Music fans all over the world will mourn the passing Arthur Lee. I was lucky enough to see him 3 three times when he eventually visited the UK. What I remember is what a genuine surprise it was to him how much his music was regarded over here after all these years. Hearing all those fantastic songs realised live was amazing and we can be assured that this music and influence will far outlive its creator.

I was fortunate enough to see Love on Valentines day a couple of years ago. Arthur was in an upbeat mood, and having fun playing with his Baby Lemonade line up. I had been a fan of Forever Changes ever since I discovered it at the tail end of the punk era. I spent years convincing people that this was a punk band. In the eighties, I was proved right when every indie band on the planet borrowed from the grooves of this holy grail.

Arthur's music has been a part of my life for so long. Generations of musicians have been influenced by him, and more are to come.
Seeing Arthur with Love in a small venue down in the West of Cornwall will stay with me forever, its up there alongside the birthof my daughter, and my wedding day. That important.

I've seen many 'legends' in my time, but hearing Arthur crack jokes about the late Bryan Mclean, and sing "Oh the snot has caked against my pants....." a man was brought to tears. Tonight I'm crying for a different reason. I hope you find Love Arthur, thank you and goodbye.
Barry

Wow what an album, what a legacy, nobody commented yet??I can remember playing Alone Again to a friend years ago and him going whoah!! where did that come from. Wish I'd seen them in 67,
Hope he's jamming with Syd and Bolan

i saw arthur play in dublin 0n 16/06/02. it was the night ireland were knocked out of the 2002 world cup. i was fed up, arthur was 1 hour late due to plane mix up! but it was well worth the wait,one of the best gigs iv,e ever been too. to hear forever changes and the classics i,d long loved was magic. arthur was full of boundless energy that night,stomping around the stage like a wild thing!
to hear the crowd sing word for word to nearly allthe songs was fantastic too.
i saw arthur again on 13/11/03 in dublin and tat was a brilant gig also.
rest in psychedelic pieces arthur.
i am listening to the first album while i type and i.m so sorry to hear this news....

god rest mate,cheers for the amazing music.

r.i.p arthur lee r.i.p love

phillyctr

Arthur was one of the greats. In recent years I have managed to see him play live in venues to small for the mans talent. When I heard the news on Saturday I have to admit sheding some tears. Of all the artists of the last one hundred years, Arthur is one of the most under rated. I hope that does not continue ...

"The Wreck of the Arthur Lee...
Will never return again...
Never return again...
Believe in Love...
Believe in Love..."
The Wreck Of The Arthur Lee
by Robyn Hitchcock (from the CD "Respect")

When I played this song for Arthur at his Van Nuys apartment, prior to his arrest in '95 for possession of a pistol and ammo, Arthur listened intently. When I mentioned that the song was called "The Wreck Of The Arthur Lee" and was written by a great English songwriter named Robyn Hitchcock, Arthur grew dark. He said "I'll wreck HIM!" and "I'm gonna kick his *#!& ass!". Then, "I don't care if he's ALFRED Hitchcock...I'm gonna mess him up"!

When I next saw Robyn, a couple of months later, in Los Angeles at McCabe's Guitar Shop, where he was performing, I told him of Arthur's reaction and threats. Robyn looked saddened and said it was a tribute to Arthur. I told Robyn not to get too close to Arthur. It could be dangerous to his health. Or worse.

Not long after that, Arthur returned to his old habits, alcohol andmoreagain. The last time I visited Arthur at his San Fernando Valley pad, he invited me in, locked the front door, and said he wanted to show me his newest 'instrument'. With that, he took out a box, opened it, and pulled out a shiny chrome "Dirty Harry"-type Magnum pistol and began pointing it at me, among other potential targets. When I hinted that I better be going, Arthur double-locked the front door, removed his wig/hairpiece and partial/dentures, and began spouting strange Messianic messages and veiled threats.

After toying with me like a cat with a mouse, he unlocked the front door and told me to "Get the fuck out" and "Never fuckin' come back"! A few weeks later, Arthur and Baby Love/Lemonade played a gig at the famous - now gone - Palomino Club in North Hollywood. I went, paid my 5 or 10 dollars, and stood at the back, near the bar, so as not to be noticed by anyone, especially Arthur. It was another typical Arthur Lee performance, uninspired, uneventful, and tired.

A few weeks later, Arthur called me regarding some business/management deal he was setting up with a fan from New Zealand. When I casually mentioned that I'd seen his show at The Palomino a few weeks earlier, Arthur said "Why didn't you say 'Hi' or come backstage?", etc. I told Arthur, I felt like being alone, and just wanted to watch the show, then split. A fly on the wall/observer.

A few days later, I received a voice message from Arthur when I got home from work. "This is Arthur, man. If I ever catch you sneakin' an' peekin' again...I'm gonna cut your motherfuckin' head off to the fat!"! This was not too long after the O.J.Simpson double murder/decapitation of his wife. I was truly frightened.

A few weeks after that, Arthur called me at my job. After nervously taking his call, he asked if I was still angry with him. I replied, "You've threatened me and accused me of doing things I didn't do, at least two times!" Arthur, the wolf in sheep's clothing, countered, "You wanna make it three?" I said boldly, "It's already three, probably four or five!" With that, Arthur handed the phone over to Doug Thomas, the New Zealand manager-wanna-be.

Arthur and Doug were trying to use me to get to Bryan MacLean. I told them that Bryan wasn't interested in their latest scheme, etc. Not too long after that, Arthur got busted again for a physical dispute he'd had with his girlfriend at the time.

It was also on the day of Rhino Records' release of "Love Story", a beautifully packaged best-of double cd. A release party and gig had to be cancelled. And not long after, Arthur got busted for firing off a gun in his building. Even though Arthur denied the charges, I knew better. I'd seen that chrome 'cannon' he'd brandished at me. After that, Arthur was tried, convicted and sentenced to hard-time prison(for six years). During this time, I continued to champion Bryan and his music, helping his mom, Elizabeth, to compile demos of Bryan's songs for a release on Sundazed Records.

Then, Bryan died of a heart attack on Christmas Day 1998, in a pizza joint across the street from Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue. Bryan had wanted me to join him for a drive up the coast, followed by lunch. But I didn't get his message in time, and, instead, spent the afternoon with musician/historian/friend Ian Whitcomb and his wife.

At this time, Arthur was in confinement and wasn't speaking to the press or fans. Next, Arthur's loving mom, Agnes, passed away in Memphis, where she had gone back to live with family and friends. Arthur never went to her funeral, the woman he loved most.
After Arthur was released from prison in 2001, I went to see him a few times with Baby Lemonade backing him faithfully. But little by little, Arthur began returning to his old habits once more.

He became arrogant, unpredictable, undependable. Arthur Lee was his own worst enemy. Loved and worshipped by many, world-wide(who didn't know the real Arthur), and written off by many who had had enough of Arthur's shenanigans, threats, lies, and unprofessional behaviour, onstage, and off.


Arthur was a cat with nine lives, and he used them all up. He was long overdue for his final rest, for his restless soul. Arthur and I had some good times and laughs together, but to be held hostage, at gunpoint, more than once, by one's musical hero and major influence is something strangely unique and perverse. I can honestly say that LOVE, Arthur, Bryan, Alone Again Or, Forever Changes, Orange Skies and 7 And 7 Is changed my life forever!


I'll miss you Arthur. I still miss you Bryan. God Bless and Rest your weary soul, Mister Lee.

"If you don't like my story...then don't buy my song.
Cause I wouldn't want you to listen to anything wrong."
Gather Round by Arthur Lee (from LOVE's Out Here)

"Yeah. I heard a funny thing...somebody said to me. You know that I could be in Love with almost every one...I think that people are the greatest fun...And I will be..."
Alone Again Or by Bryan MacLean (from Forever Changes)

"Don't turn your lights on when I die...Cause you'll need all the power you can get."
Car Lights On In The Day Time Blues by Arthur Lee (from Out Here)

"People tellin' me...what I got to be...When all the time I see...I belong to me. You got to stay away from evil...and all them crazy people. Just get you in deeper...making your life cheaper with their's."
Stay Away From Evil by Arthur Lee (from Rhino solo lp)

"Everybody's Gotta Live...and everybody's gonna die!"
Arthur Lee (March 7th 1945 -August 3rd 2006)

I met Arthur when his band (then the Grassroots) auditioned with my band at Ciro's on the Sunset Strip in 1966. He pissed off the the owner by making him wait 20 minutes while Arthur and Johnny struggled to get a Hammond B-3 up onto the stage.
Although they played a great set, they didn't get the job. And they never played a single note on that B-3.