West Coast Rock Final Version
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WEST COAST ROCK AND THE COUNTERCULTURE MOVEMENT Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades einer Magistra der Philosophie an der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz vorgelegt von Christina DREIER am Institut für Anglistik Begutachter: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.phil. Hugo Keiper Graz, 2012 An dieser Stelle möchte ich mich bei meinem Betreuer Prof. Dr. Hugo Keiper für seine Unterstützung auf meinem Weg von der Idee bis zur Fertigstellung der Arbeit herzlich bedanken. Seine Ideen, Anregungen und Hinweise, sowie sein umfangreiches musikalisches, kulturelles und literarisches Wissen waren mir eine große Hilfe. Des Weiteren gilt mein Dank meinem Onkel Patrick, der die Arbeit Korrektur gelesen und mir dadurch sehr geholfen hat. Natürlich möchte ich mich auch von ganzem Herzen bei all jenen bedanken, die mich während meiner gesamten Studienzeit tatkräftig unterstützt haben. Danke Mama, Papa, Oma, Opa, Lisa, Eva, Markus, Gabi, Erwin UND DANKE JÜRGEN! . Table of Contents 0. Timeline ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2 2. Socio-Historical Background ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.1. Political Issues ................................................................................................................................ 5 2.2. Social Issues ................................................................................................................................. 11 3. The Counterculture of the 1960s ............................................................................................................... 14 3.1. The Anti-War Movement ............................................................................................................. 15 Country Joe and The Fish – “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” ......................................... 18 3.2. The Civil Rights Movement ......................................................................................................... 19 Bob Dylan – “Only a Pawn in their Game” ........................................................................... 21 3.3. The Hippie and Youth Movement ................................................................................................ 22 Eric Burdon and The Animals – “San Franciscan Nights” .................................................... 28 3.4. Other Counterculture Movements ................................................................................................ 29 4. West Coast Rock ......................................................................................................................................... 31 4.1. From Folk Music and Bob Dylan to West Coast Rock ................................................................ 33 Bob Dylan – “Blowin’ in the Wind” ....................................................................................... 37 4.2. West Coast Music of Vietnam ...................................................................................................... 39 Buffalo Springfield – “For What It’s Worth” .......................................................................... 43 4.3. Psychedelic West Coast Rock ...................................................................................................... 45 The Byrds – “Eight Miles High” ............................................................................................ 47 4.4. West Coast Festivals – Music as Collective Experience .............................................................. 49 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – “Woodstock” ......................................................................... 51 4.5. The Sound of San Francisco ......................................................................................................... 52 Jefferson Airplane – “We Can Be Together/Volunteers” ........................................................ 55 The Grateful Dead – “Dark Star” .......................................................................................... 59 4.6. The Sound of Los Angeles .......................................................................................................... 60 The Doors – “When The Music’s Over” ................................................................................. 62 5. Legacy .......................................................................................................................................................... 64 6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 66 7. Works Cited ................................................................................................................................................ 68 8. Appendix: Lyrics To Songs Mentioned or Cited ..................................................................................... 79 0. Timeline YEAR POLITICS SOCIAL ACTIVISM 1960 - Presidential debate broadcasted for - First student sit-in at Woolworth the first time store in Greensboro, North Carolina - John F. Kennedy wins presidential election - Civil Rights Act of 1960 1961 - Initiation of New Frontier policy, - Establishment of the Student Non- including The Housing Act and The violent Coordinating Committee Minimum Wage Act (SNCC) - Establishment of the Peace Corps - First Freedom Ride - Bay of Pigs Invasion 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis - Founding of Students for a Demo- cratic Society (SDS) - James Meredith becomes first black student at an American University 1963 - Assassination of JFK by Lee Har- - March on Washington, where Mar- vey Oswald on November 22 tin Luther King Jr. holds his famous - Lyndon B. Johnson becomes presi- „I Have A Dream“ speech dent and starts domestic policy - Assassination of NAACP leader known as the Great Society Medgar Evers - Higher Education Facilities Act 1964 - Passage of Civil Rights Act and - Martin Luther King Jr. wins Nobel Economic Opportunity Act Peace Price - Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - Starting date of Free Speech Movement 1965 - Passage of Voting Rights Act, Ele- - Assassination of Malcolm X, lead- mentary and Secondary Education ing figure in the fight for African Act as well as Higher Education Act American rights - Operation Rolling Thunder - Anti-war teach-ins on University campuses - Watts Riots in Los Angeles 1966 - Initiation of Miranda Rights - Founding of the Black Panthers - National Organization for Women (NOW) formed - Beginning of Sunset Strip Riots 1967 - Interracial marriage declared legal - Summer of Love - Human Be-In, Monterey Pop Festi- val, and Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival 1968 - Launching of the Tet Offensive - Assassination of Martin Luther - My Lai Massacre King Jr. - Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy - Riots at Democratic National Con- vention in Chicago 1969 - Richard Nixon takes over the presi- - Stonewall Riots dency - Woodstock Festival - Bombings of Cambodia (1970) - Kent State Shootings 1 1. Introduction The 1960s in the USA were one of the most turbulent, revolutionary and eventful periods in the country’s history. It was a time of unrest and violence. Due to a number of infamous incidents, most prominently America’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the younger generation started calling for change and reform. This gave rise to a cultural revolution and resulted in the establishment of a larger counterculture. In this respect, the era provided an adequate basis for the flourishing of music that criticizes and challenges the political and social status quo, and raises public awareness for social wrongs. Although music is quite often used as a means to reflect on society, American music of the 1960s was particularly subversive, rebellious and highly political, responding to the prevalent chaos of the era that primarily manifested itself in warfare, racism and the ever-decreasing popularity of the American leadership. West Coast Rock used to be a prominent musical movement that developed from the larger counterculture and responded to social and political issues of the time. In doing so, it supported and helped to achieve the primary goals of the community. The aim of this paper is to investigate the West Coast Rock movement, its origins, principles and major artists. To fully understand West Coast Rock it is, however, necessary to understand the counterculture and the historical background that led to the emergence of that counterculture, since these areas constitute “the primary context in which the music’s meaning was articulated” (Storey 1988: 185). Therefore, I will start with an account of America’s social and political situation at that time, followed by a closer analysis of the counterculture, including its primary goals and a detailed discussion of the different movements of which it is composed, such as the anti-war movement, the civil rights movement and the hippie movement. The major part of the paper, however, will be dedicated to the music of the counterculture era, particularly the rock music (and musicians) of the American West Coast, and its relation to and influence on 1960s American society. In this respect, it is important to note that my approach will be interdisciplinary, connecting