In this episode of Rock is Lit, Richard Fulco, author of the new novel ‘We Are All Together’, is here to take us on a rockin’ jaunt through the late 1960s, where we’ll encounter several iconic players on the music and literature scene from that era. If you’re a fan of the Summer of Love and all the trimmings that go with it, you’ll love his novel and this episode.
Later, Elliott Landy drops by to talk even more about the 1960s music scene, a period he should know a lot about since he’s been photographing rock stars since the mid-60s.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Richard Fulco and I talk about
- Syd Barrett’s descent into mental illness and his exit from Pink Floyd
- 1967: The Summer of Love—music, culture, vibe—but for African Americans, 1967 was known as The Long Hot Summer
- The story and characters in ‘We Are All Together’—Syd Barrett as inspiration behind the character Dylan
- The American Dream and racism and toxic Christianity
- Charles Manson
- The Merry Pranksters
- The significance of the title of the novel and its connection to The Beatles
- Andy Warhol, The Factory, The Velvet Underground with Nico, Lou Reed and their role in the novel
- The depiction of the Monterey Pop Festival in the story, especially the performance of Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company
- Some of the other icons who make cameos in the novel: Pete Townshend, Eric Burdon, Jann Wenner, Neal Cassady, William S. Burroughs
- What the Jack Kerouac classic novel ‘On the Road’ means to Richard and me
Elliott Landy and I talk about
- How a Country Joe and the Fish light show at The Anderson Theater in NYC’s East Village started Elliott on a new career path photographing musicians
- Seeing Janis Joplin, Tim Buckley, and Albert King perform the very first show at the Fillmore East on March 8, 1968
- Hanging out with Janis Joplin after a NYC gig
- Elliott’s style as a “fly on the wall” photographer
- Shooting the album covers of The Band’s ‘Music From Big Pink’ and ‘The Band’, Bob Dylan’s ‘Nashville Skyline’, and hanging out with guys in the town Woodstock
- His experience as the official photographer at Woodstock in 1969 and the spirit of Woodstock and the 1960s
MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
- (Royalty Free Music) “Summer of Love” by Roy Edwin Williams
- “The King is Half-Undressed” by Jellyfish
- “Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
- “See Emily Play” by Pink Floyd
- Roger Waters talks about Syd Barrett on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
- “Four” by Sonny Rollins
- Clip of Muhammad Ali explaining his anti-draft, anti-Vietnam War stance
- “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles
- “Ball and Chain” performed by Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company at Monterey Pop Festival
- “Heroin” by The Velvet Underground with Nico
- ‘The Monkees’ Theme Song
- “Itchykoo Park” by The Small Faces
- “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish
- “Morning Glory” by Tim Buckley
- Country Joe and the Fish chant at Woodstock 1969
- “To Be Alone With You” by Bob Dylan
- Wavy Gravy at Woodstock
- “Woodstock” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- “Down on Me” Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company
LINKS:
Richard’s website, www.richardfulco.com
Richard on Twitter and Instagram, @RichardFulco
Link to clip of Roger Waters talking about Syd Barrett on the Tonight Show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXSHZQ0AEqE
Elliott’s website, www.elliottlandycom
Elliott on Instagram, @elliott_landy_photography
Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/
Christy Alexander Hallberg Twitter, @ChristyHallberg
Christy Alexander Hallberg Instagram, @christyhallberg
Christy Alexander Hallberg YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfSnRmlL5moSQYi6EjSvqag
Link to Christy Alexander Hallberg’s short story on Janis Joplin, “Third Party,” published by ‘Eclectica’, https://www.eclectica.org/v20n4/hallberg.html
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