Sequoia Films presents: "Sequoia Old Tape"

[zeoevil]

Invocation of My Demon Brother (1969) is an 11-minute film directed, edited, and photographed by Kenneth Anger. The music was composed by Mick Jagger playing a Moog synthesizer. It was filmed in San Francisco at the Straight Theater on Haight Street and the William Westerfeld House (the former "Russian Embassy" nightclub).[1]

According to Anger, the film was assembled from scraps of the first version of Lucifer Rising. It includes clips of the cast smoking out of a skull, and the publicly filmed Satanic funeral ceremony for a pet cat.

Invocation of My Demon Brother won the Tenth Annual Film Culture award.[2]

Author Gary Lachman claims that the film "inaugurat[ed] the midnight movie cult at the Elgin Theatre."[3]

[rodox_head]

Invocation of My Demon Brother (1969) is an 11-minute film directed, edited, and photographed by Kenneth Anger. The music was composed by Mick Jagger playing a Moog synthesizer. It was filmed in San Francisco at the Straight Theater on Haight Street and the William Westerfeld House (the former "Russian Embassy" nightclub).[1]

According to Anger, the film was assembled from scraps of the first version of Lucifer Rising. It includes clips of the cast smoking out of a skull, and the publicly filmed Satanic funeral ceremony for a pet cat.

Invocation of My Demon Brother won the Tenth Annual Film Culture award.[2]

Author Gary Lachman claims that the film "inaugurat[ed] the midnight movie cult at the Elgin Theatre."[3]

Thank you for the clarification. This reminds me of a recent video from YouTuber "Wavywebsurf" about the story behind a photo of a decapitated dog, where it was framed as some sort of malicious sacrifice but was actually done as a means to preserve the skull of an already deceased pet, or a stray that was hit by a car, I can't quite remember which exactly.

[Orbited insanitarium]

Invocation of My Demon Brother (1969) is an 11-minute film directed, edited, and photographed by Kenneth Anger. The music was composed by Mick Jagger playing a Moog synthesizer. It was filmed in San Francisco at the Straight Theater on Haight Street and the William Westerfeld House (the former "Russian Embassy" nightclub).[1]

According to Anger, the film was assembled from scraps of the first version of Lucifer Rising. It includes clips of the cast smoking out of a skull, and the publicly filmed Satanic funeral ceremony for a pet cat.

Invocation of My Demon Brother won the Tenth Annual Film Culture award.[2]

Author Gary Lachman claims that the film "inaugurat[ed] the midnight movie cult at the Elgin Theatre."[3]

Mick jagger and his satanic cat funerals. That all I'm sayin'

Nope, just seconds after I wrote that I've got the urge to say some more (I hope the re editer doesn't time me out)
I agree, the particular footage used that was used for the Alpha & Omega sequence is more atmospherically disturbing than some of the symbolism's and actions performed. The camera work is jittery and fast-paced like something you'd see in a piece of found footage.
There are a lot of factors that go into it, but let it be said I don't approve of Nazi imagery, I don't think anyone on this topic does but clarification is bliss occasionally.

Honestly the sequence kinda reminded me of a stylised film called 'The Love Witch' which was made by using the same kind of camera's that were available in the 60s, it had some occult imagery.
The trailer maybe demonstrates a point more than me

phpBB [media]

My point is that Rock stars (like what rodox mentioned about NIN's downward spiral) like to shock their audience, but I think the inclusion of that particular film may have been poor taste.

Dropping a cat like that didn't disturb me originally because I had no clue what it was until I rewatched the sequence. People will do lots for fame but maybe that is fvcked up.

Nobody mention the sex on the beach being put over A07 will ya?

[Negamuse]

Thanks for finding that, I feel a *little* easier about it thinking it wasn't just someone who went out and "got" a cat off the street, if only a little. It still pushes my buttons but it's supposed to, I get it.

Context is strange isn't it.

[SamuraiDrifter]

Honestly the sequence kinda reminded me of a stylised film called 'The Love Witch' which was made by using the same kind of camera's that were available in the 60s, it had some occult imagery.
The trailer maybe demonstrates a point more than me

phpBB [media]

I love this movie! I rewatch it every October. It's aesthetic definitely reminds me of BOC visuals. Very Suspiria.

[Orbited insanitarium]

I would actually like to know who made the livestream, i'm quite curious about who 'Sequoia Films' is.
If the editing mastermind who created this is a member on here, make yourself be known.

This is great!

[Helios]

Personally despised the repulsive imagery in this. Didn’t watch it all, but the tying of crap like that to Geogaddi doesn’t sit well with me. I’d be insulted by this if I were BoC.

I did, however, love that Denim Drawer commercial in the very beginning - does that exist anywhere outside of this video?

[Orbited insanitarium]

Personally despised the repulsive imagery in this. Didn’t watch it all, but the tying of crap like that to Geogaddi doesn’t sit well with me. I’d be insulted by this if I were BoC.

Despised is a VERY strong word. Especially for something you didn't watch completely.

And I'm pretty sure the crap you are referring to is because of some of the dark imagery used.
You have to understand that most of it is made of B-movie horror film footage that is camped up for effect.

[Helios]

Personally despised the repulsive imagery in this. Didn’t watch it all, but the tying of crap like that to Geogaddi doesn’t sit well with me. I’d be insulted by this if I were BoC.

Despised is a VERY strong word. Especially for something you didn't watch completely.

And I'm pretty sure the crap you are referring to is because of some of the dark imagery used.
You have to understand that most of it is made of B-movie horror film footage that is camped up for effect.

I watched enough of it (and have seen enough of the satanic/evil references to Geogaddi in the past) to get the gist. I don’t really think the source of the material matters, and I *get* why whoever made the video used it, but I don’t agree with it.

To me, BoC is warm, happy, nostalgic, and hopeful (even TH is hopeful). I just don’t understand the fans that constantly bind evil/grotesque/satanic crap to their darker tracks.

Whatever, though. That’s just my opinion.

[NTFMTS]

I mean, BoC seems to have invoked some of these darker thematic stuff into certain songs / records (Geogaddi especially). I think they are hopeful, at times incredibly warm & happy, but I don't think it's only that. They've spoken about their own personal pain being put into the music themselves. Something like IABPOITC with the very obvious references to the Branch Davidians supports that they do delve into darker themes, which is what I think makes their music so "human." They accept and acknowledge the whole scope of the human experience. The associations with satanic, disturbing imagery are there, but yeah I agree in that I don't think it needs to be overt. And I think the band themselves do any of this for purely the shock factor

[rodox_head]

I watched enough of it (and have seen enough of the satanic/evil references to Geogaddi in the past) to get the gist. I don’t really think the source of the material matters, and I *get* why whoever made the video used it, but I don’t agree with it.

To me, BoC is warm, happy, nostalgic, and hopeful (even TH is hopeful). I just don’t understand the fans that constantly bind evil/grotesque/satanic crap to their darker tracks.

Whatever, though. That’s just my opinion.

I actually agree with you a lot there. As a longtime fan of the guys, it's become quite tiresome to see that there are people that still accuse them of being occult weirdo satanists because of some artistic liberties from twenty years ago. To me, Geogaddi is still a mysterious album, but more so just a journey with a darker edge to it, something I believe they intended. I don't know if I'd say BoC are always "happy", but I can understand "hopeful".

That being said, I really don't care if others have visual interpretations like that. I don't care for it (as I think I mentioned earlier the A&O visuals did absolutely nothing for me and I basically tuned out enough to miss the swastikas and burning cat) but I really don't begrudge it that much, but let's just not take it as concrete fact that Geogaddi is "evil" or whatever.

On a personal note: As someone who ruminates over their own "edgier" phases, seeing this kind of thing brought up for others makes me anxious.

That's how I've felt about making this music, as an act of destroying myself, & for what, peoples mild amusement? longing for things to go wrong? fame & fortune? I'm not sure anymore. anything I do or say will be viewed by thousands of people, picked apart, criticised by people who think it's in any way at all important. It's hardly a spotlight, it's a magnifying glass under the sun.
I never expected things to have been this way, when I was younger I wanted to be the next GG Alin, but more importantly, stay underground, stay unknown, & keep this as a hobby only, push the boundaries, piss people off, black metal aesthetic, etc. & anyone who questioned it can get the finger. But then I grew up, I matured, & saw the world differently, I changed. But the internet is the internet, & Ive been paying for those mistakes by the pound.
These things I've done that I regret & have done my best to atone for, simply won't matter, not when people show no forgiveness & want nothing but blood to pay the debts. & blood is what they will get, & even then I'm not sure it will be enough.
Even in saying this, even by coming back at all, It feels like I'm just lighting myself on fire & then watch all the moths come towards me. I sometimes get asked what's it's like to be famous, a thought which never occurs to me but whenever people ask I look at my numbers & realise how far I've come, & I don't feel pride, I feel paranoid, I feel threatened. that's how many people are watching you now.
& every time I tell them the same thing.
Don't ever be famous, It destroys you, I hate being me.

[NTFMTS]

And I think the band themselves do any of this for purely the shock factor

I don't think*

[kakanara]

To me, BoC is warm, happy, nostalgic, and hopeful (even TH is hopeful). I just don’t understand the fans that constantly bind evil/grotesque/satanic crap to their darker tracks.

Whatever, though. That’s just my opinion.

im genuinely curious at how you perceive tomorrow's harvest as hopeful, that album always bums me out

[SamuraiDrifter]

To me, BoC is warm, happy, nostalgic, and hopeful (even TH is hopeful). I just don’t understand the fans that constantly bind evil/grotesque/satanic crap to their darker tracks.

Whatever, though. That’s just my opinion.

How would you respond to the band's own comments on IABPOITC?

"Which was why," Sandison swings back to the record in hand, "we thought we'd make a record that on the surface feels really sweet and very spacious and it'll be titled In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country, but what were these people doing in a beautiful place out in the country? They were getting shot and burned.. [Laughs] It's a typical thing that we would do..."

-Michael Sandison, "Protect and Survive" interview, 2005

Or their comments that Geogaddi was an "exorcising of demons" and a "trial by fire?"

What about this statement, re: Tomorrow's Harvest? ("Band of Brothers" interview, 2013)

Michael: The last couple of tracks thematically refer to a kind of resurrection. Not that there is a happy ending, on the contrary. We maintain a pessimistic view of the world.

To me there is absolutely no question BOC addresses some very dark themes head-on, unflinchingly. That's one of the things that gives them artistic depth - that they *don't* simply make feel good chillout tunes. Some of their tracks are very happy and nostalgic, but every album has it's darker side- even Campfire Headphase.

[Negamuse]

Yeah but they do it with a bunch of weird tape effects and a few well chosen samples, not shock imagery. They suggest the horror, and let your mind work it out. They don't need to show it first hand.

It's easy to horrify someone with a picture of their worst fears. It's much harder, requires more skill, to whisper in your ear and let your mind take you there itself

[Wildfire]

Personally despised the repulsive imagery in this. Didn’t watch it all, but the tying of crap like that to Geogaddi doesn’t sit well with me. I’d be insulted by this if I were BoC.

Despised is a VERY strong word. Especially for something you didn't watch completely.

And I'm pretty sure the crap you are referring to is because of some of the dark imagery used.
You have to understand that most of it is made of B-movie horror film footage that is camped up for effect.

I watched enough of it (and have seen enough of the satanic/evil references to Geogaddi in the past) to get the gist. I don’t really think the source of the material matters, and I *get* why whoever made the video used it, but I don’t agree with it.

To me, BoC is warm, happy, nostalgic, and hopeful (even TH is hopeful). I just don’t understand the fans that constantly bind evil/grotesque/satanic crap to their darker tracks.

Whatever, though. That’s just my opinion.

You have to laugh though, they produce a record that is 66m 6s long, when you rip it the WAV file sizes are 666mb, contains backwards samples like "a god with horns" and then release the album in 6 churches globally, they are obviously just playing with religious symbolism and ideas for fun, but it's hardly a stretch to associate the album with the occult. The fans are just having fun with it too I think.

[Helios]

Yea - I don't disagree. But like Negamuse was saying it's more thematic and done in an almost playful way (66m 6s, for example). But a lot of people lean way too hard into the cultish/satanic stuff and take it so literally that its paired with gross imagery.

Also, please no one take this as a personal jab. I know the OP enjoyed it all, and I'm not at all knocking them for liking it. I just personally don't like it, and disagree with it.

[Orbited insanitarium]

Yea - I don't disagree. But like Negamuse was saying it's more thematic and done in an almost playful way (66m 6s, for example). But a lot of people lean way too hard into the cultish/satanic stuff and take it so literally that its paired with gross imagery.

Also, please no one take this as a personal jab. I know the OP enjoyed it all, and I'm not at all knocking them for liking it. I just personally don't like it, and disagree with it.

I personally created this topic because I liked the editing and pacing, and I could see how hard somebody worked to produce it.
From a production standpoint is why I like it, not necessarily because of some of the content included within.

[Negamuse]

The production is really slick, it's a GREAT mix of slightly off the beaten track tunes and the way some of them have been edited adds something new to them. I will 100% give it that.

[Helios]

Yea - I don't disagree. But like Negamuse was saying it's more thematic and done in an almost playful way (66m 6s, for example). But a lot of people lean way too hard into the cultish/satanic stuff and take it so literally that its paired with gross imagery.

Also, please no one take this as a personal jab. I know the OP enjoyed it all, and I'm not at all knocking them for liking it. I just personally don't like it, and disagree with it.

I personally created this topic because I liked the editing and pacing, and I could see how hard somebody worked to produce it.
From a production standpoint is why I like it, not necessarily because of some of the content included within.

Yea - not at all pinning anything on you!