Roy & Woody

[garth cartwright]

Stayed up late last night watching excellent BBC doc's on Roy Orbison and Woody Guthrie, 2 musical giants from a similar part of the US who went on to make very different yet utterly compelling music.

The Orbison doc' appeared to have been made just after his death as even Bono didn't talk too much bollocks. Admittedly, it was a hymn of praise and slight on detail - not even mentioning that Roy suffered from a form of albinism that meant he died his hair black and had to wear strong glasses all the time - but lovely to see those old clips of him singing. The Woody doc' was also old - Alan Lomax speaking with great force (and he suffered a stroke that rendered him incapable of communicating well towards the end of his life) and many relatives and friends of Woody's still alive when interviewed and reflecting on the man. Anyone who has read up on Woody will know that he was brilliant but difficult and treated his wives and children with what often amounted to contempt and this doc' allowed for his negative side to be discussed. No hagiography here. Great historic footage too. Sad to think that one thing both Roy & Woody shared - beyond a great skill at songwriting and singing - was to lose children to fires.

I love to listen to Roy and Woody. What giants they were. What pioneers they were. May they rest in peace.