music is revolution

here's a nice two-part int with former mc5 bassist michael davis that i found while researching a story i'm writing on his music is revolution foundation. like an old isley brothers single, it's divided into part I and part II. a genuinely nice cat whom i interviewed wa-a-ay back in '98; he's had an amazing odyssey since then.

the foundation awards $500 "mini-grants" to help public school teachers provide in-class musical experiences for their students. with art 'n' music programs getting axed every time a school district needs to trim the budget, and the average teacher spending a coupla grand out of pocket each yr for classroom materials 'n' supplies, this seems like an idea with some potential.

one of the foundation's "teacher-heroes" is a friend of mine named phil overeem, who teaches high school in columbia, missouri. he's the faculty advisor for hickman high school's "academy of rock," a popular student club that promotes an annual battle of the bands (remember those?) as well as in-school concerts by regional and national touring acts, has actually booked paying gigs for student bands, and operates a radio station whose dj's have taken over the airwaves at a local college station more than once.

still have to talk to a coupla dudes from the foundation's board about the nuts 'n' bolts of fundraising and grant approval (as we follow phil's application through the process like that "how a bill becomes a law" movie that evabody usedta have to watch in school), but it's been pert enlightening so far. nice to learn about ppl who are actually making stuff happen in the important arena of edjumikashun.