Moog

I just watched the movie MOOG - a documentary about Dr Robert Moog. Most of it was filmed in 2003/2004, and it's made bittersweet by the fact that Bob was back on top in that era, having released a very excellent update to the minimoog called the "Voyager" that was selling well and getting him many kudos... and there was a big concert in his honor... and then he died quickly last year (2005) of a brain tumor (which happened after the film was released, so it's not addressed).

Moog was a big earth daddy nerd - never fewer than 4 pens in his shirt pocket, and very into his geeky details, but a very gentle, amiable guy. There are scenes where he just looks confused, like when DJ Shadow is telling him about how sampling is just another sort of modular synthesis, and when Rick Wakeman and Bernie Worrell are comparing playing a minimoog to romancing a woman....

But my favorite parts were when he was explaining his inventions - because while he loved the music people made with his synths, HIS love was in making the instruments, and knowing that once they left him, they'd be used to make people happy. He explained that every one of his designs is his artwork, and when you play his instrument, it's like he's there helping you. It made me knuckle away a tear, and really really really want to get one of his machines in here just to noodle with.

Not a fantastic movie (there are some sort of painful "music jam" moments that are perhaps lingered on too long) but a fantastic guy and worth viewing for that!