Henry Rollins: The Column! Miles Davis, Cool on a Postage Stamp

By Henry Rollins Thu., Jul. 19 2012 at 3:38 AM

[Look for your weekly fix from the one and only Henry Rollins right here on West Coast Sound every Thursday, and come back tomorrow for the awesomely annotated playlist for his Saturday KCRW broadcast.]

About halfway through June, I got a letter from my press agent asking if I wanted to go to the Hollywood Bowl on the evening of June 27 for the unveiling of the Miles Davis postage stamp. I checked my schedule and found, to my surprise, I was going to be in Los Angeles on that date, so I wrote back and said yes. I have been invited to a few Miles Davis events and appreciate the kindness of the Davis family very much.

Days later, I got another letter asking if I would speak at the event. Hang out with a bunch of jazz fans and talk about Miles Davis? I'm in. Immediately my name was in the press release and out it went.

Saying "Sure, I'll do it" is the easy part. Where the rubber and the road meet is afterwards, when you realize that you now have to deliver something. I decided to take an offensive posture, to pretend that the audience was not all on board with a Miles Davis postage stamp and needed to be persuaded. I got to work on my statement. Come out fighting!

By the late afternoon of the 27, I figured I was as ready as I would ever be. I had made some notes I knew I wouldn't be using, got in my car and headed to the Bowl for an 1830 hrs. meet with Karen Sundell, who handles press relations for the Miles Davis Estate. Upon arriving, I met up with Karen and said hello to members of the Davis family: son Erin, daughter Cheryl, nephew Vince Wilburn and the beautiful, exquisite and altogether lovely Frances Davis, Miles' first wife, whom I had met before at a Miles event at the Grammy Museum.

I was given a personalized plaque commemorating the evening, which only knotted my entrails tighter.

Cool event. A small stage and sound system, several rows of chairs. Bubba Jackson of KKJZ FM 88.1 hosting. Short speeches by Arvind Manocha, chief operating officer of the L.A. Philharmonic Association, followed by Miles collaborator, multi-instrumentalist and all-around musical whiz Marcus Miller. And then, to drop the bar several notches, me. Soon after, a word from Los Angeles' postmaster, Mark. H. Anderson, and then the stamp unveiling.

Soon enough, it was time to go. Bubba hit the stage and started bringing up his speakers. After a very cool tribute from Marcus Miller, who is a couple of years older than I am and looks years younger, Bubba called me to the stage. I put my notes down. Onstage, I can only go with what's in my head -- words on a page uselessly swim in front of my eyes. I grabbed the mic and stated my case.

Location Info

Venue

Map

Hollywood Bowl

2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Category: Music

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Henry Rollins, Miles Davis

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obsolete10

Miles Davis' image on a U.S. Postal stamp is a fitting tribute to an amazing musician and one of the most complex men to ever walk on our planet. Miles' music was innovative and like all great musicians, he adjusted with the changing times, He tried to stay relevant and modern with his music until his last breath. He was popular and successful, but he was also good, very, very good on his instrument. His sound on his trumpet was an extension of himself; cool, hip, tight, and mirrored his personality; at times, technically intimidating, expressive, sour, raging, prickly, emotional, but always unique. I think I'll go down to the post office and try and find some Miles Davis stamps to buy, look at and enjoy. I might even write some letters (gasp) and use them.

godoggo

Looks like they lost some nice comments in the process of changing the comments server. No offense, I'm sure... I'll try to restrain myself from going nuts as I did in an earlier thread but... good article; wish I'd gone.

Kinda sorta related: some of L.A.'s most exciting __living__ jazz musicians (Dwight Trible!!! Kamasi Washington!!!) will be at the (free!) Gil Scott Heron tribute at Grand Performances Friday....

godoggo

Well, they saved Dwight for the end. Nobody in his right mind would try to follow him, I'd think.

CBK1

1 Like

Hey Henry, nice talk at the Miles tribute...much more interesting than the LA Postmaster's remarks....you reminded me how much i dig "On the Corner." thanks!

spirit cherokee

Wa-do, Wa-do. Jennie.

spirit cherokee

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Ga-lv-la-d-, A tsi-lv-quo-di-yu Henry. What a great time to be a live and present. Brings chills to me to read about Miles Davis. Wa-do. To-hi-du ,u-na-li.

Jennie Vasquez

2 Like

Often times the topic of this weekly blog is to listen to new music. To keep it fresh. This week's blog is a wonderful example of why it is important to also listen to the past especially if you never experienced it the first time around. It's a lovely tribute to not just Miles Davis but also the musicians that worked with him and to recognize the gift those great musicians of the past have left the future for generations to come.