RECOVER POST
3 days after my last post, on REM's day off in London last Thursday, events occurred that are well known now: terrible, and more terrible still, eerily familiar. I was in bed at the time, just waking up to do a phone interview with a journalist from Ireland. It wasn't until she rang that I was aware of anything related to the bombings. She mentioned there was an explosion on the tube of some kind. After the interview, we looked on TV and the news was still assembling itself. A 'power surge' had occurred, in one of the lines. No, two. No, three. A bus exploded. It kept growing. 2 reported dead at first. That kept growing as well. Many people who are yet to be declared dead are not counted because either their bodies are inaccessible in the aftermath of the tube bombing, or...they simply vanished. Vaporized in the crowded bus. My political views are reduced, sparked, pushed and pulled by these events. There is a bombing like this every day, nearly, somewhere. I mentioned to a journalist that day that we are already in the middle of world war three, and it resembles the rock-and stick projections of world war four. Everyone at war, all the time. No axis. No allies. No north, no south. And a policy that I believe endangers us all--interventionist war in Iraq--produces more ugly results and domestic-front deaths--and our leaders 'will not weaken' their resolve. I believe the saying goes like this: the definition of insane behavior is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
REM's show in Hyde Park, that was previously scheduled to happen yesterday, was postponed until the 16th, next Saturday. The Posies are shooting the video for 'Conversation' in Seattle on Thursday the 14th--we are looking for people to appear in the video--actors won't be paid, but they'll be fed...and get lots of screen time.
We are looking for: an asian man and woman, to play a couple 40+ years of age; a hispanic man 20-40 years old; two women 60+ years old. If you're interested and can be in Seattle that day, and be free for a day's shooting, email a photo to casting@worthyent.com.
REM plays the magnificent Millennium Stadium in Cardiff tonight...in about an hour and a half. Our show in Ipswich on Friday was emotional, naturally--they all are--but I was wondering if the event's impact had made it that far by then...news was so fragmentary in its arrival...
Yesterday I enjoyed my unexpected day off in London. Dined with Dominique and our freshly arrived tour manager, Matt Downey. I met Matt in 1996 when he was playing with the band Drop City, supporting us on our first Australian tour (headliner: the Hoodoo Gurus). We've been friends since--I produced several tracks for his later band, Introverse, in my home studio...well, I have plucked him from his musical career to assist mine...I'm cruel like that! Drinks at the hotel followed, with REM band and crew members, and several friends...or so I was told. I passed out wearing a jockey's uniform at about midnight. Matt 1, Ken 0! Many thanks to Dominique and the housekeeping, bar & security staff at the Milestone Hotel for dealing with me and my aftermath....
Love
KS
Cardiff
