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North
County News 9/7/01
JAMES
CAMPION:
LOCAL AUTHOR BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS
by
Brad King
 Local
author and all-around radical journalist James Campion, a modern-day,
pen-wheeling harlequin who depicts the underbelly of American
politics, music and sociology amid cutting satires, has released
two note-worthy books: deep tank jersey
and fear no art: observations on the
death of the american century.
Campion,
39 and a Putnam Valley resident, is quite verbose at times but
underneath his fifty-cent words are honest, intellectual inflections
that are aimed at breaking down the American facade of politically
correct standards and practices.
Pleasant
though forthright, Campion would probably be welcomed in the circle
of such writers as William Burroughs, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack
Kerouac and thrown head-first through the turnstile of popular
American ideals by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Jesse Helm.
He
writes political morays but doesn’t belong to a political party.
Campion considers himself independent by nature but ignores the
Independent Party.
A
self-proclaimed, “recovering Catholic,” Campion certainly has
soul but again is a strict nonconformist when considering organized
religion. If he conforms to any ideals they would be freedom and
the principals America was founded on, but were somehow lost along
the way.
He
favors Abraham Lincoln and considers Lincoln to be the essence
of first-class politics, while saying William Jefferson Clinton
is politics gone helplessly awry. But he maintains the American
political process has always been marred by an overindulgence
of power.
“Check the records, the history, the long line of terror emanating
from Pennsylvania Ave. and deny the ugly truth. Jefferson had
his slaves, Lincoln had his fractured country, Hoover had his
stock market crash, FDR had his manipulations, Truman had his
bomb, and Kennedy and Nixon had their terrible secrets. Bill Clinton
has his ... (genitals). He is not an aberration. He is the proud
sibling of the tarnished-crown legacy” — an excerpt from fear
no art.
fear
no art is a societal magnifying glass that uses the powerful
literary rays of Campion’s counter-culture thoughts to singe the
endless line of sheep-like ants that in his opinion define American
popular culture. Campion’s writing could certainly snap the synapses
of tame minds but might allow for serious contemplation.
To
name a few topics covered in fear no art like E Coli, Seinfeld,
George Bush, Paula Jones, Movies, Education, World Politics and
Sports, Campion uses his pen to incite a revolution of new thought.
Campion’s
strength lies more in honest expression than a supposed American
truth, which in his opinion has been spoon-fed to the masses for
the better part of the last century.
If you are weak or strong-minded you may have a problem with Campion’s
writing. But if you’re open-minded, you may be introduced to new
thoughts or just be reaffirmed of your own beliefs.
However,
if you are willing to take a step outside yourself and allow for
comparison, you may see where this auteur is coming from.
It
is of course worth mentioning that Campion is no stranger to expressive,
creative mediums.
Aside
from penning these two books, he has contributed his journalist
skills to many publications, a list that seems endless but does
include The Aquarium Weekly, North County News and Genesis Magazine.
He
has performed in musical groups, mainly rock-n-roll bands as well
as been a broadcaster and to round his character, he is also an
avid sports fan.
He
credits Pete Townsend, songwriter and guitar player for The Who,
for getting him through adolescence and given the chance Campion
said he would give Townsend a big hug and say “thank you.” He
considers music, in all forms, to be a magical exploration of
expression. deep tank jersey effectively allows the every-day
person to step inside the microcosm of a real-life rock band.
Before
the popularity of VH1’s Behind the Music, or famed screenwriter
Cameron Crowe’s movie, Almost Famous, Campion dissected
a struggling Jersey rock band, Dogvoices, and allowed readers
and band members a concise looking glass into the cutthroat life
within the music business.
This
book allows the corporate type, the teacher, the doctor, or the
mechanic to live vicariously through the somewhat manic life of
the five band members.
Campion
offers one a chance to travel on the road with Dogvoices, eat
with them, be on stage with them and become a part of their circle.
Despite
the supposed lure of a decadent, carefree lifestyle, Campion seems
to highlight the frills and perks experienced by rock bands only
with intermediate alcohol-drenched snowballs falling into the
caverns of a hell-like existence.
He
takes on the role of the scribe; at first it is apparent that
band members recognize his presence by their apprehensions to
speak candidly and lets their lives become a living, moving mosaic
of idealistic expression.
However,
through the course of the book, Campion becomes more a fly on
the wall and band members begin to open their lives to not only
Campion, but the world. At this point, with their guards down
and their truths rising to the surface like a crescendo of musical
cream, Campion does finally find the gritty truth behind the members
of not only Dogvoices but himself.
The
band recently appeared on VH1’s Cover Wars, which is a contest
pitting cover bands against each other; though Dogvoices didn’t
win, they did place second. NCN caught up with Campion during
a balmy August afternoon and true to nature, Campion didn’t hold
back any punches and pontificated on his work, career and his
thoughts for the future.
With
many books dissecting American culture filling the shelves of
stores throughout the country, Campion feels that fear no art
is different.
“I honestly defy anyone to read similar takes on certain subjects
as the ones presented in ‘fear no art.’ I’m not saying
they are sober or even meaningful, but I don’t think anyone putting
their name to anything binding like a book would spew the kind
of insanity that is associated with the thoughts in that book,”
Campion continued.
“It’s
relatable information as well, because I liken the style to someone
driving down the highway jacked on three cups of grade-a java
and running a free-associated brain fest that ends in the sudden
awareness that it was all a daydream.”
Creativity
is said to be born from a nonphysical place, but Campion doesn’t
seem to acknowledge any definite source of inspiration.
“I
don’t question inspiration or muses. It’s like the Buddha quote
of refusing medical attention until I know the identity of my
assailant. It is meaningless,” Campion said. Always questing for
understanding, Campion commented on the birth of the new millennium,
which leaves his self-described death of the last century in a
dust cloud of Y2K hype.
“Of
course times change. Technology, science and fashion change. People
are for the most part the same, smarter in complied knowledge
but primarily stupid,” Campion continued.
“We have mental blocks binding us from achieving anything really
binding or true. The
best example of this is our innate inability to govern ourselves.”
Campion doesn’t seem to seek success, though he acknowledges the
importance of an audience.
“The
writer is mostly a miserable, lonely wreck. I am lucky to be able
to have an audience at all,” Campion continued.
“I
don’t think that (inspiration) comes entirely from me, but I don’t
dare lift the rocks to see what’s in there. But I’m rarely inspired
by outside sources.” Campion
explained that aside from his almost-always-busy schedule, he
does give lectures to students and aspiring writers and believes
in the fortitude of the new generation.
“I
think we are evolving and children today are smarter because of
the information they are given.”
Campion
added. “It’s not 1955 any more and the honesty kids are faced
with today is a plus. The information is out there and we have
to educate them.” Campion, happily married, spreads himself thin
but seems to have an earnest approach to each aspect of his life.
With
two books under his belt, it comes as no surprise that Campion
is in the process of working on two more.
“I’m
working on a short novel, my first, really, complete work of fiction,
and even then it’s more or less a slice of reality,” Campion continued.
“I see it as a true urban legend. It is fiction in the way say
Kerouac or Burroughs might be fiction, using parts of memory and
characters from my past as metaphors for all that is wrong with
my own small corner of society, journalism or art. I’ve always
been fond of fantasy as satire, like Baum or Milne or Carroll
or Dahl —using outlandish scenarios to sell concepts or theories.”
Campion
went on to explain that the other book he is working on will deal
with a spiritual pilgrimage.
“I’ve
also been working on what should have been the follow up to deep
tank jersey, a book about my spiritual sabbatical to Israel,
which has turned into five plus years of my life’s work. but,
since I threw those damn insatiable publishing cretins, fear
no art, they have laid off me. But soon it will be put up
or shut-up, and unlike deep tank jersey, I want this book
to have less immediacy and more sheen.”
To
read James Campion is to know him. His work is a far reach from
any form of pretension and though a controversial writer, it is
refreshing to know that a jester of Campion’s caliber still exists.
Campion’s
books are available at Barnes & Noble in the Cortlandt Town Center
and B Daltons He will have a book-signing in October at Barnes
& Noble (the date was unavailable at press time). His books also
can be ordered at www.jamescampion.com.
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