soz97dnl2
Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: Nov. 2008 |
 |
Posted: Dec. 12 2008, 15:58 |
 |
| Quote (Mix @ Dec. 12 2008, 14:44) | | Quote (soz97dnl2 @ Dec. 07 2008, 11:39) | | Quote (Mix @ Nov. 28 2008, 17:17) | | He never got the respect and recognition he deserved for his input in Finnish music - both in the Prog/Jazz-field or classical (he composed a symphony as well). Yes, he was highly regarded among fans and colleagues, but I would have hoped that he would have been a more respected character in the music life in this country in general, though. Then again, he maybe enjoyed the low profile. |
I very much assume he really did prefer it that way. If I got his biographical facts correct, he had already toured with Mike as he declined Zappa, so he knew what touring with a big star would be like. And even if he didn't, what other reason than to protect one's private style of living could there be for a musician to decline Frank Zappa, especially as Pekka often was quoted for being a fan of his?
Also, having declined Abba, while artistically very much understandable, shows, that big $$$ wasn't what he wanted in life either.
So perhaps the life he ended up having was the kind that he wanted for himself. After all, he had enough following to do musically whatever he preferred, but he didn't have to deal with any side effects of fame. So it's thinkable, that he simply was free to do what he liked in his life.
At least I would hope so. 56 is a far too low an age to go, especially if you're a genious with still a bunch to give. But it's still easier, if it happens after a fulfilling life well lived. Pekka's life was too short, but it definitely was unique. I hope he had a good time. |
I'm sure you're right, and I agree with you that he must have been pleased to have been able to retain his personal life away from limelights. I seem to remember that his denial of Abba's offer was mostly because of the "stylistic" differences and that he considedered Abba to be way too commercial for him to join them. And he denied Zappa's offer to tour with his band due to the scheduling difficulties - he had something cooking in the studios and couldn't depart.
He lived his last years very close to where I live now, and... well, I certainly don't want to sound disrespectful or judgemental at all, believe me, but I did see him in the neighborhood a couple of times during these last few years, and my impression was that he really wasn't doing well  I'm pretty sure he suffered from alcoholism and maybe just wasted his life away. And that is SO sad. I am not 100% certain of this, but the appearance of him, and the circumstances where I saw him, bore all the earmarks of someone having been beaten and knocked out by the booze.
He definitely had so much more in him, much more beautiful music to give. In his 50th anniversary interview 6 years ago he speaked about KNOWING that he still has his *major work* in him. He never got that out of him...
I don't know if these 7 clips of that interview can be viewed outside Finland (and they are in Finnish, so...  ), but here they are any way, courtesy of Finnish national broadcaster YLE:
Pekka Pohjola interviewed
Regards,
Mika |
Well, that's sad news indeed. But I'm actually not surprised, due to the fact that his cause of death is being held back from all the articles about him. This is usually the case, when a great life comes to a less than flattering end and the media - quite correctly - decide, not to reduce the person to whatever banality it was that took him down. And as Pekka has spoken about his boozing problems before, it's a fairly easy equation.
Still very sad, how it's so often the same minds that reach the highest of beauties who in the end tend to lose against the lowest of demons. The art seems to be so much bigger than the artist and the world doesn't seem to be too reluctant of keeping reminding him of that.
Well, ars longa, vita brevis. And 56 years was at least less brevis than some other creators of great arts. Still, for all the great experiences he provided, I would have wished Pekka a sweeter dawn for his life than the gutter in Kivenlahti.
|
