Mick Jagger is producing a movie on James Brown

[aldread]

Sometimes you can't separate the work from the man. I grew up in Buffalo, NY. Big time Bills fan. Went to most of O.J.'s games and watched the rest on TV. He was arguably the best RB ever in the NFL. We worshiped him. Now when ever his name comes up, I don't think of world class sprints, incredible moves, or touchdowns.

I wish I could.

Sometimes i can separate the work from the man, it seems many of these amazingly talented people have quirks, addictions, etc. to varying degrees. Some can be overlooked, some can't. In JB's case, maybe because I don't know the whole story, I've overlooked the bad. Ike's troubles are better known to me and have a big affect on my opinion of him.

I guess it's subjective. ....

 

[MAC TED]

I think you are missing the point, we all agree that is deplorable behavior.

While we're at it, let's mention that FDR was a chain-smoking cripple who was married to an active lesbian, and he died with his mistress at his bedside, whereas Hitler was an animal-loving vegetarian who married his girlfriend. Picasso was a pervert, Hunter S. Thompson was a bully with a penchant for drugs, booze, and all sorts of thrills....

See where I'm going with this?? Nobody is arguing wife-beating is anything but bad. When I said he was a lover of humanity, the man was. End of story.

Sucks that he was a wife abuser, but his actions were far from abnormal for the time. Ray Charles, aforementioned Ike Turner, Jackson Browne, the list goes on and on. Terrible, but true.

Hell, we haven't even begun to talk about catholic priests.

 

[mmann68]

Not sure I necessarily wanted to open the can of worms this far... I definitely think, though, that pretty close to everyone can separate the art from the man. As I've mentioned a couple of times, his work is undeniable. But I do think that we have to be careful about equating character flaws and/or being a jerk with something far more serious. The idea that someone who wants to have a reasonably serious discussion about the problems of physical abuse is doing so only because he "has Gloria Steinhem looking over his shoulder" is an interesting one.

 

[onwardjames]

Not sure I necessarily wanted to open the can of worms this far... I definitely think, though, that pretty close to everyone can separate the art from the man. As I've mentioned a couple of times, his work is undeniable. But I do think that we have to be careful about equating character flaws and/or being a jerk with something far more serious. The idea that someone who wants to have a reasonably serious discussion about the problems of physical abuse is doing so only because he "has Gloria Steinhem looking over his shoulder" is an interesting one.

That's because this thread isn't about discussing the problems of physical abuse. If you wish to discuss that, please start a separate thread.

My Steinhem remark was a lighthearted attempt to pull you away from a topic that nobody here disagrees about.
We all agree, abuse is terrible.

 

[finnbow]

As the OP, I'm almost sorry I posted this.:sigh:

 

[spartanmanor]

Mick copied JB's dancing for his early carrier.

 

[onwardjames]

My sincerest apologies, Finnbow.

As a music lover, I think James Brown's contribution to music is greatly under-appreciated, and I didn't want a thread espousing his career to be overshadowed by the uglier facets of his life.

Again, very sorry.

 

[finnbow]

My sincerest apologies, Finnbow.

As a music lover, I think James Brown's contribution to music is greatly under-appreciated, and I didn't want a thread espousing his career to be overshadowed by the uglier facets of his life.

Again, very sorry.

If the movie is comprehensive, it should cover these facets of his life as well. We'll see. No apology necessary, James.

FWIW, I saw James Brown at the New Orleans Jazz Fest right after he was released from prison in ~1991. Quite a show.

Here's an interesting factoid about JB's mixed legacy:

Brown was also honored in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia for his philanthropy and civic activities. On November 20, 1993, Mayor Charles DeVaney of Augusta held a ceremony to dedicate a section of 9th Street between Broad and Twiggs Streets, renamed "James Brown Boulevard", in the entertainer's honor. On May 6, 2005, as a 72nd birthday present for Brown, the city of Augusta unveiled a life-sized bronze James Brown statue on Broad Street. The statue was to have been dedicated a year earlier, but the ceremony was put on hold because of a domestic abuse charge that Brown faced at the time.

I've seen this statue a couple of times while in Augusta on business.

 

[onwardjames]

If the movie is comprehensive, it should cover these facets of his life as well. We'll see. No apology necessary, James.

FWIW, I saw James Brown at the New Orleans Jazz Fest right after he was released from prison in ~1991. Quite a show.

Here's an interesting factoid about JB's mixed legacy:

Brown was also honored in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia for his philanthropy and civic activities. On November 20, 1993, Mayor Charles DeVaney of Augusta held a ceremony to dedicate a section of 9th Street between Broad and Twiggs Streets, renamed "James Brown Boulevard", in the entertainer's honor. On May 6, 2005, as a 72nd birthday present for Brown, the city of Augusta unveiled a life-sized bronze James Brown statue on Broad Street. The statue was to have been dedicated a year earlier, but the ceremony was put on hold because of a domestic abuse charge that Brown faced at the time.

I've seen this statue a couple of times while in Augusta on business.

Doesn't that say volumes about the duality of man? Sad, but true.

My beautiful, wonderful wife was married for 7+ years to the biggest turd God ever gave breath. Once hit her over the head with a can of beans. Slapped her, verbally degraded her, even full-on beat her a time or two, all in front of his tiny daughter. He's gone on to marry 3 more times, recently leaving his third, getting another pregnant, and moving HER in. Builds families, then systematically destroys them. I live with the aftershocks of his treatment every single day, thru my wife, and my stepdaughter.

Just five minutes in a padded room with him, that's all I want.

 

[moinau]

James Brown is the artist who most epitomizes the turbulent vitality of black American music, although we could have an argument in favour of Miles Davis.

I first saw James Brown at "La Place des Nations" in Montreal in 1969 at the "Festival des Étoiles"
One of the best show I ever saw.