Were it not for Arthur Lee; The Doors may never have signed to Electra Records.When The Doors were the opening band for Love at Bido Lito's on the strip in 1966.Love were already signed to Electra.Arthur Lee tipped off Electra President Jac Holzman about the new group that was opening for Love. In an interview for '16' Magazine, Jim Morrison named his favourite bands as:The Beatles,The Beach Boys,The Kinks,The Rolling Stones & Love. Arthur Lee met Bryan Maclean in the car park of 'Ben Franks' all nite restaurant in early 1965.Bryan Maclean had just failed the audition for 'The Monkees'. A few days later the intrepid pair crammed into a record store booth where Arthur placed on the turntable platter, a soundtrack L.p. of 'What's New Pussycat';selecting a track called: 'My Little Red Book' by Manfred Mann. This song was to become 'Love's' first single release. In the most ironic way Love's 'Da Capo' L.p. released in January 1967 failed to enter the Billboard Top 100 L.p. chart.At number one on that chart was 'The Monkees': 'More Of The Monkees'. 'Da Capo' is perhaps the greatest acid jazz-rock l.p. of all-time?.'More Of The Monkees' is in Mike Nesmith's estimation:"The worst pop album of all time". I saw Arthur Lee with a new re-incarnation of 'Love' perform a gig at 'The Queen Elizabeth Hall' on the South Bank in June 2002. I enjoyed that gig more than when I saw Pink Floyd at Earls Court in 1980. Arthur had just been let out of: 'Pleasant Valley Correction Centre' ,(oh dear,another unintended reference to 'The Monkees') where he had served five years for firearms offences.(He let a gun off in the air). Bryan Maclean died on Christmas Day 1998. Ken Forssi is also dead. ...............but 'Love' lives on as a fine west coast sixties band!.
Haha, yep, just like the Velvet Underground's albums never sold for shit. I guess sometimes it takes a while for people to realize what's good. Anyway, Love was great. Of course, Forever Changes is one of the best albums of the '60s!
Love is one of my favourite psych-bands! Arthur Lee has been putting together a new band now! He also got leukemia
