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Terrible, terrible news:
This afternoon the world lost yet another wonderful person. A person who at times didn't even realize his own beauty and creativity. This person was Arthur Lee.
He had been battling leukemia for quite some time, and was a successful recepient of a stem cell procedure that could have potentially saved his life, alas it was not to be. Take some time out for one of music's great artists, an artist who at times was often overlooked and did not always receive the credit he deserved.
Arthur was a young man who dealt with many hardships from his early childhood days. Like many teenagers and young adults, he didn't always feel that he fit in, when in fact his strength was that he fit out. He innovated, and cultivated a movement in not only music, but politics for lack of a better term as one of the driving forces behind the psychedelic era.
He will forever be celebrated and idolized for the iconic albums of his days as an Elektra recording artist, but also for one album in particular, Forever Changes. It was an album that was beyond the term "ahead of its time", and even now almost 40 years later it is more relevant that ever. An album that combined elements of the L.A. Philharmonic with the folk rock sound from Arthur Lee, and fellow Love member Bryan MacLean's minds. Lyrically it is a haunting piece that helps illustrate the mystery and extreme reclusiveness of Arthur.
Unfortunately the original lineup would not last longer than three albums despite ongoing rumors of the mythical Gethsemane which would have been released in 1968 as the follow up to Forever Changes. The late 1960's and the early 1970's would offer a different kind of Love, with different members, and an everchanging sound. A pair of solo records would also appear during the 1970's but alas Arthur was never the kind of man who felt the need for the spotlight.
The original Love lineup was solidified in 1966 with group members Johnny Echols on guitar, along with Bryan MacLean (guitar/additional vocals), Ken Forssi (bass), Alban "Snoopy" Fisterer (drums and later harpsichord), and during the year of 1967 the amazing Michael Stuart would take over on drums and the addition of flutist/sax player Tjay Cantrelli was also to be in the cards.
It is true that he is the man who created the sound that would be considered "punk rock" with not only the song 7&7 Is, but also the song Feathered Fish, which was never actually recorded by Love, but was written by Arthur and covered by countless numbers of punk bands. He is also the first ever to record a rock song that would take up the entire side of an album with the tune Revelation. All of this on their sophomore album DaCapo.
Arthur had a lot of firsts, and he once said number one was important to him, he also said no one was ever late for death.
He was 61 years old.
-Love
Discography
1966-Love
1967-Da Capo
1967-Forever Changes
1969-Four Sail
1969-Out Here
1970-False Start
1974-Reel to Real
1992-Five String Serenade
1996-Love On Earth Must Be (EP)
Solo Works
1972-Vindicator
1973-Black Beauty (unreleased)
1977-More Changes (unreleased)
1981-Arthur Lee
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sad sad news indeed.
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