Liner Notes: February - Velvet Goldmine/Arthur Stuart/20th Century Boy

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Let's start with a song:


By the time we get to this song in Velvet Goldmine, we've experienced a lot. Our narrator, Arthur, has left home and is now rooming with a band called The Flaming Creatures. He's embracing his glam rock life. 

But let's remember how we met Arthur:


Around 1:26 in this video clip of the opening song sequence, you see young Arthur with his friends running to the Brian Slade/Maxwell Demon show. Arthur sees Jack Fairy as they get closer to the venue. Inside the show, Arthur sees a mysterious man in black walking around the concert hall. He watches the show. He sees the shooting. He was there. He remembers. 

When we meet Arthur a third time it's in the most depressing newsroom office I've ever seen, dark and drab. He's been asked to cover the 10-year anniversary of the Brian Slade shooting hoax. I think I mentioned that Citizen Kane was another inspiration for Velvet Goldmine and this is that moment. As Arthur talks to people close to Brian Slade, he unravels a bigger story and also goes back in time to relive his own youth. Watching Arthur buy his first Brian Slade album and be made fun of is such a hard scene to watch. Young Arthur is figuring out who he is, and Brian Slade and Curt Wild, and Jack Fairy are his guides, whether they know it or not.

I love Arthur. I based his patch on a scene early in the movie where he goes into London dressed more glam and tries to fit in with the glam children and fails miserably. He's obviously nervous but wants so desperately to fit in. I think most of us know that feeling. When he finally finds a home with the band The Flaming Creatures, I was so happy for him. 

The Flaming Creatures represent two bands from the era, T-Rex and the NY Dolls. The band Placebo plays The Flaming Creatures. If you were a 90s kid, you may remember Placebo for songs like "Pure Morning," "Every You Every Me," and my favorite cover of "Running Up That Hill." They play a glam rock band so well. You might also recognize the band Teenage Fanclub and Donna Matthew from the band Elastica. They play the NY Dolls song in the movie. So many 90s bands in one little film. 

Anyway, back to Arthur. His existence in New York in 1984 is such a stark difference from his colorful youth in glam rock London. He gets people to talk about Brian Slade and this beautiful but mean figure emerges. Arthur's own story runs parallel to Brian's and it's such a wonderful way to tell the story. The intersections of their lives are so much fun and some are very unexpected. Arthur also starts to unravel a much bigger story, but keeps getting shut down when he tries to tell. Watch the movie for more on that. 

There's a scene at the end of the movie where Arthur and Curt are in a dive bar not too far from the concert venue for the Tommy Stone show. They're having a roundabout conversation, saying lots but saying nothing. A song comes on the jukebox, "2HB" by Maxwell Demon. The dreamy quality of the song, the reunion of sorts between the two men, the young people dancing to a song they probably didn't really know, creates the memory Arthur's editor was talking about. Songs take us to a place we need to go. Arthur ends up with the Oscar Wilde pin. What magic will it bring him?

I really enjoyed making the patches for Jack Fairy, Brian Slade, Curt Wild, and Arthur Stuart. I got to spend time with one of my favorite movies and a set of songs I love dearly. I'm also excited to continue the world of some of these songs a little later in the Liner Notes project. 

Next up: Another ethereal weird girl...

Here's Arthur's patch: 


February 22


February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28 - it's not a green pin, but you get the point. 

February - Velvet Goldmine



Songs Referenced This Week:

Meow Manor and International Analog Day

I went to the opening reception of the Woodlawn Needlework Show earlier this week. It was a great event and I got to see my two pieces on display. Neither won anything, but it's fun to see the surrounded by other wonderful work. There are some really great pieces this year and the rooms got a little reorganization. My smaller piece, The Kraken, is in the sea/ocean room which is on the first floor. Meow Manor is upstairs in the animal room hanging out with some other cats.





I'm going offline for the day as soon as I post this. It's International Analog Day, and I'm celebrating by hosting an art/craft supply swap at my house. I don't know if anyone will show up, but it'll still be fun. I'm going to work on my mushroom piece and listen to records too. If you can, I highly recommend being away from your devices today. 


You can also see my new desk chair - it's very squishy.

Bea had to do some quality checks on all the craft items. 



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