Passion = Truth? How Jeffrey James Francis Ircink Sees The World? I love when people are passionate about something. That surging of emotion is the one honest measure of what truth is. It's a truthful display of how a person really feels about something or someone at that particular moment. That passion IS truth.
Ex-producer of THE REALLY FUNNY HORNY GOAT INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, playwright, actor, singer, outdoorsman, blogger, amateur photog, observer & bitcher, Beach Boys groupie, Brett Favre fanatic, lover of everything Celtic and forever a member in the Tribe of HAIR. Spent most of my life in the Village of Waterford, a small town just outside of the Milwaukee suburbs. After 12 years in North Hollywood, Bel Air and Culver City, Cali, I moved back to Wisconsin in September 2009. No regrets - of moving to LA OR moving back to WI. Have traveled to Belfast, Ireland, Dayton (OH), Manhattan, Seattle, Cedar Rapids, New York, Miami and Sydney, Australia with my plays. Moved back into the Village of Greendale where I was born. Life is good.
Happy Birthday, Dennis Wilson! December 4, 1944 - December 28, 1983. Drummer & co-founder of The Beach Boys. He is the BB I most identify with. You are missed - and loved, Denny.
Check out this re-imagined version of Denny's "Forever". Also, check out his solo PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE (1977) here. POB has appeared on several "best-of" lists including Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die," Mojo's "Lost Albums You Must Own" and "70 of the Greatest Albums of the 70s" lists. In 2005, it was ranked #18 in GQ's "The 100 Coolest Albums in the World Right Now!" list.
Photos 1, 2 and 4 by Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean). Read more!
Much has been said and written about the The Beach Boys co-founder. What's been said has been said and I won't add to it. All I can say is that his music - their music - has been one of the most influential forces in my life. Ask me to name my favorite Beach Boys tune - or Brian tune or Dennis or Carl tune - and I can't. I won't.
Happy Birthday, Brian! I love you. Here's one favorite song of mine - a masterpiece. Listen and be transported to your idyllic place. Wherever that may be. Surf's Up!
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of The Beach Boy's co-founder, Carl Wilson. You'll know Carl by his lead vocals on "God Only Knows", but to us BB fans, he was so much more. Certainly the glue that held the band together for much of its history.
In 1998, Carl recorded an album with Gerry Beckley (America) and Robert Lamm (Chicago) called, Like A Brother, which was released in 2000, two years after Carl's death. You can check the album out here - Beckley Lamm Wilson – Like A Brother. "I Wish for You" is my favorite.
The only surfer in The Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson (brother to Carl and Brian) banged the drums harder than anyone, according to legendary session drummer Hal Blaine. Hard to believe Denny would've been 68 today. Many consider him the heart and soul of The Beach Boys, lost at the early age of 39. He's my favorite of the "Boys...we never met but I have met two of his sons and one ex-wife (Barbara) on a couple occasions and I knew another ex-wife, model/actress Karen Lamm the last year of her life (she passed in 2001 at the age of 49).
"They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. It won’t last forever, either. But the memories will."
Surf's always up with you, Denny. Peace - and Happy Birthday, brotha.
(pictured in 1966, clockwise, starting at bottom: Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Brian Wilson & Carl Wilson)
In anticipation of seeing The Beach Boys' 50th anniversary reunion concert at the Marcus Amphitheater @ Summerfest tomorrow evening, I pondered the question, "what are my favorite BB songs?". People always ask me that. When you've been following a band since high school and are a "groupie" like me, that's a difficult question. However, when pressed to answer, I've come up with a few that stand out. Some you'll recognize - most you won't (unless you're a big fan). NOTE: This list DOES NOT reflect solo efforts by individual members and this list is not in any preferred order.
Click this link to hear a few of these - and other BB "related" tunes. Can't remember what row we're in tomorrow but we're pretty close to the stage. My only regret is that brothers Carl & Dennis won't be there in person..... ;) Beach Boys RULE!
Another one of my favorite bands - Chicago. I chose this song because my Beach Boys are singing back up. AND because in their infinite wisdom, the jackasses at Summerfest booked The Beach Boys and Chicago at exactly the same time this Sunday evening. Come on - a little research would show these two bands have a ton of history together and share audiences....why would you eliminate a possible surprise visit by Chicago band members on the stage where The Beach Boys are performing??
The Beach Boys (my favorite band of all-time) began their 50th anniversary reunion tour and will headline the Marcus Amphitheater on Sunday, July 1 at Summerfest in Milwaukee. My brother and I will be in the 3rd row, front center. Let's make a party of it!
In this video: Brian Wilson (whom I met), Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston & David Marks (playing guitar at the 1:30 mark and who was a BB for a year and eight months and performed on their first four albums), various members of Brian's touring band including Jeff Foskett singing high notes at the :40 mark (whom I know and who's been playing with the BB's & Brian Wilson forever) and at the :29 mark playing drums is John Cowsill (who's been playing drums for Love & Johnston's BB group for a few years) of The Cowsills, who I also met. Sadly, but forever in our hearts and souls, Dennis & Carl Wilson have both passed.
Carl Wilson, one of the founding members of The Beach Boys (brother to Brian and Dennis) passed away 14 years ago today. I never met Carl but I've met his sons several times -Jonah and Justyn. If they are any measure of what their father was like....
Dennis' birthday was yesterday. One of the Wilson brothers who founded The Beach Boys, Dennis passed away in 1983, not quite 40. The blond in the video is his wife at the time, model/actress Karen Lamm. She passed away in 2001 of heart failure. I knew her the last year of her life. She once said to me flirtingly, "back in the day, I would've went after you" . Meaning me. One of the most flattering comments I've ever heard.
"River Song" is from Dennis' solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue. It's been reissued and it is excellent.
Here are a few quotes from some friends of mine on the release (yesterday) of The Beach Boys' "SMiLE Sessions"...
Brian and his great band recorded new tracks and vocals for the previous release (2004) - yesterday's release uses the original Beach Boys' tracks and vocals from the '60s plus lots of alternate versions and also includes bonus material...
- Billy Hinsche, Utah, back-up musician and singer for The Beach Boys
The SMILE collection that was just released is the original tracks from the Beach Boys... Our 2004 recording was Brian and Van Dyke Parks' version (Brian's band playing and singing) 40 years later. Both cool in my eyes. :)
- Taylor Mills, Austin, TX, back-up singer for Brian Wilson
Hey Jeff, in a nutshell the SMiLE that was released in 2004 was Brian Wilson presents SMiLE. Brian, Darian, Van Dyke got together and basically completed the 1966/67 SMiLE. The 2004 versions contains Brian's amazing backing band. So... the SMiLE sessions that has just been released is The Beach Boys 1966 that was never completed in its original form. Original track listing and running order never was decided upon until 2004. Over the many years there have been many bootlegs and fan versions of the original based on Brian's 2004 version(many call it a blueprint). So now we have the original album art and booklet that was to have been released back in 66/67 with many outtakes, studio banter plus the SMiLE album by The Beach Boys based on the 2004 track listing...phew.. Trust me a lot of us fans are very very relieved and very excited. The mythical SMiLE album is here.
- Paul McPherson, Australia, FB friend and Beach Boys nut, like me
(I first published this post on July 17, 2007, then again on June 19, 2008, then in 2009...so I'm a bit late this year. It's a good tradition - summer. This is one of my all-time favorite posts on PASSION = TRUTH. Read it.) "Kepeli" means, "Jeffrey", in Hawaiian. It also means...it's Summertime! Did you forget? Come on! Remember how you enjoyed it as a kid? Just 'cause you're longer in the tooth than you were 20, 30 or 40 years ago doesn't mean you have to be wallflower. So - "Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow"! Let's make it a tropical, surf's up, Hawaiian summer and I'll supply the lei! Wink, wink.
1.) Rent Blue Hawaii - my favorite Elvis movie. Featuring classics like Blue Hawaii, Ku-u-i-pu, Rock A Hula Baby, Ito Eats, Slicin' Sand, Can't Help Falling in Love and the gorgeous Joan Blackman who plays Elvis' love interest (and who I heard is a bit cuckoo these days).
2.) "Aloha".Learn to speak Hawaiian. Seriously, this website is one of the oddest, most useless websites I've ever been on. But you've gotta check it out.
3.) Go ahead - try a fruity drink. Mai Tai, Blue Hawaiian, Hula Dancer, Pink Panties Dropper, Sex on the Beach, Waverider or Zombie. (Ask my Aunt Evelyn about Mai Tai's ...ralphhh!). And throw an umbrella in it (if it's not there already). No one will question your manhood, boys. At least, not in front of you. Mmmmmmm...good!
4.) Go to the beach, lake - or pond...pond would be good for you. And live for once and use Coppertone #4 Dark Tanning Lotion. It won't kill you - at least, right now it won't.
5.) When was the last time you did The Twist or The Swim? Slap a Beach Boys (my favorite) or Jan & Dean (2nd fav) CD on and let'er rip! Here's a classic Beach Boys' tune, "Do It Again" to watch on Youtube. Also there's plenty of other surf music to choose from - The Chantels, The Ventures, The Surfaris, Dick Dale, The Hondells, and plenty of 80's and modern surf music to get those chicks a-dancin'.
6.) Learn to surf. Easier said then done, according to my best friend, Tom Kazar. My brother, Jason, is itchin' to learn - me too, actually. But it's the sharks, you see. Fear not! You don't have to be on the coast to "shoot the curl". There are a ton of waterparks with wave-makers that will simulate surfing. Cowabunga, dork!
7.) Get a vintage Hawaiian print shirt. Or look in your dad's closet to see if he's not using his.
8.)The Endless Summer. A 1966 classic surf documentary you should check out. Was re-made in 1994 and updated.
9.) Oh, yah. It's time to take down those gorgeous Christmas icicle lights hanging off the rain gutter and replace them with Tiki lights and other assorted Tiki decor. Go ahead - it'll all be OK. Christmas is only five months away.
10.) Now...with your movies & music, fruity drinks, Dad's vintage Hawaiian print shirt, you smelling like you just Hung 10 down at Rincon - throw a barbecue and impress your friends with your surfing expertise and your knowledge of the native Hawaiian tongue. This is a "surf-fire" way to welcome summer with open arms in the hopes she'll never end.
(And if you see a tie hanging outside my little grass shack, don't come a-knockin'!)
Brother Jas and I are headed to Cali...tonite. Visit some family, some friends, my goddaughter, take in some wine, see our short film at festivals in Palm Springs and Big Sur. You know... "Beach Boys" stuff. Hey...there's The Beach Boys right there (above). I think they're welcoming us to their homestate. Click on this link, then put your cursor over the first song that comes up on top of the Grooveshark site, and you'll see the play arrow on the left of the title...hit it!
See ya in July! And watch for my blog posts, "Postcards from Cali-weird"! Read more!
My birthday's Sunday; therefore, I get the entire weekend (including Friday) to celebrate. I've played this video before on my blog. But it's the one music video (from my favorite band) that best describes my...my je ne sais quoi.
Heading out tomorrow (Saturday) for 10 days in Cali-for-ni-a with brother Jason. Solstice in Santa Barbara, Santa Inez wine tasting, Yosemite & Sequoia National Park, see my goddaughter, Gwyneth and family, and a few friends in LA. Aunt Ev and Uncle Bob will be visiting as well so look for blog posts and pics after the 29th. See ya!
The song you're listening to, "California Saga/California", was written by Al Jardine of The Beach Boys. It was released on the BB's 1973 album Holland. Issued internationally as a single in early 1973, and performed in the same loping country-shuffle beat, it garnered great reviews likening it to classic "California Girls" status. The song reached #84 in Billboard, but performed better in the UK (#37) and New Zealand (#15). I've been to some of the locales discussed in this tune. If you haven't - you should.
On my way to sunny California On my way to spend another sunny day
Water, water get yourself in the cool, clear, water The sun shines brightly down on Penny's place The sun shines brightly down on the bay The air's so clean it'll just take your mind away Take your mind away Take your mind away
Have you ever been south of Monterey Barrancas carve the coast line and the chaparral flows to the sea 'Neath waves of golden sunshine And have you ever been north of Morro Bay The south coast plows the sea And the people there are of the breed They don't need electricity Water, water, cool cascades of clear, clear water The sun dance final scene sets the hills ablaze. Horizon edges quick up the mountain's way.
Have you ever been down Salinas way? Where Steinbeck found the valley And he wrote about it the way it was in his travelin's with Charley And have you ever walked down through the sycamores Where the farmhouse used to be There the monarch's autumn journey ends On a windswept cyprus tree
Water get water get yourself in that Get yourself in that get yourself in that cool, clear, water The sun shines brightly down on Penny's place Get yourself in that water The air's so clean that it just takes your mind away Take your mind away Take your mind away
Have you ever been to a festival, the Big Sur congregation? Where Country Joe will do his show And he'd sing about liberty And the people there in the open air, one big family. Yeah the people there love to sing and share Their new found liberty
Me. On Facebook. I've been slow keeping current on Blogger since the advent of Facebook. Unfortunately. Check my page out here.
thao's tweet on PTSP
Roger Ebert's tweet on our film, "PASS THE SALT, PLEASE".
Funded! Click promo trailer.
The People's Republic Ombudsman Party! Real CHANGE you can believe in.
Decision time. If you believe that it's the duty of every politician in Washington to represent YOUR views and do it unencumbered by their own political ambitions, CLICK HERE to read my proposal to help clear up corruption in Washington - a concept that will place the power of governing BACK into the American people's hands.
The People's Republic Ombudsman Party NOW!
Original Plays by JEFFREY JAMES IRCINK Available for Production:
full-length -
* THE GOLGOTHA CRUX. * CHROMOSOME 21 * STAN'S ADDICTION * "HELLO, ENGINE. I'M JAKE HOLMAN." * HOW TO KILL A BOY
shorts -
* "PASS THE SALT, PLEASE." * 4 1/2 MINUTES (give or take) TO CLIMAX * JESSICA, PARIS, BRITNEY AND LINDSAY MEET BRETT FAVRE ON THEIR TRAIN WRECK * THE BED * CHOKING THE CHOAD IN BEL AIR * JESUS PUSHED A GROCERY CART * BILLY BALFOOR WANTS AN APOLOGY * TWISTED NICE MIRAGE * CONOR FRANCIS COMES HOME TO BALLYCULEN
Looking for a unique coffee table book for a holiday gift? Click on the Blurb widget (above) and order my self-published photography book, "PASSION = TRUTH, a photographic essay on life's truths".
Bo Svenson (Walking Tall II, The Great Waldo Pepper, North Dallas Forty, Inglourius Basterds, Kill Bill II) andEarl Hamner, Jr. (creator of The Waltons, Falcon Crest, writer of the movie, Charlotte's Web and various Twilight Zone episodes) each have one!
Softcover and hardcover version's available. Email me if you have any questions at jeffbumbershoot43@gmail.com. Makes a great gift anytime!
Helen Keller Goat Path in Goatenbridge, Co. Tipperary.
Check back for updates on my trip to Ireland with Michael Browne in Sept/Oct 2009. Click on the link below this picture and you'll be whisked to "Good Craic. Welcome to Eire". Slan!
Make sure you're viewing CURRENT POSTS (not "cached"). Simply place your cursor over the words, PASSION = TRUTH, on the screwed up looking banner at the top of the page. Click - and now your URL should read, "jeffircink.blogspot.com/". NOW you're current.
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Check out this read on Brett Favre.
My blog post on the Favre piece, "Here Goes Nothing", which was written by Jeff MacGregor, appeared in the New York Times Play Sports Magazine on Sunday, November 2, 2008. It briefly touches on Favre's departure from the Green Bay Packers after 16 years and his virgin season with the New York Jets. If you appreciate Brett Favre and would like to read a well-written, objective piece on him, read this article.
In an ideal world, what would be your perfect job? Time and place are meaningless. A king overseeing your own feudal lands in Great Britain? A fireman in 1890’s Chicago? A poet laurette? A diver for Jacques Cousteau?
Keeping in mind my interests, influences and talents, watch the the two guys in the video above. THIS would be my perfect job.
By the way, that’s Jan & Deansinging, "From All Over the World". Now – go find your perfect job. I mean, isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
What's your Perfect Job?
My email to Ingraham in response to her attack on Favre:
Two-face Ingraham has a "softer side" for Favre while on the Bill O'Reilly show...
After ripping on Brett Favre during his retirement press conference Ultra-conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham had a sudden change in demeanor when Bill O'Reilly called her out on it.
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