Alec Empire

So somehow the idea that Alec Empire might be dead came up yesterday during a conversation. This seemed very unlikely to me given my impression of Alec's personality, which I must admit is based on only a few hours of conversation over a few days in the mid 90s but still... at any rate I really didn't want it to be true regardless of if I thought it was likely or not - I think Alec is great - I like what he's doing and to be frank, I like his fuck off attitude, despite it rubbing a lot of people the wrong way. He reminds me of all the parts I like about the white suburban punks in Repo Man actually - but more sincere and intellectual. Anyway, he's apparently alive and well. Here's a nice pic from his new video:



And if anyone knows how to get ahold of him I'd like to again, despite him probably only vaguely remembering our times in Chicago on a few of their tours. Also, I'd like to get back in touch with Chris Green, who I fleetingly saw in a wilco outtake a few months ago.

I guess if anyone from that band were to kill themselves I would think it would actually be Shizuo (aka David) who was actually not in the band but on tour with them and was admittedly dangerously unstable. I still really enjoyed his company but clearly it was making the tour difficult for everyone. The whole thing actually reminds me of how frequently bands have crashed at my places...kinda coming full circle with more berliners last night. being on tour is such a strange lifestyle. I was actually surprised Ashod took this tour managing gig.

Last week when in Nashville Willy T and I spoke a bit about the whole on the road vs. at home sensation and how they compare - it's so hard to describe the inertia of each activity and how the grass is almost always greener once the inertia becomes familiar. Pangs of itchiness to jump on the road again I will admit.