Silver Jew Calls It Quits, Exposes Dad
After twenty years and a half dozen albums (including last year's excellent Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea) David Berman is apparently hanging up the Silver Jews moniker to focus on other projects. In a post on the SJ forum tonight titled "Silver Jews End-Lead Singer Bids His Well-Wishers Adieu" he announced: "I guess I am moving over to another category. Screenwriting or Muckraking. I've got to move on. Can't be like all the careerists doncha know." Even more surprising is the follow-up missive that begins, "Now that the Joos are over I can tell you my gravest secret. Worse than suicide, worse than crack addiction." That one's called "My Father, My Attack Dog." Here's the text of both.
Silver Jews End-Lead Singer Bids his Well-Wishers Adieu
Hello, my friend.Cassie and I went to the cave and it looks great. 58 degrees but the humidity makes it feel like 72.
I'm just going to play fifteen songs. My fifteen favorite ones.
A dollar per song. Plus Arnett Hollow. I don't
want to keep you underground for too long. Fall Creek Falls State Park State Lodge is great by the way.
Yes I cancelled the South American shows. I'll have to see the ABC Countries another way.
I guess I am moving over to another category. Screenwriting or Muckraking.
I've got to move on. Can't be like all the careerists doncha know.
I'm forty two and I know what to do.
I'm a writer, see?
Cassie is taking it the hardest. She's a fan and a player but she sees how happy i am with the decision.
I always said we would stop before we got bad. If I continue to record I might accidentally write the answer song to Shiny Happy People.
What, you thought I was going to hang on to the bitter end like Marybeth Hamilton?
love david
This was posted a few hours later:
My Father, My Attack Dog
Now that the Joos are over I can tell you my gravest secret. Worse than suicide, worse than crack addiction:My father.
You might be surprised to know he is famous, for terrible reasons.
My father is a despicable man. My father is a sort of human molestor.
An exploiter. A scoundrel. A world historical motherfucking son of a bitch. (sorry grandma)
You can read about him here.
My life is so wierd. It's allegorical to the nth. My father went to college at Transylvania University.
You see what I'm saying.
A couple of years ago I demanded he stop his work. Close down his company or I would sever our relationship.
He refused. He has just gotten worse. More evil. More powerful. We've been "estranged" for over three years.
Even as a child I disliked him. We were opposites. I wanted to read. He wanted to play games.
He is a union buster.
When I got out of college I joined the Teamsters (the guards were union organized at the Whitney).
I went off to hide in art and academia.
I fled through this art portal for twenty years. In the mean time my Dad started a very very bad
company called Berman and Company.
He props up fast food/soda/factory farming/childhood obesity and diabetes/drunk driving/secondhand smoke.
He attacks animal lovers, ecologists, civil action attorneys, scientists, dieticians, doctors, teachers.
His clients include everyone from the makers of Agent Orange to the Tanning Salon Owners of America.
He helped ensure the minimum wage did not move a penny from 1997-2007!
The worst part for me as a writer is what he does with the english language.
Though vicious he is a doltish thinker
and his spurious editorials rely on doublethink and always with the Lashon Hara.
As I studied Judaism over the years, the shame and the shanda,
grew almost too much. my heart was constantly on fire for justice. I could find no relief.
This winter I decided that the SJs were too small of a force to ever come close to
undoing a millionth of all the harm he has caused. To you and everyone you know.
Literally, if you eat food or have a job, he is reaching you.
I've always hid this terrible shame from you, the fan. The SJs have always stood autonomous and clear.
Hopefully it won't contaminate your feelings about the work.
My life has been riddled with Ibsenism. In a way I am the son of a demon come to make good the damage.
Previously I thought, through songs and poems and drawings I could find and build a refuge away from his world.
But there is the matter of Justice.
And i'll tell you it's not just a metaphor. The desire for it actually burns.
It hurts.
There needs to be something more. I'll see what that might be.
DCB
if you want to know what evil Herr Attackdog is currently up to look here:http://www.alternet.org/workplace/120426/ad_wars:_'dr._evil'_vs._unions_over_employee_free_choice_act/)
Not sure why he couldn't reveal it until now, but it's quite a read. Thanks Jolie for the tip.
Posted at 11:31 PM by Scott
Tags: Silver Jews
whoa. i've seen his dad on 60 minutes. he is a complete scumbag. lobbies for tobacco companies. i can see why he'd keep it a secret.
Score = -1
Are they going to finish out their dates?
Score = -2
Sad, sad day. I danced with my wife to "Tennesee" for our first dance at our wedding. At least we saw them play a great show at bowery last fall.
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Silver Jews will be missed. I wish David Berman luck and happiness with his life whatever he chooses to do in the future.
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Not only is it sad to see them come to an end, but it's also sad to read his confessional of sorts.
I just want to give him a hug and tell him nothing is his fault.
David Berman, you are a rad dude.
Score = 11
I'm gonna go ahead and say that David Berman is probably...drumroll please...
...fucking with us.
But that's just a guess.
Score = -11
I wonder if he's going to go hang out with Ryan Adams??
(In all seriousness, I feel bad for the guy. I can't say I listened to him much but it sucks that he thinks his dad being a dick would've effected people's perceptions of his work, or that his fans will now dislike him for it.)
Score = 4
this is sad news, and at the risk of being selfish, i have to say that i wish it didn't have to be so. but, at the same time, when your hero says he's riding off into the sunset (at least from a music-world standpoint), all you do is tip your hat.
i wish him luck in all his future endeavors. but, a writer as wildly talented as berman would hardly need such a concept as foolhardy as "luck."
Score = 5
I would think, and maybe I'm wrong, that the fans of the Silver Jews are smart enough to seperate him from whatever his father has done. I can understand why he would keep it secret, but at the same time, would anyone really find that information to hold them back from enjoying his music?
Score = 3
Not sure I understand the correlation of his father being a d-bag and him quitting the Silver Jews. It sucks regardless, but I wish him the best.
Score = 4
Well, if this is true, I hope he is one day able to patch things up with his dad.
Score = 2
he's a genius
Score = 0
Even to the tenth generation, David Berman.
Score = 0
From what I've read about Richard Berman, he seems like a patriot-- someone who is alright with being the villain; fighting the fight that needs to be fought. Minimum Wage increases have consistently harmed those they attempt to save, putting millions out of work over the years.
Richard is Gotham's Dark Knight-- David their sage. Yes, I also love The Silver Jews music-- it's a shame these two powerful forces can't fight together for truth. Two pieces of the same puzzle-- liberty and passion. I hope and pray they find peace.
Score = -45
booooo.
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I love you to the MAX!
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I kinda get the feeling that if his Dad were an actual "molester of humans" instead of sorta being a "molester of humans," he'd be OK with it. Not saying his dad's a saint or a good person, but there's probably millions of worse people in the world.
Score = -4
I think its really sad that he would do that to his father in such a public way. The hurt that he must be causing him today is really reprehensible. Say what you want about Mr. Berman's politics, but he is a man, a father, with feelings.
At 42 years old, I wish David would find a more appropriate way to deal with his familial problems. That post sounds like the words of a petulant child.
David's clearly brilliant and I love his music but he should consider looking in the mirror before he casts such vile aspersions against his father in such a public forum.
Score = -12
I can't tell if the fact that they are disbanded makes american water more or less great (or doesn't make a difference at all). its like the last shards of pavement are finally gone though.
Score = 0
Maybe he'll take some singing lessons.
Score = -12
Not much point in trying to defent that father. I would be devastated if he had been my kin.
Score = 1
His father sounds like a advocate for libertarian ideals- i.e. preventing government infringement on individual rights from groups who think they know what's better for you than you do. Smoking is a bad life choice, therefore it's banned, fatty foods are unhealthy, and instead of letting you manage your health, we're going to make sure you have no choice, the drinking age must be 21 because we say so, etc. etc.
Some of these things are arguably bad, but doesn't freedom include the ability to choose negatively for oneself?
David Berman is coming off just a little bit fascist...
Score = -10
Hmmmmmm. At least he didn't kill himself folks. He has every right to be hypersensitive. I think he just wanted to end on a high note. Lets face it...this is a high note for him. Any writer would take this ending if they could. But, I just couldn't help wondering if he wants to let Cassie down easy. She is fantastic. But he is a jew. I'll be waiting for the next Chapter.
Score = 0
i was able to see the silver jews twice and both shows were incredible. even though the silver jews are done i expect great, great things from Berman. also, how people deal with certain situations in their life is not something that should be or even can be judged by any external perspective. things happen and people behave how they feel they should. and that's all. i think Berman is nothing short of a genius and i'm thankful i saw them play live and i was actually able to talk to Berman before their show at Maxwell's.
So, instead of judgments being made I'd like to thank the Silver Jews for some awesome records that I can never tire of.
Score = -1
My dad is a nut. He's a magician!(Mgcman.com or Mgcman@hotmail.com if you wanna see what he does with it now) Gotta at least ' try' & make your own luck a little better.Can't blame anyone for that. My dad wrote me a letter while I was in jail in Texas where I was born for heroin '97 (i was born '80) that ended, "Make your own luck" but despite the merit to that, shit is out of that sort of control sometimes. Fact of the matter is there are consequences. Like doing things in secret the way I believe Jesus sees (I don't believe in the trinity) you know, listening to those Joo's (my granny thinks its a terrible band- - - so did I. . . A good friend would put 'em on after a night of ravin' during the '90s - - -but upon closer inspection- became my favorite band. David & I share alot of the same stuff 'up there' as far as thinkin'. Met him a couple of times. Hitchiked to the pitchfork thing there in Chicago for their 1st biggest show I guess. Thankfully the Jews drummer, that long haired dude (sorry for being short & so frank- my time is on some dude I met's computer that let my girl&Istay on some property while we're here picking white sage near Julian)invited me to the after party where i briefly met a hero of mine for being himself &doin' it! Saw David again late last year on my birthday in SaltLakeCity. I had pics on the ole disposable camera from chicago that I dropped off at a Madison drugstore that I never got.David took off before I could take more in SLC (like he said he would!or maybe he could've scribbled me off a pic. he actually drew!It wasn't like I wanted an autograph!The only signature I want is the one on my check,baby!) but, shit happens. I guess things like pics & basiclly documenting ANYTHING you can is important/ for a multitude of reasons, someone sees at least some of those things. Anyways, There is a place documenting everything, so i ain't worried, or maybe I am. I agree w/ the comment posted about opionions of ole David going about this thing w/ his earthly father a bit- disgraceful (&retardad) by the way mr. David Berman, get a kick out of that book of made up words? one of my favs was 'coinversation:a talk with somebody over a payphone' The fans are few to his band, but I am a loyal one & I do think David oughtta & will make more songs so less force fed.lomlos was alright,can't stop the party barge is right, son. Later players, writers, & the rest of us human beings that do whatever it is they label themselves.Trust in Jesus is my only advice that will truely stand the test of all that rest!bye bye from this kid, ~mdale
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DCB - On the off chance you'll read this - best wishes with the family situation. If you're not too busy in the political sphere, would you please consider publishing another volume of poetry? After several years I still haven't finished _Actual Air_, for fear that there will be nothing left to read when I'm done with it.
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