The music of my teenage years
Music was everything, back then when I grew up in Munich in the 60s - at least in my life and in the lives of my friends. This lens shall showcase some scenes from those years.
I had the opportunity to play in several different amateur bands and I attended live concerts of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Chicago, Donovan, and many other great musical artists of that era.
So many tunes from that era are connected to strong emotional memories. Music seems to shape us for our futures - it certainly influenced my thinking and feeling. When I have time, I blow my horn or I hammer the keys - and I remember when...
I had the opportunity to play in several different amateur bands and I attended live concerts of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Chicago, Donovan, and many other great musical artists of that era.
So many tunes from that era are connected to strong emotional memories. Music seems to shape us for our futures - it certainly influenced my thinking and feeling. When I have time, I blow my horn or I hammer the keys - and I remember when...
See what's in this lens:
- Early Profile
- 1966 The Beatles in Munich
- Have A Sing-Along With The Beatles!
- Sweet Soul Music
- Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett
- Rolling along...
- Rolling Stones...
- Later 60's
- Chicago and Santana
- Ultimate Beatles lens
- The Ultimate "Stones" Show!
- Beatles or Stones
- The White Beatles Book
- Beatles and Stones
- Let's get to the bottom of it:
- 60's events
- My Original Music Today - As Seen On YouTube
- My Tribute To Squid Angels
- My Ode To Squidoo Lensmasters
- My favorite music on Pandora Radio
- Dear Friend -
Early Profile
Trying to find my path to happiness
I was born in 1949, in Munich, Germany. My parents discovered my musical talents very early and hired a piano teacher for me at age 4. By the time I started elementary school, I could read books and play the piano quite well. As soon as I had reached my early teenage years I played in amateur bands, mostly the keyboards but occasionally the saxophone or various percussion instruments.Our heroes were The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, of course, but also The Byrds, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and many other superstars of that era.
In June of 1966, The Beatles were scheduled to play a concert in Munich. The tickets sold out within hours and I had no chance of buying any for myself. On the day of the concert, a friend approached me and announced that he had an extra ticket and asked if I was interested. He sold me the ticket for the regular price, and I was in heaven. I remember paying 25 Deutsche Mark, which compared to about $7, back then.
Both videos below have been filmed on that day. One is a clip from that day's newscast about the arrival of The Beatles in Munich, a special advice session for cops, discussing fan profiling and police strategies, and then scenes from the hotel and the fans awaiting a glimpse of the Fab Four. I was standing right there in the crowd, completely mesmerized by the electrical energy of that situation. Later on, John and Paul appeared at their windows, tossing autographs into our midst.
The second clip shows a performance of "Yesterday".
The concert took place at the venue of Munich's resident circus, which was touring during the Summer months. With only about 3,000 seats, you could have called it a quite intimate setting, if it hadn't been for the deafening screams of all of us alike.
This was a night I haven't forgotten since, and it's been 42 years, at this point.
Have A Sing-Along With The Beatles!
The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook
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Release Date: 12/31/1969
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Sweet Soul Music
One of my first bands was called "5 Men in the Hoose Gow". Then came "The Bugaboos", and then "The Prowlers". We used to play a lot in Officer's Clubs of the American Forces, in and around Munich. Most of us band members didn't speak English then, and so we faked it with phonetic singing. The soldiers didn't mind. They liked us and our sound, and we had many rounds of drinks sent to the stage.
Can you imagine us white German boys doing soul music? Beer sure helped.
Below find a couple of examples of the "real thing" of those days.
Can you imagine us white German boys doing soul music? Beer sure helped.
Below find a couple of examples of the "real thing" of those days.
Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett
curated content from YouTube
Rolling along...
...Stones, that is.
It was kinda funny - we were either Stones or Beatles fans. I can't remember knowing anyone who admired both groups the same. I was a Beatles guy. When I hear any one of their songs today, distinct memories return. Either about heart aches over one particular girl, or a sweet image of a romantic event in my life, all still very emotional.
But now let's hear it from the early "Stones", and, as a bonus, a clip about another "Rolling Stone" from those days.
But now let's hear it from the early "Stones", and, as a bonus, a clip about another "Rolling Stone" from those days.
Later 60's
A musical career develops...
I had made up my mind - I wanted to be a professional musician, a rock star, if you will. Well, in reality we were still only semi-professional as a band. Meanwhile, our name had changed to "The Penny Dreadful". Don't ask me.
We added quite a bit of "Chicago" and "Santana" songs to our repertoire. And by then, we performed 4 days a week.
All my other band mates were students, with definite plans for careers in fields other than music. I was the only one who wanted to go on, write songs - maybe, or become a studio musician. We started drifting apart. Priorities were redefined, and our gigs diminished. What happened next shall be a topic for another lens. It got quite interesting in my life.
Here are two more examples of the great music of the Sixties: Chicago and Santana.
We added quite a bit of "Chicago" and "Santana" songs to our repertoire. And by then, we performed 4 days a week.
All my other band mates were students, with definite plans for careers in fields other than music. I was the only one who wanted to go on, write songs - maybe, or become a studio musician. We started drifting apart. Priorities were redefined, and our gigs diminished. What happened next shall be a topic for another lens. It got quite interesting in my life.
Here are two more examples of the great music of the Sixties: Chicago and Santana.
Chicago and Santana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvGa-8-Lns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUN9ZBGiWj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUN9ZBGiWj0
curated content from YouTube
Here's my favorite link:
The Ultimate "Stones" Show!
Shine a Light
Amazon Price: $20.99 (as of 12/08/2009)
List Price: $34.99
Used Price: $1.95
Release Date: 07/29/2008
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Beatles or Stones
The eternal question
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The White Beatles Book
The White Book: The Beatles, the Bands, the Biz: An Insider's Look at an Era
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 12/08/2009)
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Used Price: $2.56
Release Date: 12/31/1969
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Beatles and Stones
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Let's get to the bottom of it:
Beatles or Stones?
Consider it all: their influence on us youngsters, on other bands, on cultural changes in the world; their artistic substance, creative output...everything!
Which band is more important?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byJohn, Paul, George & Ringo. Here's why:
JaguarJulie says:
Are YOU kidding???? The Beatles are way more important than the Stones. It's kind of unfair in the fact that the Stones are still alive -- well sort of alive.
Posted August 31, 2009
mulberry says:
I was a little tyke when the Beatles were big so I was basically "weaned" on them. They're definitely my fav over the Stones.
Posted May 20, 2009
Margaret_Schaut says:
Interesting and Original lens! I'm with the beatles even though I love the stones. They had a greater impact on my sense of what music could do, could accomplish, what it could mean, then the stones did. I just enjoyed the stones.
Posted April 16, 2008
Mick, Keith & Crew. Here's why:
Oosquid says:
I have to admit to being a bigggg Stones fan.
The way I see it the Rolling Stones were more important in the early days.
Sure the Beatles were influential, very influential, but it was the Stones that got us rebelling. They also drew attention to a lot of black music that white kids had not heard before. The Beatles were probably the biggest thing ever in popular music, but I'd say the Stones Are the most influential.
Posted May 11, 2009
Gordon_Hamilton says:
The Stones are, were and (probably!) always will be my favourite band of all time. Their raw energy, vibrancy and originality put The Beatles to shame (sorry!) and their talent far out-weighed that of all competitors. I just think that The Beatles sang the stereotypical, teeny-bop snash of thousands of other bands of the era while Mick, Keith and Co offered and gave far more.
The King himself, Elvis Presley, is the only one in my eyes who eclipsed The Stones...
Posted June 04, 2008
60's events
- 1969 Woodstock Festival & Concert
- A collection of Woodstock facts, stories, photographs, memorabilia, and links.
- The Beatles - The Internet Beatles Album
- A collection of Beatles related informational, sound and picture files, made available for study by Beatles fans and scholars all over the world to explore ...
- RollingStones.com home
- The Rolling Stones's official web site and fan club, featuring news, photos, concert tickets, merchandise, and more.
- Soul music - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Soul music is a music genre that combines rhythm and blues and gospel music, originating in the United States. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ...
- Bob Dylan - Expecting Rain
- Bob Dylan: One of the pioneer sites on the Web dealing with Bob Dylan, Dylan's influences, lyrics, records and the latest concert reviews. Updated daily.
- Official Site of Chicago the Band - Welcome !!!
- Official site with tour dates, biography, discography, and fan club information.
- The Official Carlos Santana Web Site
- Official site with history, music, touring schedule, discography, merchandise, interactive forum, photos, news and band member information.
- Wilson Pickett
- Includes biography, timeline of his life, and photographs.
- Otis Redding | The Legacy Continues
- Official site with biography, discography, song lyrics and information about the Otis Redding Memorial Fund (scholarship).
My Original Music Today - As Seen On YouTube
I'm not really a singer but I'll "do it" anyway here, for you...
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My Tribute To Squid Angels
Pictures of the Alaska coast and one of my instrumental tunes...
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My Ode To Squidoo Lensmasters
So many lensmaster helped me - here are a few names...
powered by Youtube
My favorite music on Pandora Radio
- Chef Keem's Pandora #1
- Chef Keem's Pandora #1
- chefkeem's QuickMix
- chefkeem's QuickMix
powered by Pandora
Dear Friend -
Please leave a comment. And give me a star rating for this lens, if you liked it. Thank you for visiting.
Warm regards,
-Chef Keem
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Reply
- KarateKatGraphics KarateKatGraphics Sep 3, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
- Fascinating time and so rich musically! The early '60s are one of my fave historical eras. 5* and rolling this to squidoo.com/sixties-style
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Reply
- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Aug 31, 2009 @ 10:48 am
- OK, I am a wee bit disappointed with the musical arrangements included herein -- I came for the Oom pa-pa music! Bavarian, etc. That's the type of music that gets me going!!!
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Reply
- Timewarp Timewarp Aug 11, 2009 @ 1:30 am
- What a cool time and place to grow up and be in bands, fun lens!
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Reply
- OhMe OhMe Oct 31, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
- Great lens that brings back some wonderful memories. I really enjoyed this. Thanks
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Reply
- Gordon_Hamilton Gordon_Hamilton Jun 4, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
- Great lens. I know the Munich of recent years but nothing of pre-1985. It's always interesting to read of different aspects. 5*
(At least I know the Helles and Weiss Bier would still have been of the same quality then! :) )
- Load More
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