Saying Goodbye to Scott McKenzie

[Mistermoonlight]

Scott McKenzie defined an entire generation with this song:



He died Saturday, as we're just now finding out.

I was too young to go to San Fransisco during the Summer of Love, but, thanks to him, I and countless others felt like we had, after hearing this song.

It was a magical time. I wish everyone had had the opportunity to live through it.

This is Scott's live performance of "San Fransisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)" at 1967 The Monterrey Pop Festival.

[AntiArbitrator]

Very nice. I enjoy each lesson you provide on music, the musicians, and the era they defined.

It seems sometimes the violence in the 60s overshadows the peace movement. I think of the 60s as the time of

long hair, afros and hippies. It was a fun time, helped along by Mary Jane (for some).

[SoCal]

I've never been able to figure out how a generation of "peace loving hippie freaks" could spawn the violent generation we have now.

Maybe it's payback for all the drugs they took.

[Mistermoonlight]

The world is what the world is.

We all have a choice to make things better, by giving of ourselves, or to do nothing. The beautiful thing about this time was that the choice was made to act out of love, rather than fear.

Here's the original version of the song:

[davidhayes1956]

I think that a lot of the 60's protestors didn't want to be the strict, judgmental parents that they saw their own parents as being ... so they gave a lot of unconditional love and few restrictions and raised some of the most self-centered, self-serving egotists to ever walk the planet -- people who think that none of the rules apply to them.

[AntiArbitrator]

Well put, O witty one.

[Mistermoonlight]

That era only lasted until Altamont in 1969--a very narrow window of time.

I think your culprits lie here

[AntiArbitrator]

Disco fever!

[SoCal]

Aug 20, 2012 18:31:55 GMT -5 Mistermoonlight said:

That era only lasted until Altamont in 1969. That's a very narrow window of time.

I think your culprits lie here

No go. The disco era didn't start until 1977. Hippies hung around until then and after.

[AntiArbitrator]

You must be cursed with a good memory. I suffer from can't remember s*#* disease.

[Mistermoonlight]

I think Crystal does a much better John Trivolta than he does, what about you?

[AntiArbitrator]

Hurray for Crystal.

[SoCal]

[Aeryn]

Aug 20, 2012 18:31:55 GMT -5 Mistermoonlight said:

That era only lasted until Altamont in 1969--a very narrow window of time.

I think your culprits lie here

Altamont. Whose bright idea was it to hire Hell's Angels for security? I think it was Marty Balin, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

[Mistermoonlight]

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?


So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

[Mistermoonlight]

Aug 20, 2012 19:06:47 GMT -5 Aeryn said:

Aug 20, 2012 18:31:55 GMT -5 Mistermoonlight said:

That era only lasted until Altamont in 1969--a very narrow window of time.

I think your culprits lie here

Altamont. Whose bright idea was it to hire Hell's Angels for security? I think it was Marty Balin, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

The story as I remember it was that the Stones hired the Hell's Angels on the recommendation of the Grateful Dead, who'd never had a problem with them before. They were to provide security in exchange for $500 worth of beer.

Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane was hit and knocked unconscious by one of the Hell's Angels during their performance.

Ultimately, it's the Stones fault, as they were the ones who signed off on it.

[Aeryn]

Aug 20, 2012 19:18:32 GMT -5 Mistermoonlight said:

Aug 20, 2012 19:06:47 GMT -5 Aeryn said:

Altamont. Whose bright idea was it to hire Hell's Angels for security? I think it was Marty Balin, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

The story as I remember it was that the Stones hired the Hell's Angels on the recommendation of the Grateful Dead, who'd never had a problem with them before. They were to provide security in exchange for $500 worth of beer.

Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane was hit and knocked unconscious by one of the Hell's Angels during their performance.

Ultimately, it's the Stones fault, as they were the ones who signed off on it.

Marty was a pompous ass, and he deserved it.

I went to four of the Airplane reunion concerts in 1990...and while Marty has a beautiful voice, he's a shitty guy. However, Jack Casady, Grace Slick, and Paul Kantner were amazing people. So friendly.

[Mistermoonlight]

You left out Jorma?

[Aeryn]

Jorma was...odd. I never approached him backstage. He had an evil aura.

[Mistermoonlight]

I should mention that Scott McKenzie also co-wrote this song for the Beach Boys:



For what it's worth, I believe you about Balin. Lord knows I've met my share of folks in the spotlight who were jerks. Thankfully, some were great, too, though.

Here's a little Airplane from Woodstock:

[Aeryn]

Aug 20, 2012 20:28:26 GMT -5 Mistermoonlight said:

I should mention that Scott McKenzie also co-wrote this song for the Beach Boys:



For what it's worth, I believe you about Balin. Lord knows I've met my share of folks in the spotlight who were jerks. Thankfully, some were great, too, though.

Here's a little Airplane from Woodstock:

Thank you for that. I've always loved Grace. Beautiful, outrageous, a smart ass, and just hilarious.

[Mistermoonlight]

Hey, why don't you start an Airplane/Starship thread over in the music forum? I bet you know more about them than anyone else on the board, and I know I'd look forward to more of the inside stories you saw firsthand.

[Aeryn]

I doubt that anyone would post there, my love. Except you, me, and perhaps Timmy.

However, I could share stories about how Craig Chaquico got recruited into Starship...and why Marty "The Whiner" Balin left the group. And don't get me started on Mickey Thomas; he didn't want to sing with Grace because he felt she was too old!! What an asshole.

But I'll give him credit for his amazing vocals on "Jane" and "Find Your Way Back."

[Mistermoonlight]

Hell, I wanna hear all of those stories! To frack with anyone that doesn't.

Make the thread!

And as incentive I'll give you this story. When I was working in Baton Rouge radio, we, as well as several other radio stations across the country redid the part in "We Built This City" where you have a DJ talking about San Fransisco, to feature one of our own jocks doing that part. He redid it to be about Baton Rouge, and it sounded very cool.

The original version featured legendary KFRC San Fransisco DJ Les Garland:

[Mistermoonlight]

For those playing along at home, Aeryn's Plastic Fantastic Airplane/Starship thread has indeed been built, and you can find it here:

displacedcwloungefan.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=othertalk&thread=1755&page=1#65219