Saturday August 5, 2006
The Guardian
One of the central figures of the 60s psychedelic rock scene, Arthur Lee of the Love, has died in Memphis at the age of 61. After surviving drug problems and a spell in jail for firearms offences, the singer finally succumbed to leukaemia after a long battle with the disease.
The news spread swiftly yesterday over the internet among Lee and Love's hardcore base of loyal fans, some of whom had first come across the singer when the band was formed in 1965 in Los Angeles. "Arthur Lee died with his wife, Diane, by his side," said his manager, Mark Linn, on a fan website. "This is still very much a shock for me, as I had hoped Arthur would recover."
With its trademark logo in familiar wavy psychedelic lettering, Love was associated with the innovative music of California, at a time when the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Doors were flourishing.
Lee, who once described himself as "the first so-called black hippie", was born in Tennessee but moved with his family to Los Angeles as a child.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1837811,00.htmlWhat a shame the guy had such a messed up life. He wrote some great music.
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