Tuesday, April 25, 2006

 

This Day in Ancient History

On this day in 1451 BC, Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down (See Joshua 6). I'm reminded of something connected to the Denver Metro Area--Dean Reed, the Red Elvis. I saw him in 1985 when he returned from East Germany to a showing of a documentary about him American Rebel and he sang Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho and it was the worst, most embarrassing, self-parodying performance I had ever seen (even worse than Shatner rapping Rocket Man). How, I thought, was this guy a star in the non-English speaking world? Tom Hanks is rumored to be making a film of the life of Reed. I have a working title--American Loser. He committed suicide in June, 1986. Funny how a word or two can cause a cascade of memories.

Comments:
R,

It was suicide? I remember he drowned in a lake. His German friends said suicide. His American family said murder. As for why he was revered by the East Germans, remeber that the French gave Jerry Lewis the Legion of Honor.
 
Could have been murder but the official verdict was suicide. And the Krauts in general like David Hasselhof's singing. Go figure.
 
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