Thursday, September 25, 2008

Who Wants a 21st Century Man?

Here is a scatter shot post if there ever was one...

My friend Guillermo loaned a book to little d called Ending Aging by Aubrey de Grey. Dr. Grey believes aging is a disease that can be cured, or at the very least slowed, by preventing certain types of cell damage. He hypothesizes that life can be extended by 900 years.

His research was the springboard for a story idea I came up with (that’s temporarily stalled) called Who Wants a 21st Century Man?

Taking a break from writing, I googled my original title of 21st Century Man and found it’s very popular with musicians, like ELO, Nigel Clark, and the more quirky "21st Century Schizoid Man" by progressive rockers, King Crimson. What really stood out was their album cover for In the Court of the Crimson King.

The funky cover art, reminiscent of Munch's The Scream, is by Barry Godber (his first and only album cover). Godber was also a computer programmer. He died in February 1970 at the age of 24. The original painting is owned by Robert Fripp.

King Crimson - Live at Hyde Park (1969)

Ok, enough surfing, back to work...

8 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

21st century man is a great song. Or is it 20th century man.

David Cranmer said...

It's 21st. According to Wikipedia: Fripp remarked that the song was dedicated to "an American political personality whom we all know and love dearly. His name is Spiro Agnew."

Barrie said...

Who Wants a 21st Century Man? Sounds like a good story.

David Cranmer said...

It's a good title and story. Now if I can just bring it home.

G. B. Miller said...

Back when I was a young 'un (about 18 or so) that was the only song by King Crimson that they played on commercial radio.

Spooky then, and spooky now.

Especially since the lyrics of it are going through my head as I write this.

Thanks for a interesting way to start the day off.

David Cranmer said...

georgie b, This is what happens when I am suppose to be looking up some bit of info for a story I'm working on. I just start surfing and poof! An hour is gone. I did enjoy the song. I may look for a best of by Crimson.

Clare2e said...

Oh man, I love me some King Crimson. Discipline kills. I even saw them once in Chicago in a show with YES, just to lay my prog rock embarrassments right out there. Good show!

David Cranmer said...

Clare, that’s so cool you have been to one of their shows. I had never heard of them and I'm a classic rock (Though Jazz is #1 these days) fan. YES is a great band and always puts on a good show. Thank for sharing...