Please Share Your Story below:
I (now 64) first saw Love at the Bido in 1966. I went to Viet Nam in '68 and made a "Love Light", light box in an aircraft maintenance shack. In May 2002 I took my kids to see Arthur at the Knitting Factory-Hollywood and brought my \"Love Light\" and hooked it up on stage. Arthur saw it, liked it and SIGNED it. Not only is it the ONLY \"Love Light\" in existence, that I know of, but the only signed one, at least to Arthur\'s knowledge. No, it is definitely not for sale.
See the light on Fan Photo page
Two years after I came back from Nam, "Snoopy" was playing at the "Spigot" in Santa Barbara and needed a percussionist for a song. I volunteered and played. That was the closest I ever got to playing with LOVE.
Last fast story. I ( a member of the short-lived new "Dartells“ [of \"Hot Pastrami" fame], as we disbanded when our leader, original member and founder Dick Burns died 2 days after we finished the new album, "Mo' Pastrami" ) do a lot of Karaoke and I have an Out-take CD that contains the \"7 and 7 Is\" instrumental, which is perfect for doing the song in Karaoke.
Finally, if I wore a hat, it would be off to "Start" Productions for the LOVE documentary.
Submitted by.. Steve Schlah ~ California 2010.
Just a chance encounter I used to work for AAA in Los Angeles in the 80s and 90s. If you locked yourself out of your car, I was one of the guys who would get you in.
Anyway, I was doing my usual night shift and I dropped in to say hi to my friends in the rock band Badlands who were practicing at Mates rehearsal studio in North Hollywood. It was in the early 90s. They were arguing so I went into the office to wait it out.
When I walked in, there was a guy kicked back in a chair sitting there all by himself. Short hair, jeans, and a t-shirt-very unassuming. I didn’t pay much attention cause I was looking for Bobby the owner. But this stranger says, Hey, how’s it going man? I looked down at him, and he just seemed like the nicest guy-I said something like, Yeah, just workin tonight and taking a break. He goes, I’m Arthur man, what’s your name? I said, I’m Jim. We just started talkin-small talk you know? I have to admit I didn’t know him from Adam. I just remember he was really kind and easy going, he seemed pretty quiet too. Anyway, he told me his band was practicing here, and we talked some more. I finally asked him who his band was and he told me it was called Love. I exclaimed, HEY, I heard of you guys!! He kind of smiled and we talked a little more. I had to go on another call then, but I wished I could have talked to him awhile longer. He just had a friendliness to him you don’t often find in big cities like L.A. Especially people you just meet.
I talked to a friend recently and related the story. He is a Love fan from way back and yelled at me that I met Arthur Lee. I looked into the bands history and realized I had met a legend. And that he had died. I cried. He just seemed like a guy you would love to have as a friend. Oh yeah, and what a talent.
God bless you Arthur Jim McMellen, USA 2010
An amazing band w/incredible talent. I was turned on about 12 years ago and was fortunate to see Arthur perform here twice and it was just Killer....Love Johnny Echols and Brian MacLean, RIP....simply amazing tunes...saw the Love documentary and its GREAT
.jimmy mack ~ 2010
2003 collapsed and v nearly died on my street of massive respiratory arrest!!!
Intensive Care and what cd pulled me thru in hospital? “FOREVER CHANGES” reissue!!! Doctor in Edinburgh Infirmary wanted to know who were the group!!!!
Saw Love in 2004 and 2005 plus Johnny Echols absolutely the best live band EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still love the man . What has happened to proper music
Mike Randle Rusty Dave C and drummer AWESOME!!!!Arthur Lee you are so missed
Love from Scottish Love FAN1!! Jerry Hepburn ~ 2010
First of all... a beautiful site. I write from Scotland. I never got to see Arthur lee and Love in real life but I have loved the Forever Changes album since I first heard it at the age of 15 or so in 1979. It was a word of mouth recommendation from a very cool girl at school! I have loved it since and have never been without a copy of the album in my car or home since (two vinyl copies and one CD... my various car cassette machines ate may tapes I'd copied for the car!). I have been on your site many times now and watched the videos which are great to see. The Glastonbury clip of "Bummer In The Summer" is from the BBC broadcast coverage of the Glastonbury Festival. Each year they do a very comprehensive weekend of broadcasting with interviews and special performances. I watched the very clip you have of "Bummer" live when it was on TV. It wasn't a rehearsal as such but a special performance for a section of the broadcast show which showed highlights of what acts had been on/ were due to perform. I remember being thrilled to see Arthur on TV and when the compere (Jo Whiley I am sure) introduced Arthur and Love (after a short interview if my memory serves me well) and they kicked into "Bummer In The Summer"... well I was blown away! It wasn't a rehearsal... it was a special off stage, in the restricted area, live performance for the BBC coverage! Wishing you all the best from Scotland, from a fan whose love of a long loved album grows every time I hear it (wasn't the CD re-master and package just wonderful a few years back?) Best Wishes …..
Stewart Morrison ~ 2010
Firstly I was introduced by a friend who burst into the car store I was working at the time with a huge smile on his face loudly saying "listen to this its amazing" Straight away with a store full of customers we went to the audio section and put in the cassette! Volume up and there it was the most fantastic, amazing wall of sound and orchestra that to this day still fills me with the same happy feelings it did thirteen years ago. Paul Burke of Wigan England thank you but most importantly the greatest thanks is to Arthur himself. I watched Arthur Lee five times since that day when he toured with his new band. Every single time, the most inspiring and energetic person I have ever watched, ever!! To lose yourself in a concert singing word for word knowing every inch of the album is truly the most enjoyable thing I have ever seen and been part of whilst watching a live performance. When a shop full of customers raise their head to say "what the hell is that" when “A house is not a motel” kicks in is another great memory of how this band and album has become part of my life for me and many of my friends, so thanks once again Arthur you'll be truly missed and your Love will rock on!!!
Tony Wilkinson
Wigan England ~ 2010
Love Forever Changes is still in my top five albums of all time. I remember my best friend buying the Rolling Stone Album Review Guide (Dave Marsh) was one of the reviewers. Love Forever Changes got 5 stars. We lived in New York City at the time (1987). We searched high and low for the album (at that time it was hard to find). We finally found it at Coloney Records at 49th st and Broadway. When I brought it back to my apartment a bunch of my college buddies were drinking beer and playing darts. They all looked at the album and started making fun of me for buying it. Now over 20 years later they all have bought it (some a few times album to cd) and we still listen to it today as it has just bonded us together even stronger than we would have ever been. The look on their faces when I first put that album on the record player and Alone again Or played was unforgettable, just like Love Forever Changes...
God Bless You Arthur Lee!!!!!
Mitchell R ~ 2010
Hello, I am a 44 year old classic rock junkie. I was much to young to see most of the bands that I listen to. I have quite a large record collection that I have aquired over the the years. I remember back in the early eighties when I stumbled on the Forever Changes album. It blew my mind and to this day it is still one of my top ten desert disks of all time. I have turned alot of people over the years to this album and other Love records . It is amazing that people seem to think that it is something that just came out today. The music is timeless and I will miss arthur lee in this world. Great website.
Steve B.
“At age 16 I was working at the the old Kaleidoscope on sunset near vine. All I did was hold a flashlight and make sure the fire exits were not being blocked. No pay but got to see the shows for free. There was a benefit for the local fm station whose employees were on strike. That night saw the doors Canned Heat, Bo Diddley, and the original Love among others play and donate there time. The Doors were mega stars at the time and had no reason to do the gig except that they wanted to contribute. But Love – one of there first live gigs in a while – only 5 or 6 songs – but amazing. They did Howling Wolf’s Smokestack Lightning which they should have recorded but never did. And believe it or not Revelations actually burned in concert compared to the lame studio version. So i got to go backstage with the band after the show. I kinda didn’t get too close cause of the scary rep they had. There was a girl there looking for Bryan who had already left, so Arthur looks at me and says come over here. He tells the girl hey he’s blonde and cute kinda like Bryan. She of course doesn’t want to know. So later I’m waiting at the bus stop for the buses to start running and a car pulls up and its the same young lady and finding out that she lives near me I get a ride from her and as it turns out she becomes my first girlfriend thanks to in a indirect way to Arthur. So years later I meet Bryan and tell him the story and thank him for spitting early that night. ha ha… He got a kick out of it. So besides this little story growing up in LA at that time with all the great bands around. Love was to me and thankfully many others-the one that mattered the most. The songs applied to everything you felt or were going through-you could relate to them -through good times-bad times-happy times-sad times. They were the soundtrack of my youth and still are. Thank you for allowing me to share this.”
- gerry-woodbridge-va
“Saw love the first time on the Strip in late 66 early 67. Literally changed my life {first Song} Still love the music as much as ever. Have a literal shrine to Arthur hanging in my Living room. Kids grew up asking who he is and I would tell them “Your uncle Arthur.” In High School The only thing we talked about was where they would be next. Hung out at Bobs on van Nuys Blvd but would spend the nights talking about love and following them around LA. As far as I am concerned, The greatest music ever written. Thanks for all you do!”
– I. Borin
“Discovering the wonders of Forever Changes one Saturday afternoon soon after its UK release. I was 16 and feeling ill, and I’d asked my Mum and Dad to buy me the first Doors album when they went shopping in W.H. Smiths in Clacton. Either, they made a mistake of the shop didn’t have that album, so they bought me Forever Changes instead. I played it and played it and played it, and to this day it remains the most wondrous piece of music ever committed to vinyl. I always felt that copies of the album should be available free to folks on the NHS. I will be forever grateful to Arthur and the band for such a fab record, which I was so fortunate to see reprised live at the RFH and also down here in at the Brook here in Southampton with Rusty and co.”
– Graham C., Southampton
Thanks to a fan of Arthur Lee & LOVE for his act of kindness in generously donating to Diane Lee two original vinyl L.P’s, not in Arthur’s personal collection, “Four Sail” & “False Start”.
He wrote: Hi Diane. I must let you know how much I loved Arthur’s music. I’m a 55 year old working musician and have been since high school back in the 60’s. I saw LOVE many times back in the mid 60’s (Whiskey, Valley Music Theatre, etc.) and the revamped 2004 version (which was fantastic). Keep that flame burning. Hopefully some old LOVE tapes will be unleashed. All the best to you.
“Hi Diane. I’d never heard of Love until a chance situation in 2002 when I visited a local library and picked up a few cds to check out, some of which I had little idea of what to expect. One of them was the recently released Forever Changes remaster cd. Thanks God that I did. What an amazing artwork tapestry of sound. I have to say it’s in my top 10 favourite albums, and is the best sounding production I’ve ever heard. And I’m happy Diane that he had someone like you to take care of him in his time of need. He needed a stable person who could understand him and love him as it seems you do. God bless you, Art, and your baby bird!”
-Son Dexter
“I became a fan of LOVE with their first lp. I was introduced to that first effort by my friend, Allen Goldblatt, when we were in college at the University of Washington. When FOREVER CHANGES came out, it was the Xmas holidays, and I was by myself in Seattle. I had not yet heard it, but I bought it the moment I saw it, took it back to my the rented room on 19th Ave NE that I shared with Allen. Alone, I dropped acid and put on the headphones. The first song broke my heart, the second song scared the shit out of me. This was no ordinary rock lp. This was something unique and wonderous. I wore out my first LP, and even owned it on 8 track AND 4 track! I saw LOVE live with opening act Rhinocerous (comprised of old pals of mine formerly of Daily Flash) in Los Angeles, and finally met Arthur face to face backstage in Vancouver Canada when my long time friend (and former Daily Flash guitarist) Craig Tarwater was playing lead guitar. LOVE opened for Jethro Tull that night. Saw the FOUR SAIL incarnation New Years Eve in Los Angeles, and finally the Baby Lemonade/LOVE in Seattle. My daughter, who was born in 1978, was right in front of the stage, dancing and singing along with every word of every song — she knows them all, and Arthur got the biggest kick out of someone so young being so familiar with his material. Standing next to me was, ironically, Daily Flash/Rhinocerous band members. What a night! I attended the “For Love of Arthur” at the Whiskey, and the premier of LOVE STORY. So, I saw LOVE live, met Arthur Lee face to face once, and talked to him on the phone once. His music has been part of my life since I purchased that first vinyle LP. Life goes on, and LOVE last forever.”
-Burl B.
“I think everybody must remember where they were the first time they heard Alone Again Or. (Let us know if you do remember!) For me it was a high school summer, driving my car, just marveling at the beautiful guitar line and mariachi rhythms, and the building drama of the chorus that goes so close to the top and never over. Any sucker riding shotgun over the next two months would be subjected to this powerhouse lead-off track from Love’s third record.
It’s important to not let Alone Again Or overshadow the rest of this classic disc. The masterful songs on Forever Changes manage to accept and transcend the sound of the era.
In a Los Angeles scene where the Byrds were absent heroes and the Doors would shortly become immensely more popular, Love was and will remain the coolest, baddest group from this time and place.
Forever Changes is one of those albums where every moment of sound is as thoughtful as the last. The tunes are led with an acoustic rock combo and string orchestra with horns. Lyrically, the album represents both the light and dark sides of the 60s; these were reportedly Arthur Lee’s last words, as he believed he was soon going to die, and in reality his band was falling apart.
Tracks like Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale drive with a southern California sound forged by Love, part folk-psych and nearly part tropicalia. Lee’s voice is authoritative but welcoming on A House Is Not A Motel and lean electric guitar leads provide quintessential psych sounds. The poetry can get dark sometimes, in The Red Telephone with its suicidal hint, but it remains somewhat down-to-earth when “The snot has caked against my pants…” opens Live And Let Live.
I have read all manner of scandal from contemporaries of Love, including one wondering why the band hadn’t chosen Hate for their band name. Their story, revolving around the genius of Arthur Lee won’t equal the story told on this record; while not a concept album or rock opera, it gives an eerie glow of some tale, or lesson never learned. A beautiful, haunting suite.”
– Courtesy of TheRisingStorm.net
“I was saddened hearing that Arthur Lee had passed away. Having sold my vinyl collection some years ago I was looking to replace some of my favorite albums in the new format of CD’s. Stationed at an USAF base in 66-67 I purchased a LP of Love. I really like it, the Byrds, Dylan, Jimmie we’re great but Arthur Lee and Love was like an extension of me! In no time I had three LP’s. So recently 2008 I had some extra money and was looking for a Love LP to record on a CD and to my surprise it was available in CD format. Wow!! Forever Changes came in this afternoon…first thing I did was to slip it into the CD changer sit back and listen. Tapping my feet and singing away ;o) Now with the internet I wondered what information might be out there about Arthur. That’s when I found out he had passed….from a lofty high to a deep sadness what a rush. But to have know Arthur…enjoyed his music is all that matters. Peace Arthur.”
Bob
“I first heard Love in 1966 on pirate radio in the UK, and later on the John Peel Show. I was struck by all the early singles, but “Alone Again Or” totally blew me away. I used to stand and stare at “Forever Changes” in the window of a record shop in South London on my way home from school, and thought the band looked really hip but dangerous! 38 years later, I found myself telling this story to Johnny Echols at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton, at one of the UK premieres of “Love Story”. I first saw Love live at the Imperial College in 1970, and at the time thought it was amazing that I could still hear Arthur singing “Alone Again Or” three whole years after its release! I also saw Love at the Rainbow theatre in 1974, then not again till 1994 at the Garage, and two years later at the Powerhouse (with Baby Lemonade). I caught Arthur’s phenomenal return at the Concorde Brighton in 2002, then saw Love eighteen more times before Arthur departed. During this time, I made many good friends in the Love world including Mike Randle and David Housden. Two great monents for me were meeting Arthur for the first time at the Scala King’s Cross (where he signed my original “Forever Changes” album) , and seeing him onstage at Cambridge, where he voluntarily reached out and shook my hand. The last time I saw Arthur was at Brighton in 2005. Love’s music remains vital and timeless, and I now have “Forever Changes” (my all-time favourite album) in at least ten different formats. I also have just-about everything else by Love and Arthur, and have now added the “Love Story” DVD to my collection. Love on Earth Must Be!”
John E
“Love had always been one of my favorites. A friend (Rick) at University of South Florida from Bradenton, FL was in a band with Ken Forssi, bass player for Love. When Ken moved out to Los Angeles, he said to Rick “I hope I can get into a good band out there.” A few years later, Forever Changes had recently been released and I was in the USAF at Randolph AFB (San Antonio TX). A few of us went to Austin (UT) for an anti-war rally/demonstration. While there, we went into an old building/office where I saw some magazines, one of them being an issue of Crawdaddy… had never seen it before. It had an article by Sandy Pearlman about Love’s Forever Changes and a funny Ed Sullivan scenario. While I was reading the article, a “G-man” came over, asked what I was reading, and may he see it. I said “sure”, he flipped through it, I guess deemed it “safe”, and he moved on. (I also noticed “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” scrawled on the wall. This was before Charles Manson, etc.) We had to leave before I could finish the article. I’ve been “googling” buzz words for the article for years to no avail. I wasn’t even sure that it was Crawdaddy. Never seen the magazine since, didn’t even remember the cover, until 2 days ago in Wolfgang’s Vault.”
-D. Ross
“I’m a 32 year old woman from Toronto, Canada. I have been a fan of Arthur & Love since I was 18 when I heard Forever Changes for the first time. It was the first time in my life I have ever felt s! uch a connection with an album…I loved every song and thought that it was absolutely perfect – the lyrics, the arrangement – everything. I was to see Love play here in Toronto about 4 or 5 years ago, but damn customs wouldn’t let them cross the border (some nonsense about Arthur’s record). Mike (Randle) broke the news to me and I’ll never forget how devastated I was – I’ll always lament that I never got to see Arthur live, but his music lives on. I look forward to seeing Mike Randle or Baby Lemonade perform live one of these days. Thanks for creating this site.”
– Michelle D.
“I saw LOVE in ‘66-67 at Hulabaloo, Hollywood! I’ve always been a big fan. Then in ‘69 with the Blue Thumb line-up at the Whiskey. Wow! Then an obscure concert wiyh the GO-GOS in L.A. THEN Arthur’s first official show after prison, at The Knitting factory, and several more after that doing the Forever Changes concerts! Pure magic and awe! I miss him.”
-Bob Friedman
“One of my all time favourites, I first heard Forever Changes in 1968 when I was 17. I got to see Love at the Roundhouse, London, in 1970. The years went by, then in 2001 I found news of Arthur via the internet. A ! few months later he played in my home town, Southampton, UK, about half a mile from my home. I baked a large strawberry shortcak e for Arthur and the band, and finally got to meet him briefly. One of my prize possessions is my signed copy of Forever Changes. Love on Earth will be.”
- Ainsley
“In about 1985 I was in a band with some mates at school back home in Chorley Lancs. I was about 14. The dad of one of the lads lent me Forever Changes – it was a nice original UK copy with the bright orange label and the silver lettering – and I was hooked. It’s probably still my favourite album though I like a lot of the later stuff on Out Here, Vindicator and Reel to Real. I first saw Arthur live in 1992 in London with Shack. The gig had been rescheduled by a month and I almost missed out – in the end I had to buy a ticket from a tout outside the venue (T&C 2 in Islington) for £22 (they cost £7 in advance). It was worth it though – a great gig, the UK pop glitterati was there – Bobby Gillespie, Blur, etc. – Arthur was on top form and Shack were really excellent. I went on my bicycle and had to carry the saddle around with me at the gig – the quick release made it easy prey for bike theives. I saw him again more recently in Florence (I live in Italy now). Again awesome stuff and glad I caught him again before he passed on. God bless Arthur and the other Love members over the years!”
-Tony Smith
“Back in 1976, as a callow teenager in the depths of suburban England, I tracked down the Blue Thumb release of Out Here. I’d never heard Love before, but I knew they’d released work on the (! EMI) Harvest record label (one-time home to Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Be-Bop De Luxe) so I knew it would be interesting. And indeed, when I heard it my jaw dropped. It has to be one of the greatest albums in the history of rock, despite what the reviews say. I’m now involved with bandtoband (google it) where I did much of the research on Love. Any further info, corrections, amendments etc. are gratefully received. Big respect to all at this site.”
– Matt Westwood
