As I’m waiting for my sister and brother-in-law to load a canoe onto the car, I ran across this interview with Jesse Kellerman. I actually had a whole section with Jonathan Kellerman, Jesse Kellerman and Warren’s diary entry on this lunch (I asked Jordan about it, but he didn’t respond to my inquiry). Of course, it’s not in the book because the editors cut it out. And so it goes. Anyway, here’s what Jesse wrote to me in an email.
JESSE KELLERMAN
10-11-04
by email
My father introduced me to the music. Warren would send my dad free
CDs which I would then steal.
The primary appeal of Warren’s song-writing was always its
intelligence. I have a somewhat odd sense of humor, and I felt a kind
of kindred spirit with whoever could rhyme “took it to Spokane” and
“naugahyde divan”. It was the kind of writing I wanted to do. It
didn’t give a damn, but it wasn’t anti-intellectual. I think that’s
it, actually. It was nice to hear someone who wasn’t ashamed of being
smart, but who didn’t sound like a pretentious prick. I have several
friends who are enthusiasts of his work, all of whom fit that mold,
more or less: they like to read, they’re reasonably laid-back, they
appreciate high culture and low culture in equal measure.
One time, home from college, I asked my father to arrange a lunch. He
said he’d make a call and next thing I knew what I had pictured as a
mild celebrity-worship session had been transformed into a father-son
bonding experience.
We all met at the King’s Road Cafe. I’d be lying if I told you that I
remember the specifics of the conversation. The impression I retain is
that he was a good dad, a fine and dry wit, and an overwhelming cool.
He radiated cool. Cool because he had accomplished so much, but still
had the presence of mind to have a pleasant lunch. He didn’t seem
particularly attention-seeking for a celebrity, which in LA is no small
feat. Jordan, too, seemed like a very decent guy. They both gave me
the impression that they found life quietly hilarious. I liked that.
Later my father told me, “I think Jordan’s going to pursue a more
conventional career. Warren said that Jordan took him aside at one
point, and ‘broke the news’ that he wasn’t going to be a musician.” I
don’t know if that was true–I guess Jordan could confirm it or
not–but I used that bit of information as the germ for a story that I
wrote about a team of father-son serial bombers experiencing a crisis
when the son wants to go straight, get the white picket fence, etc. It
ended up being the first story I ever published.
Anyhow, there’s that. The only other contact we had was after I
learned he was dying. I wrote him a letter. Which, I think, is the
only fan letter I’ve ever written.
Filed by Crystal at 11:14 pm under Uncategorized
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