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1960's Rock</b><br>
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U</b>sually, rock performers have a couple of hits, go on an endless series of tours and eventually burn-up or burnout and fade away. When Elvis was drafted it took him out of the public's view for a couple of years. When he came back in 1960 he was as big as ever. And who knows what would have happened had his career not been so badly miss-managed. The bad movies and even worse music forced him to make a much-celebrated comeback in the late '60s.
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B</b>y the mid-'60s the Beatles had four years of non-stop recording and touring, plus starring in two feature length movies. During an early '66 interview John Lennon, the group's leader, to that point, said the Beatles fame had gotten totally out of control and that they were probably more popular with young people than Christ. Rather than being a casual observation, the quote was interpreted as a reckless boast. Stripped of its irony it appeared Lennon was stating flatly that the Beatles were more popular that Christ. This, as you might expected, created an uproar… especially in the South. Religious groups got Beatle music banned and there were public Beatle record burnings. Lennon first apologized for the misunderstanding… then for the comment. But the controversy continued to haunt the band. Also, the '66 world tour was difficult. They were running out of steam. Even world leaders were demanding their time. The group was being encroached upon from all sides. Finally, they decided to stop touring. They would devote all their energies to recording. They were the first rock group to ever do this. What would happen? The final result was based on Paul McCartney's idea. He wanted to get away from the Beatles and their image and create something totally different. What he came up with was Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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T</b>he title track from the album that took Rock from being something for kids to being an art form the Beatles with Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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T</b>he U.S. had sent military advisors to South Vietnam since 1958. Vietnam had been divided, like Korea, following the Second World War. North Vietnam was a communist. South Vietnam was a developing democracy and capitalist. However, North Vietnamese were driven to re-unifying the country, which they eventually did in 1975. But in 1965 the increasing numbers of military advisors going to Vietnam was beginning to attract attention. By the end of the year more than 500-thousand U.S. troops would be fighting in that country.
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Should the U.S. have troops in South Vietnam?<br>
Why are they there?
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T</b>hese questions divided Americans. Older Americans generally endorsed the war effort as a way to contain communism. Younger people were often opposed. Seeing the situation as a civil war that the U.S. had no business. There was the feeling it was easy for "old men" to send young people off to war. Of course it wasn't. Also, a disproportionate number of black Americans were sent overseas…unable to work the system to escape the draft. San Francisco became the city and Height-Ashbury the district that represented the rebellion against the establishment. Tune in, turn out and drop out. Many popular bands like the Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Steppenwolf created songs with political or anti-establishment messages. Some radio stations banned the Doors anti-war song "The Unknown Soldier". With student protests rising, people questioning the value of American society and the brewing conflicts between classes and races, music could hardly stay good natured and friendly. It didn't.
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T</b>he Jimi Hendrix Experience with Brits Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums and, of course, Seattle-born Jimi Hendrix on guitar. Aside from being one of the all-time great guitarist Jimi Hendrix was also know for his wild stage shows. Hendrix, and especially Jim Morrison of the Doors, were creating rock theatre. The Doors were expert at creating pop hits. Light My Fire," Hello, I Love You" and Touch Me" are prime examples. However, the Doors liked to stretch out with longer pieces like "The End," "When The Music's Over" and "Soft Parade" that allowed for both vocal and instrumental improvisation.
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