Crumb music ...

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:33 pm

Robert Crumb plays banjo, guitar, mandolin, sings. Who'da thunkit?

I don't know which parts are him, except banjo, on these clips, but you might enjoy:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4603350

Below the picture are three tunes.

Best wishes,
Jerry

The Weekenders · Post by **The Weekenders** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:50 am

It's always been a big part of his persona. The Cheap Suit Serenaders played around here for years in our folk clubs. Even though he is from back east, he lived around here for quite a while. Still might. I dunno, I lost track of him.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:55 am

I bought the Cheap Suit Serenaders lp during the 80s, loved it. Still have al the songs firmly anchored in my head : on my persian rug I will sway far away..

And sorry weeks last I heard of him (nineties) was that he goot fed up with the US and emigrated to France

The Weekenders · Post by **The Weekenders** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:03 am

Yeah, that sounds familiar, Peter. I had seen the guy around here back when I worked in Berkeley. He used to go to Down Home Music to buy records too. That's the place I get all my good Irish recordings but their notoriety is in the old Blues that he likes so much.

As for France, I am sure he will get around to skewerin' that place too. A wicked sense of humor and caricature.

s1m0n · Post by **s1m0n** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:16 am

Still might. I dunno, I lost track of him

He plays with the serenaders when he gets back to LA (rarely, I think), but he's been living in France for a number of years now and has another project there.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:21 am

Why, oh why do they use Real media? I'll never hear it now.

I always enjoyed Crumb's comics as a young lad. I saw a biographical show about him awhile back. I hadn't known about his music prior.

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:39 am

Here's a recent interview (from yesterday's Fresh Air, with Terry Gross):

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/r ... p?prgId=13

I found it very entertaining.

He moved to France 14 years ago, if I remember correctly from the interview. He said it was his wife's idea and she organized everything. He just went along, he said, but he likes it there a lot.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue May 03, 2005 11:18 am

Crumb has a very extensive collection of early blues 78s. He's been listening to old music since his teens.

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Wed May 04, 2005 12:22 am

Robert Crumb has had quite a bit of media coverage in the U.K. lately,due to a big retrospective show of his work at some gallery or other (can't remember wich just now).
He has been interviewed in 'The Guardian',who ran a 'Crumb week' (!!!

),and also on BBC T.v.'s 'Arts programme'.
Unfortunately,he didn't play any music on the show.
He was portrayed in the film 'American splendour' a few years back.
Years ago,he did some marvelous portraits of old blues players in the style of cigarette cards,which I thought would look rather cool on my wall.

s1m0n · Post by **s1m0n** » Wed May 04, 2005 12:30 am

He was portrayed in the film 'American splendour' a few years back.

That was Harvey Pekar. Crumb was the subject of the movie "Crumb", by (I believe) the same director.

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Wed May 04, 2005 2:08 am

s1m0n wrote:
He was portrayed in the film 'American splendour' a few years back.
That was Harvey Pekar. Crumb was the subject of the movie "Crumb", by (I believe) the same director.

Harvey Pekar was the originator of the 'American Splendour' comic,and the main character in the film,but Crumb does appear as a character in the film too.
I loved that film.
I must keep an eye out for 'Crumb'.

beowulf573 · Post by **beowulf573** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:23 am

FYI, "American Splendor" was directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, great flick, I love how they transitioned between the different reprensentations of Harvey Pekar; Paul Giamatti, the real Harvey, the animated Harvey, the comic book Harvey. And it was just a great flick.

The Crumb documentary was directed by Terry Zwigoff, a friend of Crumb's, and later went on to directed "Ghost World" based on the comic by Daniel Clowes and recenty "Bad Santa".

The documentary and "Ghost World" are great flicks, I personally like "Bad Santa" a lot but I could see how it would not be everyone's cup of tea. Lauren Graham, woof.

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:15 pm

Best wishes,
Jerry

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:52 pm

I heard most of the interview with Terry Gross while driving. They played a bit of his music, which totally reminded me of the music in 1930's era cartoons. That's what I visualized. Crumb mentioned that his work in the 60's was reminiscent of that style, also.

The documentary, Crumb, is amazing and kind of sad. Both his brothers are interviewed as well as himself, who seemed the most sane of the three. Sounds like they had a thouroughly miserable adolescence, but were profoundly creative during that time. Crumb is incredibly open about himself, his work, his weirdness, etc. Doesn't hold anything back.

He was interviewed because he is coming out with a retrospective book, which includes his artwork and a cd of his music. If you don't know who he is, be prepared to be shocked one way or the other.

Tony