Master of surrealist cinema, today David Lynch celebrates his 70th year on earth. Instead of marking the occasion with a list of his best ever films, like we’d normally do, we decided to do something a little different. Why? Because any self respecting young creative worth their salt should have seen David Lynch’s cult classics by now, and because his life is just as weird and wonderful as his films. Happy Birthday, David!
1. He could have directed Star Wars.
In a galaxy far, far away or in other words the early 80s, Lynch was approached by George Lucas himself, to direct Lucas’ epic conclusion to his space saga, Return of the Jedi. David, being David, turned the offer down, saying, “You should direct this. It’s your thing! It’s not my thing.” He then went on to direct Dune, but imagine if he hadn’t?!
2. He’s always had an affinity with art.
When he was little, Lynch would spend his days drawing submachine guns, while in his later life he had an uncredited role as a painter, providing his own works of art for the 1980s flick, Heart Beat, which documented the life of Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady and starred Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. Between 1993 to 1992, he also wrote and drew his own comic strip, entitled The Angriest Dog in the World, which was featured in The Village Voice and LA Reader.
3. He’s got a good ear
Not only did he and sound engineer Alan Splet spend 63 days recording all their own sound effects for Lynch’s short film, The Grandmother, he also collaborated with Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse on the album Dark Night of the Soul.
4. He does a lot of weird shit on the side
From daily weather reports on his website to surreal commercials for pregnancy tests, Alka-Seltzer, and even Barilla pasta sauce, Lynch’s repertoire spans a lot further than you thought.
5. He gets his inspiration from the strangest places
During the making of cult classic Eraserhead, he cut up a cat to give him ideas for different textures, while the opening of Lost Highway is based on one morning where he woke up to the intercom ringing and a man saying, “Dave! Dick Laurent is dead.’ To which Lynch replied saying, “what” only there was nobody there. To this day he never knew who Dick Laurent was, only that he had died.
6. He likes to keep things cryptic
Not one to reveal his magical secrets, upon being asked was Wild at Heart was about, he simply replied, “It’s about an hour and forty five minutes.” His biography’s accompanying press release was just four words long: “Eagle Scout, Missoula, Montana.”
7. He’s a big fan of coffee
Not only did he direct a Twin Peaks inspired series of four commercials for Japanese canned (!?) coffee company, Georgia, based on Agent Dale Cooper’s love of “damn good coffee,” he also has his own brand of “granulated happiness” called “David Lynch Signature Cup.” I bet it’s damn good.
8. He’s very resourceful
To support himself while making his iconic feature film, Eraserhead, Lynch would do a paper route, delivering the Wall Street Journal to all who wanted it.
9. He’s a secret loller
Although he’s famous for his surreal thrillers such as Blue Velvet and Boxing Helena, he’s actually written two comedies: Dream of the Bovine and One Saliva Bubble (although they’ve never seen the light of day).
10. He’s an unwitting sartorial gangster
Never seen without his shirt buttoned up to the top, Lynch has managed to carve out an iconic look for himself, without even trying to. When asked why he never leaves his top button open, he replied saying it would make him feel to vulnerable.
Credits
Text Tish Weinstock
Photography David Lynch