that his actual comments were limited to about one minute or less, because his brain is so drug-addled his voice is barely understandable. The end of the doc was also telling, in that he'd been arrested on drug charges yet again. Gil was an amazing artist in the '70s and '80s, but, just like Richard Pryor, his inner demons took hold, and he consumed a little too much of the really hard-hard stuff.

Vainglorious...What a shame.

[Forrrce]

I saw the BBC3 airing also and GSH is a little too complictated a character for a simple, one-hour 'big-up'. It was interesting but unfulfilling. I'm surprised Heron was so lucid, considering he appeared to be as high as a kite.

[SandraDee]

GSH is a little too complictated a character for a simple, one-hour 'big-up'. It was interesting but unfulfilling.

I totally agree with you Forrrce.

[jazz_pilgrim]

I also saw the BBC 4 airing a few months back - and, being unoriginal, I also agree with Forrce's comment (above).

Sad to see such a black music genius in such a drugged up state - but, as is is so often the case, without the pain he has experienced in his life, then the bitterness, the tortured soul, the pain might never have come across in the music. I could never have written The Bottle or the breathtaking Home Is Where The Hatred Is .


PS I was lucky enough to see him live in a free concert on Clapham Common in the mid Eighties ... Any body else see that one??

:)

[hoellihozb]

Sadly, I never saw Gil performing live.

I missed him, when he played at the "Wiesen Jazz Festival" here in Austria, 3 years ago. A friend of mine told me that Gil played there ---1 week after the show.

Gil Scott Heron is a wonderful musician, songwriter and poet. I am still angry about the fact, that I missed this opportunity to see him live. :(

greetings!

[Prefab Sprouter]

GSH was a wonderful musical artist. Tracks like "Angel Dust" or "Winter in America" are still relevant today. I have never heard any of his interviews so I dont know the mand behind the music but the music is still good and still fresh! 8)