I left
High School in May of 1967, a graduate without ceremony. My new
friend/drummer Val Feuentes and I then filled my 1952 Pontiac Sedan
Delivery with musical instruments and moved to SanFrancisco. The
adventure was spectacular and the stories of these times are to
follow.
By the end of the summer I found myself playing bass in a band
called "It's A Beautiful Day". We had a manager/backer and were
playing night clubs (The Matrix), to ballrooms (The Avalon, Filmore
and the Encore in Seattle). Ballrooms and parks were the ultimate
venues for the psychedelic events of the time.
The bassist in any group has a unique perspective if for no other
reason that his instrument is usually the rhythmic and harmonic
support for the band. I watched the magic conger and build until we
were releasing thousands of people at a time all across the western
world. We rode a fantastic wave for a very short time at a very
special time on earth. I also watched it crash upon the rocks. The
name It's A Beautiful Day is a big responsibility once you have
lost your innocence...
< TO BE CONTINUED >