RIP Heath Ledger.

[imaguitargod]

While I never met the man in my 5 years in Hollywood, I did respect his talent. It turns out he was pronaunced dead at 3:45 pm today. For those who don’t know, he is playing the Joker in the new Batman movie and has done many movies before this.

This struck me a little bit odd and I suspect foul play.

[bubbaschili]

i went from happy to confussed yesterday i was at the ymca and the tv (sound off of course) was mentioning the new batman movie..i was thrilled because batman is my fav superhero (next to mullet man of course)and then at the bottom of the screen it was talking about his death.
its gonna be weird watching the movie knowing hes dead.

[Omri]

He was such a talented actor, it's a great loss.

[rainbowberry]

So young, so sad. He also starred in Monster's ball, A Knight's tale, The Brothers grimm, and Brokeback Mountain.

[chuk hell]

Very sad indeed. He was a very promising young actor. I hope he's in a better place.

I imagine seeing the new Batman movie will feel a lot like it felt when I saw THE CROW.

[gardenkiller]

I imagine seeing the new Batman movie will feel a lot like it felt when I saw THE CROW.

I was thinking the same thing, only different. The Crow was amazing to me on a level that any Batman movie could never be. Don't know for sure how to put it exactly, but the crow is one of the few comic book movies that didn't feel to me like a comic. Anyhow sorry to jack the thread here, I agree with everyone else! All that talent, such a tragedy.

[texas blues]

I'm sorry the guy's gone but...Academy award nominee, hollywood actor, a tragedy indeed. Dude had money, fortune and fame...a good ride and better than most folks in this world. What I am really sorry about is that more people give a rats ass about this cat than those who didn't have what he had..like living in a 3rd. world country with your home on a dirt floor, wondering where your next meal is coming from .. or if you would work that day.. or be killed for helping someone from the wrong neighhorhood ..or shot in a drive by ..Heath..R.I.P. man but...
Just sayin'. Cheers, TB.

[DevilDuck]

Yeah TB.... I'm kinda with you on this one.

Any "Hollywood" death doesn't really surprise me these days. I feel bad for his friends and family, but I have to leave it there.

[gardenkiller]

Agree with both of you, but American people are force fed the "Life and Times" of A-list celebs day in and day out on TV, internet, radio, blah, blah, blah. When presented with it everyday, people seem to be programmed to think they have some connection to these people, and their deaths almost seem like a distant cousin or something. Blame the media for the direction of emotion and concern, not the viewer.

[chilehunter]

well he couldnt been that great of an actor, I've never even heard of him until now, when hes dead :lol: only seen pictures of him on the news for his death, other than that still dont know who he is or seen any of the movies hes been in.

I dont pay attention to the stars life & dont care what happens to them.

[cheezydemon]

Most noteably he was in "Brokeback Mountain" and while it was not my favorite movie, I was impressed that an A list straight celebrity would take that role to further tolerance (at least that is my take on it) in this country.

I agree that celebrities and stars get more than their share of sympathy, but some of them bring us a lot of joy.

If you can bring a little happiness to millions of people, maybe you deserve a little sympathy from millions of people.

Foul play? it is possible, but the "overdose" thing is nothing new to the A list.

[chuk hell]

I'm sorry the guy's gone but...Academy award nominee, hollywood actor, a tragedy indeed. Dude had money, fortune and fame...a good ride and better than most folks in this world. What I am really sorry about is that more people give a rats ass about this cat than those who didn't have what he had..like living in a 3rd. world country with your home on a dirt floor, wondering where your next meal is coming from .. or if you would work that day.. or be killed for helping someone from the wrong neighhorhood ..or shot in a drive by ..Heath..R.I.P. man but...
Just sayin'. Cheers, TB.

I hear what you're saying TB. I guess it helps if you're a movie geek. Personally I didn't feel upset about Ledger's death but I do think it's a loss for the movie industry. The dude had talent and was awful young to give up the ghost. However, I'm ashamed to admit that my first thought, after WTF?, was "man, I hope the new Batman movie is in the can"...because I'm a genre fan and have been "geeking out" a bit about the way he's going to portray the Joker. I think it's going to be...pretty good...to an aging comic book freak.

Still, when anyone dies young, it's sad, and in this case it looks to be an accident, not abuse. Time will tell.

So yeah, I'm sure you might take notice if Charlie Mussslewhite or Buddy Guy was suddenly found dead...and those cats are way past 28. It's all about our particular reality tunnels. And you are right about one thing, there sure ain't no shortage of human suffering in this wicked world but I'm damned if I know what to do about it. Just try get on as well as I can and be nice to the people around me I guess.....

[texas blues]

Chuk, your point is well taken and provides pause to rethink from the prespective you pointed out. Given that, yes, it is most likely accidental albeit from my view, inconsequential the reason. I 'spose a certain amount of animosity with me and this general subject begins with idol worship in general. By that I mean case in point et.al. Kurt Cobain. Truly tragic is a JFK or Ghandi or MLK. When anyone dies it is a loss to the family and friends. On a celebrity level, it is the same thing but sensationalized. I simply wonder what that particular celeb did with the money he made. Did he or she help anyone? So many celebrities are pro this and anti that and want you to contribute $$ to thier cause, but too often they are only offering thier celebrity status and "moral" support. Thus I am skeptical and leary of the whole Hollywood 'thang. Maybe Heath was a good guy. He'll be rewarded for that hopefully in the next life. And with that, yes quite appropos...Heath Ledger R.I.P.
Cheers, TB.

[ross]

This struck me a little bit odd and I suspect foul play.

If by "foul" you mean the use of multiple drugs, then yeah. there was foul play.

[bentalphanerd]

I'm sorry the guy's gone but...Academy award nominee, hollywood actor, a tragedy indeed. Dude had money, fortune and fame...a good ride and better than most folks in this world. What I am really sorry about is that more people give a rats ass about this cat than those who didn't have what he had..like living in a 3rd. world country with your home on a dirt floor, wondering where your next meal is coming from .. or if you would work that day.. or be killed for helping someone from the wrong neighhorhood ..or shot in a drive by ..Heath..R.I.P. man but...
Just sayin'. Cheers, TB.

I'm with you there TB. Money may not buy you happiness, but it can't buy you poverty either.

[rainbowberry]

I'm with you there TB. Money may not buy you happiness, but it can't buy you poverty either.

I see your point but I just find whatever the circumstances were, that dying at the age of 28 is very sad, poor or rich.

[bentalphanerd]

Sad yes, avoidable definitely. If only they'd spend the odd week on a deserted beach drowning some bait....or similar.
Hell if you've got a few hundred grand in the bank, take a year off, it can't be that hard.

[cheezydemon]

I don't like the Kurt Cobain reference TB. He wasn't just some pop star, he was a tormented artist that brought a lot of joy and meaning to people's lives. I can understand people feeling a real loss.
Now if Paris Hilton dies from an OD of thick burgers, I will share your sentiments (I think Anna Nicole Smith might have been a better example than Kurt)

I'm not defending Kurt or the way he went out, but the loss of all of the music he would have made is truely tragic, and reason for widespread mourning.

[chilehunter]

kurt cobain is a loser! thats my opinion. I like nirvana, they were a good band for their time but not a "great" band. & doubt they would of lasted long like some other bands.
as for being a looser, well being really rich & the band being almost in their prime (things going good for them) & a have a baby or a baby on the way, then blow your own brains out with a shotgun. he took the easy way out for whatever his drug induced mind thought was to much to handle & ended his life without a care about the child. I rest my case!
theres plenty of people with less pull through but for some reason a very rich kurt just couldnt solve his problems, but had plenty of money to do so :rolleyes:




I dont call him kurt cobain, I just call him "buckshot" :lol:

[Canuk Pepperhead]

Money does not buy happiness or a peacefull soul...Weather its Kurt or any other celeberty..What they go through in one day with the press,no privacy,forced on expectations and the stress..man the stress..Yeah the money is good but unless you can handle having that mental state you can handle all of that you will flake out...Heath Ledger well to me it looks like an accident..On the other hand look at another celeberty that has flaked out from all the stress from hollywood and its issues..Im not saying I condone but a great example..Brittany Spears..At the top of her game and flakes out under the stress.....Its not easy being big though it looks fun..The stress we have some days drives us nuts..Just sit back and think what would your life being actress/actor/musican would be like no privacy,people stalking you 24/7 everyone else trying to stab you in the back and in the end you still have no one you can trust...Basiclly no life of your own
Yeah thats a good life..right?

[chuk hell]

Kurt's problem was being foolish enough to marry a woman who would have him murdered. So if bad taste in women makes you a loser.....




TB,

The whole celebrity-worship-tabloid-gawking-culture thing makes me sick sick sick.. If I never heard the words "Britney" or "Paris" again I would be a happy man.

[Canuk Pepperhead]

lol sorry dude just too good of an example.lol I dont even watch tv or really watch movies

[chilehunter]

chuck - thats all hearsay, just like bigfoot exsists ;)

[chilehunter]

canuk - money does buy happiness to a point & can help you solve your issues, no need to blow your brains out with having a kid & plenty of money to do what ever you want to do.
if you talking about love, well if it dont work out with her kick her to the curb & NEXT :lol: being rich thats the norm just make sure you have a prenup :lol:

[AlabamaJack]

CH...a movie Ledger was in you might have seen was "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson. Heath Ledger was his oldest son in the movie. Gabriel.

[Canuk Pepperhead]

Me it was just the point of being famous and the life they have to live by
You couldnt pay me enough to have that lifestyle...meaning no privacy etc...

[imaguitargod]

Kurt's problem was being foolish enough to marry a woman who would have him murdered. So if bad taste in women makes you a loser.....
Yep, she's one of the few people I would just run up to and sock in the mouth if I saw them walking down the street.

[chilehunter]

AJ - I saw the patriot it was alright

canuk - I bet you could adapt to that lifestyle no problem. having a couple multi million dollar homes & driving lamborginis & whatever else you'd want, all for just letting some people take pictures of you & if they cross the line or you're having a bad day you just punch them or have your bodygaurd rough house them :lol: seems like the norm :lol: & then just pay them off or hire a top dollar lawyer & walk away scot free or a fine you can pay off in a year or 2

[texas blues]

Whoda' thunk this controversy and woe and gnashing of teeth over this topic of Mr. Ledger. Accidental? Overdose? The maid did it?
Call the Pentagon and the President..we need a Congressional investigation! Kurt Cobain?...dude had one soso good song that marketing cats created a MONSTER video that sold the whole grunge 'thang. I was in Seattle before KC and Nirvana broke wide open and he was at the bottom of the heap for musicianship. Take a look at Soundgarden for the real deal. Kurt sold because that was what the moguls TOLD YOU was good. He made a shite pile of dough, was a heroin addict, married a phsycobitch and killed himself. Being married once already... I can see why he offed himself married to Courtney. Now to be sure, Jimi Hendrix did the same thing with an overdose..but at least Jimi was a real musician. Jimi will be remembered in a 100 years, Kurt? Maybe in another 10.
Britney...my opinion on her is ..what a loser family to grow up in being molded and folded from a young age and exploited. This gal is essentially a 20 something gal with a 11 yo mentality due to her parents. Of course she is going to act like a retard, do drugs and have kids with no regard to responsibility. She was/is a money making machine for all she knew and look at her now...dating papparazzi because she has no real friends and who will only exploit her more.
All and all though...all I can say is boo f#@kin hoo!
Just when you think you had it bad...someone else has had it much worse. I think the poor gal who was gang raped in Iran and then publicly whipped and killed for not being chaste enough would say the same thing to all of the above...BOO F#@KIN HOO!!
Have a nice day...Cheers, TB.

[chilehunter]

TB - I know you're more into the blues music but nirvana has several great songs.

[AlabamaJack]

Thread got a little off track didn't it?

[DevilDuck]

TB - I know you're more into the blues music but nirvana has several great songs.

Can't think of one, myself.... :P

That being said, the "Entertainment News" shows of today act like they are better than the common paparazzi and try to show the "human" side of clebs...or so they claim. Where do you think they get most of their footage form?

Anyway, being a musician for 30+ years, I've had my share (a tiny share...) of rabid fans and playing with some big names. You just act nice, and when they get out of hand, just tell them that you have other people to see or gear to move. If they still bother you, find the bouncer. It's easy.

Now, I've never been rich and famous...probably never will be. But regardless of that, your life is what you make it. If you're a celeb, part of your job is being in front of cameras. Deal with it. If you decide to be an ass, and it gets caught on camera, it's your own fault. Don't blame the press. But then again, there seems to be an unquenchable thirst from the global public for celebrity tragedy and misfortune...so it's a catch 22.

Now, Heath Ledger's death is a tragic thing. Anyone who died like that...that's tragic. I'd liken it to if Johnny Lang had died when he was 16. You never would know what kind of potential there would have been...but life goes on.

[GrumpyBear]

i think the shock and awe might come from the fact that there are a lot of celebs a lot higher up on the death watch list (brit brit and amy winehouse leading the pack...) i'm not crying over it but i'm sad b/c a couple of my fave movies starred him (ten things i hate about you might've been fluff but it was pretty darn good fluff, and i almost cried at the end of brokeback when he's got the shirt in the other shirt). at the same time i feel bad when i hear about people dying in iraq but i don't cry about that either, you just feel bad when you hear about people dying in general but you don't cry about it unless you knew them.
money sure doesn't buy happiness but it does buy food and shelter which would make a lot of people in this world happy, but generally not those who've never had to worry about those things. and if you don't want millions of people watching your every move then don't have a job that requires millions of people to stare at you on screen to be successful, they'll want to stare at you in real life. i do have pity on the ones that never really chose it, it doesn't matter if there's a guy in a mouse suit a tv set is not a childhood (but then christina aguilera was right there with brit brit and she didn't go batsh*t crazy, some people can handle it)

[Sickmont]

I dont call him kurt cobain, I just call him "buckshot" :lol:

How about Kurt kaboom? Or a bowl of chili with hair?


Personally i think what Kurt did was extremely selfish and i have no love for people like that. Heath Ledger, however, i feel is quite a loss to Hollywood, if only for his talent and the fact that he didn't just take whatever he could role-wise just for the money. He actually preferred to wait for the good roles when he started in the industry rather than doing stupid teen crap and banking it in. That alone earns my respect for him, even if i'm not a fan of his.

[cheezydemon]

I am a little bothered by people's lack of respect for the opinions of others. Just because you didn't like Nirvana doesn't make them a fad or a crappy band.

They cranked out a bunch of good albums and were permanently in the music scene for 6 years, for those of you with short memories.

I didn't mean to jack the thread, but I didn't bring Kurt up.

Oh yeah, heard of the foo fighters? Dave was in Nirvana and he is still making great music. I consider that living proof that if Nirvana was around they would still be making great music.

I stick to my original point: It is understandable that a lot of people would experience a real sense of loss over someone like Heath or Kurt.

Breed
Heart shaped box
Come as you are
In bloom
Lithium
Polly
Rape Me
Something in the way

Just to name a few......

[chilehunter]

cheezy - we respect your opinion but you gotta also respect our opinion about Buckshot :lol: hey I like nirvana too but kurt is a loser plain & simple for killing himself with a child to be a father to.


" They cranked out a bunch of good albums " I beg to differ, they only made 3 albums! the rest were live albums or greatest hits/demo albums & those really dont count as "albums" in my book, those are just to make "extra money albums" ;)

to say nirvana would still be around making albums if he didnt blow his brains out is anyones guess. not all bands keep the original members or the band just breaks up because of fighting between band members.

I didnt feel the loss of buckshot when it happened, I was like, I guess no more nirvana records :lol:

[gardenkiller]

I beg to differ, they only made 3 albums! the rest were live albums or greatest hits/demo albums & those really dont count as "albums" in my book, those are just to make "extra money albums" ;)


Not that I am the sharpest knife in the drawer, but:

Bleach
Nevermind
Incesticide
In Utero

I believe that equals 4 albums of original content.
Not to mention 4 high selling albums in 6 years by any band is impressive. I think the measure of any band (like them or not) is their impact on history. Nirvana definately made thier mark.

[texas blues]

I was going to leave this alone but....
Kurt played the same solo on two different songs on "Nevermind" and noone said diddly. Somehow songs like "Rape Me" don't inspire me as do lyrics such as " I wish I could eat your cancer" brilliant if you are in high school and going for pure shock value...but then others have only done it better. I will say it again...Kurt Cobain was a huge success because of marketing...and that is ALL. The guy had only been playing guitar for about 5 years when they were "discovered" by an A&R guy looking for the grunge/Seattle sound and then the moguls took over. They did a great job of making a soso band a super group, and we bought it. I bought the album because of the cool video. Then I listened to the album. It sounded like a guy who had been playing guitar for 5 years. If you like KC..it's all cool and the gang with me. I just look at him and Nirvana from a different perspective.

As far as Dave Grohl...he plays drums, guitars, produces...a very smart MUSICIAN and the Foo Fighters have been around much longer than Nirvana was.

Thats my opinion and it's cool and the gang if you disagree..how boring if we didn't! That's what makes us all individuals and human.
Cheers, TB.

[chilehunter]

TB - I agree on the disagreeing part, you just gotta have it, its life! plus this forum can be really boring sometimes people here are too affraid to offend someone. people are too PC nowadays plus its ok to disagree with others.

do you find it funny this "lounge" section is meant for "any topic" & labeled "it can get hot in here" but yet certain topics are never brought up or told you cant bring those topics up or get deleted.


gardenkiller - sorry I forgot one, but then again did I really forget 1 "album" ? to tell you the truth I never even remembered "Incesticide
" maybe theres a reason why ;)
heres a quote from somewhere
"Nirvana was unable to record a follow-up to "Nevermind" until the spring of 1993. In the meantime, DGC released the odds-and-ends compilation "Incesticide" late in 1992............. Nirvana recorded their third album "In Utero" in two weeks during the spring of 1993......"

so I guess its not truely a "album" then. it also went on to say nirvana had a hard time selling shows for the "in utero" album. like I said I like nirvana but they were not a so called "great" band

[cheezydemon]

Lets keep perspective(and it looks like you all have) I am not upset either.

My point was merely:"It is understandable that people would feel a real sense of loss over a celebrity or artist who meant something to them."

No they aren't more deserving than someone who wasn't famous, and yes suicide hurts those around you so much.

Just remember that good people commit suicide. Some people have chemical imbalances and percetions of reality that are distorted.

However improbable you believe it, someone who kills themself must believe that family, friends, unborn sons, whomever, would be better off IF THEY WERE DEAD. How painful it must be to feel that way.

And yes, if I was married to Courtney Love I would definitely kill myself.

[Sickmont]

And yes, if I was married to Courtney Love I would definitely kill myself.

Hear, Hear! I would too, but mostly for being stupid enough to wind up married to a bag of sh*t like her.

[cheezydemon]

lol nice avatar sickmont.

I couldn't help puting the line about courtney, but don't miss the rest of the post because of it.

Maybe I think Blues are just the same damn chords repeated over and over!
(lol I don't but the argument could be made)

I will stress, your favorite band is someone else's worst piece of crap. The band you think is untalented is someone else's savior.

EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION! And I know as a musician myself, it is easy to be hyper critical,but it doesn't matter how long someone has been playing. You could learn most of Bob Dylan's songs in an afternoon, do you want to tell me he was a hack?(of course playing the harmonica at the same time adds a degree or two of difficulty)

[Sickmont]

lol nice avatar sickmont.

I couldn't help puting the line about courtney, but don't miss the rest of the post because of it.

Maybe I think Blues are just the same damn chords repeated over and over!
(lol I don't but the argument could be made)

I will stress, your favorite band is someone else's worst piece of crap. The band you think is untalented is someone else's savior.

EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION! And I know as a musician myself, it is easy to be hyper critical,but it doesn't matter how long someone has been playing. You could learn most of Bob Dylan's songs in an afternoon, do you want to tell me he was a hack?(of course playing the harmonica at the same time adds a degree or two of difficulty)


Ya, i understand completely. You dig what you dig, and i dig what i dig. You dig? Tis no biggie at all. I'm in total agreeance.

[cheezydemon]

Right on Brother!