The JamBase Podcast: Ken Babbs

By Staff JamBase Feb 3, 2022 • 12:42 pm PST

Episode 111 of The JamBase Podcast, a associate of the Osiris Media Community, functions an job interview with creator Ken Babbs. JamBase’s Andy Kahn not too long ago spoke to Babbs about his excellent new guide, Cronies A Burlesque: Adventures With Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, the Merry Pranksters & the Grateful Useless.

Babbs, who is properly into his 80s, spoke above a movie connect with from his dwelling in Oregon. Significantly of the job interview targeted on Babbs’ e book, which is a collection of 70 essays capturing his lifestyle experiences on the forefront of the 1960s counterculture movement with The Merry Pranksters and further than.

The reserve starts in 1958 with Babbs attending Stanford College wherever he met Ken Kesey, the creator of A person Flew About The Cuckoo’s Nest and himself a notable member of The Merry Pranksters. From there, Cronies presents just one psychedelic experience after one more, which include The Merry Pranksters famous journey across the United States in 1964 on the iconic bus identified as Even more (or Furthur).

Babbs talked about the magical voyage on the bus, which was notoriously pushed by the Conquer Era muse Neal Casady. With Cowboy Neal at the wheel, Babbs and Pranksters headed to the East Coastline, setting out from California and sooner or later assembly Conquer Era icons like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg and connecting with fellow early-LSD supporter Timothy Leary.

Babbs and The Merry Pranksters have been also integral parts of the Acid Assessments in California in the 1960s when LSD was even now lawful. Babbs recalled initial encountering the customers of the Grateful Lifeless, who also grew to become essential gamers at the Acid Exams. Babbs forged deep friendships with the Useless, and detailed his relationships with Pigpen, Jerry Garcia and others.

Between the numerous factors Babbs talked about was the time The Merry Pranksters showed up at Phish’s concert in Darien Lake, New York in the Summertime of 1997. Hear to hear him talk about the pre-display cling with the band on the bus, appearing onstage as Frankenstein and additional.

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Stream Episode 111 of The JamBase Podcast by using all important podcast services including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Podcast.