I just read up on V for Vendetta and discovered this bit of information pertaining to Alan Moore and his thoughts about the movie….enjoy (copied from wikipedia):

V for Vendetta film

The last straw came when producer Joel Silver said at a press conference for the Warner Bros. film adaptation of V for Vendetta that fellow producer Larry Wachowski had talked with Moore, and that “he [Moore] was very excited about what Larry had to say.”^[58] Moore claims that he told Wachowski “I didn’t want anything to do with films… I wasn’t interested in Hollywood,” and demanded that DC Comics force Warner Bros to issue a public retraction and apology for Silver’s “blatant lies”. Although Silver called Moore directly to apologize, no public retraction appeared. Moore was quoted as saying that the comic book had been “specifically about things like fascism and anarchy. Those words, ‘fascism’ and ‘anarchy,’ occur nowhere in the film. It’s been turned into a Bush-era parable by people too timid to set a political satire in their own country.”^[59]

This conflict between Moore and DC Comics was the subject of an article in The New York Times^[60] on 12 March 2006, five days before the USA theatrical release. In the New York Times article, Silver stated that about 20 years prior to the film’s release, he met with Moore and Dave Gibbons when Silver acquired the film rights to V For Vendetta and Watchmen. Silver stated, “Alan was odd, but he was enthusiastic and encouraging us to do this. I had foolishly thought that he would continue feeling that way today, not realizing that he wouldn’t.” Moore did not deny this meeting or Silver’s characterization of Moore at that meeting, nor did Moore state that he advised Silver of his change of opinion in those approximately 20 years. The New York Times article also interviewed David Lloyd about Moore’s reaction to the film’s production, stating, “Mr. Lloyd, the illustrator of V for Vendetta, also found it difficult to sympathize with Mr. Moore’s protests. When he and Mr. Moore sold their film rights to the comic book, Mr. Lloyd said: “We didn’t do it innocently. Neither myself nor Alan thought we were signing it over to a board of trustees who would look after it like it was the Dead Sea Scrolls.”^[60]

Resist. Multiply. Think for yourself.

I just started reading the graphic novel WATCHMEN. It is awesome and I highly recommend it. For all of you who think this is just a comic book - well whatever. Graphic novel implies a higher meaning. Sure there are pictures, but come on - I have a short attention span! The story has a deepness that I love in a regular book. I got it for my birthday and I plan to finish it before I rent the movie. I heard good things about the flick, too. Bravo, Alan Moore and David Gibbons.

Resist. Multiply. Read a Graphic Novel - not a comic book!!!!

For Zippy, the one that lead the way to Strummerville.

What do Joe Strummer, wielding a 1966 Fender telecaster, the silver surfer cutting cosmic lines with his silver board, and Owen Scott Verde have in common?  Well good people of Tribe of Dad march on, read on, rock on, surf on.  Lengthy, but damn it’s worth it.

There are two cultural icons that have had a profound impact on the microcosm that is Owen Scott Verde’s world.  Both enigmatic, troubled characters have morphed into my own personal ying and yang, Abbot and Costello, and, or poet and prophet.

Throughout the years I have religiously listened to the charged music of Joe Strummer.  Whether is was music channeled through the legendary Clash, or his solo work I have listened, learned, and went about my day a bit differently and edgy thanks to his timeless musical endeavors.  Funny, the more time moves forward, leaving musical mediocrity and pop hits in the dusty pass, losing their staying power, the music of the Clash continues with vibrancy and influence.  Thirty-five or so years after their inception, the four blokes from London influence and inspire many an aspiring musician.  Art is immortal.  Therefore so is Joe Strummer, born John Graham Mellor.

The Silver Surfer, born Norrin Radd, surfs throughout the galaxy of comic book readers for eternity.   He too, like John Mellor, is a poet and perhaps a prophet.  He too, like John “Strummer” Mellor is caught in an infinite dilemma that plagues them, and perhaps me as well.

The Silver Surfer Dilemma
Originally a young astronomer of the planet Zenn-La, Norrin Radd made a bargain with a brutal, world encompassing, universe destroying being known as Galactus. The bargain was, in order for Norrin to save his beloved, peaceful planet from the hungry Galactus, he would travel the universe searching for planets Galactus could inhale.  Through the sacrificial bargain Radd acquired great powers, an armor of silver and an organic surfboard on which he would travel at speeds beyond that of light. Known from then on as the Silver Surfer, Radd began to roam the cosmos searching for new planets for Galactus to consume, forever leaving behind friends and family.

When his travels finally took him to Earth, the Surfer came face-to-face with the human race and it’s inability to live up to its sentient capabilities.  He pitied us, and the way we treat one another.  Earth was his planet before enlightenment and global compassion. Betraying Galactus, the Surfer saved Earth by not notifying him of his new find.  For doing so, Galactus punished the Silver Surfer by exiling him on Earth for eternity.  Making it the second great Silver Surfer sacrifice.

He left his home forever to protect it, only to come across a planet that would suit Galactus’ needs, freeing him of his enslavement, but refusing to let Galactus destroy it.  What did the good people of Earth do, they tried to destroy the Silver Surfer, ostracizing him.  Can you say Christ like figure?  The Silver Surfer, with legs draped over his long board, sways in our stratosphere, looking down at us, and we never bother to look up at him and praise him for his sacrifice.

The Joe Strummer Dilemma
As the silver surfer gazes down, occasionally ascending to be with the people of Earth, Joe Strummer carried the weight of the world on his shoulders and always looked up to the heavens, questioning.  This self inflicted Atlas syndrome could not be shaken by Strummer, or so I’ve read.  He was one hell of a boozer, slipped in and out of deep, chronic bouts of depression, and abused drugs for his entire, short lived, thorough life.  When Joe Strummer was a young man his older brother, some one he looked up to, killed himself while secluded at a military school.  Joe’s older brother was a troubled young man; he came from the same rigorous, very cold childhood Joe did, but he never was able to break free of this, so he broke totally free of it by ending his life.  According to close sources, friends of Joe Strummer, he blamed himself, and incessantly regretted not being a better support system for his broken hearted sibling.  The news of his brother’s pass had a profound, far reaching impact, shadowing Joe’s rebellious heart until the day he died of a life long heart condition.

While on his mountain like climb to musical success, and international fame, there were countless sacrifices made by Joe Strummer.  Broken ties with family and friends, poverty, filth, and reckless abandon were debts well paid.  Some fans, some critics, some musicologists say Strummer is timeless because he didn’t sing to us, or at us, but vocally raged for us.  Regardless of his downfalls, like the Silver Surfer, he truly believed in the human race.  The Silver Surfer saw in us what Joe Strummer might have seen in the gleaming eyes of the countless, sweaty, masses of concert goers when singing,” Know Your Rights!”, potential and unrequited decency. Strummer conveyed his message through his guitar playing, and politically, socially conscious lyrics.  The Silver Surfer proves himself with his trusty board carrying him throughout our troublesome world.  The Surfer could turn to Galactus at any moment, and say,”Master, take them, they’re yours.  They’re not worthy of my sacrifice.”  He has yet to do that; he still believes.  Joe Strummer never stopped believing. He came out of a 15 year seclusion to make music again, tour, reinvent himself, and even revisit some Clash standards when playing to devout, very diverse crowds around the world. Full circle.

The Zippy Dilemma Before The Owen Scott Verde Dilemma
A great friend of mine Zippy introduced me to The Clash, to Strummerville, and from there I never left, I applied for residency.  Citizenship.  Some time ago, Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros played at a small venue in Brooklyn.  The place was just down the street from my brother’s loft.  Zippy and I toyed, toyed with the idea of catching a show.  If my fading memory serves me correct, adding insult to injury, they were playing several nights there.  Every night, Zippy and I said to each other, “Tomorrow night.”  Well there was no other night.  Strummer and The Mescaleros left town for another city, another night of rock and roll.  Several months ago, Joe Strummer passed away at the young age of 50. Regret.  We f@*ked up Zippy. More regret.

The Owen Scott Verde Dilemma
I haven’t made many sacrifices in life.  I’ve grown up very fortunate, coming from a working middle class family. A white male in America. “Do no wrong. So clean cut. Dirty his hands. It comes right off.” So when it comes to the sacrifice angle I really can’t relate to, or find many correlations with Strummer and the Surfer.  However, as far as their view of modern man, well I fall right in line.  I have hope, but at the same time I often shake my head in despair, not understanding how, or why my brother’s are treating one another in such, vile non-humane ways. A safe bet would be to say I have a jaded, raspy Strummer optimism mixed with a Silver Surfer belief that we are worth the exile, and the wait until the realization is universal.

I play guitar. A fender, the same family that Joe’s faithful, favorite axe belonged to.  I surf.  The spiritual, intangible buzz, satisfaction the Surfer gets from shredding throughout the universe is one I can most definetly relate to.  There are many Buddhist allusions, and metaphors in the Silver Surfer comic books.  The Dharma, the Bodhisattva way, well, I’ve done some experimenting.  Strummer dealt with long runs of depression and irritability.  That’s a song I know all too well.

Surf & Strum - Coda
Joe Strummer lived his life according to one single, splendid motion, strumming a guitar.  This was his way of communicating with his fellow man.  The Silver Surfer conducted himself through another verb - surf. I attempt to do both’ I’m not very good, but I try, and that’s better than most can say.  At my personal Mt. Zion, or Valhalla, in a perfect afterlife, I would like to strum some guitars with Joe and surf with Silver.  Together we can hope for the best.

(Do you think the Silver Surfer ever has to wax his stick?)

Next: The Teacher, The Combat Veteran

Resist. Multiply. Strum. Surf.