Courtesy of M:
Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged Stanford graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks — including death itself — at the university’s 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.
How poetic is this?
On December 28th, just weeks before going into the studio to record their next record, Avenged Sevenfold lost their drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan. Not just a drummer in a rock band, The Rev was the backbone of the whole thing. A pivotal part in the songwriting. Jimmy was particularly excited about recording the new songs, and believed the album was going to change the world.
Then the world changed, and the band was left hanging.
But now, just weeks after Jimmy left, A7X is entering the recording studio to get it done as scheduled. They’ve asked Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy — Jimmy’s favorite drummer of all time — to lay down the tracks. Mike says he’d be honored.
The band has issued the following statement on their site:
We want our fans to know that, with Jimmy in our hearts, our journey to record has officially begun. Jimmy helped leave this world an amazing gift, and now it’s our job to make sure we deliver that gift to our fans. We’ve asked Jimmy’s all time favorite drummer Mike Portnoy to record on behalf of him. Mike said it would be an honor, and without question, that’s what Jim would have wanted. It’s comforting to us that someone like Mike, who is undoubtedly revered as one of the best drummers in the world, held such respect and adoration for the Rev’s abilities. Even though it will never be the same without our brother by our side, his essence lives in our hearts, and through the music he helped create. He was a legend before any of the success or any of that bullshit, and we are fucking excited to lay this down for our fans. And especially for Jimmy.
–Avenged Sevenfold
Mike Portnoy has issued the following statement on his site:
Even under normal circumstances, I would’ve been happy to help the guys out in any way I could as I think Avenged Sevenfold are a great band…but under these incredibly sad and tragic circumstances, I must say I am truly honored to have been asked to play with them…and I didn’t even have to think twice about saying yes.
These guys are a true family and it is an incredibly emotional experience to be here with them for the first time without their lost brother. But they have welcomed me into the family with open arms and there’s a real excitement to make the record they had set out to make…
I am treating my participation on this album with the utmost respect for Jimmy’s memory and am remaining as true as possible to the drum parts that he wrote for the songs and the record he wanted to make.
I want their fans to realize that I’m not trying to step into or fill The Rev’s shoes…I’m just merely lacing em up for him!
MP
All class. And the record’s a destined metal classic. \m/
Speaking of classics, the making of Almost Easy:
The other day we walked up the street from M’s crib and checked out The Freeman House on 1962 Glencoe Way, made of textile blocks, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923.
History of the Freeman House
The Samuel and Harriet Freeman House is one of the three textile-block houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Hollywood Hills in 1924. While all three homes are beautiful and dramatic, the Freeman House has been described as the clearest expression of the design rationale which underlies Wright’s development of the textile block construction system: a new technology and architectural vocabulary for the Southwest.
The Freeman House is among Wright’s most interesting and enchanting small residences; the living room has been called by several writers one of his best rooms. Placing the house in context, it marks a major transition in Wright’s work and plays a clear role in the development of modern architecture in Southern California.
The Freemans celebrated their house as one of the centers of avant-garde artistic and political activity in Los Angeles from the 1920s virtually until the 1980s. Visitors and resident guests included Edward Weston, Martha Graham, Galka Sheyer, Jean Negulesco, Richard Neutra, Xavier Cugat, and Clark Gable. Through its life as a “Salon”, encouraged by Harriet’s love of the arts, and the sub-sequent involvement of other major architects, including Rudolph Schindler and John Lautner, this architectural jewel constitutes a unique record of the cultural, social, and political history of Los Angeles.
Harriet Freeman arranged the gift of the house to the School of Architecture at the University of Southern California so as to protect and preserve a national landmark. After 61 proud years of residence by the couple who built it, the Freeman House came into the possession of the School of Architecture in 1986.
Renovation Updates
Today, this tremendous treasure is in danger. The Northridge earthquake caused extensive damage to the structural system of the house, already vulnerable because of its unique construction system. Acid rain and smog have caused deterioration of the porous concrete block. Deferred maintenance and some expedient alterations have also exacted a price.
Restoration efforts for the Freeman House have been under way for a number of years. The National Endowment for the Arts provided a grant to initiate research and documentation. Domino Pizza provided a matching grant for emergency repairs. The Getty Preservation Grants program awarded one of its first three grants to the Freeman House to assist with the preparation of the Historic Structures Report. Steelcase matched the Getty grant with funds which were used to commence architectural drawings, materials testing, and shoring. The Graham Foundation and Andy Warhol Foundation have also contributed to research and repairs. And memberships in the Restoration Associates, tours and block sales have raised additional funds which are used to operate the house and for further architectural work and repairs.
Today, we are in the midst of negotiations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funds to repair the earthquake damage at the Freeman House. Additional funds will be required to match the FEMA monies, and to repair non-seismic items.
Source: USC
More photos of the Samuel Freeman House below, snagged from here.
I was just standing in the lobby waiting for the elevator, and a courier guy shows up. The elevator door opens, and the two of us get in.
“Floor?” I ask, pushing mine.
“Seven,” he says. “Thanks.”
I hit the 7 button, assume my spot in the back of the elevator, and take the habitual look at my iPhone as the door begins to close. Reacting to something he sees in the lobby, the courier guy lunges, sticking his tattooed arm out to hold the elevator door open. A woman steps in, stands in front of me, and watches the door close. It’s now just the three of us.
“Thank you,” she says, turning to the courier guy.
After about four seconds, the silence sinks in. That same awkward silence that makes me feel guilty for not telling a joke in an elevator full of strangers. But this time, it’s not my brain that’s doing the fidgeting. It’s the poor courier guy’s. I can feel him trying his damnedest to keep his mouth shut, to endure the ride to the Floor 7 without saying something to the woman. But he can’t do it. He fails.
“Excuse me,” he says to the woman. “You have some ink on your face.”
“It’s not ink,” she explains. “It’s Ash Wednesday.”
There are few things more beautiful than a summer day in the middle of winter.
Milena spent a few hours today giving me a tour of her old hood in Pacific Palisades, from her grade school to her dance hall to her best friend’s house to her Baskin Robbins to the hardware store. Killer houses up there, especially if mid-century’s your thing. Here’s a panoramic look at PCH and the Pacific Ocean, shot across the street from her childhood home.
