Krsna Culture in Music - Part 3
BY: JAHNAVA DEVI
Sep 7, VANCOUVER, CANADA (SUN) — Part 2 of our serial presentation on Krsna Culture in Music opened with the most notable Krsna rock poster of the 1960's. Likewise, today's article on music and village magazines begins with the 60's village magazine cover of most interest to the devotees. Volume 1 No. 22 of the East Village Other featured the classic photograph of Srila Prabhupada under the 'Krsna Tree' in Tompkins Square Park, NYC.
This particular copy of the October-November 1966 Other recently sold on Ebay for over $250. Copies of the Other are scare today, and this issue is a great find for collectors of Hare Krsna artifacts.
At the Fillmore
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The Maverick was a rare contemporary of 1960's underground newspapers like the San Francisco Oracle, the Berkeley Barb, Seattle's Helix and New York City's Village Voice. The Maverick was published in both San Francisco and Haight-Ashbury, but there's no location designation on this particular edition.
In Vol.1, No. 2, 1967, there's a multi-page article entitled "Welcome To San Francisco", written as a survival guide for all the hippies arriving for the Summer of Love. Also included in this issue is an ad for the Straight Theater and a full-page ad for three appearances of Swami Chinmyananada.
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Most amazing is the centerfold spread -- a brilliant, rainbow hued Lord Krsna, advertising Hare Krishna at the Fillmore Auditorium on Monday, June 26, 1967. We have not been able to determine what bands (if any) joined the devotees that night. Perhaps it was a rare solo appearance?
Interestingly, the Haight-Ashbury Tribune (below) later published the same dayglo Krsna centerfold spread, without the reference to the Fillmore concert. The picture appeared in Vol. 2, No. 5 of the Telegraph, and was published in late 1967.
Feature Stories and Pictures
Following are just a few of the rock magazines that included feature stories and/or pictorials of the Hare Krsnas, usually in the context of the devotees' harinama or concert-going activities.
International Times
Jan-Feb. 1967, No. 7
International Times was a popoular UK music bi-monthly. This issue featured an article on Hare Krishna, Censorship, an ad for Timothy Leary’s ‘Psychedelic Prayers’, Vietnam, Chet Helms of Avalon Ballroom in London, etc.
International Times
Nov-Dec, 1968, No. 45
This issue featured a great centre spread of the life of Krishna, along with Lennon/Ono, Dr John, Captain Beefheart, Grateful Dead, etc.
UK Record Mirror
November 15, 1969
Featured: The Radha Krishna Temple, Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Beatlemania, Apple Scruffs, Keith Emerson, Jimmy Cliff, Roy Harper, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, Johnny Otis, Delaney and Bonnie and Clapton.
International Times
Feb-Mar, 1970, No. 74
This edition of International Times carried a story entitled "Krishna Busted", about the German police arresting Hansadutta dasa for guns and illegal cash. Many years later, a similarly bad article ran in the Rolling Stone, April 9, 1987, entitled "Dial OM for Murder", on the Kirtanananda episode.
UK Record Mirror
May 15, 1970
Friends was an underground UK music paper similar to the Rolling Stone. This issue featured "Inside The Radha Krishna Temple", along with London-Dealers Heaven, Fillmore East Hype, Brian Wilson, How To Be A Heretic, Whole Earth Catalog Insert, The Nice, Cat Stevens, etc.
Sounds
May 29, 1971
Another classic UK weekly rock music paper, this Sounds issue featured the Radha Krishna Temple along with Ray Davies of The Kinks, Mountain, The Band, Uriah Heep, Joe Cocker, Jerry Butler, Ginger Baker, The Groundhogs, Storyteller, Isle of Wight Festival, Third World War, Deep Purple, The Faces, and Uncle Dog.
Beat Instrumental
October 1971
Yet another UK music magazine, Beat featured an article on Radha Krishna Temple, along with a critical letter about John Lennon, which ran beside the George Harrison/Krishna feature story. Also included: Humble Pie, Beach Boys, Rick Wakeman, Drifters, Chuck Mangione, etc.
Advertising
New Musical Express
March 7, 1970
Included a 'Singles Review' of Apple Records release, "Govinda"
New Musical Express
January 30, 1971
Included a feature photo of George Harrison with the Radha Krishna Temple
New Musical Express
March 14, 1970
Included a ¼ page ad for Apple Records release of "Radha Krishna Temple"
