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Name someone who is either a genius or an insane person, you're not sure which.

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BurtWorm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:16 AM
Original message
Name someone who is either a genius or an insane person, you're not sure which.
Edited on Sat Nov-10-07 01:20 AM by BurtWorm
For me: Alex Chilton, the Box Top who sang "The Letter" at about age 17, then went on to form Big Star, one of the seminal power pop bands of the 1970s. Then possibly went insane. Or let his genius hang out in public. :o

I'm listening to evidence of both now on his solo album "Like Flies on Sherbet."

:wow:

He also produced some great albums by The Cramps, The Gories and The Detroit Cobras. Mad genius!
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Fire Walk With Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:18 AM
Response to Original message
1. Syd Barret.
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BurtWorm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:22 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. I'll give you that.
:toast:

'E's a righ' thin-liner, inny, squire? Righ' on the border that one is.
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Ptah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:24 AM
Response to Original message
3. Frank Zappa.
dental floss tycoon.
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BurtWorm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:25 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. I'm pretty sure he was just a genius.
Don van Vliet, on the other hand...

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Fire Walk With Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:31 AM
Response to Reply #4
7. Van Vliet is a genius.
Edited on Sat Nov-10-07 01:33 AM by Peake
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BurtWorm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:34 AM
Response to Reply #7
12. Clearly has very strong genius tendencies.
So strong he pushes the membrane separating genius from madness.

And thank the gods and goddesses for anyone who has the courage to go up against that membrane.

:patriot:
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Ptah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:32 AM
Response to Reply #4
9. Not just a genius.
On the other hand, I have no idea about Don van Vliet
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BurtWorm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:37 AM
Response to Reply #9
15. Zappa always struck me as being very grounded in reality. Very commonsensical guy.
Edited on Sat Nov-10-07 01:41 AM by BurtWorm
Van Vliet, on the other hand, I think, created his own universe and carried it around with him, and infected other people with it.

PS: I should make it clear that I completely respect Zappa's genius. :toast:
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ghostsofgiants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:25 AM
Response to Original message
5. Werner Herzog comes to mind.
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Fire Walk With Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:32 AM
Response to Reply #5
10. His films are about people on the edge, but Werner himself?
I'm not knocking you at all; I'm a big fan of his movies I'm curious to know what makes you see that in him. More talk about Werner is good :)
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ghostsofgiants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #10
16. Just certain stories about the production of some of his films...
Edited on Sat Nov-10-07 01:42 AM by primate1
Such as moving a 320 ton steamship over a hill without the use of special effects for the filming of Fitzcarraldo, or planning to dig up Ed Gein's mother's grave with Errol Morris, haha. Great filmmaker, but he's just willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve his artistic vision.
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Fire Walk With Me Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:43 AM
Response to Reply #16
17. True, he's beyond the boundaries.
What does it say about me that I agree with the lengths he goes to?

:crazy:
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ghostsofgiants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:46 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Haha, I can only hope to be half the filmmaker he is once I start making films...
Edited on Sat Nov-10-07 01:47 AM by primate1
But I don't think I'll ever attempt to move a 320 ton steamship anywhere, haha. Digging up the remains of the parents of famous killers, on the other hand... :P
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devilgrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:31 AM
Response to Original message
6. Nina Simone
eom
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Initech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:32 AM
Response to Original message
8. Lewis Black
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Inchworm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:33 AM
Response to Original message
11. My freakin GF
she sees what I miss...

:hi:
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riverdeep Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:35 AM
Response to Original message
13. Andy Kaufman. n/t
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Robeson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 01:35 AM
Response to Original message
14. Arthur Lee....
...of Love.
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Arkham House Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-10-07 09:36 AM
Response to Original message
19. William Blake
...he was probably both, actually...he was certainly a genius...
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