Richard W Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Watched "Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown" on HBO over the weekend. Highly recommended--fascinating story of Brown's life and music up to about the mid-1970s. How he combined blues, gospel, and jazz to create funk is awesome. And of course his continuing influence on rock, hip hop, and modern R&B is incredible. The film also covers his role in the civil rights movement, and explores his support of Richard Nixon, which alienated much of his audience. Many great stories from his band, including some that are not at all complimentary, such as Brown's habit of stiffing them on pay and his dictatorial control that was often enforced with threats of violence. Hilarious to see early video of a teenage Bootsy Collins playing behind Brown, without any of the outlandish clothes. Brown was a complicated artist and genius, and there won't be another like him. "Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves." Leo Tolstoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 I got to see James Brown in Boston at a venue called The Sugar Shack. Bootsy was the bass player that night. It was a great show! Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard W Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 The film spends an extended time focusing on a concert Brown gave in Boston right after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Numerous cities had gone up in flames and Boston was on edge. The mayor of Boston wanted Brown to do the show because he thought it would be a release valve for the pent up anger and tension. At one point during the show, Brown stops in the middle of a song to address the audience about MLK's death. The crowd starts to get a little out of control and about a dozen people rush the stage. The security guards shove them off and tensions run high. But Brown takes complete control of the room, tells the cops to back off, tells the audience to cool it, to "respect themselves" by not getting violent, and after a few moments he just picks up the song where he left off. As it turns out, Boston was one of the few major urban areas that avoided rioting and destruction. An incredible display of one man's ability to control thousands of people just by his charisma, personality, and artistry. "Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves." Leo Tolstoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZZ Thorn Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 There's James Brown, and then there's God. http://www.myspace.com/themoustachioed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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