Remembering David Lynch
'Blue skies and golden sunshine, all along the way'
Over the last 48 hours or so - like many people, I’m sure - I have spent a fair amount of time poring over a range of articles, videos, interviews and social media posts reflecting on and reacting to the sad news of the passing of David Lynch.
It’s hard to sum up the legacy of a someone who has had such an indelible mark on some of the artistic and creative disciplines which mean so much to me; namely music, film and TV, with his influence stretching far beyond simply his work and creations which he has left us with, towards a sense of bonding with a person unafraid to go his own way.
Many of you will know about, and perhaps have seen, a performance of my show Simeon Walker And Friends Play The Music Of Twin Peaks - an interpretation of the music taken from across the most brilliant TV series’ and prequel film. Cult classics exist for a reason, and there is no doubting the influence which Twin Peaks has had on so many of us in the - barely believable - 35 years since the pilot episode was first aired.
Whilst Twin Peaks remains his most well-known body of work, his films ‘Blue Velvet’, ‘Mulholland Drive’ and ‘Eraserhead’ occupy a similar space in the world of cult classics, occupying a unique space within the worlds of surrealism and experimentalism, via noirish throwbacks and nostalgic 1950’s Americana references.
At times like this, much is often said; many words written; and eulogies, tributes and obit-pieces filling the online space, and so they should. When it comes to auteurship, there aren’t many people who are justifiably ennobled with an ‘-ian’ suffix to their name to depict what is universally known and accepted to be a stylistically determined approach to authorship.
What is sure, though, is that there is very much a Lynchian style and approach, which will continue to delight and inspire others for decades to come.
The actress and director Alice Lowe reflects on his influence on so many people:
“Many remember the first time they encountered Lynch’s indelible images, heard his sound and music for the first time. To me, he’s just always been there. And that’s when a cultural loss feels hard: when you’ve not met someone, but their work feels personal to you, part of your psyche.”
He was undoubtedly someone with a real sense of quirkiness and fun, and I think it is these qualities and characteristics, which come through in his work, even when they take significantly dark and sinister turns, which has drawn people to him, his work, and his somewhat unqiue takes on life, creativity, and the world around us.
Later in life, he has delighted fans with his typically idiosyncratic daily Weather Reports and Number Lottery videos on YouTube, whilst his contribution to the ice bucket challenge, in which he nominates Vladimir Putin, is a perfect introduction to his droll, yet somehow deeply sincere personality.
His collaboration with the late, great composer Angelo Badalamenti on the Twin Peaks soundtrack is unquestionably one of the things that has cemented the overwhelming love for the show. It is highly distinctive, and truly succeeds in creating the requisite mood for his audience to feel like they are entering the world of Twin Peaks.
One of my all-time favourite videos is of Badalamenti describing a writing session with Lynch, during which the iconic ‘Laura Palmer’s Theme’ was created and composed. It highlights just how into the music Lynch was, and appreciative of its power to take the audience deeper and further into the world he was trying to create.
It’s well-worth a few minutes of your time:
Lynch’s ability to dream whilst being able to bring people with him, was a unique gift. He saw things, heard things, imagined things, dreamt things which allowed us to enter other worlds, whilst helping to make sense of and appreciate the world around us too.
Alice Lowe continues:
‘I’m going try to find something in the wreckage of this loss: a promise to be creative, to trust in art, in humanity, that there is a collectivity to our experience, and it’s worth sharing it.’
I can get behind that.
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What’s your favourite Lynchian piece of work?
What will you be watching or listening to this weekend in tribute?