I've probably seen John Lurie and the Lounge Lizards in concert more than any other band. I don't own more than a CD or two of theirs now, but I always enjoyed the live experience, and Lurie was at the center of several art circles that I loved. He was a close friend of Jim Jarmusch's, starring in the indie breakthrough Stranger than Paradise and Down by Law (which also featured Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni). He did a lovely score for Jarmusch's Mystery Train, another favorite movie of mine. He had bit parts in Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas and David Lynch's Wild at Heart. And he was the host of the hilarious Fishing with John series, which featured guest spots with Jarmusch, Waits, Matt Dillon, Dennis Hopper and Willem Dafoe. I dont think I could stomach Wild at Heart anymore, but I'm a big fan of all these other efforts.
Lurie was also a player in one of my all-time favorite art scenes: downtown NYC circa the early 80s. He had a part in Downtown 81 (along with fellow downtowners Debbie Harry, Arto Lindsay, Stranger than Paradise costar Eszter Balint, Diane Brill, Kid Creole, Fab 5 Freddy, Vincent Gallo, Debi Mazar, Coati Mundi, Cookie Mueller and Glenn O'Brien), which is famous primarily for its star, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who is also my favorite painter. (Interesting fact: Gallo and Basquiat were in a band together called Gray; one fo their songs is on the soundtrack.)
Unfortunately, Lurie contracted Lyme Disease in the 90s and hasn't really been able to write music since. However, he has been able to continue his painting, and will have new exhibits in both Tokyo and New York this month. In honor of their opening, whitehot magazine is running an interesting interview with Lurie. It was sad to hear that he and Jarmusch, who once wrote the liner notes to a Lounge Lizards CD, aren't really in touch. But it was also fun to hear his comments about Basquiat:
KF: New York was going through what was then Neo-Expressionism. Names like Schnabel, Fischl, Basquiat were among the known and popular. You knew Basquiat. Were you affected by him as an artist in any way?
JL: Haha - he was a kid who used to follow me around and sleep on my floor. He would constantly ask me how he could make a living so he could keep his girlfriend.
KF: I'm not sure about the circumstances surrounding your friendship with Jarmusch...but he knew Basquiat as well. Was there a link between the three of you?
JL: I don’t remember Jim knowing Jean-Michel, actually. So to answer your question, “No…” But I do remember that Jim was storing the movie equipment at my house when he was making Permanent Vacation. And Jean had been awake for days and was now sleeping on my floor in the front room where the equipment was. He had slept for nearly 12 hours and Jim and the crew were coming in and out to get equipment. At first, they tried to get around Jean but then eventually they found it easier to pick him up and move him. He never woke up, which I found very impressive. Jim certainly did not know him then. What year is that? 1980 maybe…
KF: I’m still trying to get the image of Jean-Michel being lifted off the floor out of my mind...Haha - How often would he sleep on your floor?
JL: He wasn’t there all the time - about a third of the time.
KF: On a somber note, Jean-Michel's funeral...You played for him.
JL: That was an odd day, was the same day my Uncle Jerry died. The funeral was weird. His father did this thing where only rich, famous painters were invited. And I and many others weren't supposed to be allowed in. But I said fuck that and crashed it. Crashing a funeral, how strange that is.
I left early and on the way out, they were bringing out the casket out of a side door as I went by.
I walked over to Roosevelt Hospital where my uncle was getting chemo. There were people he knew outside crying. And I realized what was going on.
I don't know what happened next, I found myself on the corner of 42nd Street with no jacket and no tie. I just lost it, I guess.
That thing I played at the memorial Glenn O'Brien put it together. It was about a month or so later.
For the whole interview, click here.
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