The Smiley Smile Message Board

Owsley has left the planet.

I...don't think Brian looks fondly upon his experimentation....

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/former-grateful-dead-soundman-and-famous-lsd-chemist-owsley-bear-stanley-dies-in-car-crash/story-e6freoof-1226021049978

Wouldn't have pegged him to go in a car crash, in Australia of all places. Just last year his name showed up when someone had claimed to have found the leather satchel John Lennon buried in his yard after "quitting" acid to take up TM in India, that lost satchel a legend for years since it was rumored to contain Owsley's product from summer 1967.

It is a controversial statement to make, but that man's handiwork was at least partially responsible for some amazing music.

Oh, true. Never touched acid, never will, but he indirectly shaped a generation's music.

Sad when a good one goes.  Probably a flashback. 
Never thought much about him, even while enjoying the fruits of his labor. So to speak. 

Billy, you should turn on  and tune in. It will bring you that much closer to Brian's original vision.

Undeniably true, as is the fact that he was responsible for a lot of deaths, unhappiness and inmates of psychiatric institutions.

Yes indeed!!

Indeed. Whilst everyone is free to partake or not, in principle, many creative and sensitive souls had their drink spiked, or something to that effect. With devastating results. I think there was very much naiveté about the dangers of hallicunogenics in the '60s.

Two words: Syd. Barrett.

Yes. And Peter Green too, if memory serves.

Can't claim to be experienced and am not a fan of psychedelic music. Realized the drug destroyed many lives.

But also realize it was partly to blame for things like environmentalism, the sexual revolution, getting out of the Vietnam, interest in Christian and non-Christian religions as well, acceptance of alternative lifestyles, organic living, as well as plenty of colorful artwork. Pretty sure this is by no means a comprehensive list. Folks in the sixties pretty much questioned everything, and this drug had a part in that.

The drug also helped put some people's lives back together. The black actress who played Julia (Diane Carroll?)and Cary Grant come to mind.

So today when I eat my genetically modified carrots, and think of Japan's ongoing nuclear disaster, I'm going to think back upon that sixties generation and ask some questions.

Well of course, this point could be made about whiskey and heroin and every substance in between which has been cited as a creative catalyst by musicians through the years. This line could also open a debate about blaming the people who make Jack Daniels if the use of Jack Daniels leads to a tragedy of some kind.

Notice I didn't editorialize in that post, only to say the music that came out of this scene was in some cases amazing. Because the fad of "dosing" people without their knowledge, a practice which Owsley and various members of the Dead's entourage would engage in at one time, was dangerous and irresponsible beyond belief.

The fruits of this practice can be viewed for posterity in a video clip of "Playboy After Dark" featuring The Dead which shows the effects of this on camera. One of the few people not feeling the effects was Hugh Hefner who took extra precautions not to drink anything open after hearing "Bear" would be trying to spike his drink throughout the taping. There is nothing fun or funny about dosing someone without their knowledge or consent. I think they got Geraldo Rivera in the 70's too.

Get along, Kid Charlemagne.

*pours out a 40*

Don't blame the person who made the gun. Blame the person who shot it.

I just wanna chime in here -- I understand a lot of people who probably shouldn't have experimented with psychedelics did and it caused negative psychological effects. But have any of you actually listened to SMiLE on acid? Its a pretty *special* experience  :3d Don't knock it if you haven't tried it

Just want to say that much of the early literature encouraged safety & people having a guide who had prior experience.

It also seems like Brian Wilson studied up and was ready before his 3rd trip. That may have made all the difference.

While the music played you worked by candlelight
Those San Francisco nights
You were the best in town
Just by chance you crossed the diamond with the pearl
You turned it on the world
That's when you turned the world around
Did you feel like Jesus
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes
On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene
But yours was kitchen clean
Everyone stopped to stare at your technicolor motor home
Every A-Frame had your number on the wall
You must have had it all
You'd go to L.A. on a dare
And you'd go it alone
Could you live forever
Could you see the day
Could you feel your whole world fall apart and fade away