Lulu Tuxen, Henrik Tuxen, Cecilie Bolgen berlin 2019. Photo: Cecilie Bolgen
by Henrik Tuxen
Hey, hope that all of you who went, had a great time seeing Eddie's European shows this summer. I made it to Berlin, and had a great show, and a pretty unique experience, which kind of tied together, not just my musical, but life in general, at the same time extremely close up and from the distance.
I asked for one, but Stone Gossard gave me to tickets for the show. My daughter Lulu was all fired up to join, so we made it to Berlin, and pretty much bicycled our way through this unique and amazing city, with a history in arts and politics like nothing else.
We made it to the venue by pure natural pedal power. As usual I had no idea of where our seats were, only that we were on the 'Eddie Vedder guest list' (although I'm 95% sure he didn't know we were there – this was a slightly last minute thing). We had great seats on the side of the stage, looking from right, although the people sitting in the first row in front probably wouldn't have traded.
The ultimate villain
Anyway, among the friends of Eddie ( PJ) there's usual some familiar, public faces. Berlin was no exception. Shortly before showtime, a group of five showed up in the seats right in front of us. Although wearing a edved cap, disguising most of his face, I whispered to Lulu, 'that's Woody Harrelson in front of you'. Always thought he was a badass actor, especially playing various versions of the evil villain superbly. I suspected there was a connection. When I – also with Lulu – saw the depressing, but great movie, Out of the Furnace, Woody Harrelson (no surprise) starred as the ultimate bad guy. During the intro you hear the sound of Release, and the PJ classic is playing from start to finish during the end liner notes, and served as the soundtrack for the trailer of the movie. Often a sign of a connection to the band, as Ed's and the guys coop and friendship with people like Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins (had dinner with him and Stone once, funniest guy I met).
Harrelson’s wife Laura Louie was next to him, a co-founder of the organic food delivery service Yoganics. On his right was a woman I suspected to be Joni Mitchell, but that was not the case. But this story is really about the woman sitting next to Laura Louie, meaning precisely in front of me.
Once a Beatlemaniac ...
I've never been as personally close to any band as Pearl Jam. But Pearl Jam put out their first record, when I was way up in my twenties. There's always been music in my life, and no one stronger than the The Beatles, which goes back to my very first memories in life. I took 'The magical mystery tour' when I visited Liverpool (interviewing Rod Stewart) a couple of years ago, and saw every childhood home of the fab four, Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, Cavern Club and more. Although I've never met any of the three survivors, John, Paul, George and Ringo somehow feels as close and familiar as family members. They've been there always, and their songs, words and actions have played a major role in shaping my own (as well as countless other peoples) life, identity beliefs and passions.
The great Beatle and unique drummer Ringo; John and Paul, don't even get me started, and then the mysterious George Harrison, who went from apparent quiet sidekick, to a unique song writer, who'd embrace the mystery of Indian spirituality and meditation. A man who truly became a transformative figure, not just in music, but in western as well as oriental culture, in connection and merging, not polarising, these apparent opposites. I saw Martin Scorceses marathon documentary Living in the Material World, about George, in the cinema when it was released about seven years ago, and again a couple of years back. Both part 1 and 2. Mind blowing
I played George's songs on guitar all my life, and my ex-girlfriend later told me, that what originally turned her on, was hearing me play Here comes the sun.
Although I've had the opportunity to meet the main majority of my musical heroes as a writer over the years, this has not included the Beatles.
Hope – Olivia
Back to the show Eddie starts talking about naming his first daughter. He and his wife wanted her to have a name with hope, not at least due to being born in the USA heavily engaged in Afghanistan, Gulf War, and warfare in general. They settled for the name Oliva, stemming from 'Olive - the symbol of peace'. I did a long solo interview with Eddie back then when she was an infant and remember him talking a lot about these issues. Also saw her backstage with her dad in New York 2013, but that's a different story.
Anyway back in Berlin late June, Eddie continued saying that the couple's first born, was in fact named after George' widow Olivia Harrison. A truly remarkable woman, in film, music industry, and as innovative philanthropy, for instance supporting orphans left abandoned in Romania after the fall of Communism. In 1999 she overpowered, a knife-wielding intruder who had repeatedly stabbed George, leaving him with 40 wounds. Her actions were recognized as having saved her husband's life. I've always known of, and been extremely impressed by this remarkable and brave woman, but forgot what she looked like.
Eddie continued from stage, saying that neither himself, nor wife Jill, knew the woman they named their daughter after, at her time of birth. But five years later they met her, and ever since she's been a close friend. 'And in fact she's here tonight' Eddie said, adding ' we love you Olivia' and more. At the same time the woman in the seat in front of me starts reacting, waving her hands in the 'omg' style, hugged by Laura Louie, and with Woody Harrelson, passionately grabbing her arm, and giving her this super characteristic fox-like recognising smile.
Here comes the sun
Seconds later Ed grabs his ukule, introduce the song, and starts playing Here Comes the Sun, backed by a string quartet Red Limo string quartet (he later also played Isn't it a pity) Needles to say who the woman in front of me was.
Lulu Tuxen and Eddie Vedder Berlin 2013. Photo Henrik Tuxen.
There I was, hearing my main man an inspiration as an adult, Eddie Vedder, whom I'm privileged to call my friend, playing one of my all time favorite songs, by a band and a man, who's been with me all my life, centimeters away from, not just his widow - but his true soulmate and partner who literally saved his life - who also had inspired Eddie and Jill Vedder to name their first daughter. Like The Beatles, George and Olivia, as a symbol of peace. And this night, seated next to my own daughter, who's life and upbringing has been packed with PJ, Ed, The Beatles and George, since her first breath.
Lulu was in shock when realising that Olivia Harrison is in fact 71 years old, believing her to be in her forties. I had plenty of opportunities to say hello, pay my respect to the woman in front of me, especially at the end of the show, but believed this one was best kept in silence in the spirit of George and Olivia – the symbol of peace, just letting thoughts, memories and emotions freely flow. In the spirit of George embracing 'All things must pass'.
See you in the fall
Have an amazing summer everyone. I'm roadtripping to my mom's home country Norway with girlfriend, seeing family members and spectacular nature. Hope to see some of you in the fall for instance at.....
21st of August, Borderline, London, where I'll join the great Pearl Jamm for book signing and talk
8th of October – Led Zeppelin talk, Korsør Library, London
9th of October – U2 talk, Ragnarock (Denmark Museum of Rock) Roskilde, dk
21st of November – Led Zeppelin talk, Svendborg Bibliotek, Denmark
And then – fingers crossed – November book release 'Kurt Cobain – Punk Rock is Freedom' (TBC)
… and check out my new personal website: https://www.henriktuxen.com/.
– Tuxen