May 23, 2013

Depp admires Tonto's Giant Nuts

Here's a good example of how Johnny Depp respects and admires Indians:

On the soundtrack to the 2003 film Once Upon a Time in Mexico, track 9 is an interesting one:

9. "Sands Theme" by Tonto's Giant Nuts

The existence of an act called Tonto's Giant Nuts (you can check it on Amazon) is mildly noteworthy given the current interest in all things Tonto, who will be played by Johnny Depp in Disney's The Lone Ranger, coming to theaters July 3.

It gets a little more interesting when you learn that Tonto's Giant Nuts is Johnny Depp.

And it wasn't a one-off. Tonto's Giant Nuts resurfaced earlier this year, on the compilation West of Memphis: Voices for Justice. The CD is a collection of "music from and inspired by West of Memphis," a documentary about the West Memphis 3. Track 5 on the disc is a cover of Mumford & Sons' "Little Lion Man," credited to "Tonto's Giant Nuts feat. Johnny Depp & Bruce Witkin." Track 14 is "Damien Echols Death Row Letter Year 16," credited to "Tonto's Giant Nuts feat. Johnny Depp (feat. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis original score)."
Comment:  Depp has said he wanted to play a strong Native character for years. The name of his band corroborates this.

The takeaway from this is that Depp admires Indians who are larger than life. In other words, Indians who are heroic to a fantastic or supernatural degree. Which suggests mythical or legendary Indians such as Hiawatha, Crazy Horse, Uncas, Turok...or Tonto.

The corollary to that is that he isn't necessarily interested in everyday Indians or their problems. Which may explain he's missing in action whenever Indians need his help. Someone who's thinking about his--I mean Tonto's--giant nuts is probably self-absorbed. Thinking about his own needs, not others'.

For more on Johnny Depp, see Depp's Tonto: True or False? and Hammer Says Indians Love Depp.

Below:  "Johnny Depp on the poster for Once Upon a Time in Mexico."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Tonto's Giant Nuts". Now, I've heard a lot of things that would make awesome names for a band, but "Tonto's Giant Nuts" is not one of them.