"John Williams in His Adventure on Earth" - Biography by Tim Greiving

[DangerMotif 1,038]

7 minutes ago, Maestro said:

Ha! I have NO memory of posting that, but it's also no surprise. I've been pursuing this (off and on) for about that long...

Really looking forward to it, any idea around how many pages it will be?

 

Next can you take care of the Star Wars and Indy Expansions for us?😂

[JTN 2,031]

1 minute ago, DangerMotif said:

Next can you take care of the Star Wars and Indy Expansions for us?😂

It’s easier getting an interview with John Williams than getting the Star Wars expansions and the DoD released on CD. 

[Once 605]

I am BEYOND excited for this! I never thought Williams could be persuaded let himself be interviewed for a biography - let alone multible times!  I'll be first in line to pre-order - please let us know, when that'll be possible, @Maestro.

 

[Thor 7,512]

I'm relieved the cat is finally out of the bag!

 

I've been e-mail-communicating with Tim for at least a year (maybe two?) regarding this project, and I've given some assistance and some discussions for other issues where I've been unable to assist. But I've been sworn to secrecy all along!

 

I'm (obviously) very much looking forward to this project. As some of you know, I was working on a similar book project myself, but for various reasons that will take too much self-absorbed time to go into here, it fell through. So when Tim contacted me, I was only glad to pass on the baton. My own John Williams book project is not dead, but it will take on a different -- more personal -- form now if it ever comes into fruition. It will NOT be the be-all, end-all biography book that I had originally planned, but that THIS will hopefully be.

 

Looking forward to the release date in a couple of years!

[Holko 9,529]

Fitting that we'll only ever get the OST rearrangement of your original intentions!

[Jay 37,369]

Post of the year!

[JTN 2,031]

16 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Apparently Tim Greiving has just announced the first English biography on John Williams, to be released in 2025:

 

https://timgreiving.com/john-williams-in-his-adventure-on-earth/

Post of the year.

[Thor 7,512]

Yeah, even I smiled, despite it being from my arch enemy Holko. That's the way to do ribbing!

[Jay 37,369]

Yes!

[Maestro 147]

53 minutes ago, Thor said:

I'm relieved the cat is finally out of the bag!

 

I've been e-mail-communicating with Tim for at least a year (maybe two?) regarding this project, and I've given some assistance and some discussions for other issues where I've been unable to assist. But I've been sworn to secrecy all along!

 

I'm (obviously) very much looking forward to this project. As some of you know, I was working on a similar book project myself, but for various reasons that will take too much self-absorbed time to go into here, it fell through. So when Tim contacted me, I was only glad to pass on the baton. My own John Williams book project is not dead, but it will take on a different -- more personal -- form now if it ever comes into fruition. It will NOT be the be-all, end-all biography book that I had originally planned, but that THIS will hopefully be.

 

Looking forward to the release date in a couple of years!

 

I'm so grateful to you, Thor, and to several other members of this community for help with research, rare recordings and ephemera, and just general kibitzing and commiserating. I fully recognize that I'm living several people's lifelong dream—because it was certainly mine—and I don't take that for granted. Nor could I have done it without help.

 

It's amazing what joining this forum did for my life and future work those twenty years ago...

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

1 hour ago, JTW said:

18 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Apparently Tim Greiving has just announced the first English biography on John Williams, to be released in 2025:

 

https://timgreiving.com/john-williams-in-his-adventure-on-earth/

Post of the year.

 

I'm certainly getting lots of forum karma points just for seeing @Maestro's tweet (or is it X now) first.

 

3 hours ago, DangerMotif said:

 

 

[mrbellamy 6,287]

7 hours ago, Once said:

I am BEYOND excited for this! I never thought Williams could be persuaded let himself be interviewed for a biography - let alone multible times!  I'll be first in line to pre-order - please let us know, when that'll be possible, @Maestro.

 

 

Yeah I always feared/assumed that when we finally got a big John Williams biography, it would be after he'd passed and all of his own insights on his life and career would have to be pieced together. So this is especially exciting that after what sounds like a huge uphill battle, Tim's gotten the chance to interview him multiple times, I'm sure getting everything he could muster out of JW. It's definitely the dream! 

[karelm 2,914]

[Falstaft 2,132]

6 hours ago, Maestro said:

It's amazing what joining this forum did for my life and future work those twenty years ago...

 

You're not alone in that, @Maestro! Happy to be openly celebrating your incredible achievement. 2025 can't come soon enough.

 

Maybe this is a silly question, but: based on your conversations with him, do you think Williams knows about JWfan, or might care to know? Maybe he'd be embarrassed, but I bet part of him would be pleased that there's this incredibly active and long-running internet community dedicated to his legacy. And that it's been a source of sustenance and inspiration for many of us now involved, in one way or another, in the study and performance of his work? 

[Maestro 147]

16 minutes ago, Falstaft said:

 

You're not alone in that, @Maestro! Happy to be openly celebrating your incredible achievement. 2025 can't come soon enough.

 

Maybe this is a silly question, but: based on your conversations with him, do you think Williams knows about JWfan, or might care to know? Maybe he'd be embarrassed, but I bet part of him would be pleased that there's this incredibly active and long-running internet community dedicated to his legacy. And that it's been a source of sustenance and inspiration for many of us now involved, in one way or another, in the study and performance of his work? 

 

JWfan has never come up. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to ask him about it...

[mrbellamy 6,287]

I know you said you can't get into specifically how you got him involved yet, but is there anything you can tell us about the experience of interviewing him in general? 

[Brando 1,864]

46 minutes ago, Maestro said:

 

JWfan has never come up. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to ask him about it...

You'll have to show him the Star Wars Disenchantment thread too while you're at it

[igger6 894]

1 hour ago, Brando said:

You'll have to show him the Star Wars Disenchantment thread too while you're at it

I’m more worried about him seeing the Plagiarism/Homages thread…

 

Also, I must say, the inclusion of Williams interviews instantly and vastly outweighs any gushing from collaborators. I’m sure all those other sources will have nice things to say, but bring on the beard!

[enderdrag64 624]

8 minutes ago, igger6 said:

I’m more worried about him seeing the Plagiarism/Homages thread…

And I'm most worried about him seeing the "DID JOHN WILLIAMS COMPOSE THE IJ DIAL OF DESTINY TRAILER MUSIC?" thread...

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

Anybody else thinks the title of the book is too much of an internal soundtrack fan reference? The general public will think it's weird. I'd rather change it into John Williams' Adventure in Music. 

[GerateWohl 4,370]

19 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Anybody else thinks the title of the book is too much of an internal soundtrack fan reference? The general public will think it's weird. I'd rather change it into John Williams' Adventure in Music. 

I am Not sure. It might be an advantage, if the title is not immediately understandable for everyone or even weird. It could make people additionally curious. 

[mrbellamy 6,287]

Considering it's the first English language biography and apparently fully authorized, it might have been cool to just throw down the gauntlet and call it "John Williams" 

 

But I could also see that as cover design with "JOHN WILLlAMS" in big letters above "in His Adventure on Earth" as a subtitle. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

28 minutes ago, GerateWohl said:

I am Not sure. It might be an advantage, if the title is not immediately understandable for everyone or even weird. It could make people additionally curious. 

 

Or it could put them off buying. And the title has nothing about music in it, so it could just as well be about John Williams the actor. But I guess in this day and age it will have a long under-title to explain everything. 

 

7 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

But I could also see that as cover design with "JOHN WILLlAMS" in big letters above "in His Adventure on Earth" as a subtitle. 

 

With a picture of JW flying on a bicycle. 

[GerateWohl 4,370]

1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Or it could put them off buying. And the title has nothing about music in it, so it could just as well be about John Williams the actor. But I guess in this day and age it will have a long under-title to explain everything. 

Might be, but I am bad at titling anyway. I would probably call it "Apart from Cookies and Dead Composers", which would be even worse.

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

It would be awesome!

[GerateWohl 4,370]

5 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

With a picture of JW flying on a bicycle.

That's actually a great idea.

 

[crocodile 8,017]

Fantastic news. And congratulations @Maestro. I've been enjoying reading your liner notes over the years, I am sure you will absolutely smash it. 😀

 

I love the title!

 

Karol

[Tydirium 1,167]

1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Anybody else thinks the title of the book is too much of an internal soundtrack fan reference? The general public will think it's weird. I'd rather change it into John Williams' Adventure in Music. 

It’s a bit of an internal reference, yes, but at least “Adventure on Earth” is referencing something. If you’re going to call it “Adventure in Music,” you might as well drop “Adventure” altogether and call it something else entirely. “Adventure in Music” sounds like it’s trying to be a reference to something, but it’s not as clear.

[Manakin Skywalker 4,897]

John Williams and the Temple of Doom

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

1 hour ago, Tydirium said:

“Adventure in Music” sounds like it’s trying to be a reference to something, but it’s not as clear.

 

I think most of those who get the Adventures on Earth reference will also get that Adventure in Music is derived from it.

 

Anyway, the best title is obviously:

 

John Williams - The Antediluvian

 

Or:

 

Catch me if you Can: Tim Greiving's relentless quest to get an interview with John Williams 

[Ricard 2,245]

1 hour ago, Tydirium said:

It’s a bit of an internal reference, yes, but at least “Adventure on Earth” is referencing something.

 

The book's title is a reference to the film's original title, which was used for its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and retained for the novelization published shortly after the release. The name of the OST track is based on the original title.

https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-in-his-adventure-on-earth/

 

[ChrisAfonso 186]

3 hours ago, Ricard said:

The book's title is a reference to the film's original title, which was used for its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and retained for the novelization published shortly after the release. The name of the OST track is based on the original title.

https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-in-his-adventure-on-earth/

 

 

Very interesting - that totally gives the impression of being the setup for an "...and his adventures in space" series

[BuzzLightyear 143]

Fantastic news! Finally!!! Can't wait to read this work. Have never looked forward to a book release that much, I think!
Countdown is on

[crocodile 8,017]

1 hour ago, Ricard said:

 

The book's title is a reference to the film's original title, which was used for its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and retained for the novelization published shortly after the release. The name of the OST track is based on the original title.

https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-in-his-adventure-on-earth/

 

Very cool, I did not know that.

 

Karol

[Richard Penna 3,694]

4 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Anybody else thinks the title of the book is too much of an internal soundtrack fan reference? The general public will think it's weird. I'd rather change it into John Williams' Adventure in Music. 

 

The book Torn Music has a similarly in-jokey title which no one else will understand and it's great. I think though, that if you're worrying about this book not being on every family bookshelf in the world because its title is a tad cultish, you may be worrying about the wrong things.

 

From the perspective of how things happen behind the scenes, how he got to score various films, it could be really interesting. And that would be my one wish for this publication - please let it be insightful and a look into his processes and interactions with filmmakers and not just essentially a 300-page choir-preach on how JW is the greatest composer. Torn Music is a great book and it doesn't (a) kiss anyone's ass or (b) shy away from some pretty damning personal composer/filmmaker quotes.

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

34 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

The book Torn Music has a similarly in-jokey title which no one else will understand and it's great.

 

But that title also works if you don't understand the reference. 

 

John Williams in his Adventure on Earth just sounds like he's Mr. Bean or some other alien.

 

34 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

if you're worrying about this book not being on every family bookshelf in the world because its title is a tad cultish, you may be worrying about the wrong things

 

He's a famous man and I believe such a book would have a larger appeal if marketed like that.

[GlastoEls 563]

@Maestro surely a JWFan Signed Special Edition is needed! 🤣

[crocodile 8,017]

1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said:

John Williams in his Adventure on Earth just sounds like he's Mr. Bean or some other alien.

Well, he is certainly not of this world. 😀

 

Karol

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

3 minutes ago, crocodile said:

Well, he is certainly not of this world. 😀

 

Karol

 

You mean JWFan?

[crocodile 8,017]

3 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

You mean JWFan?

Rare footage of JWFan induction ceremony:

 

 

Karol

[Miguel Andrade 1,263]

2 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

 not just essentially a 300-page 

 

As I'm finishing Philip Roth's magnificent 1000+ pages long bio, I too hope this one won't be limited to a 300 page one.

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

Sounds great.

 

A few more suggestions:

 

Star Williams 

John Williams Strikes Back

Return of John Williams 

The Phantom Williams 

Attack of John Williams 

Revenge of John Williams 

John Williams Awakens 

The Last John Williams 

The Rise of John Williams

Solo Williams 

Rogue Williams

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

25 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

A few more suggestions:

 

John Williams Park

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

10 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

John Williams: Nonagenarian Park

 

Fixed.

[Brónach 1,302]

And there's a quote in the back: "Oh, you must be Mr. Spielberg's son. Where's Mr Spielberg?"

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

14 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Fixed.

 

Nah, just John Williams Park. When he's gone, somebody will have to make that. With lots of differently aged Williams clones (the non-autoerotica versions). There will be different compartments where you can watch John Williams compose the scores for Fitzwilly, Jaws, Star Wars, etc., including the theme for John Williams Park itself (a march, obviously). Visitors will drive around the park in automatic cars with a running commentary narrated by Harrison Ford. The clones will have a gene manipulation so that they cannot reproduce should they escape.

 

(…do we *really* want John Williams to find out about this place?)

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

13 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

the non-autoerotica versions

 

I'm sure some users here would prefer the other versions...

[Brónach 1,302]

i hope he's never found out

[Andy 4,138]

On 28/7/2023 at 2:38 AM, Jurassic Shark said:

Great news, but weird that he's not interviewing George Lucas, Christopher Columbus, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Mark Hamill.

Great list. Love that you mentioned Mark Hamill. I adore the actor and agree with that inclusion. He’s always been more attuned towards the details of what made SW filmmaking special, more so than most actors. 

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

26 minutes ago, Andy said:

He’s always been more attuned towards the details of what made SW filmmaking special, more so than most actors. 

 

Yes, and he clearly appreciates Williams. 

 

1 hour ago, Brónach said:

i hope he's never found out

 

Too bad he liked your post...

 

2 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

John Williams Park

 

After conferring with other members of the forum I think we'll settle on Close Encounters with John Williams.