Category:Eli Lilly and Company Category:Light-sensitive chemicals LSD Category:Mind control Category:Novartis Category:Serotonin receptor agonists Category:Swiss inventions Category:Withdrawn drugs

Name	The Pretty Things
Background	group_or_band
Alias	Electric Banana
Origin	London, England
Genre	British Invasion, garage rock, rhythm and blues, beat
Years active	1963–present
Label	FontanaColumbia (UK)LaurieRare EarthHarvestWarner Bros. RecordsSwan SongSnapperCote Basque
Current members	Phil MayDick TaylorFrank HollandGeorge PerezMark St.JohnJack Greenwood
Past members	Viv AndrewsViv PrinceBrian PendletonJohn StaxSkip AlanJon PoveyWally WallerJohn C. AlderVic UnittPeter TolsonStuart BrooksJack GreenGordon EdwardsHans WatermanRoelf ter VeltBarkley McKayTom SowellDarrell Barfield

The Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful period was the mid 1960s, although they continue to perform to this day. David Bowie covered two of their songs on his album Pin Ups.

Taylor was once again playing guitar, with May singing and playing harmonica. They recruited Brian Pendleton (born 13 April 1944, Heath Town, Wolverhampton – died 16 May 2001, Maidstone, Kent) on rhythm guitar; John Stax (born John Edward Lee Fullegar, 6 April 1944, Crayford, Kent) on bass; and Pete Kitley, replaced by Viv Andrews (on drums) and then by Viv Prince (born Vivian Martin Prince, 9 August 1941, Loughborough, Leicestershire)on drums.

S.F. Sorrow was commercially unsuccessful, with no immediate release in the US. However, the album was subsequently picked up by Motown and issued with a different cover on its Rare Earth Records label. The work received only modest support from EMI, and its depressing narrative probably did not help sales.

During the late 1960s, the band made some extra money by recording for music library company DeWolfe. Some of these songs ended up in low-budget films including What's Good For the Goose (1969), Haunted House of Horror (1969),The Monster Club (1981) and a couple of softcore porn films. Not intended for official release, these songs were later compiled on a number of records and released under the alias Electric Banana: Electric Banana (1967), More Electric Banana (1968), Even More Electric Banana (1969), Hot Licks (1970), and Return of the Electric Banana (1978). The initial releases featured one side of vocal and one side of instrumental tracks. Subsequent releases of these albums generally keep the true identity of the band secret.

Soundtracks / live albums

Electric Banana was a pseudonymous 1967 album of the band. The band recorded this album and two subsequent ones for the De Wolfe Music Library. De Wolfe provided stock music for film soundtracks. The Electric Banana music wound up on various horror and soft-porn films of the late 1960s, such as What's Good for the Goose (1969). When the album was released, the stage name The Electric Banana was used to hide the band's identity. !align="center"|Australia !align="center"|Canada RPM 100 !align="center"|Netherlands !align="center"|Notes |- |1964 |"Rosalyn" |align="center"|#41 |align="center"|#67 |align="center"| |align="center"| |Released in Australia after "Don't Bring Me Down", in 1965. |- |1964 |"Don't Bring Me Down" |align="center"|#10 |align="center"|#65 |align="center"|#34 |align="center"| | |- |1965 |"Honey I Need" |align="center"|#13 |align="center"|#54 |align="center"| |align="center"| | |- |1965 |"Cry To Me" |align="center"|#28 |align="center"| |align="center"| |align="center"| | |- |1966 |"Midnight To Six Man" |align="center"|#46 |align="center"|#62 |align="center"| |align="center"| | |- |1966 |"Come See Me" |align="center"|#43 |align="center"|#92 |align="center"| |align="center"| | |- |1966 |"A House In The Country" |align="center"|#50 |align="center"|#63 |align="center"| |align="center"| | |- |1971 |"October 26" |align="center"| |align="center"| |align="center"| |align="center"|#29 | |}

References

External links

An Electric Banana release on the Forced Exposure catalog

Brian Pendleton website

Category:English rock music groups Category:Musical groups from London Category:Musical groups established in 1963 Category:1960s music groups Category:1970s music groups Category:1980s music groups Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:Pre-punk groups

Name	Jack Black
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Thomas Jacob Black
Alias	Jables, JB
Birth date	August 28, 1969
Birth place	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboard
Genre	Heavy metal, comedy rock, hard rock, acoustic rock
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, actor, comedian
Years active	1991–present
Label	Epic, Sony BMG
Associated acts	Tenacious D, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Probot, Foo Fighters, Meat Loaf
Url	www.tenaciousd.com

Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American comedian, actor and musician. He makes up one half of the comedy and satirical rock duo Tenacious D. The group has two albums and full-length films. His acting career is extensive, starring primarily as bumbling, cocky, but internally self-conscious outsiders in comedy films. He was a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedians who have appeared together in several Hollywood films, and has been nominated for a Golden Globe award. He has also won an MTV Movie Award, and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award.

Early life

Black was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of two satellite engineers, Judith (née Cohen), who worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, and Thomas William Black. Black's mother is Jewish and his father converted to Judaism. On The Tonight Show, he said his surname may have come from the occupational name Blacksmith. Black's parents divorced when he was 10; Black moved to Culver City with his father and frequently visited his mother’s home. As a child, Black appeared in a commercial for the Activision game Pitfall! in 1982, which was later shown during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and again on The Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien. When Black entered high school, his parents suggested that he should transfer to the Poseidon School, a private secondary school engineered specifically for students struggling in the traditional school system. Black eagerly accepted the proposition, as he didn't like public school. He also attended the Crossroads School, where he excelled in drama. Black later attended UCLA but dropped out during his sophomore year to pursue a career in the entertainment business, at which point his father discontinued his financial support. Fellow UCLA veteran Tim Robbins later cast Black in Bob Roberts. He also had recurring roles on the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show.

Acting career

Black's Acting Career began with prime time TV. He played roles on several shows such as: The Golden Palace (Taxi Driver), Life Goes On (skinhead), Northern Exposure (Kevin Wilkins, prom king), HBO's Mr. Show, and Picket Fences (Curtis Williams). In a season 3 episode of The X-Files, titled "D.P.O.", Black played Bart 'Zero' Liquori, friend to Darren, a teen who could cause lightning strikes, played by Giovanni Ribisi. Black appeared in an un-aired pilot episode for a show directed by Ben Stiller called Heat Vision and Jack where he played an ex-astronaut pursued by actor Ron Silver. He was accompanied by his friend who had merged with a motorcycle, voiced by Owen Wilson.

Black later took on small roles in Airborne, Demolition Man, Waterworld, The Fan, The NeverEnding Story III, The Cable Guy, Bob Roberts, Mars Attacks!, The Jackal, Bye Bye Love, Jesus' Son, Dead Man Walking, Enemy of the State, and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. In 2000, Black appeared in High Fidelity as a wild employee in John Cusack's record store, a role which Black himself considers his breakout.

His career soon led to leading roles in films such as Shallow Hal, Orange County, Saving Silverman, School of Rock, Envy, King Kong, Nacho Libre, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Be Kind Rewind, Kung Fu Panda, Tropic Thunder, The Holiday, Year One and Gulliver's Travels.

He guest-starred on The Office along with Cloris Leachman and Jessica Alba in a movie within the show. He also guest-starred in iCarly, in the episode iStart a Fan War.

Jack Black has appeared numerous times on the "untelevised TV network" short film festival Channel101, starring in the shows Computerman, Timebelt, and Laserfart. He also provided an introduction for the un-aired sketch comedy, Awesometown, donning a Colonial-era military uniform. In the introduction, he claims to be George Washington (and takes credit for the accomplishments of other American Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln), and gives viewers a general idea as to what they should expect from the show. Black has also guest starred in the Adult Swim show Tom Goes to the Mayor as a bear trap store owner.

Black hosted the 2006 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards on April 1, 2006 and hosted it again on March 29, 2008. He also appeared on the MTV video music awards on August 31, 2006. He is a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedy actors who frequently work together, which also includes Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Steve Carell. Jack Black has made five appearances on Saturday Night Live: three times as a host, once as a musical guest (with Kyle Gass as Tenacious D), and another appearance with Tenacious D, not as a host or musical guest. He produced and appeared on VH1's internet video show Acceptable.TV.

Black has voice acted for The Simpsons episode "Husbands and Knives", which aired 18 November 2007, voicing the friendly owner of the rival comic book store, Milo. Black appeared in a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire celebrity edition along with Denis Leary, Jimmy Kimmel and others and walked away with US$125,000 in October 2001. On December 14, Jack Black hosted the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards. He voiced the main character, roadie Eddie Riggs, in the rock-themed action-adventure video game, Brütal Legend. At the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, he was awarded Best Voice for the voice of Eddie Riggs in Brütal Legend. In April 2009, Black also appeared in an episode of the children's show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" on Nick Jr. singing songs such as "It's Not Fun to Get Lost", "Friends" and "Goodbye Song".

Music career

of Tenacious D.]] Black, also known as JB or Jables, is the lead singer for the rock comedy band Tenacious D. Along with Kyle Gass, they have released two albums, a self-titled debut, and the follow up, The Pick of Destiny, from which one of their songs "The Metal" was used in the music video games "" and "Brütal Legend". "Rock Your Socks" from the album "Tenacious D" was played in the music videogame "Rock Band Unplugged", and "Master Exploder" from "The Pick Of Destiny" went on to be used in music video games "Guitar Hero Van Halen" and "Rock Band 2", along with their song "Tribute" from "Tenacious D". "Master Exploder" and "The Metal" featured in the film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. The film, directed by Tenacious D veteran Liam Lynch, features recurring characters such as Lee the superfan and Sasquatch. Tim Robbins cameos as does Dave Grohl as Satan. Ben Stiller also makes an appearance as a worker at Guitar Center, and also another appearance in the music video for "Tribute".

Tenacious D helped the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to raise awareness and funds in San Diego on June 16, 2007. Tenacious D can be seen performing in the Pauly Shore film Bio-Dome where the duo are performing their song "The Five Needs" at a "Save the Environment" party. Black was also a guest star on an episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show entitled "Ellen the Musical", alongside Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and teenage singer-actress Olivia Olson. On the show, besides singing, he discussed his then-upcoming film Nacho Libre with the host.

Black has also appeared on Dave Grohl's Probot album, providing vocals for the hidden song "I Am The Warlock", and Lynch's Fake Songs album, providing vocals for the song "Rock and Roll Whore". Black performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in the last sequence of High Fidelity. He lent his musical abilities to the Queens of the Stone Age song "Burn the Witch" with rhythmic stomps and claps, some performed with his eyes closed. He also provided vocals for The Lonely Island's track "Sax Man" from the album Incredibad.

Black has also recorded a duet on Meat Loaf's new CD Hang Cool Teddy Bear. The song is called Like a Rose. Meat Loaf has also played Black's father in the Pick of Destiny movie. Hang Cool Teddy Bear also features Hugh Laurie, Kara Dioguardi, Brian May, Steve Vai & Patti Russo, produced by Rob Cavallo.

Black has appeared in music videos of Beck "Sexx Laws"; Foo Fighters "Learn To Fly", "Low", and "The One"; The Eagles of Death Metal's "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)"; Sum 41's "Things I Want"; Dio's "Push"; and Weezer's "Photograph."

In October 2010, Tenacious D appeared at Blizzcon, a convention hosted by the game designers, Blizzard Entertainment.

Internet

In December 2008, Black appeared in a video on funnyordie.com as Jesus in a musical on Prop 8 titled 8 The Musical". The video was shot in Santa Monica, CA, at Santa Monica Community College and was the brainchild of five time Oscar nominee Marc Shaiman and directed by Adam Shankman. The video features a host of other celebrities including Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Allison Janney, Kathy Najimy, Craig Robinson, Andy Richter, , Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke, Margaret Cho, Jenifer Lewis, and Nicole Parker.

Black also starred as Benjamin Franklin in two episodes of Drunk History on funnyordie.com.

Black voiced himself in an holiday-themed Collegehumor video, also featuring Jason Segel.

Comedic style

Black's comedic style combines many key elements from both sides of the traditional double act. Black typically begins a skit in which he presents an earnest introduction to a premise or subject that quickly reveals itself to be flawed or fundamentally ludicrous. Black then switches completely to a far-extreme caricature of human emotion.

His would-be straight-man Gass often functions to trigger these outbursts. Tenacious D’s subject matter illustrates this technique. In "Tribute," Tenacious D tells a story in which they claim to have performed "The Greatest Song in the World" for a "Shiny Demon" who would otherwise "EAT THEIR SOULS." In "Inward Singing," Black does not merely discover a new vocal technique, he discovers what he refers to as "the most powerful tool in singing technology since yodeling." Black's skits also use the catchphrase "more cushion for the pushin'," a self-mocking reference to his own girth.

Personal life

In January 2006, Black became engaged to Tanya Haden. She is the daughter of the jazz double bassist Charlie Haden, and sister of violinist and singer Petra Haden. Haden herself is an accomplished cellist. Both attended Crossroads school and met again 15 years after graduating, at a friend's birthday party. Black proposed marriage around Christmas 2005. They married on March 14, 2006, in Big Sur, California. Their son, Samuel Jason "Sammy" Black, was born on June 10, 2006, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. On May 23, 2008, Black and his wife had their second son, Thomas David Black.

Filmography

Film

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1992 | Bob Roberts | Roger Davis | |- | 1993 | Airborne | Augie | |- | 1993 | Demolition Man | Wasteland Scrap | |- | 1994 | The NeverEnding Story III | Slip, Leader of the Nasties | |- | 1995 | Bye Bye Love | DJ at Party | |- | 1995 | Dead Man Walking | Craig Poncelet | |- | 1995 | Waterworld | Pilot | |- | 1996 | Bio-Dome | Tenacious D | |- | 1996 | The Cable Guy | Rick | |- | 1996 | The Fan | Broadcast Technician | |- | 1996 | Mars Attacks! | Billy Glenn Norris | |- | 1997 | Bongwater | Devlin | |- | 1997 | Crossworlds | Steve | |- | 1997 | The Jackal | Ian Lamont | |- | 1998 | Enemy of the State | Fiedler | |- | 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Titus Telesco | |- | 1998 | Johnny Skidmarks | Jerry | |- | 1999 | Cradle Will Rock | Sid | |- | 1999 | Jesus' Son | Georgie | |- | 1999 | The Love Letter | Fisherman | uncredited |- | 2000 | High Fidelity | Barry | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/RomanceNominated — American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureNominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Music MomentNominated — MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Male PerformanceNominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor |- | 2001 | Frank's Book | Performance Hipster | Short Film |- | 2001 | Saving Silverman | J.D. McNugent | |- | 2001 |Shallow Hal | Hal Larson | Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Film- Choice Actor, Comedy |- | 2002 | Ice Age | Zeke | Voice only |- | 2002 | Orange County | Lance Brumder | |- | 2002 | Run Ronnie Run | Lead Chimney Sweep | DVD Exclusive Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere |- | 2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner | Mental Patient | uncreditedPhoenix Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble ActingNominated — DVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actor in a DVD Premiere |- | 2003 | School of Rock | Dewey Finn |MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic PerformanceNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen TeamNominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor- ComedyNominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liar |- | 2004 | | Motorcyclist | uncredited (cameo) |- | 2004 | Envy | Nick Vanderpark | Nominated — People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star |- | 2004 | Laser Fart | The Elegant Hunter | Video |- | 2004 | Shark Tale | Lenny | Voice only |- | 2005 | King Kong | Carl Denham | Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Sleazebag |- | 2005 | | Carl Denham | voiceVideo gameSpike Video Game Award - Best Leading Male Performance |- | 2006 | | Orson, Booker and Wolf | |- | 2006 | The Holiday | Miles | |- | 2006 | Nacho Libre | Nacho | Nominated — Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie StarNominated — MTV Movie Award for Best FightNominated — Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Actor: ComedyNominated — Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice ChemistryNominated — Teen Choice Award for Movie - Choice Rumble |- | 2006 | Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Jack "Jables" Black (JB) | |- | 2007 | Margot at the Wedding | Malcolm | Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast |- | 2007 | | Paul McCartney | Uncredited |- | 2008 | Be Kind Rewind | Jerry Gerber | |- | 2008 | Kung Fu Panda |rowspan="2" | Po | Voice onlyKids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated MovieNominated — Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Character in a Motion Picture |- | 2008 | The Secrets of the Furious Five | VoiceShort film |- | 2008 | Prop 8: The Musical | Jesus Christ | Viral videoshort |- | 2008 | Tropic Thunder | Jeff "Fats" Portnoy | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast |- | 2008 | Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness | Jeff "Fats" Portnoy | Video |- | 2009 | Brütal Legend | Eddie Riggs | VoiceVideo gameSpike Video Game Award - Best Voice |- | 2009 | Year One | Zed | |- | 2010 | Gulliver's Travels | Gulliver | |- | 2010 | | Himself | |- | 2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Det. Bulldog R. Puppie | Voice only |- | 2011 | The Big Year | | |- | 2011 | The Muppets | Cameo Appearance/ along side Jason Segal | |- | 2011 | Kung Fu Panda 2 | Po | Voice only"post-production" |- | 2011 | Parker Redding's Big Movie | Sawyer Redding | In development |}

Television

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1991 | Our Shining Moments | Teenage Boy | TV Movie |- | 1993 | The Golden Palace | Taxi Driver | episode "Seems Like Old Times: Part 2" |- | 1993 | Life Goes On | Skinhead | episode "Incident on Main" |- | 1993 | Marked for Murder | Car Thief | television film |- | 1993 | Northern Exposure | Kevin Wilkins | episode "A River Doesn't Run Through It" |- | 1994 | Blind Justice | Private | television film |- | 1994 | The Innocent | Marty Prago | television film |- | 1995 | All-American Girl | Tommy | episode "A Night at the Oprah" |- | 1995 | Pride & Joy | Man | episode "Brenda's Secret" |- | 1995 | The Single Guy | Randy | episode "Sister" |- | 1995 | Touched By An Angel | Monte | episode "Angels on the Air" |- | 1995 | The X-Files | Bart 'Zero' Liqouri | episode "D.P.O." |- | 1995–1996 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Various | 4 episodes |- | 1995–1996 | Picket Fences | Curtis Williams | 2 episodes |- | 1997–2000 | Tenacious D | JB | 6 |- | 1999 | Heat Vision and Jack | Jack | television pilot |- | 2001 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | episode "Sweet for Brak" |- | 2002 | 2002 MTV Movie Awards | Host | |- | 2002 | The Andy Dick Show | J.D. | episode "Flipped" |- | 2002 | Clone High | Pusher/Larry Hardcore | episode "Raisin The Stakes" |- | 2002 | Crank Yankers | Tenacious D | episode "#1.3" |- | 2002 | Jack Black: Spider-Man | Spider-Man | MTV Movie Awards segment |- | 2002 | Lord of the Piercing | Jack the Elf | MTV Movie Awards segmentFellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition easter egg |- | 2002 | MADtv | Tenacious D | episode "#7.22" |- | 2002 | Panic Room with Will Ferrell | Himself | MTV Movie Awards segment |- | 2003 | Player$ | Tenacious D | episode "Tenacious D a la Mode" |- | 2003 | Will & Grace | Dr. Isaac Hershberg | episode "Nice in White Satin" |- | 2003–2004 | Computerman | Computerman | 6 episodes |- | 2003–2004 | Time Belt | Computerman | 2 episodes |- | 2004 | Cracking Up | Brian | episode "Scared Straight" |- | 2004 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Trapper JB | episode "Bear Traps" |- | 2005 | Awesometown | George Washington | television film |- | 2007 | The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show | Jables | episode "Break-Up" |- | 2007 | The Simpsons | Milo | episode "Husbands and Knives" |- | 2008 | Sesame Street | Himself | episode "The Golden Triangle Of Destiny" |- | 2009 | The Office | Sam | episode "Stress Relief" |- | 2009 | Yo Gabba Gabba | Himself | episode "New Friends" |- | 2010 | Community | Buddy | episode "Investigative Journalism" |- | 2010 | iCarly | Aspartamay | episode iStart a Fanwar |- | 2010 | Metalocalypse | Rehab Doctor | episode "Rehabklok" |- | 2010 | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb | Himself | episode "Jack Black" |- | 2011 | Fish Hooks | Chief | episode "Labor Day" |- | 2011 | Big Time Rush | Cupid | episode "Big Time Valentine" |}

References

External links

Margot at the Wedding

Suicide Girls interview

The Observer interview (November 2005)

Jack Black in King Kong

CityBeat interview

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American comedians Category:American comedy musicians Category:American film actors Category:American Jews Category:American male singers Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American television actors Category:American television writers Category:Actors from California Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish American musicians Category:Jewish comedians Category:Jewish writers Category:Musicians from California Category:People from the Greater Los Angeles Area Category:Tenacious D Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni

Name	Dock Ellis
Position	Pitcher
Bats	Switch
Throws	Right
Birthdate	March 11, 1945
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California
Deathdate	December 19, 2008
Deathplace	Los Angeles, California
Debutdate	June 18
Debutyear	1968
Debutteam	Pittsburgh Pirates
Finaldate	September 29
Finalyear	1979
Finalteam	Pittsburgh Pirates
Stat1label	Win–Loss record
Stat1value	138–119
Stat2label	Earned run average
Stat2value	3.46
Stat3label	Strikeouts
Stat3value	1,136
Teams
Highlights

Dock Phillip Ellis, Jr. (March 11, 1945 – December 19, 2008) was a professional baseball player who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, among other teams in Major League Baseball. His best season was 1971, when he won 19 games for the World Series champion Pirates and was the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game. However, he is perhaps best remembered for throwing a no-hitter in 1970 and later stating that he had done it while under the influence of LSD.

Playing career

Ellis is best-known for several incidents during his career:

Beaning Reggie Jackson

Beaning Reggie Jackson in the face in apparent retaliation for Reggie's monstrous home run off Ellis in the 1971 All-Star Game in Detroit.

June 12, 1970 no-hitter

Ellis pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres on June 12, 1970. He would admit in to being under the influence of LSD throughout the course of the game. Ellis had been visiting friends in Los Angeles under the impression he had the day off and was still high when his friend's girlfriend told him he had to pitch a game against the Padres that night. Ellis boarded a shuttle flight to the ballpark and threw a no-hitter despite not being able to feel the ball or clearly see the batter or catcher. Ellis said catcher Jerry May wore reflective tape on his fingers which helped Ellis to see his target. Ellis walked eight, struck out six, and was aided by excellent fielding plays by second baseman Bill Mazeroski and center fielder Matty Alou. During the game, teammates (such as rookie Dave Cash) are reported to have commented to Ellis on the bench between innings that he was pitching a no-hitter, despite the superstition that discourages mentioning a no-hitter while it is in progress. Because the no-hitter was the first game of a double header, Ellis was forced to keep track of the pitch count for the night game.

As Ellis recounted it:

I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria. I was zeroed in on the (catcher's) glove, but I didn't hit the glove too much. I remember hitting a couple of batters and the bases were loaded two or three times. The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn't. Sometimes I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while I was looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. I started having a crazy idea in the fourth inning that Richard Nixon was the home plate umpire, and once I thought I was pitching a baseball to Jimi Hendrix, who to me was holding a guitar and swinging it over the plate. They say I had about three to four fielding chances. I remember diving out of the way of a ball I thought was a line drive. I jumped, but the ball wasn't hit hard and never reached me.

The incident inspired the songs "Dock Ellis" by indie rock singer Barbara Manning, "America's Favorite Pastime" by folk singer Todd Snider, "Dock Ellis' No-No" by Chuck Brodsky, and "LSD (The Ballad of Doc Ellis)" by Boston rock band Random Road Mother. Robin Williams has incorporated the tale into a standup routine for HBO An animated short film about the game, "Dock Ellis and the LSD No-No", features narration in Ellis's own voice, taken from a 2008 radio interview.

May 5, 1972 macing incident in Cincinnati

Arguing with and being maced by a Riverfront Stadium security guard on May 5, . The guard said Ellis did not identify himself and "made threatening gestures with a closed fist"; Ellis countered that he was showing his World Series ring as evidence of his affiliation with the Pirates.

Later career

On December 11, 1975, Ellis was traded to the New York Yankees along with Ken Brett and Willie Randolph in exchange for Doc Medich. Ellis also played for the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and New York Mets. While with the Rangers, Ellis led a player insurrection against manager Billy Hunter's authoritarian style, declaring that Hunter "may be Hitler, but he ain't making no lampshade out of me." Ellis ended his career back in Pittsburgh. He finished with a lifetime record of 138-119 and an ERA of 3.46. Ellis collaborated with future U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall on a book, Dock Ellis in the Country of Baseball (ISBN 0-671-65988-X), which was published in 1976. Although Hall knew of the LSD incident, it was not included in the first edition of the book.

Retirement and death

Ellis retired to Victorville, California, and a career as a drug counselor. An alcoholic, he was diagnosed with cirrhosis in 2007 and was on the list for a transplant at the time of his death. ESPN.com reported on December 19, 2008, that Ellis had died at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles due to "a liver ailment."

See also

List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins

References

External links

From Getting High to High Art: The Strange Journey of Dock Ellis Independent Film Channel feature article on Dock Ellis documentary

How to throw a no-hitter on acid, and other lessons from the career of baseball legend Dock Ellis. By Keven McAlester

Weekend America Interview with Ellis: Pitching on LSD by Donnell Alexander and Neille Ilel

Obituary in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Category:1945 births Category:2008 deaths Category:African American baseball players Category:Deaths from cirrhosis Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Baseball players from California Category:National League All-Stars Category:New York Mets players Category:New York Yankees players Category:Oakland Athletics players Category:People from Los Angeles, California Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Texas Rangers players Category:Deaths from liver disease Category:Batavia Pirates players Category:Kinston Eagles players Category:Columbus Jets players Category:Asheville Tourists players Category:Alcohol-related deaths in California Category:Águilas Cibaeñas players