50 years of fuzz guitar

If you're an afficionado of rock music, you'll want to read and listen to a couple of looks at fuzz, aka guitar distortion, whose birth came 50 years ago. 

The "Soundcheck" episode above was inspired by William Weir's Atlantic article "50 Years of Making Fuzz, the Sound That Defines Rock 'n' Roll" (worth a read and a listen for its embedded audio examples).  

I was stunned to learn that Weir credits country singer Marty Robbins with the first recorded use of fuzz, thanks to a faulty connection in a mixing board. I had thought Link Wray (whom Weir also mentions) would get the nod.

It's tough to top the Stones' "Satisfaction" in terms of fuzz brilliance, although more than a few comments on Weir's article rightly toss some love to My Bloody Valentine, a 90s-era band whose ear-shattering sound seemed to be all fuzz. 

The empty side of Lemmy

I recently finished watching "Lemmy," the documentary about Motorhead bassist Lemmy Kilminster, who is one of the most widely loved musicians on Earth.

And also one of the loneliest.

The film captures the expected, including adoring interviews from people like Slash, all of Metallica (who trot him out on stage for a song), Dave Grohl and many others. Motorhead influenced a generation of punk and metal bands, moreso for Lemmy's personality than musical brilliance ("Ace of Spades" and "No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith" aside).

The film also captures a very lonely man who seems trapped with drink in hand, either in his cloistered and pedestrian L.A. apartment or a neighborhood bar, where he regularly passes time playing an electronic trivia game while keeping the barkeeps busy. 

"Lemmy" is a poignant look at an empty legend, someone whose life is filled with fans and friends, but who desperately longs for a meaningful relationship. His son from a failed relationship makes an appearance, and in conversations with him Lemmy shows signs of happiness before slipping into both regret and bitterness over that split from the love of his life so many years ago. 

You get the sense that Lemmy will either die on stage or with bottle in hand surrounded by all things kitschy in his apartment, still hoping for the day when that lost love comes back into his life. After watching the film, it's clear he shouldn't hold out hope. 

Driving with Death as your co-pilot

My friend Bill shared this video with me. It's a amazing but sad collection of old-time auto racing crashes titled "Killed Myself When I Was Young." Sadly, I'd bet only half of these drivers survived these wrecks.

So, watch it not as a celebration of carnage but as a historical document on how awesome and incredibly dangerous racing was back in the day. Low retaining walls, minimal runoff areas and trees on track; primitive, if any, seat belts, helmets, fire suits or roll bars; no fuel cells or safety glass; and spectators within feet of the track. Driving an old-time race car took bravery beyond belief.