Arthur Lee (musician)

Arthur Lee is the enigmatic and volatile frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the legendary Los Angeles psychedelic band Love, best known for the critically revered 1967 album, Forever Changes.

Love

Lee said when he first heard the Byrds, he felt vindicated since he'd already been writing music that had a similar folk rock sound. The Grass Roots, his folk rock unit, eventually turned into Love because there was already a signed act called the Grass Roots. This was in 1965. As is usually the case, because of this name crisis, several names were considered. Among these were Summer's Children, the Asylum Choir, Dr. Strangelove and Poetic Justice. The name Love was chosen after a club audience voted it as the best choice. According to Barney Hoskyn's 2001 book Arthur Lee: Alone Again Or, Manson Family member and sometime Love guitarist Bobby Beausoleil claimed that Arthur had named the band Love in honor of one of Bobby's nicknames, Cupid.

Related Topics:
The Byrds - Folk rock - 1965 - Manson Family - Guitarist - Bobby Beausoleil

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Stylistically, Lee pioneered the psychedelic black man archetype, anticipating Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone in terms of music, fashion and attitude.

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Love's music is difficult to categorize and has been described as R&B, protopunk, psychedelic rock and garage rock. It can be disturbing to many listeners because Lee's lyrics and delivery can highlight some of life's darker and stranger aspects.

Related Topics:
R&B - Protopunk - Psychedelic rock - Garage rock

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The band Love went through several changes of personnel. For critics and fans alike, the 1967 LP "Forever Changes" is regarded as not only thier finest recording but one of the best albums of the sixties. Depsite this acclaim, most of it retrospective, the LP sold poorly. Nonetheless, it's cult status grew. Unfortunatley, the band's music became somewhat eclipsed by the Arthur Lee's behaviour. His erratic behaviour, frail physical and mental health fuelled a rock myth which, like Brian Wilson, Roky Erikson and Syd Barrett possibly served to keep the memory alive.

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In 2002 Arthur Lee went on the road again with a new version of Love and performed "Forever Changes".

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Arthur Lee was sacked by Love in August 2005. The band continued the tour as the 'Love Band'.

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