David Crosby

Long Time Gone

“This is how I remember my life.
Other folks may not have the same memories, even though we might have shared some of the same experiences.”

David Crosby’s autobiography,
(co-written by Carl Gottlieb)
 

I offer the above David Crosby quote to both artistically paraphrase my own introduction, and as a means to introduce the somewhat self-indulgent 489-page autobiography from perhaps Laurel Canyon's greatest living historical source. The "self-indulgent" might be a little rude because, after all, it is an autobiography. David Crosby definitely was there at the very beginning -The Byrds, drugs, his black cape, drugs, psychedelic songs, all the hippie things... did I say drugs? Now, 40 years later, he is amazingly still alive, plus, he's still a member of one of Rock Music's biggest selling groups (CSN) & still actively touring, & continues to produce original, new music. However, David Crosby rivals Keith Richards for the title of "Ultimate Rock Survivor". As a result, the scope of his memories & recollections can't be expected to graphically recall peripheral details. Nonetheless, many musicians, music biz folks, and 'scenesters', point out that a large number of people from Crosby’s personal life and his musical history are totally ignored in his lengthy tome.  The names of the "Log Cabin Originals", Vito Paulekas & Carl Franzoni, appear only one time throughout Crosby's epic book, and then it's not even from David Crosby.  It's at the end of a quote from Crosby's (& the Byrds) manager, Jim Dickson,. Dickson is describing the scene at any of the Sunset Strip clubs, whenever his band, The Byrds, were playing: “We had them all. We had Jack Nicholson dancing, we had Peter Fonda dancing with Odetta, we had Vito and his Freakers". Co-author, Carl Gottlieb, then briefly explains that, “Vito and his Freakers were an acid-drenched extended family of brain-damaged cohabitants.” **These are the words of David Crosby's own co-author** I like to think that obviously, David couldn't have had the time, nor desire, to edit his massive 489 page work, rather than think that David Crosby himself, is an "acid-drenched, brain damaged", hypocrite. Don't get me wrong, I'm only disputing "Brain Damaged" from the co-author's description of the cohabitants, and I do agree that the description could apply to a few of the Log Cabin group's crazed followers. The percentage of 'survivors' among the Cabin cohabitants is remarkable, considering some of the personalities involved, and the amount of drugs consumed.... Speaking of which... Did I mention "Drugs" ?
SOME OTHER FREAK REFERENCES
In Waiting for the Sun, Barney Hoskyns writes that the early success of The Byrds and other bands was due in no small part to “the roving troupe of self-styled ‘freaks’ led by ancient beatnik Vito Paulekas and his trusty, lusty sidekick Carl Franzoni.”
There are many who assert that in the beginning (Byrds@Ciro's), the awkward young bandmembers seemed unprepared & unsure of their roles onstage. Fortunately, that was largely irrelevant, as the fans directed their attention to what was "the real show", taking place on the Ciro's huge dance floor. The allure of the 'dancing freaks' was not limited to the BYRDS. Gail Zappa candidly admitted that, even at her husband’s shows, the real attraction was not on the stage: “The customers came to see the freaks dance. Nobody ever talks about that, but that was the case.” Frank added that, “As soon as they arrived they would make things happen, because they were dancing in a way nobody had seen before, screaming and yelling out on the floor and doing all kinds of weird things. They were dressed in a way that nobody could believe, and they gave life to everything that was going on.”
As Barry Miles noted in his biography of Frank Zappa,  “The Byrds were closely associated with Vito and the Freaks: Vito Paulekas, his wife Zsou and Karl Franzoni, leaders of a group of about 35 dancers whose antics enlivened the Byrds early gigs.” “Vito and his Freakers” were notable for something else as well; again, according to Barry Miles, this time, writing in his book Hippie,  “The first hippies in Hollywood, perhaps the first hippies anywhere, were Vito, his wife Zsou, Captain Fuck and their group of about thirty-five dancers. Calling themselves Freaks, they lived a semi-communal life and engaged in sex orgies and free-form dancing whenever they could.”
Many of those who were on the LA music scene at that time agree with Barry Miles’ assessment that: Vito, and his troupe of dancing freaks, were the very first hippies.  Ray Manzarek, co-founder, and oft unacknowledged leader, of Laurel Canyon band, The DOORS, writes: “There were these guys named Carl and Vito who had a dance troupe of  gypsy freaks. They were let in for free, because they were these quintessential hippies, which was great for tourists.”
Not only does Byrds manager, Jim Dickson, further acknowledge the importance of "Vito & The Freaks" at their gigs, Chris Hillman & other Byrd members have stated that: "the dancers played a large part in the success of the band's live performances". Hillman also credited the strange group with being at the forefront of the hippie movement, while also acknowledging Szou's contribution:  “Carl and all those guys were way ahead of everyone on hippiedom fashion.”
To add validation to the above opinions, expressed by both musicians and authors on the "hippie" subject, I would like to add the following quote from an LA music business veteran who began his career in New York City, working alongside the future entertainment mogul, David Geffen, in the infamous mailroom of The William Morris Agency. John Hartmann, would later leave his lucrative, yet restrictive position (then agent@Beverly Hills William Morris Agency-Head of Rock&Roll and TV Music), after experiencing his first Rock Concert at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium. It wasn't long before John became the proprietor of the first Hollywood concert venue,'the Kaleidoscope' In an interview, Hartmann acknowledged, he “would let Vito and his dancers into the Kaleidoscope free every week because they attracted people. They were really hippies, and so we had to have them. They got in free pretty much everywhere they went. They blessed your joint. They validated you. If they’re the essence of hippiedom and you’re trying to be a hippie nightclub, you need hippies.”
Alban “Snoopy” Pfisterer, former drummer and keyboardist for the band "Love"  even claims that it was Vito who: “got the Byrds together, as I remember – they did a lot of rehearsing at his pad.” *AUTHOR'S NOTE: Did somebody say "Drugs" ?
Not to be outdone by his drummer, LOVE founder, Arthur Lee, boasted that 'they' - “started the whole hippie thing: Vito, Karl, Szou, Beatle Bob, Bryan and me.”
Let's get back to the BYRDS, - the FREAKS - and DAVID CROSBY.
Carl Franzoni states in a recent interview: "Someone came to Vito and said 'Listen we know about this band (the Byrds), it's a really good rock 'n' roll band and they need a place to rehearse. Are you interested in letting them rehearse in your studio?' And he said 'Yeah, I let people come in the daytime when there's nobody around and they can rehearse.' So these guys were a little bit different and they said 'We like to rehearse in the evening.' The first time they were supposed to do their rehearsal they never showed up. Vito said 'If you guys pass my muster I got a gig for you.' So they didn't show up." SEE: http://www.laurelcanyonstories.com/franzoniinterview.htm
Though I don't think the Byrds, as a group, ever used the Log Cabin as a rehearsal hall, as did LA bands: Love, the Mothers, Fraternity of Man, and likely, the Doors. I say," as a group", because they were successfully touring (with Carl Franzoni & Bryan MacLean as roadies [Vito had declined]) by the time the Freaks moved into the Log Cabin. Most of the Byrds, in later years, would play individually at the Log Cabin's legendary parties or late night "Jam's". However, the Byrds did use Vito's art studio, "Clay Vito" located at 303 Laurel Ave. &  Beverly Dr. (home to 'the freak trio' and assorted followers), for a few of their very first rehearsals together, not to mention occasionally as a 'crash pad'. If Mr. Crosby doesn't remember the rehearsals, perhaps he recalls the Byrds playing a rooftop 'teen dance', organized & produced by Vito with assistance from his Freakers. The dance attracted more than 200 teenagers (mostly students from Fairfax High), who eagerly shelled out $1.50 each to see this new band perform & to dance alongside the "Freak Dancers" (later known as "The Byrds' Dancers"). You'd have to think that David Crosby would remember this event; Byrds leader, McGuinn, invited everyone in the crowd to come see the band the following night - The invitation was for the Byrd's first professional gig (May 26, 1965), playing on the grand stage at the newly renovated & recently reopened Sunset Strip club, CIRO'S,
Before dismissing Crosby's drug addled memory, I would like to advance a theory which 'flashed' into my own drug altered brain. With all due respect to David Crosby, WHAT IF ... David Crosby resents Vito, Carl, & the Gang, and won't discuss the group, because he feels that HE was the "force" or "leader" of "The Hippie Nation" & deserves due recognition. I mean he would certainly have a legitimate case... I respectfully reference his well known EGO Hair-Look - Beatles-no something new - Folkie evolves to Hippie (w/FREAK) Capt.Fuck's long black cape See: DAVID CROSBY
“Vito and his Freakers”
It is my contention that Vito Paulekas with trusty sidekick, Carl Franzoni, and Vito's wife, Szou, were the early leaders in the Los Angeles/Hollywood counter-culture movement, and thereby, the entire 'Hippie Revolution' of the 60's.
The Log Cabin Freaks  -  VITO   -   SZOU   -   CARL   -   FRANZONI   -  CAPT. F**K
First off, I must mention that neither Vito nor Franzoni ever considered themselves to be "HIPPIES". As early as 1963, they referred to themselves as "FREAKS" or "FREAKERS" (also using the word as a verb, as in "FREAKING"), long before the media coined the term which would forever label a generation, "HIPPIE". As Freaks, they had proudly been advocating everything embraced by 'Hippies', for years. In fact, at the 1965 Rooftop Teen Dance {mentioned above}, Vito had painted several posters declaring "STOP THE WAR IN VIETNAM", long before the anti-war movement and student protests emerged. No disrespect to Franzoni, but I feel that Vito was always the leader of their commune and assorted followers, enjoying a 'Guru-like' position and the originator of the majority of new ideas and projects for the group.
The Freak Trio    in Cotati, CA	My research has found several "conspiracy sites" that are quite disparaging in respect to Vito & Franzoni, emphasizing their juvenile arrest records, distorting their "free love" philosophies and sexual liberation attitudes, as pedophilia, and deviant sexual behavior, categorizing Vito alongside Charlie Manson, Jim Jones, and most power-mad, deviate "Cult Leaders". Granted, Vito enjoyed a similar position of power (I prefer to view it as a position of leadership, sharing alternate philosophies and artistic views).  It all depends how, and in what form, one applies & directs their power.
I have found nothing that supports such negative claims, or actions, for any incidence, in reference to Vito, or any of 'THE FREAKS'. {left-Godot} Other than an arrest for a foolish attempted robbery as a teenager, Vito's arrest record  was completely unblemished. The horrible death of Szou & Vito's first son, Godot, though cloaked in mystery, is the closest event in Vito's long life, that could possibly be construed  as a "Vito Negative". Even the grounds for negativity concerning that tragedy are based on Vito's unconventional response (lack of public display of emotion) to his loss.
I have encountered numerous allegations & assorted claims that Charlie Manson & his Family lived in Laurel Canyon's Log Cabin during Vito's residence. I plan on creating another "Debunking Myths" page to thoroughly cover this erroneous tale. However, about a month ago (April,'09), I was searching for a picture of the Gary Hinman Murder house (964 Old Topanga Cyn.), which is located directly across the street from the house I shared with Charlie Holdridge before moving to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with my daughter, Heather. as is my habit, the google search resulted into a quest for more information on the Hinman Murder, and, as much as I resisted, I've now done 4-5 pages on The Manson Family, Spahn Ranch, and 'My Meeting with Manson'. In the meantime, based on my personal experience, plus countless hours of research, I feel there is a real good chance that Charlie &  a couple of his girls, spent a few nights in the estate's main cave, no doubt, on several occasions. I seriously doubt he stayed in the Log Cabin.
Monday, July 27, 2009 10:35 PM
"VITO & THE FREAKERS" continued to spread their message  and culture long after leaving Laurel Canyon. {see below}
The following is directly copied from the website of the city of  Cotati, Sonoma County, Calif.    http://www.ci.cotati.ca.us/sections/about/history5.cfm
The Freestore          The Freestore was a large shed from which many Cotati citizens outfitted themselves without charge. Vito Paulekas and others constantly organized the steady flow of cast-off clothes, shoes and accessories that were left there, creating a treasure trove of "finds" for indigent browsers. The "store" burned down and was rebuilt, vandalized and cleaned up again, surviving until 1983 when it was crushed flat by a semi-truck. Its influence was great on that peculiar style of dress known as the "Cotati look." Cotati Company No. 2 In 1969, Irving and Irene Lipton closed their downtown variety store, and Brad and Liza Loop leased the building, delving into local history for its name: Cotati Company No. 2. They rented space as small as 12 feet square for as little as $10 a month to youthful entrepreneurs. People built booths, clothes racks, or whatever they wanted, and went into business selling everything from comic books and rolling papers to candles, jewelry and clothing. The enterprise bustled along with ten or more merchants under one roof for almost two years until a fire closed it down. The Bandstand and the Rebirth of La Plaza Park         Vito Paulekas Vito Paulekas and Karl Franzoni were threatened with arrest while building the bandstand in the Plaza - an "illegal structure" not sanctioned by the city - but they prevailed, and the bandstand, born to controversy, began its stormy life. It immediately became the center for a new energy in town. Large crowds began to gather on weekends, lured by free electrified rock 'n roll. City council meetings played hosts to two disparate factions: one wanted more music, facilities, sandboxes for the kids, the other demanded user fees, permits, an end to amplified music. The grass was made to turn green. Picnic tables, benches and swings were built and installed by concerned citizens - often for free - and gradually La Plaza Park became the comfortable gathering place it is today.