IV (10) page 156

[Robin Landseadel]

On Oct 15, 2009, at 7:47 AM, rich wrote:

> just a guess but I think Pynchon is more a Zappa fan and fwiw, Zappa
> thought the Dead, Airplane and the like were all pretty lousy
> (and admittedly so am I, more a Zappa fan though there are some
> extremely wonderful Dead gigs which for me ranged in years from
> 1969-1974. which when they were on, particularly the improvs...wow the
> only other 'rock' band I can think of with such musician connection
> was the 1972-74 King Crimson who also did great improvisation--there's
> pbly more but those I listen to still)
>
> before all the Dicks Picks, Europe 72 was my fav Dead record
>
> rich

TRP explicitly cites the Bonzo Dog Band and I think that's probably  
closer to the mark than Zappa. The Bonzos offer up George Formby  
styled instrumental moves and similarly antique/arcane songs, and  
their material segues right into Monty Python. There's Viv Stanshall's  
gorgeously exaggerated Britishisms and look at the whole Je ne sais  
quoi of Pynchon's song lyrics—I'd vote for the Joycean "Rhinocratic  
Oaths" over "I'm the Slime."

There is a citation [one as I recall] of Owsley [in one of those  
subjunctive modes, as I recall] in Inherent Vice. I'd say that's a lot  
like the single citation of Einstein in Against the Day.

Odd thought folks—this week marks the 40th anniversary of both "Nick  
Danger, Third Eye" and Monty Python's Flying Circus. Among all the  
anniversaries that relate to Inherent Vice I'd say those two are as  
important as any other.