2007 Age Monologue by Richard Hell Pt. 2

[kidcalabria]

@Rooster21K Great comment. Richard Hell was great as a Punk Rocker, and now he's great as a writer... : )

[SuperProstitution]

I went drinking last night with a bunch of people I hate, woke up to my car towed and a death in the family. Im sitting around at home and I generally think Im jaded to the point of being a little angsty piss ant but I caught this, on my 21st. I'll only have one of these. I'm glad I could hear one of the people I respect so much share this with me and I am grateful for at least. It doesn't feel so lonely.

[ambientbliss]

@Rooster21K Check out the "Dim Stars". Richard Hell with Renaldo/Moore from Sonic Youth. Came out in the early 90's

[touchandgod]

He's thoughtful. He's not exactly punk, but he's smart as hell.

[bluntsafety]

Thanks. At 52 I needed to see this.

[Flipper79able]

@bigdaddypaint He is just making observations, he is not crying about getting older. I think it's interesting and very brave of him because most people (I'm getting the feeling including you) is terrified of talking about this subject. I know you like the idea of staying forever young, but getting older means changes whether you like it or not.

[DaveCromwell]

I understand completely his concept of now seeing things in a sort of "stereo". When you reached the approximate "halfway point" in your life (as he and I have) - you have the benefit of this perspective of having seen the cycle through a few times - yet you are still relatively young and vital enough to still "matter" today (as opposed to being very old - where all you have is looking back - and you really aren't contributing much any more).

It's actually a pretty good place to be.

[jillelswick]

He's adorable.

[marcuswithac]

@bigdaddypaint richards simply just ranting on about acid and if you are a member of the secret society that has tride the stuff you would know about about the strong emotional feelings and realizations humans experience when dosed

[ugmold]

Amusing, at 53 I'm with Richard

[calebengler]

I´ll take Hell musing over aging over annoying Bono tromping around "saving the Earth" anyday.

[desasterz]

@calebengler Bono sais some cool stuff too. I think the real reason he's so pretencious is because he has such deep things to say. So it's awquard the way he talks about anything in that way. But when it comes out, its amazing.

[catsboyscandy]

He's talking about how when he's 21 and he realizes time and age.... I'm 19 and I've felt like that ever since I was 8. I always thought growing up and growing older are the worst things to experience. I also wanted to stay 13 so badly. 18 was even worse - I nearly killed myself because it was nearly unbearable, but didn't because I didn't want my death to be as pointless as my life. I see life as having endless possibilities, but only if you are happy [clearly I am not] or dreaming.

[MrsRichieHell]

Dreaming is the way to go Johnny ;)

[murderterebi]

Wow. Maybe it's twisted, but I'm kind of inspired.

[hannahrl]

I agree with all of that, too. I am a massive fan. See the Richard Hell forum for evidence. I love Richard's complex, love-hate kind of narcissism. I love reading his books. Blah blah, anyway: you are correct. Well - actually I'd argue that truly popular culture was potentially awful, just like today, and that those guys weren't part of it (not initially, anyway) - there was a good underground, is what there was.

[hannahrl]

life was not full of endless possibilities in high school. when i was 4, i had the sense of being everyone and no one, and i couldn't wait to be 16. I quickly figured out that I should instead anticipate being 30. adolescence was just simply full of unadulterated authoritarian bullshit and frustrated yearning. i guess there was other stuff, but endless possibilities? no fucking way. you had the luck of being a hot young narcissist, bless you.

[purplewool]

I don't think that's what he means. He means in highschool you haven't really begun to live your own life. You`re just being prepared for it. Therefore the life you have yet to begin after highschool is unknown, so anything is possible.

[hannahrl]

...I get that. You're probably right - still, he was a hot young narcissist.

[purplewool]

haha, fair enough.

[davidbmason]

And I swear, that will be the last time I take acid!

[davidbmason]

It is interesting, I think Richard said "what are you going to look like when your dead? I have a 12 year son who is asking me about death and I told him that death is a word. For example, what were you 13 years ago? Ï ask. Don't be silly Dad, I wasn't born 13 years ago. But, how is not being 13 years ago going to be different from "not being" in 60/70 years time when you die? (assuming no soul) People look at old people and think "soon they'll be gone, but kids are closer to "no being"then us!

[Olallieberryjam]

I could write a ton of things here

but

I love Richard Hell.

[neotheone999]

i used to go to la salle down the block, used to go to cb's on sundays , met you in 82

[ethicomm]

Thank you Richard, thank you.

[riahluvsspuffy6]

His hair reminds me of Charles Manson's. I think he's still brilliant. More brilliant. I can't help but agree with him on some things in here.

[nickzedd]

I agree with Richard that nothing is ever definitive since we're all changing. Also since nothing is ever definitive, who can say that older people have less potential? That's a self imposed limitation. I can relate to his story of a time transcending experience. I once experienced that after having sex on my roof.

[ant1slam]

if you were in touch with your body more you would know that it cant do many of the things it used to be able to do and I'm not just talking about sex? I'm glad you embrace the concept of constant change tho in practice you seem to be constantly the same in such a dismal way?

[NickZedd1]

If you were in touch with your brain more you'd realize your stalking is a serious mental disorder. I'm not just talking about your oral fixation. In practice your online stalking is not only predictable it's asinine.

[kidcalabria]

I already left a comment on part 1. I just wanted to thank you again for uploading this. Richard Hell will be remembered in a hundred years as a true artist & not some shallow pop star like the ones who are forced on us nowadays by the media & the music industry.. Thanks, thanks & thanks again. I belong to the Blank Generation & proud of it!

[synthdementia]

Thank you for this... coming from the same generation... I enjoy your perspective

[hellverlaine]

just like in Go Now! you have an incredibly apt way of distilling recieved wisdom and philosophy into an emotionally effecting mixture.

[poppymu]

I love it, though i know present is not able yet to hold of it.

[DangerousBastard]

Awesome!