Rogue Wave's "D Tour"

Evan and Pat. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I had another “hey I know these guys!” moment last night while watching TV. Though, this one more somber than the last. I came across an Independent Lens documentary on PBS last night called D Tour: A rock 'n roll film about life, death and bodily functions. It is the story of Pat Spurgeon, drummer for the great Bay Area band Rogue Wave. Pat was born with one kidney. The original transplant he received 15 years ago began failing just as the band began to reach success. The mostly self-shot documentary follows his grueling wait for a new transplant organ as well as his amazing decision to tour while on dialysis. (Which gives the film its name, “D Tour.” D is for dialysis.)

I photographed Rogue Wave for KEXP in NYC while they were there for the CMJ music festival in 2005. They seemed like really nice guys. Really driven, nice guys. They were obviously a tight group but after seeing this documentary I had no idea to what depth.

This moving film is eye-opening. Stunning. It touches on love, friendship, passion, loyalty, endurance and the incredible pain that comes with heart-wrenching life-and-death medical decisions. It also touches on the very timely topic of the state of healthcare in America. I’ve met so many musicians over the years that have no health insurance. Not out of complacency, but simple financial necessity. And on occasion, one of them gets injured or sick. But I can tell you that every time that happened, the wagons were circled, benefit shows were booked and healthcare simply becomes friendcare. The story of Pat Spurgeon, and his former bandmate and close friend Evan Farrell, is as inspirational as it is heart-wrenching.

And I can think of no better time for people to see this than now. Now that legislators are deciding who lives and who dies based on how much of a premium they can afford.

Phoenix (de la France)

Live in-studio. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Thomas. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

A few weeks ago, while flipping through channels on a Saturday night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the French band Phoenix performing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. I had photographed them back in April of 2005 in New York for KEXP 90.3 FM. Their in-studio was mid-week, way too early and downright, unapologetically incredible. It was about 8am, the band looked hungover and there were about 12 people there. Half of which had never heard of them. The whole front row was empty. But you'd never know by the way lead singer Thomas Mars performed. All out.

Now, four years later, they're on SNL, Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and a slew of other big, national spotlights. Kudos to them. And for their first release from the new album, 1901, they've created one of the most creative, beautiful music videos I've ever seen.

Flashback - John Edwards

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Funny how sometimes, images look different through the prism of time. I photographed the former Senator John Edwards for SEIU back in August 2005. The shot above was always my favorite because of the intensity on Mr. Edwards' face and his piercing blue eyes. In the photo below, there was something so innately populist about the podium in the public square, the attentive crowd, the can-do rolled-up sleeves, the inexpensive, utilitarian wristwatch, and—of course—the gold wedding band. Symbols, all of them.

In retrospect, the recent events with Sen. Edwards sadly reminds me of something Thomas Jefferson once said:

"Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct."


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony