To recap: Andy Kaufman changed the worlds of comedy and performance in the 1970s, showing fans and friends alike a determination to follow put-ons into territory no one had ever even considered "comic" before. His fervor was so intense that when he passed away suddenly in 1984, it seemed as if the ultimate disappearing act had been staged; one that some people believe is still ongoing, with the reveal yet to come. This makes him the quintessential entertainer of our generation, a man ahead of his time and ours, and a force that has yet to be matched - even in the mega-saturated media world of the 21st century. Andy and His Grandmother is material never heard before, a skimming from 82 hours of micro-cassette tapes that Andy recorded during 1977-79. Real life was the ultimate frontier for him, and these tapes demonstrate the heart of Andy's comedy: with gusto, he involves those closest to him, as well as total strangers, in put-ons, falsehoods and other provocations, pushing the limit on logic and emotional investment in everyday situations from the trivial to the deeply personal until any suspension of disbelief is out of the question for all involved, and everyone becomes fully immersed in whatever scenario Andy is suggesting as the new reality.
Vernon Chatman (South Park, Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel, The Heart She Holler, and Doggie Fizzle Televizzle, Final Flesh) dug deeply into the tapes, coming up with a concept for a single LP that would include several dozen excerpts. Slowly and carefully the final sequence took shape, and SNL's Bill Hader drafted to provide narration for the journey. The finished album, with liner notes from Vernon and Kaufman cohort Bob Zmuda is a work of comedy for our times - one that was performed over thirty years ago. Finally, July has a date worth celebrating - Andy And His Grandmother comes July 16th!
Artists in this story: Andy Kaufman
source: http://www.dragcity.com/news/732
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