Ken Kesey Further Along

[Keith Millea]

Ken Kesey whom many recall as the "Grandfather Of the Hippies",passed away on this date in 2001.Kesey was an author,playwrite,and Jester,and along with the Merry Pranksters, were responsible for the free distribution of LSD at what were called the "Acid tests".The "House" band for the acid tests were the Warlocks, later changing their name to the "Grateful Dead".The rest is HISTORY(still unfolding).

Below is an interview with Ken Kesey from 2001,only months before his passing.



Here is a good local write-up in memory of Kesey.I liked this one especially because I've driven by that old abandoned white house literally hundreds of times.

http://www.cosmik.com/aa-december01/ken_kesey.html

Kesey contributed immensely to raising the bar in challenging the status quo to re-examine, renew, and embrace such fundamental American terms as "freedom," and "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and to live them. He was full of stories, bigger than life, yet casually present, a ruggedly independent individual, who contributed endlessly to family and community, and the celebration of life. As one of Americas most affecting and colorful modern pioneers, he was truly a great American hero. Always ready to take a playful poke or a chastising swipe when he smelled bullshit, regardless of where it came from, he was never mean spirited. His approach to life was not from an adversarial or confrontational stance, but an offering of goodwill.

RIP
Ken Kesey

[Keith Millea]

From Ken Babbs,best friend and fellow Merry Prankster.


http://www.intrepidtrips.com/kesey/index.html

We buried Ken Kesey. He lay in his coffin in front of the grave. We who knew him, family and friends, told our Kesey stories. We read poems. We sang. "Ain't Gonna Study War No More." We walked past the coffin and placed remembrances inside. "We Will Gather at the River." We nailed down the lid. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" We lowered him into the grave. "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." Threw the lowering ropes onto the coffin. "Death Don't Have No Mercy In This Land." We shoveled in the dirt, taking turns. "Take Five." I did 43 shovelfuls. "They Can't Take That Away From Me."

We wept. We hugged. We ate. We drank. We talked.We played music. We buried Ken Kesey.

-- Ken Babbs

[Keith Millea]

http://www.nii.net/~obie1/deadcd/acid_test_files.htm

"The show started in the usual fashion with Kesey’s Psychedelic Symphonette playing random sequences of notes at one end of the floor. Down at the other end, the Warlocks, who had recently changed their name to the Grateful Dead, were simultaneously playing rock & roll built around the expansive noodlings of guitarist Jerry Garcia."



An interview with Ken Kesey and Jerry Garcia on the Tom Snyder Show,1981.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ilnADvT2s