Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon

Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops, and the Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream

De: David McGowan

Narrado por: Bill Fike

The very strange but nevertheless true story of the dark underbelly of a 1960s hippie utopia. Laurel Canyon in the 1960s and early 1970s was a magical place where a dizzying array of musical artists congregated to create much of the music that provided the soundtrack to those turbulent times.

Members of bands like the Byrds, the Doors, Buffalo Springfield, the Monkees, the Beach Boys, the Turtles, the Eagles, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Steppenwolf, CSN, Three Dog Night, and Love, along with such singer/songwriters as Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, James Taylor, and Carole King, lived together and jammed together in the bucolic community nestled in the Hollywood Hills.

But there was a dark side to that scene as well. Many didn't make it out alive, and many of those deaths remain shrouded in mystery to this day. Far more integrated into the scene than most would like to admit was a guy by the name of Charles Manson, along with his murderous entourage. Also floating about the periphery were various political operatives, up-and-coming politicians, and intelligence personnel - the same sort of people who gave birth to many of the rock stars populating the canyon. And all the canyon's colorful characters - rock stars, hippies, murderers, and politicos - happily coexisted alongside a covert military installation.

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A Fascinating Trip Through the 1960s

I find all of the similarities and coincidences detailed in this book absolutely fascinating, but I just can't buy into any type of conspiracy theory around the fact that almost all of the first superstars of 60s rock and roll had parents who were in the military. Almost everyone born in the 40s and 50s had parents with a military background - because just about every fit male (and a lot of females) were a part of the "war effort" during WW2. A lot of the people who rebelled then were fighting just that sort of upbringing.

Having said that, I truly enjoyed the long, detailed walk through of the wild (for the times) and unbridled lifestyle of the musical heroes of my youth. It was fun to realise how intertwined everyone's life and habits were during those formative years and it was poignant hearing the stories - through the lens of almost 50 years - of those who succumbed to that lifestyle.

I recommend the book to anyone who wants to learn more about the foundation of rock and roll and the "hippie" movement of that era.

really fantastic

loved everything about this book from the author's incredible research and in-depth synopsis of covert military operations involved in the 60s hippie drug scene... The narrator was great... This is a must-read for any intelligent American that really wants to get an idea of what's happening in the real world. And how we've all been duped by the military industrial complex.

extraordinary book

The premise is still in doubt but this is one of the more interesting takes on rock and roll performers I've ever seen or heard or read..!

fascinating book

A spellbinding chronology of the backstory behind the music told in a totally suspenseful and captivating way. A+ !

very informative

had no idea how everything in those days were obviously connected. looks like the good ol CIA has had their hand in everything.

Recent revelations of the grants from USAID lend credibility book’s suspension

The idea that the American government, militarily or the Central Intelligence Agency would secretly fund an Astro turf cultural movement masquerading as a ground up, organic, grassroots movement to influence the youth and subvert American society is no longer a far fetched “conspiracy theory”
Ever since DOGE released the details on the various grants issued by USAID amounting to billions of dollars annually spent in foreign countries to do exactly what this book alleges was done to create the counter culture that influenced youth throughout the 60s & 70s
USAID was funding things like Cuban rappers who were anti Castro or Gay musicians/artists who made songs promoting homosexuality or the transgender ideology. USAID has been funding kids shows in foreign countries that resemble Sesame Street for the purpose of influencing the children of other countries.
The American people need to read/listen to this book and then we should consider the very real possibility that this form of subversive media may still be a government funded influence campaign that is still operational to this day.
Was the overnight takeover of hip hop by gangster rap another Astro Turf counter culture funded by grants from USAID or possibly by intelligence agencies of foreign governments. Just look at the homicide rates in cities like Chicago, Jacksonville or the various burrows of New York and compare them with the rise in popularity of the drill rappers from each city.
You will see that the music seems to be a correlating factor for the rise of violent crime. The streaming services like YouTube Spotify and Apple Music completely understands the power that music has over the minds and ultimately the behavior of young impressionable kids. This was the reason they gave explaining why they all banned Kanye West’s “hail hipster” song.
They didn’t want young impressionable kids to think it was cool, acceptable or okay in anyway conceivable to “hail hipster” and yet they play music that glorifies murder, narcotics trafficking, narcotics consumption, all forms of criminal activities that onlead to prison overt sexual deviancy and abortion as contraception (glowrilla songs)

CIA connections

Enjoyed the canyon/hippie/music connection. People are waking up to the control and manipulation of the government.
The serial killer at the end was disturbing.

Truth is stranger than fiction

forget what you know about the 1960s hippie counterculture and 1960s Rock and pop music. this book will completely demolish and unravel everything that you know about the formation subjects. don't read this buck and don't listen to this audiobook unless you are prepared to want to know the truth because It'll make you rethink everything

great

good book .. lots of great information .. do recommend to all ages of readers

Narrator is Perfect but Book Seems scattered

An Interesting listen I suppose. but the book, overall seems scattered and lacks focus. alot could be left out and the book could be condensed for certain. on one hand there are many interesting things how much of it is factually true ..I'm not sure.
Worth a listen but the author gives more names than anyone would want to remember and goes into details that seem frivolous at best.
p.s. the narrator is perfect for this book.