Did Hippies Hurt or Help American Music?

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 31 Jan 2008 8:23 pm

Matt's outside, cleaning up his headphones after Fat Freddie's cat stopped by...

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 31 Jan 2008 8:37 pm

It's not like there's anybody around here his age to come to his defense!

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 31 Jan 2008 8:45 pm

Some have called the decade of the Sixties the 20th Century Renaissance, and I think history substantiates that assessment. One could also justifiably state that it was the counterculture as a whole that was the catalyst of most the decade's vast social, political, and yes...musical changes. It couldn't help but affect the music, as well. There is an education in many of the previous posts...great history lessons.

"The Greening of America was a book published in 1970 by Charles A. Reich. It was in essence a paean of praise to the counterculture of the 1960s and its values. Excerpts originally appeared as an essay in the September 26, 1970 issue of The New Yorker. The book was originally published by Random House.

The book's argument rests on three separate types of consciousness. "Consciousness I" applies to the world-view of rural farmers and small businesspeople that arose and was dominant in nineteenth century America. "Consciousness II" represents a viewpoint of "an organizational society", featuring meritocracy and improvement through various large institutions; it dominated the New Deal, World War II and 1950s generations. "Consciousness III" represents the worldview of the 1960s counterculture, focusing on personal freedom, egalitarianism, and recreational drugs.[1]

The book mixed sociological analysis with panegyrics to rock music, cannabis, and blue jeans, arguing that these fashions embodied a fundamental shift in world view.

The book was a best-seller in 1970 and 1971, and topped the New York Times Best Seller list on December 27, 1970[2]."

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greening_of_America

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 31 Jan 2008 9:18 pm

It's sad not many his age are on the forum.

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 31 Jan 2008 9:26 pm

Herb, That's funny you should say that. I grew a full beard for the winter, and no one ever said that before, but I've had dozens of people say that to me. I can guarantee you though that, today was the first I've been to the gym in over a month due to breaking some ribs, and let me tell you, Chuck Norris I ain't. $:\$

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 31 Jan 2008 11:41 pm

Mike Winter wrote:"Consciousness II" represents a viewpoint of "an organizational society", featuring meritocracy...

Yeah, and 'Consciousness II' refuses to go away.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 31 Jan 2008 11:50 pm

Too late. I already took the purple acid

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 1 Feb 2008 12:07 am

While not putting down Slowhand's recent work... because I really enjoy his rediscovery of acoustic blues..., my favorite Clapton is on the Mayall Beano album, the Cream era, and Blind Faith with Stevie Winwood.

Hey Herb, my friend from FW, Buddy Whittington still tours with John Mayall.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 1 Feb 2008 12:48 am

Do you mean any long haired kid after 1965 up to 1975?

hmmm... that would be every kid in America, and many adults! Everyone had 'the look' by about 1970.

I went to Woodstock in '69, and most of the people there looked like average young people, college kids (like me), or working kids from suburbia or maybe from the City. I saw very few 'real hippies' there.

Young people today, like Matt, hear about the wild and crazy '60s, sex, drugs, live for today, and they assume that Every young person lived in a commune, Every young person was filthy and never bathed, Every young person rejected his/her parents... not so.

A lot of good things came out of the 1960’s… cultural movements that Changed America forever… civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, the environmental movement, Earth Day (which we still celebrate every year).

Most of my teenage guitar students love the music of the 60’s. That music is 40 years old now, but it still resonates with young people. I can't imagine myself as a teenager in the 1960's listening to 40 year old music! ..1920s? The 60's were revolutionary. Major cultural changes happened. I’m glad that I was there to witness it!

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 1 Feb 2008 1:48 am

Chris Schlotzhauer wrote:

I want a steel with that pattern on the front apron.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 1 Feb 2008 1:57 am

There have been several unsuccessful attempts to simulate an LSD hallucination on film, (Most notably, the horrible "The Trip,") but the movie "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas" got it right. I don't think it's a very good movie, but of you want to know what an acid hallucination is like, the film will show you.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 1 Feb 2008 1:58 am

Here's a blast from the past... The Waterfall

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 1 Feb 2008 2:00 am

i knew this Forum was out'asite & diverse
THANX ! Matt, fer doin'us a solid & lettin' us get together & groove man
like wow man, i wanna hug so many of ya's
yeah, this thread gets da vote
i'm lovin' it & you too

doug b, loved them ol' pics man

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 1 Feb 2008 2:02 am

There have been several unsuccessful attempts to simulate an LSD hallucination on film

The acid scene in Easy Rider (the party in cemetery) was pretty cool... not that I would know what it's like.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 1 Feb 2008 6:47 am

You can't beat a dead horse to water, but another one opens.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Feb 2008 7:00 am

It's all "in one ear and gone tomorrow," David. But you buttered your bread, now lay in it.

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 1 Feb 2008 7:16 am

Even Mickey enjoyed the 60's

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 1 Feb 2008 7:49 am

it's been 36 hours and this thread has had over 2100 viewings, and mine is the 145th post.

Rock on, dudes!!! Don't take the purple acid!!

amen! this thread's a rockin...knockin' on 2600 views; at this rate it'll pass the "Zee-Bee help" one in no time...

kinda puts the boom into yer shakalakalaka eh...

BTW Matt, if yer still readin', is Humble Pie considered a "Hippie" band?

oh, and we haven't even touched on HIPPIE CHICKS yet

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 1 Feb 2008 7:56 am

Far Out!

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 1 Feb 2008 7:59 am

I tried playing a concert on Orange Sunshine acid one time back around 1970 or so. The keys on my Fender Rhodes suddenly looked like little alligator heads and they started biting my fingers. I could even feel them nipping at me. Then the whole keyboard started waving and lifting itself from the key bed like ocean waves until it finally took off. I jumped up and tried to grab it with my arms. By this time the rest of the band was rolling on the stage laughing their collective butts off.

We used to stop for pizza at this one restaurant on the way home from gigs. For years afterward, I still thought they used alphabet soup noodles in their dough because it was impregnated with little letters and numbers. In 1978, I got married and had the reception there. I asked the owner why he stopped using the alphabet soup noodles in his pizza dough. He had no clue what I was talking about. I thought he was goofing on me.

It's been 36 years since I last dropped acid and I'm still not right.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 1 Feb 2008 8:02 am

I've been out of touch for a couple of days. Great work, guys! As Arlo once famously put it, "lotta freaks!".

If anyone has any of that purple acid left they might think about passing it on to Matt.......

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 1 Feb 2008 8:08 am

Ah, hippie chicks, requiring nothing more than a well-rolled joint AND... no HIV! Sorry you missed it, Matt.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 1 Feb 2008 8:20 am

well Webb since you done testified, i might as well too

back in 69/70, the crazy world of arthur brown who i was a roadie for hit san francisco fer the 1 time & played the fillmore
big brother & the holding co & chambers bros were on the bill if i recall
anyway, we got in there round 3pm to set the gear up
once the sound check was done, we all retired to the dressing rooms
on a table among some flowers, were all kinds of mungies & drinks
so of course, we hit' em up
we got hit up all right & it lasted two days
not one of us had ever had such an experience !
when it was our turn to go on, i went to plug in the PA & check the wires/mikes & all
i don't how i did amidst the rattlers & dragons & how they did it but the show was a success
That was our Welcome to San Francisco !

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 1 Feb 2008 8:43 am

CrowBear, that's too funny. I can't even imagine wiring sound on acid.

Was Carl Palmer playing with Arthur Brown then? As I remember it, it was in San Francisco that he met Keith Emerson who was with The Nice and that was the beginning of ELP. Or maybe he met Greg Lake there when he played with King Crimson. Was that the show?

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 1 Feb 2008 8:52 am

Webb,
CWAB did 3 us tours
on the gig i mention (1st tour),the drummer was Jeff Cutler from Canada
(ex john lee & the checkmates)
Carl P was on the last tour (3rd)

The Steel Guitar Forum

Did Hippies Hurt or Help American Music?

Speaking of acid,

Tripping and playing not all it's cracked up to be