Again, one of the things I love most about the internet--other than wasting time at work, gambling, shopping, travel planning, Bettie Page and naked ladies--is the totally random and accidental way you can find the coolest stuff.
My Screaming Jay Hawkins moment a few days ago led me to stumble onto the existence of a secret society, which, like the Rosicrucians, Freemasons, or the Illuminati, operates in the the gray areas of rumor and conspiracy. Unlike the Rosicrucians or Illuminati, however, these Sons of Lee Marvin had escaped my notice. Until now:
The Sons of Lee Marvin
Jarmusch is the founder of The Sons of Lee Marvin, a humorous 'semi-secret society'. Members of the society reportedly include musician Tom Waits and actor John Lurie, both of whom have worked with Jarmusch on several occasions. Richard Bose, Nick Cave, Iggy Pop (who has also worked with Jarmusch), Thurston Moore, Mickey Rooney and Neil Young are also rumored to be members.
Entry criteria for the club is that the person must have some physical resemblance or plausibly look like a son of the actor Lee Marvin — as such, women are not allowed to join. Most current members also share what seems to be a beat mentality in that they represent and express the lives of the down and out.
The club supposedly meets occasionally to watch Lee Marvin movies together. Its members perpetuate the joke in the media.
The real son of Lee Marvin objected to the existence of the organization when he encountered Waits in a bar.[1]
- "I'm not at liberty to divulge information about the organization, other than to tell you that it does exist. I can identify three other members of the organization: Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Richard Bose. You have to have a facial structure such that you could be related to, or be a son of, Lee Marvin. There are no women, obviously, in the organization. We have communiques and secret meetings. Other than that, I can't talk about it."
- —Jim Jarmusch: Interview: Vol. XIX - No. 11, 1989: pp 146-150.
All I can say is, f*ck that Rat Pack. I wish I was a Son of Lee Marvin.
2 comments:
This might be the coolest thing you have ever found!!!
Why thank you!
I'm thinking of naming my next big dog Lee Marvin. Or possibly Cletus, in which case I'd call him "Clete."
I like the ring of "Lee Marvin", got that southern full-name sound to it, like "John Henry"
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