The moveon.org moved the crowd and the minds of all the people involved. I met Chuck D – Chuck DDDDDDDD!!!!!!!! We went to the soundcheck at Hammerstein, earlier in the day, and saw Chuck D and The Fine Arts Militia rocking a new version of “Fight the Power.” He is beautiful and the terrific strength and promise that he brought the world so many years ago has only grown and prospered. He was my teacher. He told us that we had a voice. That the media wouldn’t be putting him on prime time because they were too afraid of the truth. Chuck D brought the truth, brought it again and again. I got to tell him so and speak to him about his impact on the lives of all those who didn’t know we were allowed to speak. He is a gentle soul, generous and kind. He accepted my compliments, that he is a visionary, a revolutionary, a genius, a true leader. He hugged me, introduced me to some of The Fine Arts Militia, and they did a banging performance knocking us all down with the funk. It was a moveable feast of the most important thinkers of our time.
I bum rushed Al Franken and Michael Moore in the green room, with congratulations and warmth. Al Franken jokingly remarked that I gave a more enthusiastic greeting to Michael Moore – but then again, I was so blown away and starstruck by Al Franken, the moment was just escalating, and then the Magical Mystery Moore right behind him. It was all so overwhelming.
Moby and Vernon Reid opened the show with the best version of the “Star Spangled Banner.” I’d never heard it with thrashing guitars before. Moby is just like you think he might be. Shy, darling, charming, organized. Vernon is hilarious. In the green room we were talking about this cheese that looked like bread, and then when we found out it was cheese and not bread, Vernon kept going on about how there are so many ways that cheese can go awry. It is true!! Cheese can fuck you up sometimes, and I am not even referring to lactose intolerance. He brought up the tragic nature of the brie omelet. How wrong that the rind is in there, and then you get a big bite of mold without warning. We live in troubled times.
I had major posse with me, got to see old friends, Rufus Wainright and Janeane Garofalo. I remember Rufus from the Largo days, and he rocked the waistcoat like it was 1899. I called him “Lord Byron” because he was bringing me back to the Romantic Poets era all over again. Let’s do some laudanum and stay up all night writing gothic novellas. His performance was magnificent and grand as he is to the manner born. Or the manor born.
It is weird and chaotic to be at events like this. I wish I could take you all and show you how strange it is being around people you usually only see on tv. It’s an alternate universe, feeling like stepping into the screen for a moment. I realize I have been around so long I know a lot of famous people, and it isn’t a brag, I am just old and shit. Nobody seems to really hang out, and they all separate into either their own spaces to watch the shows, or disappear into their dressing rooms. This event had a lot more unity, there was a camaraderie between the artists that was more human, less VIP. We had a mission, to educate and to bring together disparate elements of our society that have much more in common than anyone realized. I hope that the contributions made by the major politicos and the monied liberals helps us to get that fucking shithead out of office.
Bush in 30 Seconds was a brilliant concept and the night was devoted to all the people who made ads on their computers, using their own money, their own hearts and minds, and most importantly, their right to free speech. It was the first time in a long while where I felt proud to be an American.