Today's MOZEN: Perspective

F LoBuono

Prologue: From time to time, it is important that I reiterate TalkFrank's most basic chore belief: My opinions are my own. I take ownership of them. I am solely responsible for their content. However, they are only that - opinions. And, I encourage others to voice theirs, as well. If it is well put, then it is always welcome. But, I also created the blog to exercise MY right to express my thoughts. Therefore, those opinions can be passionate and, perhaps too often, seen as combative. This, I suppose, comes with the territory.

And, as I will not be silenced, I will not silence others. But, as I must use decorum and not say just any thing in just any way, I feel it is fair to expect the same from others.

Now, to the issue at hand -

On the passing of Prince.

First, I don't want to detract from anyone's feelings when it comes to the loss of someone they might not know directly but still has had enough of an impact on their lives so that they feel as if they actually did. It can come with the passing of some type of public figure, usually a celebrity. They often play a significant role in the pageant of our lives. So, it has been the case with the recent deaths of David Bowie and, now, Prince.

Both were masters of not only their crafts but, seemingly life. Their music AND their personae made them giants, not only in their industry, but in the eyes of millions of adoring fans, too. Their music STOOD for something and it resonated with so many. As you often hear people say, they, along with a select few others, provide the soundtrack of their lives. And, if their enormous talent weren't enough, they were groundbreaking artists whose vision set the bar ever higher.

Certainly, they gave so much that it is right and proper to mark their passing with the adulation they both earned and most certainly deserve.

However, the AMOUNT of public grieving, especially for two men who were notoriously private, puzzles and vexes me. I suppose that a good amount of that stems from the fact that we live in a VERY connected and, therefore, public society. We seem to share everything - including our grief. I get that. And, as I mentioned above, I get the deep connection people feel for these artists. Plus, I also understand that in their passing we lose a piece of our past - another page is turned. However, at some point it all loses perspective.

I did not know these men directly. YOU did not these men directly (well, the GREAT majority of you). Perhaps, you FELT like you did. But, the reality is you couldn't. So, how could you feel the same connection that you would have if you lost a member of your family? To me, that's not realistic - it couldn't be. These people, in a sense, are nothing more than figments of our imagination. Therefore, the connection is, or should be, more tenuous.

Now, this does not make me an evil person (other things might, but not this!). I have noted and acknowledged their greatness as artists. And, I've told that they were also great as humanitarians. But, again, just for perspective, I was not a big follower of either as performers. Their "gender bending" style and outrageous "costumes" did not attract me. I enjoyed their music but did not collect it. My style then, as it is now, tends more towards the likes of Tom Waits. This does not make me, or you, bad - just different. I suppose I'm saying there is no such thing as a "Universal Artist". That's simply not possible - and, so, Bowie and Prince should not truly touted as such - no one is. Again, this should not be seen as detracting from the greatness of their accomplishments. I'm just a little more jaded when it comes to such matters.

And, sometimes, there can even be a "back story" that can affect that memory. I have one.

I never had any professional dealings with Bowie. However, I did with Prince. A few years back, I was given as assignment. Prince was on his "THIS IS AMERICA"tour and was to perform that evening at Madison Square Garden. During his sound check he was going to present a check for one million dollars to a Harlem based charity. We were invited to document the event.

It was disaster.

First, they kept us waiting in the hallway of the Garden's press entrance at 33rd Street for hours. Some of the photographers were there for four hours or more. Then, as we were finally herded into the large, freight elevators for our trip to the mezzanine level, we were given STRICT orders as how we were to conduct ourselves:

You will not be allowed to shoot until you are given the OK to. ANYONE who violates this rule will be escorted out, IMMEDIATELY. You can only shoot from the designated area. ANYONE who violates this rule will be escorted out, IMMEDIATELY.

We got the message.

When we got to the mezzanine, we were penned into an area in front of the stage. Technicians were milling about, preparing for that evening's performance. I set my gear and waited for the OK to begin taping. After a few minutes, some of the kids from the charity to receive the donation began appearing around the stage. We asked if we could take some preliminary shots. We were told, "NO".

After some more time passed, we heard the wail of an electric guitar. Suddenly, a spot light cut through the darkness exposing Prince in a back section of the lower level of the Garden. He was wearing black, skin-tight leotards with bright white, shaggy knee-high boots. Brandishing a bright white custom Fender guitar, in the glare of the spotlight, he couldn't be missed. He was walking from area to area around the floor, playing a bit in each area to see how it sounded from that spot. I must admit, it was very cool seeing him there. I remember thinking how tiny he appeared to be!

Of course, all of the photographers get very excited. Here was the "Money Shot". We all began to bring our cameras to bear when, once again, we were told by security that we would not be allowed to shoot yet. Prince's publicist explained that he had to get direct permission. We asked, "when will that happen"? and were told, "soon".

After Prince was satisfied with what he was hearing, he came to the stage and approached the young people from the charity. They all gathered around him like bees to honey. What a great shot! "NOW"?, we screamed. NO. I have to ask Prince first. I'll go down there now and ask him", responded the publicist.

We watched him approach Prince. He leaned in and said something in his ear. Of course, we could not hear what was transpiring but I did see one thing; Prince was nodding his head in a negative manner. In other words, he was saying NO! The publicist kept trying and receiving the same reaction - NO. He came back to the shooting platform and informed us of the bad news: "sorry fella's. It's a rap. There will be NO photos today". We were livid! Unfortunately, that poor fellow had to bare the brunt of our rage. "NO photos? What the hell did you invite us here for, then"? we bellowed to know avail. Security rounded us up and escorted us out. But, before they got us to the exit, we all started chanting: "This is America? This is BULL SHIT"! I wonder if Prince actually heard us - or, if he did, would he even have cared.

This should not detract from the fact that, ultimately, Prince WAS donating a million dollars for the benefit of young people. That IS what is most important. I'm sure that he had his reasons to reject us. It doesn't matter.

I suppose, that in the end, no one if perfect. We all die - some more famously so than others - but, all. Perspective, my friends. Perspective.