Mailbag

Subject: Icarus Director
Hi Bob - Bryan Fogel here.
A few days ago many friends of mine passed onto me your blog / email about ICARUS so I just signed up for your newsletter. Thanks so much for the kind thoughts.
You really understood what I was hoping would be the takeaway from the film and saw straight to the bigger issues at stake far beyond sport, and the threatening of our own democracy through fake news, lies, denials and an media cycle that support this propaganda and enable Trump.
Not sure if saw Rodchenkov on 60 minutes last week or this concerning news today... mobile.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/sports/olympics/russia-doping-prokhorov.html?referer= ... but we are living in surreal times, much as Orwell predicted and I'm deeply concerned for not only Rodchenkov and his future, but our own country.
I appreciate you taking notice and the time to write about ICARUS and help spread the word about my film. I've been traveling non-stop recently ahead of the Oscars, but I live in LA if you ever want to meet for lunch or a coffee and chat? I think we'd have much to talk about.
My best,
Bryan Fogel
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From: Lukedaddy
Subject: Re: Jade Bird's "Lottery"
Problem is, ANY one can make a 'record' and they ALL think they are great and deserve it. Garage band and a mic pre does not make a star.
DUES does.
No place to play now. No live music or rare anyway. No motivation to learn ( outside metal- those musicians work hard at their craft like the music or not).
Just cause you CAN make a 'record' does not mean you should release it. I could auto tune/ Melodyne/ time-correct my Pug dog singing 'The Greatest Love of All'
No buffer between shit and great. No one to say ' You are not ready yet or ... you don't have it man sorry'.
Just ' Oh my son has a band too, or my daughter sings like Whitney' etc....
Ok... I get the old 'One mans shit is another mans chocolate' theory as I live it... but I spent many many years practicing before I made it to a studio.
Then had to endure A+R guys that could not even clap on 2+ 4... played a ton of sessions and I am still learning and practicing 42 years later.
Instant 'GIMME I wanna be famous' is bullshit and should be called out.
There is perhaps a new 'Jimi' and or perhaps a great new young band in a small town somewhere in the world that cant get heard thru the noise.
We NEED a new reason to love music. Everyone's shit sounds the same cause everyone uses the same tools. Same plug ins and samples.
Shit they said WE are slick? WTF there is not a ruff edge in sight these days. We actually sat in a studio and played together. Whatever...
TOO much. You wouldn't eat a giant Toblerone chocolate bar in one sitting would ya? 400 hamburgers etc... ?
Nope we live in a ' Baffle you with bullshit ' world. ( said the old guy).
I will go to my grave swearing I grew up in the best of times for music and life. No one cares, but I do.
Have a nice day and this is MY opinion. Dont hate me for it. There IS some great stuff but ... hard to wade thru in a see thru world.
Steve Lukather
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From: Jason Flom
Subject: Re: Jim Guerinot-This Week's Podcast
Bob,
In the 90s I was at an awards show. 2 of the first 5 awards were won by Boyz 2 Men and the other 3 went to A&M acts (Soundgarden, Sheryl Crow, etc.). Each time Boyz 2 Men won they thanked Jesus and each time the other artists won they thanked Jim. It was then that I overheard a guy sitting behind me say to his friend in a reverent tone, "I don't know who this Jim Guerinot guy is but he's up 3 to 2 on God."
True story and a great metaphor for the behind the scenes magic of one of the greats of our era.
Jason
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From: Emily Kaye
Subject: Re: Jim Guerinot-This Week's Podcast
Hi Bob,
Guerinot is a force unlike anyone I've ever encountered in my professional life. When the student is ready, the teacher will come...
I've had two mentors; Larry Hamby and Jim Guerinot. Both of whom I worked for and with at A&M Records. Hamby was my guide while I was a burgeoning A&R person at A&M Records. I met Guerinot while he was head of marketing, then GM of the label. After bringing in a band that had moderate success at the label, Guerinot recognized the passion I had for the band, and saw that as something of an asset to the teams working the record. The opportunity came for him to start a label and we talked about it. A&M did not offer me a better opportunity, and frankly my sense of adventure was then, and always will be (perhaps to my detriment), what inspires me and often the path I follow.
In 1998, Peter Harper, Guerinot and I started our journey together and shared a small office with a view of the beach on Main St. in Laguna Beach, CA. Guerinot's vision was to do "it" differently. To think outside of the normal paradigm of the music biz, which was heavily radio/video driven back then. We went back to his roots, the DIY way of making records and developing artists. We headed out "there" with one main principal - "How can we help?". And we succeeded in helping, developing and sharing a grass roots ethos with a handful of kick ass artists.
Guerinot is a leader. He has a fierce yearning for knowledge. He's curious and deeply passionate about music. Working for Guerinot was like getting a masters degree in music and life. How you live outside of work impacts how you deal with your day to day. He showed me what it looks like to have a "life". Although he worked 12- 16 hours days, usually on the weekends as well, he somehow found a way to "live". I emulated that as best I could. And still do.
With that kind of drive comes expectation. He expected me to "show up". And when I pulled any kind of lackluster "I was out late at a show so I slept in... bullshit, I heard about it. He brought a healthy structure to the team which invoked a sense of solidarity. Whereas, if one struggles - we all struggle. If one gets flakey - we all feel it. I came from a world where the A&R dept. was unique and somewhat untouchable. There was a defined line between A&R and everybody else. I will go so far as to say an "elitism". That was not the case in Guerinot's world. I was one of many, we were all on a level playing field. It took a minute to be ok with that, but looking back, it was the humbling I so needed.
I stumbled many times whilst working with Guerinot, yet he continued to be the indefatigable guide who (sometimes forgivingly and unforgivingly), kept me focused and supported.
I'm a fan...
Thanks,
Emily Kaye
PS: I'm married to Jesse Dayton who you featured on one of your blogs earlier last year. My father is Chuck Kaye and my grandfather his Lester Sill. I was born "doomed" for the music biz...
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From: Hank Barry
Subject: Quincy Jones
In late 2000 and early 2001, Quincy Jones -
Was amazed to find "Manteca" by Dizzy Gillespie through Napster. A recording he had looked for for years.
Organized a meeting of internet and record types in the basement of his house to try to find common ground (complete with an illustrator / facilitator who kept a gigantic cartoon diary). Bob Ezrin made a lot of sense that day.
Got on the speaker at the Fairmont SF to talk to Sen. Hatch about ways to move forward. Sen. Hatch was helpful (really, and consistently). He also wanted to know whether Quincy had listened to his demos.
When I was walking toward a group of extremely skeptical media executives at Davos, stepped out and gave me a very welcome bear hug.
Came to a meeting at Marilyn Bergman's home office and explained (calmly and eloquently) why Napster mattered.
Spontaneously sang to our daughter on the phone when I told him it was her birthday.
That's him.
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From: Brian Rohan
Subject: Quincy Jones Garfield High School Jazz Band
Bob:
Here's a tidbit for you. I saw Quincy Jones in the Garfield High School Jazz Band in 1953 or 1954. The singer was Ray Charles. Bumps Blackwell was also in the band.
You can print my email address. I'll see if I have any friends left in the business.
You are right on about Jason and pretty right on about Danny Goldberg. I think I'll keep reading the news letter.
Brian Rohan
[email protected]
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From: Michael Alex
Subject: Re: The Grammy Ratings Decline
"The VMAs blew a hole in the awards show paradigm by knowing to create moments along with the music. There was irreverence, it felt like the show was on the pulse."
Absolutely. I produced the first "look back" (The MTV Video Music Awards Tenth Anniversary Special). A half hour show, we didn't talk about who won what at all. Who cared? Show me Madonna, show me Fart Man, show me Pee Wee Herman. Moments.
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From: John Brubaker
Subject: Re: Netflix
Proof the game is already over, nobody says "Amazon and chill" or "Hulu and chill" its "Netflix and chill".
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Subject: Re: Mailbag
I was at a convention for a prestigious record label, late 70's. It had been a successful year. All the guys on the promotion team were taken to a strip joint by the promotion head, and given cash to spend there. A well-respected female promotion person asked, within hearing range of the male team, "Why aren't we girls given anything? A manicure/pedicure, something?" No answer. Later, at a company banquet, one of the promotion guys got special recognition for having a good year. His reward was a hooker for the night. He paraded her around, bragging.
Mid 90's radio and record biz convention, hotel lobby. Label executive has ordered an escort from an escort service. He doesn't like to be seen without a hot chic at his side. The executive is above me in rank, tho I am at a fairly high level. The escort arrives but the exec has to take a long phone call. Instructs me to "escort the escort" to a lunch down the street where he is going next. I comply. I was disgusted with myself, but what was I going to do?? Start an argument with my superior in front of industry people? Ruin my chance for advancement?
So many anonymous stories. Akin to enabling, which we did before and continue to do. As we protect ourselves, our careers, we protect the perpetrators. But maybe they are looking over their shoulders. Maybe they have daughters or granddaughters. Maybe they realize what lowlifes they've been, and maybe they will even get around to apologizing. At the very least, maybe they will stop the abuse. Thank you for getting the stories out, it's important.
Name withheld
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Subject: Harassment
Sexual harassment ? Why leave it at that? Please, the sexual harassment came from all directions and was (sorry to say) the least of my worries back in my days as a "Handler" or "day to day manager" or all around "road dog". The verbal, emotional, mental and yes, sometimes physical harassment /abuse was what pushed me to an edge of complete breakdown. (From the ashes we rise)
Why stay? Shit, because you wake up one day and you're in a situation you never in your wildest dreams predicted. It was my dream as a little girl to work in "the business" and those dreams came true when the opportunity came to work with some of the greats on both sides of the spectrum. From the star makers to the stars themselves. I took the express elevator up to the top. But boy don't think for a second there's not a price to pay. The top is not bright. It's dark, twisted, layers upon layers of gross entitled leaders directing and dictating. Barking orders, demanding and threatening. Waving your job over your head reminding you how lucky you are and the many others that would die to be in your position and have your job... the next hit and the opportunity to be part of something amazing, is always just a beat away or a session away... so you hang in...you suck it up, soldier on, brush yourself off- it's an addiction of sorts,maybe.
My boss/ mentor at the time was one of the top honchos within the industry. Respected and liked by many. I turned a blind eye to a ton of crazy shit- And I mean crazy shit. From fetching him at Dominatrix sessions to crazy ex girlfriends stalking even me and my own family members! Covering up for him became second nature...The abuse from his own family treating me like I was a street dog in a third world country was equally bad. Endless stories, situations, scenarios. Witnessed and not witnessed. No NDA signed on my end (I was usually the one shoving NDAs down others throats) and boy the stories are real, raw and burned into my memory. The list is long...and gross.
I'm out now and I feel I wasted prime years working long days for peanuts. I'm now a successful business owner with a family. No I don't want you to publish my name. I don't want these assholes to screw up my good and decent karma. But it sure feels good to speak on it. Every dog has her day.
Thanks Bob
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Subject: no one is listening
I woke up this morning wishing I could succinctly explain the nightmare that has been a career, & these elements that are only now being discussed, but as I walked through it all in my mind, I was left with "where would I even begin?"
I would begin at the beginning, but then it becomes a long road from the jump...of attempts at seduction from VP's and company owners, some married, coming on to me on business trips in my earliest 20's; to having a ceo ask me to take my clothes off, as he was in front of other C-levels and my department head/direct mgr. when he said it (it was a literal request, a "team bonding"...long story); ....to being fired so a late night coke-addict new boss with no work ethic could steal a multi-million dollar deal I ushered in to my department; ....to a business meeting at a hotel lobby restaurant that got moved to the hotel room at the last minute (yes. not Harvey, but a C-Level)...to, on one occasion being presented with a dildo by my company president (he bought it for someone else and wanted me to see how "great" it was); and to another time years later of a potential client presenting me with a gift of sex toys; ...to the lead executive taking his clothes off during the day in front of his staff at a business retreat. This is just a selection.
These things occur for no other reason than I have female anatomy. As Dave Chappelle mentioned, he would sooner travel on the subway with $25,000 cash, than carry the other thing around. I wasn't "asking for it," not dressing provocatively....I was doing nothing more than existing as a female, optimistically, with no agenda other than to make an honest day's wage, for an honest day's work.
I'm a dedicated person who went into my career (naively) thinking these sorts of things only happened in movies. If all of this sounds preposterous to you, it does to me as well, and I don't possess the creativity to make any of it up. I just don't have that vivid of an imagination, and I couldn't have conceived of any of it, had I not experienced it all first hand.
There are the people who think & say...."deal with it"....."what's the big deal"...."toughen up" etc.
That's what women have been doing, for a long time, forever, stepping up (Neil), stepping aside, letting it roll off, fighting for credit for work they did stolen by others, or strategically disrespected, marginalized, at times deceived, & devalued. (If an employer creates a culture of devaluing the work and breaking down the employee, they can pay less, & forego raises. It's a business model that benefits the P&L.). ... We have been doing this for a long time. That's what we do: we "deal with it."
We don't have "brittle spirits" (Dave Chappelle.). On the contrary, it would be impossible to have a "brittle spirit" and keep going. The environment will make you, sadly and unfortunately, rather "hard," by unfortunate necessity & survival... but it's the opposite of a "brittle spirit." I did not read the NY Times piece about Louis CK (never watched his comedy because he gave me a bad vibe from the word go. Seemed creepy from day 1.) so I can't comment about that one woman's motive with the "brittle spirit"....but there comes a point where you just can't see anymore dicks, or sex toys, or porn in the office pulled up for a minute on the desktop computer (done to me by my boss, in front of my junior male staff mate, ... like a naughty little boy seeing if he could get away with it). Maybe Louis CK's was the last dick flash in a long line of things of that nature.... and maybe she was like "Ok, and now Louis CK has pulled his dick out. That's it... I'm done."
We roll our eyes, joke it off, try to make awkward situations less awkward, act tough & unaffected, play it cool, don't sweat the small stuff, etc. We do all of that.
But what people don't realize....is that there is a cumulative effect. Over time, this as a constant, it's ultimately painful. There is a sort of ptsd that sets in..... and there's that moment where you realize.... how truly valued.... you are not. That all the time, energy, effort, hard work, long hours...... against the devaluation, the mistreatment, a fight to be taken seriously. Or just treated fairly, cordially...like a human being.
When you wake up one day and recognize the magnitude of that.... it's not good.
What's confusing, is these men or otherwise who think it's their right and license to behave in all of these ways, (in industries lacking any real structure or *conscience (*will there be one at some point?) to have real ethics, integrity & protocol to handle these things) ... these men have daughters, sisters, mothers.... why is it ok to treat women in ways that they would not want their daughter to be treated.
I pursued this career and made it my main focus, to be able to provide for myself and for a family; while I saw other peers primarily pursuing husbands for providership. I have no judgment on either. Both have real merits. However I think it's high time we stop engaging in these hostile acts & environments ( that do actually cause damage over time, clearly. ) and appreciate individuals that have noble goals to work hard, contribute to families and society in a professional realm, and at the end of the day are just trying to do good things and want to be treated humanely and fairly in a career. By men and women both. This whole culture of acting like a monster being regarded as some sort of badge of honor really needs to go. It's an old and very tired paradigm. All of this is.
Lastly, Pam Anderson, "just don't take the meeting" was an out of touch thing to say, and shows a true lack of understanding of the power dynamics, for people who are building careers and have bills to pay. When a person is under pressure to move their career forward, produce for their company, pay their bills, carry their own weight....a top executive who's entire existence is built on letting you know he doesn't have any time, is willing to give you time, sometimes you take your chances and meet where he asks because you can't afford to miss the opportunity, and you don't know when and if you will ever have it again, and with no one being transparent about these things, you take the meeting in good faith. A young actress (or executive) is not going to risk the regret of missing the moment when a top executive was going to fit them into their schedule. Anyone who knows anything, knows that meetings & opportunities come, with people who like to act as if they're busier than god (& may be, but are also glad to abuse that)... but then they're fleeting, (esp. if you try to reschedule) and may not come around again for another 6 to 12 months. If ever. In those months, there's rent to pay. .... To Pam's very insensitive point she attempted to make, in 2007, I turned down a late night text invitation from a top / iconic record label executive to come meet him at about 1am. I didn't know him and felt an in-office (or at least, less last-minute 1am) first meeting was more appropriate for my intentions. I've had people tell me I should have accepted. "for my career." Others appreciated my integrity. I'll never know what that was about, and I don't regret it. But even bypassing that situation, (who knows how it would have gone), but even trying to use good judgment, you can see all the other continual instances I could not avoid (across industries, I've been in other areas of media.). I realize Pam Anderson was trying to give "sound advice" but it was a misguided comment lacking real understanding of the issues. I think she was already established and working consistently when she turned down a Weinstein meeting. That's really not comparable to emerging actresses or others who need to further their career, and naively thought a high profile busy person who travels all the time would have a professional meeting. We need to get to the root of the problems, and victim shaming is an out to avoid the obvious real issues here that people might be too scared or not brave enough to truly look in the eye.
*name withheld please.
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