This guy was a true original. Didn’t feel genuine singing other peoples’ lyrics so he wrote his own words as what he called “the obvious solution.” Simple. And genius.
I always heard he had some insecurities , but he was great , maybe if only more people had told him that ... also the same with the Seekers'' Judith Durham , she didn't think much of herself , depression or something , but she was beautiful .. miss them both ... but lucky to have enjoyed their presence ..
Alan Wilson should be remembered for the music not how he passed. He is still alive in the heart of the fans and his family. I wonder what his IQ was? From listening to him feel that he has an high level of intelligence. He has always fascinated me.
Great interview. His harmonica playing and that guitar work on Boogie at Woodstock are perfect. Got to see Canned Heat in 1968 in San Antonio, somehow I was able to tag along with the cool kids to my first concert. We were all at Episcopal church camp in Wimberley, Texas. I had my first French kiss at church camp in Baytown, Texas. Praise Jesus.
SOME musicians and singers since his death can handle such questions, even fewer have the temperament to conduct such interviews. What a student of the entire industry/history of his genre.
Love listening to this I can relate to a lot he went too soon but when it's time to go it's time to go had some close calls with drugs over the years great musician inspires me depression and self worth it's something I struggle with everyday I'll keep going until I have enough definitely not making any promises
On the Road Again , I think is my favorite because my dear mother left me when I was quite young , anyway , Fried Hockey Boogie , where they turn the Sunflower loose , "Go on , buzz a little bit Henry ! Wow !
I've probably listened to Fried Hockey Boogie 500 times over the years, and that's an incredible 4 minute solo! I'm responding to a five year old comment, lol.
@@kenm7179 Good man ! You have great taste too ! Ha ! In '69 , I had a Sears AM/FM, cassette player with ONE earjack , and would fall asleep listening to the " Cookbook" tape ! I saw Canned Heat and Badfinger at Roberts' stadium in Evansville Indiana in '71-'72 , sadly , " Blind Owl" was gone , but it was still a great concert . I think tickets were $ 4.50 in advance , $ 5.50 day of show . I still have a Canned Heat frisbee they threw out to the crowd I'm sure you already are " hip " , but check out " Time Was " , Sic'em Pigs , and " Amphetamine Annie " , who's always " shovelin' snow ' Have a good one you old hippie you !
@@waldoparsnip1025 Wow, I respond to a 5 year old comment and get an instant response- glad you're still around, lol. I never saw Canned Heat in person but, to my lifelong regret, I was in the bleachers at Fenway Park while they were playing the Tea Party directly across the street- must have been 1970. Anyway, yeah I'm pretty familiar with most of their early stuff, love the offbeat Blind Owl songs like "Do Not Enter", "Poor Moon", but the Bear was great too. Take care
@@kenm7179 Wow ! You do ' know your stuff " You've heard all I mentioned and then some ! Those were the good ol' days . I remember laying in bed at night , no air conditioning , windows open , crickets chirping outside , but if the wind was just right , I could pick WLS out of Chicago " the loop " I think , or if the wind was the other direction , " the King Biscuit Flour Hour "out of New York , we have everything at the snap of a finger these days , but I'd go back to the mid-late 60's tomorrow .Warm summer nights , drive-ins , getting an ice cream or Mr.Misty at the local Dairy Queen , I wish the youth of today could experience it all . I'm glad you replied , I posted my comment to you and it vanished , but here you are so you must have gotten it... Ha ! I catch on quick don't I ? . again , have a great night .
@@kenm7179 I'm old ( 71) and getting slower , but it just hit me , Fenway ! Are you from " Blind Owls' " hometown ? I think as a tribute to you both , I'll close the evening " down by the River Charles " with some " Dirty Water " by the Standells !
And I've read blind owl blues..it didnt shed anymore light on the subject other then his family hates FIto and won't entertain the notion Alan was suicidal.
@joyce jennings that's a load. I've read blind owl blues as well and Rebecca Davis has her own motives as well as Alan's family. For admitting he was depressed and suicidal would me they would have to accept responsibility. Alan got high a lot and knew the diff between a buzz dose and an OD. Just because the coroner says sketching doesn't make it true. And it behooves his late mother Shirley and fam to make it look like an accident. Happy listening.
How do you know? Why would the coroner make it up plus the police report is also completely different than what the manager said. There’s no reason for the police to report differently than what they found. Plus if the manager actually did find him why did he wait so long to look for him?
Alan was a genius..but this notion that his death was an accident, is disrespectful to him and his memory. In addition to his two previous suicide attempts, the night he killed himself, 9-2-70, he specifically took a bottle of "Seconal", or reds as known on the street, which are known by themselves to be THE drug of choice for suicide..not to mention the fact he composed himself in a burial position while going towards the light. He was found the next day, the sun shining bright on his body. Arm
@@andrewkemp1882 That's my opinion, too. He'd already attempted suicide at least once and failed, he'd have taken no chances, he'd have taken the four reds that were left.
That story about the empty bottle of gin and empty bottle of pills is false. There’s a police report and coroner’s report that show that it was an accident. In addition, the previous suicide attempts have never been proven-those stories are full of contradictions and inaccuracies. I’m not saying he might not have had feelings of suicide but there’s really no evidence of any attempts-just stories.
Wow, there was a time when journalists actually asked interesting, learned, informed questions.
God, why did he have to die so young. I can listen to this guy talk about music for years
Completely fascinating guy. And you can hear that Boston accent. Dude was a killer guitar and harp player.
He had a unique sound and was good at expressing himself.
This guy was a true original. Didn’t feel genuine singing other peoples’ lyrics so he wrote his own words as what he called “the obvious solution.” Simple. And genius.
No he was not
Al Wilson had a great analytical mind. He knows exactly what works with his sound and what doesn't. Great musician. The Blues was his life.
Blind Owl's performance on Refried Boogie on the Livin The Blues album is enormous. That chunky intro and his guitar solo relaxes me.
Alan wasn't so socially awkward, as many have said. Very articulate, at least when discussing music.
I always heard he had some insecurities , but he was great , maybe if only more people had told him that ... also the same with the Seekers'' Judith Durham , she didn't think much of herself , depression or something , but she was beautiful .. miss them both ... but lucky to have enjoyed their presence ..
Alan Wilson should be remembered for the music not how he passed. He is still alive in the heart of the fans and his family. I wonder what his IQ was? From listening to him feel that he has an high level of intelligence. He has always fascinated me.
Read somewhere his therapist rated I around 170
Great interview. His harmonica playing and that guitar work on Boogie at Woodstock are perfect. Got to see Canned Heat in 1968 in San Antonio, somehow I was able to tag along with the cool kids to my first concert. We were all at Episcopal church camp in Wimberley, Texas. I had my first French kiss at church camp in Baytown, Texas. Praise Jesus.
Alan was a super articulate cat..
He was. Todd Rundgren is, Jim Morrison was also very intelligent and gave very good interviews. I think people were much more literary back then
SOME musicians and singers since his death can handle such questions, even fewer have the temperament to conduct such interviews.
What a student of the entire industry/history of his genre.
This guy is a genius!!
This guy was an absolute genius, all-rounder genius.
AMAZING. Thank-you for sharing.
Brilliant! He seemed to be a really gifted person in all ways. I cant believe he fell over so badly, and ended his life at 27
A moot point!!
he couldn't get laid
@@52barney Probably not. Laying solves many problems.
His death was accidental.
It was an accidental od.
Love listening to this I can relate to a lot he went too soon but when it's time to go it's time to go had some close calls with drugs over the years great musician inspires me depression and self worth it's something I struggle with everyday I'll keep going until I have enough definitely not making any promises
On the Road Again , I think is my favorite because my dear mother left me when I was quite young , anyway , Fried Hockey Boogie , where they turn the Sunflower loose , "Go on , buzz a little bit Henry ! Wow !
I've probably listened to Fried Hockey Boogie 500 times over the years, and that's an incredible 4 minute solo! I'm responding to a five year old comment, lol.
@@kenm7179 Good man ! You have great taste too ! Ha ! In '69 , I had a Sears AM/FM, cassette player with ONE earjack , and would fall asleep listening to the " Cookbook" tape ! I saw Canned Heat and Badfinger at Roberts' stadium in Evansville Indiana in '71-'72 , sadly , " Blind Owl" was gone , but it was still a great concert . I think tickets were $ 4.50 in advance , $ 5.50 day of show . I still have a Canned Heat frisbee they threw out to the crowd I'm sure you already are " hip " , but check out " Time Was " , Sic'em Pigs , and " Amphetamine Annie " , who's always " shovelin' snow ' Have a good one you old hippie you !
@@waldoparsnip1025 Wow, I respond to a 5 year old comment and get an instant response- glad you're still around, lol. I never saw Canned Heat in person but, to my lifelong regret, I was in the bleachers at Fenway Park while they were playing the Tea Party directly across the street- must have been 1970. Anyway, yeah I'm pretty familiar with most of their early stuff, love the offbeat Blind Owl songs like "Do Not Enter", "Poor Moon", but the Bear was great too. Take care
@@kenm7179 Wow ! You do ' know your stuff " You've heard all I mentioned and then some ! Those were the good ol' days . I remember laying in bed at night , no air conditioning , windows open , crickets chirping outside , but if the wind was just right , I could pick WLS out of Chicago " the loop " I think , or if the wind was the other direction , " the King Biscuit Flour Hour "out of New York , we have everything at the snap of a finger these days , but I'd go back to the mid-late 60's tomorrow .Warm summer nights , drive-ins , getting an ice cream or Mr.Misty at the local Dairy Queen , I wish the youth of today could experience it all . I'm glad you replied , I posted my comment to you and it vanished , but here you are so you must have gotten it... Ha ! I catch on quick don't I ? . again , have a great night .
@@kenm7179 I'm old ( 71) and getting slower , but it just hit me , Fenway ! Are you from " Blind Owls' " hometown ? I think as a tribute to you both , I'll close the evening " down by the River Charles " with some " Dirty Water " by the Standells !
Really interesting comments about the words of songs towards the end of this part of the interview.
Indeed, Alan: "If Henry isn't in the group, it ain't the group." Same for you, of course ; it ain't the group.
I like how he's eating something during this interview. Makes for a better "movie" in my head.
He is not eating he is smoking.
Also known as: Blind Owl
John fahey gave him that name
And I've read blind owl blues..it didnt shed anymore light on the subject other then his family hates FIto and won't entertain the notion Alan was suicidal.
@joyce jennings that's a load. I've read blind owl blues as well and Rebecca Davis has her own motives as well as Alan's family. For admitting he was depressed and suicidal would me they would have to accept responsibility. Alan got high a lot and knew the diff between a buzz dose and an OD. Just because the coroner says sketching doesn't make it true. And it behooves his late mother Shirley and fam to make it look like an accident. Happy listening.
He took the barbiturates to help him sleep. It was an accidental overdose.
@@sherrybirchall8677 I agree with you .
Since when was a coroners report definitive evidence?
How do you know? Why would the coroner make it up plus the police report is also completely different than what the manager said. There’s no reason for the police to report differently than what they found. Plus if the manager actually did find him why did he wait so long to look for him?
Something about how he sounds when he speaks reminds me of Kurt Cobain
true
He sounds way more like Mike Bloomfield
My thoughts exactly. Strange
Alan was a genius..but this notion that his death was an accident, is disrespectful to him and his memory. In addition to his two previous suicide attempts, the night he killed himself, 9-2-70, he specifically took a bottle of "Seconal", or reds as known on the street, which are known by themselves to be THE drug of choice for suicide..not to mention the fact he composed himself in a burial position while going towards the light. He was found the next day, the sun shining bright on his body. Arm
how do you explain the trauma to his body that has been mentioned
He didn’t take the bottle - only some of the contents, not all. Why would he do that if intending to die?
@@andrewkemp1882 That's my opinion, too. He'd already attempted suicide at least once and failed, he'd have taken no chances, he'd have taken the four reds that were left.
Blimp Bob bullied Blind Owl into a barbituate blowout
That story about the empty bottle of gin and empty bottle of pills is false. There’s a police report and coroner’s report that show that it was an accident. In addition, the previous suicide attempts have never been proven-those stories are full of contradictions and inaccuracies. I’m not saying he might not have had feelings of suicide but there’s really no evidence of any attempts-just stories.