Jay Bennett R.I.P

[Analogman]

I recall there was discussion at some point around here about that segment being edited to appear the way it does. I was thinking of this the other day.

[J_Lefty]

Unrelated: Am I the only person in the world who made ZERO connection between Jeff puking and the mixing scene in IATTBYH? I never thought it was, "Jeff puked because Jay is a tool," I always just read it as, "Mixing's a bitch, and so am I!" Just a general bad-day-at-the-studio vibe and not a "this is what the relationship is doing to me!" thing.

 

Maybe it's me, but it seemed that the first interview they do with him at the deli he's pretty coherent, then they (Jay and the band) talk about Jeff being on his way back to the studio to check their progress, then they cut to Jeff looking high as a kite roaming the streets of Chicago. I kind of always pieced together that while he was out for lunch he had a little something something and then walked back to the studio and it caught up with him. You obviously can't say this for sure since that movie is full of all sorts of crazy editing and time incongruities, but I saw the puking as a symptom of something else he was doing.

[fatheadfred]

It always came across to me as cause & effect. Jay's railin on Jeff, Jeff can't take it, Jeff barfs.

 

Much like the way the cut reality shows to make the peeps look they way they want.

[jakobnicholas]

Am I the only person in the world who made ZERO connection between Jeff puking and the mixing scene in IATTBYH? I never thought it was, "Jeff puked because Jay is a tool," I always just read it as, "Mixing's a bitch, and so am I!" Just a general bad-day-at-the-studio vibe and not a "this is what the relationship is doing to me!" thing.

 

 

 

While I didn't take the scene to mean Jay caused Jeff to puke, it came across to me like Sam Jones' intent was to make viewers feel like Jay was contributing to Jeff's un-well-being.

 

I have no idea what it was like being around Jay, but the movie definitely gave the vibe that Jay was kind of a goof and that Jay was a little pissed that Jeff wasn't wanting the record to sound like Bennett did. I think Jeff is almost portrayed like an innocent victim. And I think mostly that's because Jeff plays to the camera better. Jay seems like someone that almost forgets the camera's on, and lets his guard down. I bet Jeff had many moments making the record that were as unflattering as some of what we see of Jay. But maybe Jones never captured it.

[Dude]

Maybe it's me, but it seemed that the first interview they do with him at the deli he's pretty coherent, then they (Jay and the band) talk about Jeff being on his way back to the studio to check their progress, then they cut to Jeff looking high as a kite roaming the streets of Chicago. I kind of always pieced together that while he was out for lunch he had a little something something and then walked back to the studio and it caught up with him. You obviously can't say this for sure since that movie is full of all sorts of crazy editing and time incongruities, but I saw the puking as a symptom of something else he was doing.

 

Only problem with that theory is Jeff has been puking due to migraines since he was a kid. Read this for a better insight:

 

http://migraine.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/shaking-it-off/

[Divemistress of the Dark]

listen to a Nick Lowe album, watch some Mythbusters on Discovery

 

Aw man! Now I'm *really* depressed...I'm a huge, big, giant Nick Lowe fan and I didn't know Jay was too. Could have mentioned it when I was lucky enough to have met him after a show in Nashville in 2002.

 

plus, is there anybody living who doesn't love Mythbusters? Just askn'....

[J_Lefty]

Only problem with that theory is Jeff has been puking due to migraines since he was a kid. Read this for a better insight:

 

http://migraine.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/shaking-it-off/

 

Thanks for that link that does add a lot of insight. I feel bad now that I made assumptions, but he did look pretty messed up.

[jcroach]

Aw man! Now I'm *really* depressed...I'm a huge, big, giant Nick Lowe fan and I didn't know Jay was too. Could have mentioned it when I was lucky enough to have met him after a show in Nashville in 2002.

 

plus, is there anybody living who doesn't love Mythbusters? Just askn'....

 

Except for the fact that Mythbusters did not start airing until January 23, 2003.

 

And yes, that show is great!

 

 

Also, isn't there something in the audio commentary talking about the editing of the "puking" scene? I'll have to watch again tonight. I watched the outtake of the performance of "How to Fight Loneliness" last night. Get Jay guitar playing there!

[Mrs. Peel]

I always looked at the puking as a migraine symptom. I think Jeff looks miserable during that argument, and I assumed it was more because of a splitting headache than a creative disagreement about where to end a track. I never thought it was edited to make Jay look like the cause. Interesting that some people took it that way.

[Sir Stewart]

 

Maybe it's me, but it seemed that the first interview they do with him at the deli he's pretty coherent, then they (Jay and the band) talk about Jeff being on his way back to the studio to check their progress, then they cut to Jeff looking high as a kite roaming the streets of Chicago. I kind of always pieced together that while he was out for lunch he had a little something something and then walked back to the studio and it caught up with him. You obviously can't say this for sure since that movie is full of all sorts of crazy editing and time incongruities, but I saw the puking as a symptom of something else he was doing.

 

I think this is crazy talk.

[dondoboy]

If we're gonna talk about the movie, let's talk about the cool parts with Jay. Midwest Buy and Sell was pretty cool. He looked like a fucking rock star with all that gear.

[Guest Speed Racer]

If we're gonna talk about the movie, let's talk about the cool parts with Jay. Midwest Buy and Sell was pretty cool. He looked like a fucking rock star with all that gear.

 

Hands down, my favorite part of the movie is the Cars Can't Escape segment, when they're playing the track on a crappy CD player. When the noise comes in, and Jeff and Jay both 'cue' it at the same time. Very cute.

[Wilco75]

I never thought anything about that part in the film, i know alot of stress and having those headaches like that will make you vomit,it's happened to me,you really feel sick to your stomach, and vomiting is about the only thing to make you feel better lol

[Basil II]

Hands down, my favorite part of the movie is the Cars Can't Escape segment, when they're playing the track on a crappy CD player. When the noise comes in, and Jeff and Jay both 'cue' it at the same time. Very cute.

 

 

I get goose bumps every time I see that scene......great song .....should've been on YHF if at all at least "hidden'' on the end.

 

 

-Robert

[Wilco Worshipper]

Hands down, my favorite part of the movie is the Cars Can't Escape segment, when they're playing the track on a crappy CD player.

Same.

[Analogman]

I've always liked that part also:

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

That was a very moving piece by Paul Cantin. Loved the story about the "wedding toppers."

 

Unrelated: Am I the only person in the world who made ZERO connection between Jeff puking and the mixing scene in IATTBYH? I never thought it was, "Jeff puked because Jay is a tool," I always just read it as, "Mixing's a bitch, and so am I!" Just a general bad-day-at-the-studio vibe and not a "this is what the relationship is doing to me!" thing.

 

And Jeff pointedly mentioned his history with migranes and vomiting.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I know this is a thread that is rightly focuses on experssions of grief for the loss of a person who was very instrumental in our favorite band.

 

I think that we should recognize that matters had grown to a head in 2001 and from comments in IATTBYH (pointedly the comments by Leroy Bach, a friend for many years), it was impossible for Jay to continue in the band. A sad end to that stage of his life.

 

However, he lived 8 more productive years after he left Wilco. Jay was, ultimately, human. Human foibles and faults and gloriously talented.

 

Life is short. He will be missed.

[dondoboy]

I've always liked the part in the movie when they're all walking back from the playing area to the listening area. They all look just exhausted. I always think to myself, "Now that's a fucking rock and roll band, they're just done for after playing". Who knows if that's what is happening, but I always think that.

[caliber66]

Except for the fact that Mythbusters did not start airing until January 23, 2003.

 

And yes, that show is great!

 

 

Also, isn't there something in the audio commentary talking about the editing of the "puking" scene? I'll have to watch again tonight. I watched the outtake of the performance of "How to Fight Loneliness" last night. Get Jay guitar playing there!

Yes.

 

Please, somebody who knows how to do such things, isolate & post that scene from the extras disc.

 

[quote name='Crow Daddy Magnus

[Guest Speed Racer]

For all the nasty things that happen in the film proper, Disc 2 of IATTBYH really serves as a great 'yearbook' of sorts - just collected moments during the process of making the album that I think give a much better sense of what 99% of the process was probably like.

 

For better or for worse, IATTBYH is really the most accessible touchstone for a talking, walking, performing depiction of Jay. Even most idiots can see that some parts of the film did not capture him at his best (though clearly some idiots can't), and one of the reasons I think The DVD Project is so great is that it helps those of us who missed the boat, caught the boat and don't remember the trip, or just want records of our memories, get good, solid evidence that Jay was pretty bad-ass with Wilco, and had a ton of fun being bad-ass with Wilco.

[oceanman]

Jay's last show with Wilco is still my all time favorite............pure raw Jay energy. The man had spunk!

[jakobnicholas]

I've got a disc of a show I attended on July 23rd, 2000. It was a show in Columbia, MO and was streamed on the internet I remember.

 

Classic Jay performance. The encore was amazing. Jay would do amazing riffs of classic rock songs before or in the middle of Wilco songs. Casino Queen kicks off with a "Won't Get Fooled Again" intro. "Hot Blooded" gets a musical nod during another song. And of course, Jay was leading the way during JP's rendition of Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song". Those old shows had a ton of personality.

 

 

This morning I was blasting Summerteeth. I like all Wilco incarnations, but 99 times out of 100 I'd pick the lush, poppy, layered, studio Wilco that Jay engineered as my favorite. There's nothing boring about Jay's additions to Wilco songs.

[Basil II]

Jay's last show with Wilco is still my all time favorite............pure raw Jay energy. The man had spunk!

 

I'd love a complete DVD of that show......Jay probably figured the hammer was coming down......and to Jeff's credit, the music came first that night.....

 

-Robert

[quarter23cd]

I've always liked the part in the movie when they're all walking back from the playing area to the listening area. They all look just exhausted. I always think to myself, "Now that's a fucking rock and roll band, they're just done for after playing". Who knows if that's what is happening, but I always think that.

Hmm. Actually, that chapter on the DVD is titled "Coming Home From Chipotle".

 

Jay brought a lot of unpredictability and energy to the band on stage. And, heck, on record he challenged me as a listener quite a bit. Speaking purely in terms of sound, Summerteeth is my least favorite Wilco record to listen to. Yeah, I'm one of those dudes who swore at the time that JB had ruined the band. And yet that record has some great songs on it, so there is a push/pull thing going on with my eardrums where I'm like "Yeah, turn it up!" and then is like doooooooooooBEEEEEEEboooooooooo and I'm like "BAH, turn it down!!!" Jay, that record has been messing with my head for a decade now. Thanks...I think.

 

On stage, the band was never more fun than during the JB era. I was a big cheerleader for the start of the Glenn/Nels era of the band--and do love what they do--but in retrospect now with a few years to sink it in, I think I miss the old live Wilco. More specifically, I miss ya, JB.