Still cranking on this Wired deadline, so I can only offer you a pittance this morning. But what a pittance—a tribute to the Morris Day, a few hours too late to celebrate his 53rd birthday. Aside from absolutely owning Purple Rain, Day is responsible for one of the greatest on-stage gimmicks ever: Checking his reflection in a gilded mirror, to ensure that he is maintaining ultimate prettiness. Wielding that mirror seems to be the primary reason that Jerome Benton is part of the band; he doesn’t actually play any instruments, though he is a rather excellent dancer. Given his role in The Time, Benton reminds me of another sideman whose contributions are more theatrical than musical: Bez, the maracas-shaking Happy Mondays oddity who is a master of exhibiting uninhibited joie de vivre. Benton is an infinitely better dresser, though.
scottstev // Dec 14, 2010 at 12:12 pm
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have that dude that just dances and pogos to the ersatz Ska assaulting everyone. A quick YouTube search reveals that the chick from the Dandy Warhols does more than just jump around topless playing the tamborine (the next best gig than mirror holder).
Brendan I. Koerner // Dec 14, 2010 at 12:20 pm
@scottstev: To be fair to Zia McCabe, she also plays keyboards in The Dandy Warhols. But, yeah, a lot of folks know her primarily for her topless hijinks.
But that guy in the MMBs definitely does nothing except dance. In the liner notes of the band’s albums, his instrument is credited as “Bosstone.” Sweet job.
tsg // Dec 14, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Danny Ray, James Brown’s emcee, had a pretty sweet 30+ year gig that involved little more than adorning the Godfather of Soul with his trademark cape. Nice work if you can get it.
To be fair, Ray also delivered a pretty inspired introduction.
Brendan I. Koerner // Dec 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm
@tsg: Great gig, but the pay appears to have been lousy–either that, or Mr. Ray didn’t sock enough away for his golden years:
http://www.wrdw.com/jamesbrown/headlines/12647471.html
All downhill from there, I’m afraid:
http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/72121592.html