June 25, 2009

They Always Go In Threes

The entertainment world has been rocked today by the news that two beloved icons have passed on today. Farrah Fawcett, the goldilocked darling of the ‘70s TV set, lost her battle with a withering disease, leaving behind a nation of 40-somethngs agonizing in memory of their adolescent darling. Long considered just a TV phenom, Farrah had proven herself an able actress and competent producer, but, more importantly, a devoted wife and mother. I never met her, but all who knew her say she was nothing but pleasant. She will be dearly missed.

Then came the jaw-dropping news that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, had fallen victim to a heart attack at the age of 50. Say what yo will about “Jacko” and his alleged crimes and misdemeanors, he was a huge force in the music world, and his influence will be felt for decades to come. His millions of devoted fans are, no doubt, heartbroken by the news, and all of us are denied the chance to see what his ‘comeback” tour might have brought. I only hope that his children will be kept out of the media tsunami that is sure to ensue.

They say celebrity deaths often come in threes, and the wives' tale again proved true. Also lost today was a lesser-known, but influential musician of the ‘60s. Sky Saxon of the cult-favorite 1960s biker band The Seeds also left the planet today. Sporting distinctive glam-rock vocals, and amped up California sun-drenched  “flower-power” Saxon had a top-40 hit in 1967 with “Pusihin' Too Hard,” and is credited by many with inflkuencing the later punk rock scene. Recently, Sky had his tune “Mr. Farmer” included in the “Almost Famous” movie soundtrack, and had done some collaboration with Smashing Pumpkins last year. Like MJ, Saxon was set to make his own “comeback” of sorts by joining the 1960s veterans' line-up at the California 66 Revue this summer. Alas, it is not to be, and now we are left with the title of one of his bigger hits echoing in our ears “Can't Seem to Make You Mine.'

By Terry James