IDM Mailing Archive

I don't want to say too much, but we here at All-Music Guide were threatened with a suit for nothing more than stating in her biography that she was born Walter Carlos. And poor Momus *was* sued for writing a song ruminating about a possible romance between Walter & Wendy (I think I've got it right), thus his "Stars Forever" project that earned him some money ($1000 a shot for any fan who wanted a song written about him/her/it) to recover legal fees, etc. I've got nothing wrong with a sex-change or two, but trying to rewrite history seems a bit off to me -- in her recent reissues of "A Clockwork Orange" and "Sonic Seasonings," the covers have been modified from "Walter" to "Wendy Carlos" instead of good ol' Walter... And I still don't know how it's possible to sue someone for stating a fact. It's a shame, because the music is very good -- I've loved the Tron soundtrack since back in the day circa '82... .John.

quoted 3 lines I don't want to say too much, but we here at All-Music Guide were threatened

>I don't want to say too much, but we here at All-Music Guide were threatened >with a suit for nothing more than stating in her biography that she was born >Walter Carlos.

Ok, I thought I was crazy then.. She seems to hate ANY website or publication that merely states that she used to be a man!! Im a huge fan, but I think to expect the world to just forget about her past is, well unreasonable I think. On the other hand Im sure 20 years after a sex change, you want to get through an interview w/o sex change questions, but Grand Royal never even really mentioned it more than a quick sentence (that mentioned Walter's name). Im SURE shed freak if someone posted that 13 page *detailed* Playboy interview she did in '79 where she was more than happy to discuss aspects such as the mere 10 percent loss in sensation the 'new gear' provided her! Still, IM a big enough fan of hers NOT to do something like that, I mean shes very net-savvy, and I think Id feel a 'right arse' if I were added to the 'ouch' list http://www.wendycarlos.com/cruel.html he he.. this is what she thinks of All Music Guide : " book & site (Packed with errors!) " with 2 OUCH points out of 3 !!!!!! I guess sometimes music that beautiful HAS to come from people THAT sensitive!! ernie Ernesto Ikerd, (817) 763-4795 Company Graphics, Dept 17, MZ-1156 Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems Fort Worth, Texas

quoted 2 lines What you have to keep in mind is that in matters of gender you should

>What you have to keep in mind is that in matters of gender you should >accept the person's self-view.

yeah, you are right.

quoted 3 lines If she feels that she was a female in a male

>If she feels that she was a female in a male >body then you accept it and not treat it like a freak show. She is in the >public eye to discuss her music, anything less is the National Enquirer.

OH, I agree, its just odd to have to pretend Walter never existed. ernie Ernesto Ikerd, (817) 763-4795 Company Graphics, Dept 17, MZ-1156 Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems Fort Worth, Texas

What you have to keep in mind is that in matters of gender you should accept the person's self-view. If she feels that she was a female in a male body then you accept it and not treat it like a freak show. She is in the public eye to discuss her music, anything less is the National Enquirer. CT

quoted 31 lines I don't want to say too much, but we here at All-Music Guide were threatened

> >>I don't want to say too much, but we here at All-Music Guide were threatened >>with a suit for nothing more than stating in her biography that she was born >>Walter Carlos. > >Ok, I thought I was crazy then.. She seems to hate ANY website or >publication that merely states that she used to be a man!! Im a huge >fan, but I think to expect the world to just forget about her past is, >well unreasonable I think. > >On the other hand Im sure 20 years after a sex change, you want to get >through an interview w/o sex change questions, but Grand Royal never even >really mentioned it more than a quick sentence (that mentioned Walter's >name). > >Im SURE shed freak if someone posted that 13 page *detailed* Playboy >interview she did in '79 where she was more than happy to discuss aspects >such as the mere 10 percent loss in sensation the 'new gear' provided >her! Still, IM a big enough fan of hers NOT to do something like that, >I mean shes very net-savvy, and I think Id feel a 'right arse' if I were >added to the 'ouch' list > >http://www.wendycarlos.com/cruel.html > > he he.. this is what she thinks of All Music Guide : " book & site >(Packed with errors!) " with 2 OUCH points out of 3 !!!!!! > >I guess sometimes music that beautiful HAS to come from people THAT >sensitive!! > >

I've had a look at http://www.wendycarlos.com/ Astoundingly, the biography and all other parts of the site completely neglect to mention that she used to be (physically, biologically) a man, called Walter. Very odd. And certainly odd that she should assume that everyone else thinks this normal and is happy to rewrite history; and that she believes that it's hurtful, insensitive or sexually questionable to acknowledge the fact. Anyway, whilst she's done some great stuff in her time, I must admit that I'd question whether "Wendy Carlos is one of the most important composers living today." P. -- Peter Hollo raven@fourplay.com.au http://www.fourplay.com.au/me.html FourPlay - Eclectic Electric String Quartet http://www.fourplay.com.au Raven: experimental electronic http://www.fourplay.com.au/sound.html "Of course, dance music can be a music where you lie on your back and your brain cells dance" -Michael Karoli of Can, quoted in Wire mag.

Apologies for not reading further into the idm-list discussion. I think that whilst we should certainly accept the person's self-view on their sexuality, we should not have to re-write history for their benefit. And I do think that if they experience pain ("OUCH!") because of the mention of a past name/"gender" that they had, there's something a little wrong going on... More to the point, threatening legal action due to the most innocent of factual statements in someone's biography is insane. -- Peter Hollo raven@fourplay.com.au http://www.fourplay.com.au/me.html FourPlay - Eclectic Electric String Quartet http://www.fourplay.com.au Raven: experimental electronic http://www.fourplay.com.au/sound.html "Of course, dance music can be a music where you lie on your back and your brain cells dance" -Michael Karoli of Can, quoted in Wire mag.

Indeed I must agree. I love my musicians to be a twight bit eccentric, but Carlos it FUCKING NUTS. .matthewford.

quoted 22 lines From: Peter Hollo <raven@fourplay.com.au>

>From: Peter Hollo <raven@fourplay.com.au> >I've had a look at http://www.wendycarlos.com/ >Astoundingly, the biography and all other parts of the site completely >neglect to mention that she used to be (physically, biologically) a man, >called Walter. >Very odd. And certainly odd that she should assume that everyone else >thinks this normal and is happy to rewrite history; and that she >believes that it's hurtful, insensitive or sexually questionable to >acknowledge the fact. > >Anyway, whilst she's done some great stuff in her time, I must admit >that I'd question whether "Wendy Carlos is one of the most important >composers living today." >P. >-- >Peter Hollo raven@fourplay.com.au http://www.fourplay.com.au/me.html > FourPlay - Eclectic Electric String Quartet > http://www.fourplay.com.au > Raven: experimental electronic > http://www.fourplay.com.au/sound.html >"Of course, dance music can be a music where you lie on your back and >your brain cells dance" -Michael Karoli of Can, quoted in Wire mag.

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Directly related, but possibly off-topic: The song "Walter Carlos" (or was it "Wendy Carlos"?) had to be removed from _The Little Red Songbook_ by Momus, due to her objections (as I understand). This caused the label much financial trouble, and prompted Momus to do _Stars Forever_ to help the plucky little label -- for which 30 people paid $1000 each for him to write a song about them. Perhaps the mere fact that the song mentioned her sex change was enough for her to threaten (or take) legal action. In the song, Momus raised the possibility that Wendy could go back in time and meet Walter -- but that travel to a time before time-travel were invented would be impossible, and therefore they could never meet.... It's an odd tribute to be sure, but I hear nothing slanderous in the lyrics. --Mark __ Burning Rome : SENSELESS CD on Mindfield Records MindCD03 Cathartium 14 < http://www.burningrome.com/ > < download MP3s, hear RealAudio first > On Mon, 6 Sep 1999, Matthew Ford wrote:

quoted 32 lines Indeed I must agree. I love my musicians to be a twight bit eccentric, but

> Indeed I must agree. I love my musicians to be a twight bit eccentric, but > Carlos it FUCKING NUTS. > > .matthewford. > > > >From: Peter Hollo <raven@fourplay.com.au> > >I've had a look at http://www.wendycarlos.com/ > >Astoundingly, the biography and all other parts of the site completely > >neglect to mention that she used to be (physically, biologically) a man, > >called Walter. > >Very odd. And certainly odd that she should assume that everyone else > >thinks this normal and is happy to rewrite history; and that she > >believes that it's hurtful, insensitive or sexually questionable to > >acknowledge the fact. > > > >Anyway, whilst she's done some great stuff in her time, I must admit > >that I'd question whether "Wendy Carlos is one of the most important > >composers living today." > >P. > >-- > >Peter Hollo raven@fourplay.com.au http://www.fourplay.com.au/me.html > > FourPlay - Eclectic Electric String Quartet > > http://www.fourplay.com.au > > Raven: experimental electronic > > http://www.fourplay.com.au/sound.html > >"Of course, dance music can be a music where you lie on your back and > >your brain cells dance" -Michael Karoli of Can, quoted in Wire mag. > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >