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October 16th, 1971, inside of two weeks before Duane's death on Oct. 29th. Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, & Berry Oakley above. Duane and Berry died in separate motorcycle accidents-- Duane in 1971 and Berry in 1972. So, I'm trying hard not to focus on the crazy shirts, but they're pretty smokin' man. Are they Nik Nik shirts?
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There’s an overwhelming feeling of worldly injustice and “what could’ve been”, when someone so gifted and young is taken from us like Duane Allman was. The only consolation we have (and a sweet one it is), are the incredible tracks he laid down with The Allman Brothers Band, Derek and the Dominoes, and his session works in the studio with great artists like Aretha Franklin, King Curtis, B.B. King, and Clarence Carter. And if you think he was just a great slide player and string bender– check out the blistering lead work on You Don’t Love Me.
I can’t believe that 38 years have already passed since the day Duane Allman hopped on his Harley after a party in Macon, Georgia– not knowing it would be for the last time. He only got a few miles down the road, when a truck turned in front of him and Duane clipped it’s back end. Allman lost control, and the Harley landed on top of him, sustaining injuries that would take his life within a few short hours. The lead guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, who was gaining huge acclaim for his exciting and innovative sound and style, was dead at age 24.
Jerry Wexler’s eulogy for Duane sums it up best: “This young and beautiful man who we love so dearly but who is not lost to us, because we have his music, and the music is imperishable.”
Amen, brother. Amen.
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November 24th, 1969, Muscle Shoals, Alabama -- Wilson Pickett and Duane Allman.
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The Oakland Motorcycle Club group photo in front of W.P. Williams Excelsior Motorcycles, circa 1910s.
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Founded in 1907, the Oakland Motorcycle Club has a long history & heritage of turning out hellacious old school hill-climbers, modern-day enduro jockeys, and all-around raucous riders. Checkout the tonnage of awe-inspiring vintage photos documenting their historical group shots, outdoor motor-sports, and runs galore on good ol’classic American iron– Indian & Harley Davidson motorcycles.
And if the bike action doesn’t get ya’, their gear-head meets The Great Gatsby style certainly will.
Bow ties, shawl collars & jodphurs– oh my.
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Oakland Motorcycle Club members, circa 1920s.
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As a boy growing up in the 1970s, I can tell you with absolute authority that there were two women who were on every pubescent boy’s mind– Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs. Sure, there were others– but Farrah & Cheryl were the cream of the crop. And the major rite of passage was to have one of their epic posters up on your bedroom wall. That was huge. It showed you’d graduated from the land of legos and had entered the exciting, awkward, and confusing hormonal journey into manhood. Are we there yet?
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The epic Farrah Fawcett poster, was it 1977?
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Bruce Lee, circa 1972.
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There are certain moments in life that you never forget. Oddly, I still remember the evening when as a kid I got a glimpse of Bruce Lee on the tube in Game of Death. It was the immortal scene where Lee, at all of 5′ 7″, squares-off against 7′ 2″ basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his unending Plastic Man-like reach. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the sinewy, screaming, leaping Bruce Lee– I’d never seen anything so crazy and exciting in all my short life. He seemed more full of life, energy and determination than anyone I’d ever seen– yet, I was watching a man onscreen who had already passed away. It seemed almost unbelievable that he was gone– I think that pretty much sums up the effect he had on a lot of people. He was so skilled, entertaining and charismatic that you couldn’t take your eyes off him, because if you did– you might quickly miss out on something that’s never been seen before. You were sure there was no one person in the world that could take Bruce Lee out. He seemed to be invincible onscreen– which makes his mysterious passing all the more ironic.
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Original caption from 1966-- Bruce Lee, who plays Kato in ABC-TV's Fridays, (7:30-8 P.M., EST) springs into three of the basic positions of Kung Fu, the ancient Oriental art of self-defense of which Bruce is a master.
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There’s an interesting bit about Bruce Lee’s relationship with another Hollywood icon he hung out with– Steve McQueen. Among the many stars that Bruce Lee counted as his pupils and friends (James Coburn, James Garner, etc.) none were bigger than McQueen. Obviously both were highly competitive guys, so when Bruce Lee’s star began to rise it caused notable tension between the two that almost destroyed their friendship.
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Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, 1968.
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Let’s just finish out this week with Johnny Cash — if that’s alright with y’all? Never can have to much of a good thing — and it just don’t get any better than this in my book.
It was 1968, and Johnny Cash was finally at a place in life where he was able to get a grip on his drug addictions — with the love and support of his wife June. Johnny had always wanted to perform at Folsom — ever since he first recorded the tune Folsom Prison Blues back in 1957 for Sun Records. After years of delays caused by management changes at Johnny’s record label, and battles with his own personal demons, the time was finally right.
Backed by the legendary Carl Perkins, the Tennessee Three, not to mention June Carter Cash (a musical dynamo in her own right ), Johnny and company set out to California’s Folsom Prison to put on one helluva show (two shows actually) for the penned-up boys in blue. The resulting live album At Folsom Prison was a huge success that reignited Johnny Cash’s career, and is an enduring classic that is hands-down required listening for all Johnny Cash, American Roots, and Country Western music fans.
From the moment you hear that “Hello — I’m Johnny Cash” and that guitar — you’re flat hooked, brother.
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Johhny Cash at Folsom Prison, 1968.
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Johnny Cash strutin' his stuff, jammin' on his Martin guitar, CA. 1959.
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I have a good friend of mine (we won’t mention any names here, you know who you are), who can have his whole world crashing down around him — and somehow, the guy just gets better looking. It’s like stress is a magical elixir that slims, tones, and revives every cell in his body. I just want to kill the guy. Me — if I’m going through Hell, you can bet yer’ money that I also look like Hell.
Now Johnny Cash’s life wasn’t exactly a cakewalk back in the day. Cash was touring like a banshee — the marriage was crumbling — they (he and first wife Vivian) had 4 baby girls to take care of — he was partying like a fiend — he and his badass buddies, like Waylon Jennings, were taking every pill there was — he gets busted in El Paso for possession — you get the picture, the guy lived hard. Yet, looking at these pictures, he looks simply amazing. Cash’s style during this time, with his tight, slicked back hair and crisp, clean tailoring look unbelievable compared to the 1970s ‘bigger is better’ looks that were to follow. I will say though that once you get to 1965-66 — well, you can see that the effects are definitely starting to show on Johnny’s face. All in all though, he had an amazing run even with all the crap going on, until it eventually caught up with him — and it always does. God bless Johnny Cash.
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Johnny Cash backstage and his awesome custom Gibson with his name inlayed in the fingerboard.
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Chosen Few Motorcycle Club
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Soak in the retro soil & oil biker shots from the Chosen Few, and East Bay Dragons motorcycle clubs.
In 1959, the Chosen Few MC officially formed out in LA on the cusp of the chaotic 60s. As they tell it — “The 60s was a hell of a time. With the Civil Rights Movement, The Viet Nam War, Flower Power & Free Love. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. Also the Crazy World of the Outlaw Bikers.”
If this sounds as foreign to you as it did to me, a kid who grew up in the world of white biker culture – well, consider the cultural stereotypes around bikers.
“When you talk of the Outlaw Bikers you automatically think of ‘Them Crazy White Boys’ doing what a lot of folk wish they could do. Live Life Like You Want & F*ck You And Your Rules. Well Guess What? There was some crazy Black bikers who felt the fame way, and didn’t give a F*ck. Thus was born the Black Outlaw Bikers ! ”
Black motorcycle clubs emerged throughout Cali in the 50s & 60s, and fought against racism and stereotypes of the day for their right to live the outlaw biker lifestyle — like the East Bay Dragons, Fresco Rattlers, Outlaw Vagabonds, Defiant Ones; down South in LA were the Choppers, Soul Brothers & of course, the Chosen Few.
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Chosen Few Motorcycle Club
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Dueling tattoo legends & bosom buddies-- Al Schiefley (left) & Les Skuse (right)
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Yep. On a tattoo kick again. Check out these sick pics and you’ll know why. This ain’t no Miami Ink — this is Olde School, Hard-Ass Tats.
The legendary tattooist, and founder of the Sandusky Tattoo Club, Al Schiefley lived and worked out of Sandusky, Ohio where he opened his famous Pearl Street shop that dutifully operated for over a quarter of a century. The photo above was taken back in mid 1950s during Al’s travels abroad, and shows him seemingly double-teaming a well-inked young lady (with a strange sense of humor) alongside his host and fellow tattoo master — Les Skuse, President of the famed Bristol Tattoo Club. While in Bristol, Al had the honor of being tattooed by Skuse, as well as the respected London tattooist, Rich Mingins.
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Paul Newman as Cool Hand Luke
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Cool Hand Luke, brother. Enough quotable anti-establishment mantras to ink an entire tattoo sleeve. Enough chambray & denim workwear to choke the toughest clothes horse. It’s Sunday night, men. You have a few hours still left to rebel before you punch your ticket and report to the man on Monday morning.
Can’t find your spine? What? you left it at Starbucks, bro? Pick up your shovel and let Lucas Jackson show you how to find it at the bottom of Boss Keans’ ditch. Sometimes a man enters a fight with nothin’ but his will, and where he came from — and that can be a real cool hand. Watch and learn.
Any man who passes up– spends a night in the box.
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The rock and roll group Van Halen are shown posed in a studioDavid Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen and Michael Anthony, circa 1980.
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I still remember the first time I heard Van Halen. I was in grade school, and Mom got a baby-sitter — it was a Friday night. As soon as Mom and Stepdad clear the corner, all the (cute) baby-sitter’s friends (with feathered hair and Goody combs hangin’ out their back pockets) show up to drink our booze, blast our stereo, and even smoke a little somethin’. It was a party, and it was a smokin’ good time — as far as Friday nights for a little kid go.
The Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Bob Seger were usually on heavy rotation at home around that time — but all that changed that night. Some hip Senior brought a copy of Van Halen I, and I was blown away. This was no burner music — these guys were on fire. I heard friggin’ Ice Cream Man for the first time. Right? David Lee Roth on acoustic — did you even know he could play? Well yeah, it was before he became a girl — running around in tights, doing the splits and feeling his ass the whole show. Van Halen started out as a tight band that laid it down hard. No one could touch ‘em. Not even close. Goes without saying — Eddie Van Halen, well, was the guitar god in a world all by himself. There’s been no one like him since. Yep. Old Van Halen is still my guilty pleasure. A little Unchained will get anyone’s blood pumpin’ — or they ain’t alive. Everybody Up!
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Guitar God Eddie Van Halen — David Lee Roth, the ultimate showman
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Get yourself a motorcycle. ’Nuff said.
From movie stars to mechanics, hippies to hard-asses — everyone loves the feeling of being on a bike. For some it’s a phase, for others a lifelong obsession. Whatever the case may be, the experience will definitely leave you changed — and somewhat less tamed. Knowing that you can handle a bike – exposed to all that the elements can throw at you – gives you a confidence that’s unspoken. Others will sense somethings different, but might not quite get it. You feel more equipped behind the wheel of any ol’ thing.
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Paul Newman -- this pic is flawess. From the white duds, to the boots, to the bike.
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Luxurious bath, "Palais Bulles" in Theoule-sur-Mer, France -- Designed by fashion designer Pierre Cardin and architect Antti Lovag, ca. 1970s.
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“Palais Bulles” was an inspired collaboration between fashion designer Pierre Cardin (it was to be his home) and the Finnish architect Antti Lovag. Nestled in the stunning red rock face, this masterpiece of modern design was built utilizing entirely curved surfaces. The network of anti-seismic, self-sustaining bubbles extend over almost 5,000 square feet, and are dramatically perched 2,000 feet above the beautiful blue Mediterranean Sea. The views, they say, are absolutely unbelievable.
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“Palais Bulles”, or The Bubble Palace, sits atop a hillside in Theoule-sur-Mer on the French Riviera, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The futuristic mansion, comprised of rounded rooms with rotating floors, was designed by Pierre Cardin and architect Antti Lovag in 1968.
