Convocation on rock music
exhibits cultural bigotry

To the editor:

The following is in regard to the "rock" symposium held on the evening of November, 11, 1969 A.D.  The views given are applicable only to the author, and don't bear malice, or attempt to malign any person and/or group.

The supposed purpose of the evening's activities was to explore and determine what "rock" is, how it came about, what it has evolved into and is evolving into, and the degree to which soul, rock and/or beat music has affected our society.

As it occurred, the speaker, Mr. Robert Larson, made many vague references to sexual depravity, four-letter words, and the physical reactions of the human body to "rock."  Mr. Larson spoke as an "authority" on the subject, having been, as he claimed, the leader of a hit rock group for several years, playing in night clubs, concerts and Convention Hall in Atlantic City.  So he claimed.

Evidently Mr. Larson was never an authority on the art of gentle persuasion.  At one point, he began to badger a young woman who had not lowered her head during a prayer.  Several attempts were made by the speaker to humble that poor sinner by repetition of the phrase, "God loves you, young lady."  It must be noted that her only reply consisted of the words, "I love Him, too."

Interspersing Mr. Larson's remarks were "outbreaks " of sound purporting to be representative of such hits as "Mrs. Robinsin," "Jesus is a Soul Man," "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."  So he claimed.  The music was out of tempo, off key, and was as fine a job of butchering hit songs as has been witnessed in many a moon.

The evening closed with the "damnation to hellfire of those who like to listen to rock music," and was followed by a call to arms (a crusade, pray tell) to smash the idols (recordings) of the demon-possessed heretics (Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Frank Zappa).  Rather interesting was the fact that so many records were destroyed.  Two "Brother Love," three "Jesus is a Soul Man," a Sonny and Cher album and an undetermined number of Andy Williams' "Happy Heart" were destroyed in the wake of that Great Religious Awakening.  Why, who need fear Vietnam, Biafra, pollution, overpopulation and the Bomb when such an event as the destruction of the "Sin Sound" has occurred in our time?

Please bear in mind, we have yet to hear the sponsors of the evening's festivities offer equal time to the proponents of rock.  (Perhaps the necessary numbers of stakes with which to burn the witches and warlocks were unavailable.)

What next, the burning of Spiderman Comic Books?

692867-230
Digital D.J., Al Tighe '73