I have been trying to find a video of the original airing in 1988 of Mike Taibbi's "Cult of Rage" 3 part series that broke the story on how Missing Foundation were cult and satanic leaders in the East Village. I've never found it, but instead I did find a promo for the show, which aired during Star Wars. Some Star Wars fan found it desirable to post all the commercials that aired during the show, with some excellent clips of Pete Missing and his infamous bullhorn, and also with his clothes on fire (I didn't remember that part). There is one very very short clip at 1:15 of Mark Ashwill throwing a chair.
While the whole thing is pretty funny to watch, the Cult of Rage promo starts at 1:02.
5 comments:
Ooooh. I remember that!! Lemme know if you track it down.
THE most ridiculous piece of local TV journalism ever! I sometimes still have a hard time even taking Mike Taibbi's son Matt seriously, although he's proved himself to be a decent political reporter for Rolling Stone. Just that last name. Ugh!
I never did find it. I remember seeing a tape of it more than once, not sure whose it was. I might even have it somewhere in the depths of storage.
Several years ago, by pure chance, I had dinner with Mike Taibbi and asked him whether he really thought they were a cult and not just putting on a performance for his sake. He got pretty miffed and stood by his story. The rest of dinner was really uncomfortable.
I lived on the lower east side of NYC at the time and this just pissed me off to no end.
While I was not a friend of the band I was a frequent attendee at shows and part of the music culture. The report was just plain made up, looking for some way to excuse the actions of a out of control police force. Suburban cops should have stayed in the suburbs with their green lawns and cultural ignorance.
NYC is both a better and sorrier place now but none of it thanks to hack reporters like Mike Taibbi.
I also remember that for years after one of the band members was obsessed with making crank phone calls to Taibbi. I always wondered if he knew who the calls were from. I should have asked when I had the chance.
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