One More Once for The Summer of Love
Writer and itinerant hipster Greg Hoffman just sent up a few photos he snapped at the Summer Of Love 40th Anniversary Celebration in Golden Gate Park Sunday before last. I put them up without further comment on how old everybody is and how long ago 1967 was. Survival must count for something.
THE AMAZING CHARLATANS ONE MORE TIME.
THE AMAZING CHARLATANS ONE MORE TIME.Unless you were hanging around San Francisco in the mid-Sixties, you've probably never heard of The Charlatans. But they had their moment. The very first Haight-Ashbury band - and the standard bearers of psychedelicized rock and roll. They never had any hits, it's a wonder they recorded at all. George, the leader, the guy in the straw hat, couldn't play an instrument. But he had a great fashion sense and designed the band for the pop world that ruled before guys like Jimi Hendrix and James Gurley changed the rules.Here's a picture of them circa 1966:
THE CHARLATANS IN THEIR HEYDAY
When The Charlatans were having a good night, they were the best dance band on the circuit. And, in the early days, the psychedelic ballrooms were all about dancing.
JAMES GURLEY AND FRIENDS
THE CHARLATANS IN THEIR HEYDAYWhen The Charlatans were having a good night, they were the best dance band on the circuit. And, in the early days, the psychedelic ballrooms were all about dancing.
JAMES GURLEY AND FRIENDSActually, the beauty is James' wife, Margaret and the itinerant hipster with the press pass is Greg Hoffman. For a year or so, Jim Gurley (as he was known then) was king. As lead guitarist for Big Brother and The Holding Company, he went further out then anyone had gone before. I thought he was inspired and I knew what was good in those days. Street legend said that Gurley learned to play lead guitar by sitting in a room on Pine Street for weeks on end listening to and copying John Coltrane solos. Not note for note - but in the spirit. You can hear his work on Janis' best album, Cheap Thrills, and decide for yourself.
Here's Jim as Haight-Ashbury pinup:
WHEN GURLEY WAS GOLDEN
No disrespect. This Bob Seideman photo became a popular poster and could be seen in kitchens and bedrooms across the Haight-Ashbury for at least a year.
SUMMER OF LOVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY
San Francisco Chronicle's story:Summer of Love bands and fans jam in Golden Gate Park.
Relix Magazine's story: Old Hippies Come Out of the Woods for Summer of Love 40th.
More photos of the anniversary party from Clara Bellino.
Here's Jim as Haight-Ashbury pinup:
WHEN GURLEY WAS GOLDEN
SUMMER OF LOVE 40TH ANNIVERSARYSeptember 2, 2007
San Francisco
San Francisco
San Francisco Chronicle's story:Summer of Love bands and fans jam in Golden Gate Park.
Relix Magazine's story: Old Hippies Come Out of the Woods for Summer of Love 40th.
More photos of the anniversary party from Clara Bellino.
Labels: Haight-Ashbury, hippies, Sixties
posted by Christopher Newton at 5:20 PM
5 Comments:
I would fit right in with this crowd! We are stardust, golden, and the "garden" lives inside us.
By the way, I've been meaning to thank you for the info about Beatrix Potter using the Lake District for story settings.
Hey, thanks for dropping by, Bill. There is so much of that world I remember with great affection. And since I started the novel I think about that period a lot, just trying to get the feeling of it right. But ultimately, the Haight-Ashbury destroyed itself. LSD turned out to be one more false god. I'm not putting the drug itself down, please understand, but it turned out the belief that taking a drug could somehow evolve human hearts to a Christlike or Buddha plane was naive and unfounded.
The proof came in the Summer of Love when thousands upon thousands of kids who'd never heard of Aldous Huxley or the Tibetan Book of The Dead descended on the Haight looking for peace, love and thrills. In spite of the buckets of Owsley acid, it got ugly real fast.
But I know what you mean about the "garden". That's the part I still long for.
I have a friend I work with, who will be known as Amanda Jane, who knew Dan Hicks in the early Charlatan days. She speaks fondly of him and his guitar, though I think there was something a little less cerebral going on back then... In the biblical sense, if you know what I mean.
Anyways, I showed her the old pic and the 2007 pic and she swore Dan was the guy on the left. She hasn't seen him since '73. I think so too, having seen him a few times over the years and seeing vids of him recently.
Any info, Pig? Issat Dan?
Those thousands of kids may have ruined the Haight, and taking a drug like LSD indiscriminately is surely not a good idea. But from the rest of the world's perspective, Pig, the 60s would not have been the same without the Summer of Love-even if it was hype. This hype gave hope to millions in disparate, desperate situations. But you know that.
The last time I dropped was the day Jerry Garcia left this world. I had been planning on doing it just one more time, and I realized there would never be a better time than to see old Jerry off. That weekend my wife and I attended his memorial at the Polo Field in Golden Gate Park, and I have never wanted the stuff again. It's just too damn strong for a man with children--who has time for that?
Each dose of LSD should come in a little box with a message from the Surgeon General that says if you are 18 years old you can take this in your home or on a camping trip or something, but if you do anything stupid you are liable and will be subject to the laws of the land.
Pig, I wrote you a long email that somehow got deleted before I could send it...bummer! Drop me a line and I could give you my phone number and we could chat if you wish. Or if we wait long enough I'll get around to composing that long email again.
About The Charlatans. That's got to be Dan Hicks in the red shoes - although I admit I can't tell from looking at him. But I am sure that's Mike Wilhelm in the cowboy hat, Richie Olsen as bartender, and head freak George Hunter in the boater. Mike Ferguson, the band's keyboard player (without a shirt in the vintage photo) died from diabetes complications in 1979.
I think I'm going to write a separate post on psychedelics, Hector, and I'll reference you there.
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