SHATTERED ILLUSION

American Pie-Face McGee

Wish I had stopped reading sooner

I stumbled on this story and have not been able to shake it since, so I decided to share it. The story started when I tried to find connections between various 60s and 70s era folk-rock musicians. Mainly, I wanted to know who was connected to Nick Drake. I thought Drake might have known folk singer Don McLean

I had decided the two musicians had similar sensibilities. It turned out they never met and, were not as similar as I first imagined.

Some of you might not recognize the name — Don McLean — but you are likely familiar with his biggest hit, American Pie. The musician had a few other songs that rose on the charts, but Madonna — who re-recorded American Pie in 2000, did not choose to revive any of the others. Elvis had memorialized a McLean-penned song, And I Love You So, in 1979. It’s a bit cheesy for my taste, but my parents loved it. One other McLean song you might know is Vincent, about the hyper-sensitive painter Vincent Van Gogh.

I had imagined McLean as a shy, introverted, devout Catholic guy with depression. His songs had lyrical depth and appealing melodies ideal for karaoke sing-a-longs, post-break-up cry fests, and class reunions.

My romanticized ideas about McLean were also influenced by a song written about him, Killing Me Softly, first made famous by Roberta Flack. McLean was the tender, heartbreaking performer mentioned in the song for, which Flack won Best Record of the Year in 1974. The pivotal lines of the song were scribbled by a young female musician who saw McLean perform. She shared her rough draft lyrics with composer friends who fashioned her words into a mega-hit. Flack’s adaptation of Killing Me Softly is definitely worth a listen. So is the 1996 remix and reinvention of the song by The Fugees. The Roberta Flack version confirmed my sense of McLean as the sincere, self-effacing voice of a generation whose music reflected the social/political situations of the late 50s through the 70s

And likely that was true — back then, but as I kept reading about McLean, my idyllic notions crumbled. It’s hard to know how the radical change in McLean evolved. I’m sure it was shocking to get swept into the music industry as he had been. It’s also possible that singing the same song thousands of times — while amassing a 150 million dollar fortune — changes a person.

I kept on reading.

McLean and his second wife of 29 years, Patrisha, had lived for years on a fancy estate in Maine. McLean performed for predominantly boomer audiences who wanted to keep hearing the 8-minute long American Pie, with all of its symbolic mysteries.

Then the crash came.

In 2016, McLean was arrested for domestic violence, accused by his wife of assault, which he insisted was more two-sided than she would admit. The famed musician worked out a plea agreement with the court. Soon after the couple divorced. His ex-wife, Patrisha, started a Maine-centered domestic violence organization and traveling exhibit called Finding Our Voices for women suffering and silenced due to domestic abuse.

In June 2021, Jackie the 31-year-old daughter of McLean — — and lead singer for the band Roan Yellowthorn — gave an interview to Rolling Stone. She described a childhood dominated by a controlling, verbally abusive father, whose volatile temper terrified her. Jackie’s story was supported by her mother and close friends who grew up with her.

Not so much by her dad, who responded incredulously to Jackie’s accusations and her alliance with Patrisha. McLean has referred to his ex-wife in interviews as a despicable person.

In September 2021, McClean cut his daughter out of his will — a 3 million dollar inheritance. Jackie stated she willingly gave the interview, knowing her father would do just that, as he had frequently used money as a way to control her.

McLean seems to have a less volatile relationship with his son, a folk musician.

There is one more thing in this evolving King Lear-style drama. McLean — now 75 — started dating a former Playboy Model, Paris Dylan, five years ago, right after his divorce. The girlfriend is 48-years younger than McLean. In fact, Dylan is younger than the daughter he froze out.

I find it hard not to cringe a little, given the mix of emotions wrapped up in this story. I realized McLean is a man of many dimensions, several of which are unsettling.

I still think McLean wrote a few classic, memorable songs in his formative years. His life story could be another epic song, the likes of American Pie, full of musical references and riddles.

I doubt it would be a big hit. What might make more sense — at this point — is a reality TV show.