Mark Snow

We lost composer Mark Snow on July 4th.  He was 78 years old.  When I was young, I can perfectly recall the disgust and uneasiness that my dad would project whenever a favorite Hollywood figure or big band composer would pass away.  He would yell into the other room where my mother was and say something like "Betty!  James Cagney died! I remember when he was a young man!  Everybody's dying!"

I never gave it much thought back then, as those people seemed to be some kind of relic or fossil.  My dad would add later "Never get old, boys!"  (Though he'd also often say "Never get married!...and if you DO get married, never have kids!")  

I feel like everyone who reads this blog probably has a deep love for The X-Files.  And if you feel that love, you probably know the show's composer by name.  His music was as much a part of that show as the two main characters.  I wonder if the show would have been as popular had he not scored every episode.  Would the aliens have been as horrifying?  Would those wonderful moments between Scully and Mulder have been as touching?  

Absolutely not.

Here's to a man who made an enormous impact on this guy.  

It's rough getting old and seeing your favorites pass on.

Everybody's dying.

Click below for the absolute perfect example of Mr. Snow's talents...

Beyond Thunderdome

Posting the original song here as a tribute to Tina Turner.  I saw this film back when it came out.  Sitting in that theater in the 80's and seeing this insanely cool lady in her post-apocalyptic chainmail punk attire was quite the neat treat.  She was crazy cool in that film.  A presence for sure.

I grew up in a house where my parents played her records.  They would often praise her for breaking free from Ike. I didn't fully grasp what they meant, but I could tell they respected this woman very much.  In fact, when the movie came out, my mother took my brother and I because she wanted to see Tina Turner in a movie.  Beyond Thunderdome was an amazing film, so we all left pretty pleased.  1985 was a really great year.

Rest in peace, Ms. Turner.  

Click below...

Now Playing: Twin Peaks Theme

By the late (and truly great) Angelo Badalamenti.

Click below...

Hans Ruedi Giger

H.R. Giger would have been 82 today.  Endless inspiration from this man, and his Pilot/Space Jockey design and prop literally kept me wondering and dreaming for decades.  And it still does.  I always wanted to meet the man.  I have a feeling the language barrier wouldn't have been a big deal.  He would have known I adored his work, and owed him a great debt, by the expression on my face.

The Devil's Tree

Man, I love displays like this.

A little bit of everything, with just a touch of Crazy.

Image by Johnny Wilson.

The Old House On The Hill

I've tried to write this post a few times since November, when I found out some terrible news. 
Our community lost a talented and incredibly genuine and kind person.  On September 25th, PrimWitch from The Old House on the Hill (Candy was her real name) passed away suddenly of an unexpected illness.

I've featured her work a lot on the blog as it really spoke to me.  Primitive Folk Art is a mysterious art form.  It's crude and dark and organic.  It feels temporary and delicate, like it could crumble in your hands or blow over in the wind.  It speaks so loudly when bending Autumn or Winter in its twisty vines and dried husks and wrinkled fruits.  And Candy had it mastered.  A true artist.  One of the Greats of Primitive Folk Art.  A Giant.

Here's to the Prim Witch, of the Old House on the Hill. 
May she be at peace, where it's forever Autumn.

Mutant Maggots Macabre Creations: The Art Of Leon Crompton

This talented artist and creator of vile things passed away recently.  May he be in the land of perpetual Autumn, where Halloweens (and Guy Fawkes Days) last a billion years, with bonfires, falling leaves like snow, and an endless sea of pumpkins smiling fire.

His instagram here.