Talk:Gil Scott-Heron

The Bottle

Actually, "The Bottle" was produced by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson and was originally released in 1974 on an the album, "Winter in America". The 1978 version was a live version of the tune which was released on the album, "It's Your World", and was also produced by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson.

Homophobia

Scott-Heron spoke out against homophobia within the black community, but I can't see of a way to classify him. If he's not a gay-lesbian rights activist, is there a way that he might get credit for this? I saw this myself; D.C. is a very happening place for the gay community, and has been so since the early 1970s that I know of, personally, possibly earlier, but in the African-American community it was still a sore point with a lot of people. I think Gil should somehow get credit for bringing it up in concerts. Is there a way? --leahtwosaints (talk) 18:21, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Why the need to classify him? You could work on a presentation of him as a spokesman for a segment of his audience, or society, that needed expression...a voice in the forefront of awareness of a lifestyle that was, at the time, just getting its voice...a harbinger of what was to come...a diplomat, a conversationalist, a door-opener, a foreshadower, a mischief maker...etc. Get the idea?--Buster7 (talk) 02:27, 31 January 2009 (UTC)

His The subject was faggots is certainly not a pro-gay piece. I never heard of Scott-Heron in any way distancing himself from this clearly homophobic work. I would be happy to see a verifiable citation that he stood with the LGBT community. Pjefts (talk) 15:21, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Well it's certainly not pro-dragon, but that's not uncommon for gender-conformant male homosexuals. Read (what purported to be) the lyrics after a quick google, and don't see them as necessarily expressing homophobia, as opposed to the dislike many masculine homosexuals have for effeminate ones. Homophobia as such would be inconsistent with GSH's overall political orientation and the lyrics as I read them were consistent both with his work overall and that orientation. Are you reacting to the use of faggot by an artist who pioneered the use of nigger in his works? Did you actually read the lyrics? 72.228.177.92 (talk) 14:27, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

I wouldn't have posted this if I wasn't familiar both with the lyrics and the performance on the 1970 album. The lyrics such as they are reproduced on the 'net do seem tame. Scott-Heron's performance of them is what I perceive today and did in the hub-dub of gay lib in 1970 as "nasty". If one of the previous posters could show me to a source that Scott-Heron spoke out for the LGBTQ community I would be very pleased. Eldridge Cleaver had a progressive political orientation and was more than just mildly anti-gay. Pjefts (talk) 18:24, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

Dunno about the overall matter of fact, just responded to the specific work cited. As far as Cleaver is concerned, doesn't seem a valid comparison. SFAIK, GSH never betrayed his original political orientation. Also "doesn't actively support LGBT rights" ≠ "homophobic". I don't support PETA but that doesn't mean I advocate inhumane treatment of animals. If you think that the equation is valid and especially if you are a white bourgeois, I can see how you might interpret the lack of such support, and the playing to various black cultural sensibilities that way. 72.228.177.92 (talk) 19:57, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

Since this page is intended for the discussion of the article and not for a general discussion, I will not try and answer you. I have no verifiable citation as to GSH being homophobic merely my own observations. If you have some verifiable sources to prove otherwise please cite them. WP:NICE Pjefts (talk) 00:52, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Reports of death

Please don't add any reports of death that do not have a reliable source attached. Cheers. 122.57.57.108 (talk) 01:26, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

NPR is now [| running the story. ] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.92.149.24 (talk) 01:45, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Someone should add some details of his struggles over the past few years - namely being almost homeless, in jail, being HIV positive and his struggle with cocaine addiction. His struggles were very real and were evident on his appearance later in life. He is a talented artist, but his struggles are well documented. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.8.24.67 (talk) 06:19, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

Picture

Could someone find a better picture of him for the infobox? The one there now makes him look like a muppet. ... discospinster _talk 04:27, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

The pieces of a man cover was the one that I thought of before seeing this thread: http://www.spinningwax.com/gil/pieces.jpg . Should be possible to get a fair use copy. Lycurgus (talk) 05:30, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Already in so changing. Lycurgus (talk) 05:40, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Surely, that cover was dated 1971, not c. 1971? So unless why want the caption to read "Heron, on the cover of Pieces of a Man, c. 1971, we leave out the c? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 08:34, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

No clue what you are talking about. When I placed it I put c. 1980. At least that horrible pic the creep placed has been whisked away. Lycurgus (talk) 18:12, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

I am talking about the 1971 album cover. Who was the creep? Whar was horrible and why? The current picture is fine, if a little "subdued"? Martinevans123 (talk) 18:16, 28 May 2011 (UTC)

Pieces of a man is '71 had it confused with Gil Scott Heron / Brian Jackson which is '80. 72.228.177.92 (talk) 18:48, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

Doesn't really matter now we have the 2010 Flickr picture, although the previous potrait photo, from the 1971 album cover, looked fine to me and in some ways seemed more vibrant and perhaps "typical" of GSH's early success. Martinevans123 (talk) 18:57, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

I agree. Gil was a beautiful man. Don't think it is good to use the present photo after years of drug abuse to epitomize him. --74.229.102.208 (talk) 22:12, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Due to our requirements for the use of copyrighted files, we can't use that image. The fact that a free image of him exists means that it would be a violation of policy to use a fair use image. --Guerillero | My Talk 22:20, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

How about using this free image instead? Perhaps it shows Scott-Heron in a more favorable light, not a "muppet"? Also shows him performing, which is what he is most known for. Dan56 (talk) 22:48, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Gil Scott Heron's surviving children

Other surviving children include a son, Rumal Rackley, and two daughters, Nia Kelly Heron and Chegianna Newton.Lrackley (talk) 03:19, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

Source? -- Eraserhead1 <talk> 06:33, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

Named survivors are now sourced. Marrante (talk) 17:18, 2 June 2011 (UTC)