Health Acces RI

filed under History | Music

Liberties my ass…

3:42PM ON 06/29/2008
BY Beth Comery

Upper Crust (jay_elliott) … let them eat ROCK! Okay, let me get this straight, Ted Widmer, noted historian and director of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University, was once guitarist Lord Rockingham of the Boston band The Upper Crust? Am I the only one who did not know this? The band is still fopping and rocking, but after the recording of “The Decline and Fall of the Upper Crust” Mr. Widmer left to become a speechwriter for President Clinton. (In all honesty I’m not altogether sure if he is even in the above photo, but does it really matter?)

He may be known to some locals as the trouble-making Martin Van Buren buff biographer who shook up the Atheneum lecture series; or to Slate readers for his Moby diss (thank.. you.. Ted). Today the ProJo ran a profile and a generally favorable review of his new book ‘Ark of the Liberties: America and the World’. I met him once and liked him right away, but now I really really like him.

Let Them Eat Rock is the 2004 Upper Crust documentary featuring Mr. Widmer, as well as the title of their 1995 album.

(photo:Jay Elliot)

7 Comments on “ Liberties my ass… ”

  1. Holy crap I saw these guys at the met in like 1997. I still listen to the album. They certainly are the creme of the crust, I just thought I was the only one who knew it. can’t wait for the movie.

    Reply

  2. not in that photo, but an awesome guy and an awesome band. i was just thinking today as one of their songs came up on my ipod shuffle how much i’d like to see them return to providence. not likely though….

    Reply

  3. [...] listed among Hot Leg’s influences on their  myspace page is none other than the Upper Crust. We are all connected. Sphere: Related [...]

  4. [...] the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University, and former member of the Upper Crust (discussed earlier in this space).  If Mr. Widmer had some hope of keeping his secret life hidden from his fellow academics and the [...]

  5. [...] local connection… listed among Hot Leg’s influences on their  myspace page is none other than the Upper Crust. We are all [...]

  6. [...] of the Upper Crust! (I doubt he still gets all dandified and bewigged due to his present, more elevated station in life. . . a  step down if you ask me. FYI, the UC are in town Friday, more later.) And of course there [...]

  7. [...] you get the idea. (They have an old friend in this city.) Their recent appearance playing ‘We’re Finished with Finishing [...]

Write a Comment

ARCHIVES:

CATEGORIES:

Add to Technorati Favorites

What Cheer! Antiques

side blog «contribute now!»

» Loved and Missed

A post from the Candlelight Vigil for Dave St. Germain…
http://kmareka.com/2010/07/29/loved-and-missed/
Share…

» Candlelight Vigil for Dave “Doc” St. Germain Wednesday 8pm

(Photo by Matthew Smucker)
This Wednesday at 8 PM, a candlelight vigil…

» RIP Dave “DOC” St. Germain

As Pat Crowley blogged about it over on RIFuture, we have lost…

» Chris Young Hauled Out Again

This time from a candidate’s debate because he wouldn’t put down his…

» RIPTA on the Chopping Block

Where’s the stimulus for public transportation? Just when we need it the…

» RI VeloSprints

Yes!
RI VeloSprints will be at each of the remaining six free…

» West Side Block Party Tomorrow

Come on down.
block_party8×11final
Share

» Ruth Dealy at Imago Gallery

Ruth Dealy is one of Providence’s most fearless and uncompromising artists. You…

VIEW ALL SIDE-BLOG POSTS

RECENT COMMENTS

7:27PM 07/29/2010
Duff Morton said:

Reed is a gem for Rhode Island. When I was a case manager, he saved a client of mine from...

about Yes, Keep Reed Cosper

1:39PM 07/29/2010
wess said:

In all of human history, only despots have been "free to marry whoever they want." Everyone else has had to...

about Drinking Liberally Hosts MERI

12:29PM 07/29/2010
Rob said:

Everybody in Rhode Island is free to marry whoever they want. However, marriage is the union of one man...

about Drinking Liberally Hosts MERI

12:27PM 07/29/2010
Rob said:

The Church has repeatedly admitted the mistakes it has made in these scandals. However, it is being brought up...

about Political Rhetoric Reaches New Highs (Lows?) In RI

10:28AM 07/29/2010
Frymaster said:

I know that Mangeek is also running. Not sure if he got the signatures or not. John S. has really...

about Pawtucket Just Got Lucky — Vote For Sawyer

6:34PM 07/28/2010
Karen Malcolm said:

Doc was a loving, generous, thoughtful and gentle man...he will be missed so very much by so very many. ...

about RIP Dave “DOC” St. Germain

2:56AM 07/28/2010
wess said:

I suppose you've got some sources to document your claims? Wait -- you never have before, why start now? Forget...

about Political Rhetoric Reaches New Highs (Lows?) In RI

3:07PM 07/27/2010
Sam Saylor said:

Dave was a great man, he met with some difficult times and an evn more difficult society intolerant of a...

about RIP Dave “DOC” St. Germain