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want to know more? - why not do a google?
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8) Kid Congo Powers
Proving that being the coolest man in the world can also mean being one of the nicest human beings in the world, Kid is an all time hero of ours who has ended up being a great friend (isn't life strange?). Guitar genius and singer extarordinare, he has played in some of the best bands ever to exist - The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and currently plays (with the mighty Khan) as Kid and Khan and with his own band Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds. He has performed three times at Optimo and is one of very few people with an open invitation to come and play whenever he likes. Come back soon KId!
7) Susan Sarandon
Simply because her and her partner Tim Robbins rock! One of the greatest living Americans.
6) Arthur Russell
Possibly the only musician I would call a personal hero. Arthur's music is my prozac. Arthur was an experimental musician and cello player who fell in love with disco. He made a series of disco records that pushed, twisted and mutated the disco blueprint as far as it would go. At the same time he made two of my all time favourite albums - 'World of Echo' and the posthumous 'Another Thought'. These records, primarily consist of Arthur playing his cello through dub fx and singing his beautiful, beautiful songs. His voice makes me melt and barely a week goes by that i don't listen to these songs. I implore you to hear them - they will enrich your life forever. I discovered Arthur Russell after he died but I miss him like I miss a close friend. For a very eloquent piece and a lot more history on Arthur go here.
5) Boredoms
Three words - VISION CREATION NEWSUN. Beg, borrow or steal a copy of this Boredoms masterpiece now! If you ever have the chance to see them perform live, I implore you not to pass it up. I promise they will enrich your life.
4) Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut - the greatest thing to ever come out of Indianapolis? I'm not even going to attempt to write about how great Mr. Vonnegut is. If you've read his books you will already know. If you haven't - why?????
3) Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky is one of America's most prominent political dissidents. A renowned professor of linguistics at MIT, he has authored over 30 political books dissecting such issues as U.S. interventionism in the developing world, the political economy of human rights and the propaganda role of corporate media.
2) Dr. Nina Simone (1933 - 2003 R.I.P.)
"The High Priestess of Soul!" - surely the good doctor needs no introduction. An iconic singer who helped define the American civil rights movement in the 1960's and a legendary 'difficult personality' she has brought and continues to bring joy and strength to millions.
1) Charles Bukowski (1920 - 1994 R.I.P.)
It's very easy to act all anti-American in this day and age but you can't blame a nation for it's government, and the fact is many of our favourite people are from the US of A (even though they have REALLY messed up the spelling of the English language). Optimo is all about positivity, but we also love people who tell it how it is and no one else brings to life the dark underbelly of life like Hank does. Disturbing, brutally honest, poetic and beautiful, he is a hero to underdogs everywhere.
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