A Perfect Haze

October 24, 2011
Before Woodstock, thousands of hippies descended on Monterey for the first ever International Pop Festival. At the height of the 1967 summer of love, many were unaware of the part they were about to play in the forthcoming "cultural explosion." Decorated producer Lou Adler cheerfully recalls the conception of the groundbreaking event, which gathered artists who represented the festival's harmonious principles. The authors provide sumptuous documentation through telegrams, contracts, newspaper clippings, line-up posters, and other rare paraphernalia. The work of celebrated photographers captures the atmosphere of this terrific spectacle: the rawness of Janis Joplin; the audacity of (then relatively unknown) Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar alight; the showmanship of The Who; and the "cultivated relaxation" enjoyed by the crowd spacing out to The Grateful Dead and Ravi Shankar before being blown away by Otis Redding. The Kuberniks's combined knowledge and passion make for a thoroughly entertaining retrospective. As David Crosby says: "What happened at Monterey was the flowering of an entirely different set of values." Festival organizer Michelle Phillips closes proceedings with reflections on this genuine happening, and the dawn of a far out philosophy that keeps on giving.

November 15, 2011

Although Woodstock looms larger in our national consciousness, the Monterey International Pop Festival (MIPF) of 1967 has a strong claim to the title of the first successful large-scale rock festival. With this book, endorsed by the MIPF Foundation as the first official history of the festival, brothers Harvey (Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon) and Kenneth Kubernik (former editor, Music Connection) present a clear and concise picture of a tumultuous time. Interviews with planners, managers, artists, and reporters trace a path from the idea's genesis through three days of unforgettable performances and the shooting of an acclaimed documentary film (D.A. Pennebaker's 1968 Monterey Pop). Scores of never-before-seen photographs and festival ephemera, along with contemporary articles and broadcast transcripts, make for a totally immersive experience. The book includes a foreword from festival producer Lou Adler and an afterword by Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas. VERDICT Well organized, beautifully laid out, and packed with insightful commentary, this work will find its way to the shelves of flower children of all ages. Strongly recommended for anyone with an interest in the music and culture of late 1960s America.--Neil Derksen, Gwinnett Cty. P.L., Lawrenceville, GA

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