Philip Gorden, True Fan of Joey Shapiro, Passes – Asked for Donations to the American Kidney Fund || Joey Shapiro on Fb, 12/08/21: I’d like to say something about my friend Philip Gorden. He was a true music fan and a fan of music I’ve been involved with over the years. Though I never had the honor of meeting Philip in person, he and I would often trade messages. Even though he spent the past few years in and out of the hospital (mostly in), Philip always had the best attitude and outlook considering what he was going through. He was always so excited about new or old music and music equipment we’d discuss. All the while he never let on to me his condition was so dire… Until I received his last message to me yesterday which I’ve shared here with permission from Philip’s family. Now just 24 hours later I woke up this morning to learn of his passing.
Philip, always being up beat and thoughtful, took it upon himself to thank all of his musician friends for helping him get through some really tough years and often told me how all our music helped him deal.. Yesterday, thanking us in his final hours is really something I have not quite come to terms with yet. My thoughts right now are this: as we as musicians get on in age, and the world is in such unknown dark times, I admit I have not escaped being depressed and feeling lost about it all and have questioned what I am doing other than entertaining personal satisfaction.
I want to thank you Philip Gorden today for reminding me just how important music is to other people besides myself and will honor you by making some really kick ass music soon. Lastly, as you can see, Philip was really in trouble and made some typos in his message but still made me smile. And so, respecting Philip’s final upbeat joke to me I shall repeat:
“Manchester United sucks!” – Philip Gorden. 2021. RIP
https://www.facebook.com/joey.shapiro.drummer
https://www.facebook.com/philip.gorden.5
Philip Gorden’s wish on August 5, 2021: For my birthday this year, I’m asking for donations to American Kidney Fund. I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal. I’ve included information about American Kidney Fund below.
We help people fight kidney disease and live healthier lives.
Facebook pays all the processing fees for you, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the nonprofit. Plus, Facebook has reviewed this nonprofit to confirm that it’s authentic.
https://www.facebook.com/donate/2971361403191960/2971361413191959/
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Denis O’Brien Dies: Producer With George Harrison On ‘Monty Python’s Life Of Brian’ Was 80
By Bruce Haring | Denis O’Brien, best known for producing the comedy Monty Python’s Life of Brian with former Beatle George Harrison, died December 3 in a Swindon, UK hospital. He was 80 and passed away from intra-abdominal sepsis, his daughter said.
O’Brien and Harrison’s Handmade Films had a hit right out of the box with the 1979 comedy Life of Brian, a semi-blasphemous story of a young Jewish-Roman man who is born on the same day and next door to Jesus, and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah. It was banned in several locations or slapped with an X for its outrageous stunts, including a closing sing-along on the cross.
With Monty Python regulars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Mochael Palin in the cast, the producers thought the film would at best lose money and be a tax write-off. Instead, it was a smash, leading them to explore other films.
Handmade Films’ other productions included The Long Good Friday, a 1980 crime drama with Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren; Time Bandits, directed by Gilliam and featuring other member of that troupe; the noir drama Mona Lisa; and the comedy Withnail & I, which became a cult classic.
The O’Brien-Harrison relationship started in 1973, when O’Brien became Harrison’s business manager. When another client, Idle, approached O’Brien on an issue, he turned to Harrison for the financial backing for what became Life of Brian. Harrison, four years removed from the Beatles and in the prime of his solo career, put up his estate on Henley-on-Thames in England to provide $4 million in collateral.
The pair’s filmmaking success started to wane with 1986’s Shanghai Surprise, which starred Madonna and Sean Penn. By the early 1990s, the company was in financial difficulty, and Harrison wound up suing O’Brien, accusing him of mishandling his money. Harrison won more than $11 million from the lawsuit, and attempted to block O’Brien from declaring bankruptcy to avoid the judgment. The attempt was dismissed by the judge in 2001, and Harrison died later that year at age 58.
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O’Brien moved back to England in 2008 after living near St. Louis for a time. He was married four times, most recently to Phyllida Riddell O’Brien, who died in 2019. In addition to his daughters — who are from his first marriage, to Karen Lazarus — he is survived by a brother, Douglas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKPmGjVFbrY?
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/denis-o-brien-dies-producer-224426297.html
Philip Gorden, Fan of Joey Shapiro, Passes // Denis O’Brien Dies: Producer on ‘Monty Python’s Life Of Brian’
