John Williams has a pacemaker!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

http://www.dga.org/Events/2015/Dec2015/BridgeofSpies_QnA_1015.aspx

Spielberg reveals 48 minutes into the full interview.

So the whole stuff about his back issues were apparently not true>

[Jay 39,586]

I wonder if JW wanted Spielberg to reveal his personal business in that way. Oh well.

[peter.anschutz 43]

Could very well explain why he didn't look/sound good in those videos introducing concerts a few months ago, and possibly why they're still recording TFA. Seven weeks out of action is a long time.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Now I genuinely hate to say I was right in this case. But I actually was.

I wonder if people like Thor will be polite enough to apologize for calling people like King Mark, me etc pessimistic and disrespectful!

[Donna Lackluster 23]

For your information:

Pacemaker implantation doesn't require open heart surgery. The wires are typically inserted through a vein. The wires are connected to the battery, which is implanted through a small incision in the skin. A risk of bleeding persists in the first few weeks after the op. The doctor will advise the patient to avoid heavy lifting and excess motion of the arm on the side where the pacemaker was placed to help minimize bleeding and keep the device in place as you heal.

You grow up thinking these giants are kinda immortal... Obviously they aren't. Nobody is. Let's hope everything went fine. But things are going to be slower from now on for JW.

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,260]

How great is it to live in a time where something like a pacemaker exists? Could have been a death sentence, whatever the issue was, but instead they pop you open and hook you up! A bit of rest, and he's back in action.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

For your information:

Pacemaker implantation doesn't require open heart surgery. The wires are typically inserted through a vein. The wires are connected to the battery, which is implanted through a small incision in the skin. A risk of bleeding persists in the first few weeks after the op. The doctor will advise the patient to avoid heavy lifting and excess motion of the arm on the side where the pacemaker was placed to help minimize bleeding and keep the device in place as you heal.

You grow up thinking these giants are kinda immortal... Obviously they aren't. Nobody is. Let's hope everything went fine. But things are going to be slower from now on for JW.

Thank you for that info Donna. And yes. It could very well mean that John Williams will have to do less from now on.

I wonder if JW wanted Spielberg to reveal his personal business in that way. Oh well.

Didnt Spielberg go with the back trouble story in an earlier interview?

Either this was a rather big slip of the tongue, or JW wanted the truth to be told. Which would indicate that his health has surely improved.

[mrbellamy 6,771]

I don't know what to say about this

Hopefully things have improved for him. On the plus side, that video is a neat find. Scorsese interviewing Spielberg, wow...I'll have to watch that.

[Romão 2,322]

I've dated a girl who has a pacemaker. It only prevented her from doing serious physical activity

[Jay 39,586]

Here's my own transcription of the relevant part

Well, the music was Thomas Newman, who has done a number of films for Dreamworks. He did American Beauty and Road to Perdition, a film that we made called How To Make An American Quilt, and he's done a couple of scores for us... one especially American Beauty, was a wonderful score. But John Williams, uh, you know, who is....John and I have worked together on every single movie until now. And John was writing Star Wars, and the deal we had with J.J. was that when I needed John, he'd stop writing Star Wars and he'd do the score - Cause I only wanted 35 minutes of music. And John knew I needed, you know, 35-40 minutes of music in the whole film. I always wanted the entire opening to be no music at all, just the sounds of New York. [...] Music always elevates something, but I didn't want any of this to be elevated at all, except for what we've all seen and experienced ourselves.

So John called me up, and it was the hardest phone call John ever had to make, and the hardest phone call I've ever had to hear. All I cared about was his health, but he had to have a - what do you call it - pacemaker put in. And the Doctor said - and his procedure went great, there was no complications, everything was fine - But the doctor said "you can't write, you can't conduct, you can't do anything for seven weeks." So John called me and said "What am I gonna do, because I can't od anything for seven weeks, and then I gotta get back and finish the Star Wars score". So this is the... that's the reason.

But I hired Thomas Newman because I always loved his music, and loved him as a person. But, John Williams is part of the Newman family! Alfred Newman, Tom Newman's father, discovered John Williams, and John's first job was - Alfred Newman, out of all the session pianists, Alfred Newman said "John I want you to play the piano on South Pacaific with Mitzi Gaynor." And so it was John's first job, he was the session player on keyboard for South Pacific. And then Alfred started using him again and again, and then Alfred started getting him composing jobs. So John is a part of Newman family, so it was like I didn't go out of the family when I didn't use John - I stayed in the family!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

I'm gonna watch the whole thing tomorrow. Scorcese interviewing Spielberg must certainly be a treat.

[Ricard 2,270]

Here's my own transcription of the relevant part

Well, the music was Thomas Newman, who has done a number of films for Dreamworks. He did American Beauty and Road to Perdition, a film that we made called How To Make An American Quilt, and he's done a couple of scores for us... one especially American Beauty, was a wonderful score. But John Williams, uh, you know, who is....John and I have worked together on every single movie until now. And John was writing Star Wars, and the deal we had with J.J. was that when I needed John, he'd stop writing Star Wars and he'd do the score - Cause I only wanted 35 minutes of music. And John knew I needed, you know, 35-40 minutes of music in the whole film. I always wanted the entire opening to be no music at all, just the sounds of New York. [...] Music always elevates something, but I didn't want any of this to be elevated at all, except for what we've all seen and experienced ourselves.

So John called me up, and it was the hardest phone call John ever had to make, and the hardest phone call I've ever had to hear. All I cared about was his health, but he had to have a - what do you call it - pacemaker put in. And the Doctor said - and his procedure went great, there was no complications, everything was fine - But the doctor said "you can't write, you can't conduct, you can't do anything for seven weeks." So John called me and said "What am I gonna do, because I can't od anything for seven weeks, and then I gotta get back and finish the Star Wars score". So this is the... that's the reason.

But I hired Thomas Newman because I always loved his music, and loved him as a person. But, John Williams is part of the Newman family! Alfred Newman, Tom Newman's father, discovered John Williams, and John's first job was - Alfred Newman, out of all the session pianists, Alfred Newman said "John I want you to play the piano on South Pacaific with Mitzi Gaynor." And so it was John's first job, he was the session player on keyboard for South Pacific. And then Alfred started using him again and again, and then Alfred started getting him composing jobs. So John is a part of Newman family, so it was like I didn't go out of the family when I didn't use John - I stayed in the family!

Thanks! I was going to do the same

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

I wasnt bothering because I figured The LeBlanc would.

[Jay 39,586]

What do you think? Front page worthy? Or a private, personal matter that shouldn't be splashed around?

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,260]

I've dated a girl who has a pacemaker. It only prevented her from doing serious physical activity

I assume this is why the relationship didn't work out?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

It's hardly private after the worlds most famous director said it in a public interview.

[Ricard 2,270]

What do you think? Front page worthy? Or a private, personal matter that shouldn't be splashed around?

I think Spielberg publicly commenting on the reason for replacing JW with another composer is definitely front page worthy.

[Romão 2,322]

I've dated a girl who has a pacemaker. It only prevented her from doing serious physical activity

I assume this is why the relationship didn't work out?

No, not really, but it does require a degree of adaptation. It was quite funny at times

But from my very limited experience dealing with this sort of condition, apart from the mentioned 7 weeks rest, I don't think this will interfere that much with Williams' activity. He's not exactly a professional athlete

[Quintus 5,454]

Please, we don't need to have this as a news update on the Main Page here.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Romao, unlike your ex (i assume), Williams is in his 80's though.

Please don't let us have this as a news update on the Main Page here.

Why not?

[Quintus 5,454]

"John Williams has a pacemaker fitted" is a terrible headline.

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,260]

Agreed.

[Romão 2,322]

Romao, unlike your ex (i assume), Williams is in his 80's though.

I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying that I don't think this will put that much of a strain on JW's professional activity (although I don't really know how demanding conducting is, but that's a relatively small part of his time). If anything, the pacemaker may help him work and feel better than he did just before

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

"Star Wars Composer Has Mechanical Heart!"

"John Williams Back Problems Story A Lie!"

"How Williams Used His Ill Health To Get Out Of Scoring The Latest Spielberg Dud!"

Or the Daily Mail headline...

"Middle Eastern Refugees Infect Britain With New Type Of HIV That Lowers House Prices, Weak EU Policies To Blame!"

[Doo_liss 6,498]

"Star Wars Composer Is More Machine Now Than Man Twisted and Evil!"

[TownerFan 5,230]

For all we know, he's back in action 100%, on the podium as of yesterday, recording new Star Wars music and enjoying it with the orchestra. Any kind of medical procedure on a 80+ years old person is surely delicate matter (and that's why it was kept private until now, I assume), but it looks JW has still the Force flowing strong in him

Let's stay positive, guys.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Romao, unlike your ex (i assume), Williams is in his 80's though.

I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying that I don't think this will put that much of a strain on JW's professional activity (although I don't really know how demanding conducting is, but that's a relatively small part of his time). If anything, the pacemaker may help him work and feel better than he did just before

Dunno how much strain conducting is. But the extensive traveling associated with a busy concert schedule like the one JW had in 2014 might be problematic.

[Ricard 2,270]

"John Williams has a pacemaker fitted" is a terrible headline.

Yep. I'd never use such a headline.

[Loert 2,713]

I'm just glad that Williams is up and running, and giving us more gorgeous music to listen to!

[crumbs 14,891]

I'm just relieved Maestro is back doing his best work and recovered from the procedure.

Godspeed.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Just imagine if this is an entire session of alternates and revised cues, ala Tintin. I love that idea much more than the possibility the scoring was put on hiatus after their sessions in June. I'm just relieved Maestro is back doing his best work and recovered from the procedure.

In any event, it sounds like a lot of music for TFA. It'll make a fabulous special edition 2CD set in a few years time if someone's inclined to produce it.

I wonder why Doug is at the recordings?

Wrong thread?

[crumbs 14,891]

Indeed. Mobile browsing is the worst.

All the best for a speedy recovery Maestro.

[peter.anschutz 43]

"Star Wars Composer Has Mechanical Heart!"

"John Williams Back Problems Story A Lie!"

"How Williams Used His Ill Health To Get Out Of Scoring The Latest Spielberg Dud!"

[Donna Lackluster 23]

John Williams with his brother Don Williams, in May and now:

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Cool!

[crumbs 14,891]

I think it's a lovely touch that he's working with his brothers on this score.

[Not Mr. Big 4,739]

The exclamation point at the end of the thread title makes it sound enthusiastic

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

I was excited!

But not in an elated way.

I think it's a lovely touch that he's working with his brothers on this score.

He's worked with them on many if his scores though.

[Doo_liss 6,498]

Their first SW score though right?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

I would assume so.

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,260]

I think it's a lovely touch that he's working with his brothers on this score.

Yeah that gives me a warm feeling.

[Cerebral Cortex 3,358]

Really glad Williams is back up and running and that we can now put all speculation to rest.

[crumbs 14,891]

I think it's a lovely touch that he's working with his brothers on this score.

Yeah that gives me a warm feeling.

Hopefully they are more versatile than their L.A. counterparts.

[The Train Station 8,763]

Godzilla vs the Bionic Composer.

You could call him a Mecha-John Williams.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

They are working in LA

[King Mark 3,729]

Really glad Williams is back up and running and that we can now put all speculation to rest.

Well, it means he has a heart condition..not exactly reassuring news

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Mark! We were right man!

*HIGH FIVE*

.....

No?

[King Mark 3,729]

in this case I hate that my suspicions were true

Why did they lie about the back issue though

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,422]

Well something like a heart condition is obviously a private matter.

[Ricard 2,270]

Spielberg disagrees.