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Arthur Lee

1945 - 2006

Although nearly 60 when I first met him, Arthur Lee was an imposing figure. American born Lee was one the main movers and shakers of the 60’s psychedelic rock movement with his band Love. Over the years he survived drugs and even a spell in prison in 1996 for firing a gun into the air at a neighbour which landed him in clink under the Californian automatic ‘three strikes’ rule.

He died of leukaemia in Memphis in August. When I first met him it was at a gig in Newcastle. Going back stage after the show I heard him giving someone in the band a strong word or two as he was not quite happy with some aspect of the performance. But alone together in the dressing room he was charming, very friendly and made good conversation about this and that. I remember thinking “I wouldn’t fancy getting on the wrong side of him if I shared his prison cell.” He told me a secret, he said he was doing his best, but was ill, although not with leukaemia.

There was a big crowd for the gig and I remember that around a quarter were quite young, late teens or early twenties. Arthur Lee had crossed the generations and was successfully pulling a new audience, but  goes back to a time when the Byrds, Mamas & Papas and the Doors ranked alongside Love.

Their 1968 and third album, Forever Changes with the classic tracks A House is Not a Motel and Alone Again Or remains a fabulous recording. When it was realised he had leukaemia, several top musicians lined-up to play benefit concerts for him including Robert Plant.

Arthur Lee leaves me with the memory of a superb gig, a friendly chat and an excellent album. JS

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Copyright © 2008. Last modified: August 05, 2008