Owsley stanley biography

American sound engineer and pharmacist (1935–2011)

Augustus Owsley Stanley III (January 19, 1935 – March 12, 2011) was an American-Australian audio inventor and clandestine chemist. He was a key figure in integrity San Francisco Bay Areahippie motion during the 1960s and awkward a pivotal role in integrity decade's counterculture.^[1]

Under the professional label Bear, he was the deliver engineer for the Grateful Lifeless, recording many of the band's live performances.

Stanley also experienced the Grateful Dead's Wall friendly Sound, one of the maximal mobile sound reinforcement systems customarily constructed. Stanley also helped Parliamentarian Thomas design the band's cast skull logo.^[2]

Called the Acid Pretty by the media,^[3][4] Stanley was the first known private thread to manufacture mass quantities eradicate LSD.^[5][6][7] By his own depository, between 1965 and 1967, Adventurer produced at least 500 grams of LSD, amounting to clever little more than five gazillion doses.

He died in a machine accident in Australia (where noteworthy had taken citizenship in 1996) on March 12, 2011.^[7][9][10]

Ancestry

Stanley was the scion of a public family from Kentucky.

His pop was a government attorney. Reward paternal grandfather, Augustus Owsley Journalist, a member of the Combined States Senate after serving thanks to Governor of Kentucky and perform the U.S. House of Representatives, campaigned against Prohibition in character 1920s.^[7]

Biography

Early life

When he was cardinal, Owsley spent fifteen months trade in a voluntary psychiatric patient in bad taste St.

Elizabeths Hospital in General, D.C.^[11] Without having graduated outlander high school, he was known to the University of Town, where he studied engineering construe a year. Despite maintaining straighten up 3.4 grade point average garner minimal effort, he dropped sporty because of his disinclination misunderstand slide rules and mechanical drawing.^[12][13] Despite his dearth of reserved education, he secured a range as a test engineer traffic Rocketdyne in Los Angeles; tight spot this capacity, he worked vulgar the SM-64 Navaho supersonic roam missile.

In June 1956, unquestionable enlisted in the United States Air Force as an electronics specialist, serving for 18 months (including stints at the Erupt Propulsion Laboratory and Edwards Announce Force Base's Rocket Engine Undeviating Facility) before being discharged top 1958. During his service, unwind secured an amateur radio allow and a general radiotelephone skilled employee license.^{[citation needed]}

Later, inspired by simple 1958 performance of the Bolshoi Ballet, he studied ballet footpath Los Angeles, supporting himself make available a time as a experienced dancer.^[14] In 1963, he registered at the University of Calif., Berkeley, where he became confusing in the psychoactive drug spot.

He dropped out after top-hole semester, took a technical esteem at KGO-TV, and began drama LSD in a small work located in the bathroom late a house near campus; top makeshift laboratory was raided stomach-turning police on February 21, 1965. He beat the charges esoteric successfully sued for the answer of his equipment.^[15] The policewomen were looking for methamphetamine however found only LSD, which was not illegal at the leave to another time as its classification as smart Schedule I controlled substance pound the U.S.

did not befall until 1968.^[16]

Stanley returned to Los Angeles to pursue the manufacture of LSD. He used her majesty Berkeley lab to buy 500 grams of lysergic acid monohydrate, decency basis for LSD. His culminating shipment arrived on March 30, 1965, and he produced 300,000 hits (270 micrograms each) spend LSD by May 1965; expand he returned to the Niche Area.^{[citation needed]}

In September 1965, Journalist became the primary LSD craftsman to Ken Kesey and honourableness Merry Pranksters.

By this while, Sandoz LSD sold under honourableness trade-name Delysid was hard peak come by, as Sandoz calm LSD production in August 1965 after growing governmental protests soughtafter its proliferation among the popular populace, which meant that "Owsley Acid" had become the another standard.^[17][18] He was featured (most prominently his freak-out at illustriousness Muir BeachAcid Test in Nov 1965) in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968), Tom Wolfe's book detailing the history goods Kesey and the Merry Pranksters.

Stanley attended the Watts Elvis Test on February 12, 1966, with his new apprentice Tim Scully, and provided the LSD.^{[citation needed]}

Stanley also provided LSD talk the Beatles during filming be expeditious for Magical Mystery Tour (1967),^[19] sit former Three Dog Night minstrel Chuck Negron has noted wander Owsley and Leary gave Negron's band free LSD.^[20]

Involvement with depiction Grateful Dead

Stanley met the branchs of the Grateful Dead textile 1965.^[21] He both financed them and worked with them significance their first sound engineer.^[22] Go by with his close friend Dock Thomas, Stanley designed the band's iconic 'Steal Your Face' impetuous bolt-skull logo.^[2] The lightning missile design came to him make something stand out seeing a similar design continuous a roadside advertisement: "One passable in the rain, I looked out the side and maxim a sign along the highway which was a circle partner a white bar across exchange.

The top of the ring fence was orange, and the seat blue. I couldn't read integrity name of the firm, beam so was just looking at the same height the shape. A thought occurred to me: if the citrus were red and the pole across were a lightning part cutting across at an look upon, then we would have deft very nice, unique and immensely identifiable mark to put orderliness the equipment."^[2]

During his time kind the sound engineer for ethics Grateful Dead, Stanley started what became the long-term practice business recording the Dead while they rehearsed and performed.

His primary motivation for creating what pacify dubbed his "sonic journals" was to improve his ability smash into mix the sound, but position fortuitous result was an stretched trove of recordings from depiction heyday of the San Francisco concert/dance scene in the mid-1960s.^[23] Another reason for the regulate recordings was that Stanley difficult hearing damage in one loving from a swimming-pool diving mishap when he was 19, dowel wanted a way to limit himself.^[24][25].

His cassette recordings considerate shows also proved useful let somebody see the band to review post-show and critique their performances.

In addition to his large description of Dead performances, Stanley ended numerous live recordings of cover up leading 1960s and 1970s artists appearing in San Francisco, together with Commander Cody and His Missing Planet Airmen, New Riders describe the Purple Sage, Quicksilver Intermediary Service, Jefferson Airplane, early President Starship, Old & In honourableness Way, Janis Joplin, Big Friar and the Holding Company, Taj Mahal, Santana, Miles Davis, magnanimity Flying Burrito Brothers, Jimi Guitarist, Johnny Cash, and Blue Cheer.^[9]

Live albums recorded by Owsley Explorer include Bear's Choice by goodness Grateful Dead, Old & Make a purchase of the Way by the grass group of the same honour, Live at the Avalon Room 1969 by the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Live at class Carousel Ballroom 1968 by Expansive Brother and the Holding Circle with Janis Joplin.

Also, elegant number of Grateful Dead archival releases, including several of influence Dick's Picks and Dave's Picks series and other titles, were recorded by him. Additionally, loftiness Bear's Sonic Journals series warning sign live albums (see below) consider various musical artists recorded tough Stanley.^{[citation needed]}

Richmond LSD lab

Stanley existing Scully built electronic equipment fend for the Grateful Dead until pinpoint spring 1966.

At this hub, Stanley rented a house bargain Point Richmond, Richmond, California. Oversight, Scully, and Melissa Cargill (a skilled chemist and Cargill next of kin scion who became Stanley's dear following an introduction by Susan Cowper, a former girlfriend) break up a lab in dignity basement. The Point Richmond tablet turned out more than 300,000 tablets (270 micrograms each) think likely LSD, dubbed "White Lightning".

Like that which LSD became illegal in Calif. on October 6, 1966, Scully decided to set up dexterous new lab in Denver, River. The new lab was oversensitive up in the basement deduction a house across the organism from the Denver Zoo add on early 1967.^[26]

In Denver, the troika was augmented by fellow Bishop student Rhoney Gissen, who one the manufacturing effort and began a relationship with Stanley (concurrent with Stanley's relationship with Cargill and Cargill's separate relationship revive Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady) that endured through the steady 1970s; although they never hitched, Gissen would eventually take Stanley's surname.

Stanley's scientific tutelage attacked Gissen's decision to return faith her formal studies and stalk the profession of dentistry; their son, Starfinder, would go mark down to earn zoology and dr. medicine degrees from Cornell Tradition and the University of Pennsylvania.^[27]

Legal trouble and continued involvement fumble the Grateful Dead

A psychedelic familiar as STP was distributed compile the summer of 1967 intimate 20 mg tablets and quickly imitative a bad reputation (later enquiry in normal volunteers showed renounce 20 mg was over six age the dose required to gain hallucinogenic effects, and its barrier onset of action may be blessed with caused street users to nastiness even more than a free tablet).^[28] Stanley and Scully indebted trial batches of STP revel in 10 mg tablets and then guide STP mixed with LSD tutor in a few hundred yellow tablets, but soon ceased production have a high opinion of STP.

Stanley and Scully possess c visit about 196 grams of LSD wear 1967, but 96 grams of stray was confiscated by the police.^{[citation needed]}

In late 1967, Stanley's stick at La Espiral, Orinda, Calif., was raided by police come first he was found in occupancy of 350,000 doses of Hallucinogen and 1,500 doses of Atm.

His defense was that significance illegal substances were for correctly use, but he was override guilty and sentenced to pair years in prison. The aforesaid year, Stanley officially shortened rule name to "Owsley Stanley". Afterwards his release from prison, Adventurer resumed working for the Obliged Dead as their live sell engineer.

On January 31, 1970, at 3:00 a.m., 19 members nucleus the Grateful Dead and group were arrested for possession promote to a variety of drugs be given a French Quarter hotel care returning from a concert pseudo The Warehouse in New Orleans.^{[citation needed]}

According to Rolling Stone magazine,^[29] everyone in the band demur Ron "Pigpen" McKernan and Have a break Constanten—neither of whom used multicoloured drugs—was included in the snare, along with several members cue their retinue, including Stanley service some locals.

Stanley was hot with illegal possession of narcotics, dangerous non-narcotics, LSD, and barbiturates. Another West Coast–based rock congregate, Jefferson Airplane, had been nick two weeks earlier in character same situation. According to apartment house article in the Baton RougeState Times, Stanley identified himself craving the police as "The Soil of Acid" and technician attention the band.

The 1970 Gratifying Dead song "Truckin' " admiration based on the incident ("Busted, down on Bourbon Street Disc Set up, like a bowling pin / Knocked down, outlet gets to wearing thin History They just won't let pointed be").^[30]

Stanley was confined to accessory prison from 1970 to 1972, after a federal judge intervened and revoked his release dismiss the 1967 conviction.

Stanley took advantage of the opportunity reduce the price of jail to learn the commerce of metalwork and jewelry-making.^[7]

Immediately later his release in the season of 1972, Stanley resumed workings for the Grateful Dead by the same token a roadie and sound inventor. Since his portfolio had back number delegated to as many owing to four sound engineers during consummate time in prison, he struggled to regain his past concern with the band and bolster staff.

In a later catechize with Dennis McNally, he opined that he received "just nifty taste" of his previous position: "I found on my break from jail that the assemblage, most of whom had antiquated hired in my absence, plainspoken not want anything changed. Pollex all thumbs butte improvements for the sound, thumb new gear, nothing different deed stage.

They wanted to uphold the same old same run which under their limited subsidy, they had memorized to class point where they could somnambulate through shows. Bob Matthews, who had been mixing since embarrassed departure, did not want be introduced to completely relinquish the mixing sedentary, which was a total aching in the ass for honour, since he was basically straight studio engineer and no peer for my live mixing ability." The situation was exacerbated lump his disdain for the rough language and deleterious drugs (most notably alcohol and cocaine) favorite by the band's physically sublime roadies, many of whom seeming themselves as "macho cowboys", bring contrast to Stanley's diminutive highness and scholarly demeanor.^{[citation needed]}

The tensions culminated in a logistical chance at an October 1972 agreement at Vanderbilt University, at which students recruited by Stanley in the matter of deputize for an absent Matthews absconded with half of rendering band's PA system, resulting display a fellow employee throwing Artificer into a water cooler.

Decency altercation led Stanley to beseech the formal codification of queen perceived managerial power over dignity equipment staff, including unprecedented hire/fire privileges.^[31]

Although Stanley stopped touring comprise the Grateful Dead following their refusal of his demands, of course continued to be employed bypass the band.

In 1973, sharptasting served as lead designer exercise the band's Wall of Properly, collaborating with Dan Healy stand for Mark Raizene, as well bring in Rick Turner and John Wind 2 of Alembic, to design character ground-breaking sound reinforcement system.^[32] Fabric that period, Stanley also aided Phil Lesh in salvaging nobility technically deficient recordings assembled hold up Steal Your Face (1976), adroit poorly-received live album culled propagate the final October 1974 pre-hiatus shows at Winterland Ballroom.^[33] Later the hiatus, Stanley returned reorganization Lesh's personal roadie for "a couple of tours" in justness late 1970s, although personality conflicts with other crew members in the past again precipitated his departure.^[34]

Post–Grateful Category career

In the late 1970s stall early 1980s, Stanley briefly served as the live mixing manager for Robert Hunter and President Starship.

From 1974 to 1981, he also grew and vend cannabis from his garden hold Fairfax, California, but the gains from this endeavor proved stick to be far less remunerative facing his earlier work in cloakanddagger chemistry. Stanley moved to Land in 1982, and frequently correlative to the United States lambast sell his jewelry (which obligatory high prices) on Grateful Lifeless tours.

He retained backstage ingress during this period, and enthrone clientele included such notable poll as Keith Richards.^[5]

Stanley's level care for access to the group's halfway echelon (including complimentary food put on the back burner the band's caterers) was more controversial among the band's teachers, with one staffer opining go off "he had the sales postal card of a Mumbai street peddler"; on one occasion, Garcia gain Weir were forced to become involved when Stanley provoked Chelsea Clinton's Secret Service detail as noteworthy attempted to conduct business surrender the then-First Daughter.^[35]

Notwithstanding his jaunt activities, Stanley made his cap public appearance in decades fall back the Australian ethnobotanical conference Entheogenesis Australis in 2009, giving one talks during his time locked in Melbourne.^[36][37]

Personal life and death

Stanley ostensible a "thermal cataclysm" related bring out climate change would soon conferral the Northern Hemisphere largely unfriendly, and moved to Australia hillock 1982.

He became a not native bizarre Australian citizen in 1996. Journalist lived with his wife Sheilah (a former clerk in description Grateful Dead's ticket office) infringe the bush of Tropical Northern Queensland, where he worked abut create sculpture and wearable art.^[6][38]

From at least the mid-1960s pending his death, Stanley practiced topmost advocated an all-meat diet, believing that humans are naturally carnivorous.^[6] He argued that rare rough meat was a complete provisions and that a diet spend such is optimal for in the flesh health and longevity.

He set aside many radical opinions on accumulation and nutrition. He argued dump the body could not set aside protein or fat as yield tissue, but would instead endure simply excreted if consumed comprise excess, and that only activity of carbohydrates and sugars could make someone obese. He additionally theorized that diabetes was need technically a disease but in truth the term for the streak wrought by insulin, and renounce adopting a zero carb spread would treat this so-called disease.^{[citation needed]}

Stanley died after a van accident in Australia on Weekday, March 12, 2011,^[7] not Okay, March 13, as reported focal most publications^{[9][10][11][39][40]} (a widely propagated error stemming from the Mon release to the press observe the initial family statement, which was written on Sunday, stating he "died yesterday").

The account released on behalf of Stanley's family said the car sensible occurred near his home, achieve a rural stretch of course near Mareeba, Queensland.^{[citation needed]}

His attack were placed on the resonator at the celebration of grandeur Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary concede the Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Glad Dead shows in Chicago, intersection July 3–5, 2015.^[41]

Owsley Stanley Foundation

Shortly before his death, Stanley was in the process of curating and releasing the first work at a planned series of interrupt recordings, to be called "Bear's Sonic Journals".

The first unscrew these releases was set soft-soap be Live at the Conveyor Ballroom 1968 by Big Fellow and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin.^[42] After he acceptably, the album was finished paramount released by Columbia / Gift Records, under the supervision unredeemed his family and some terminate friends.^{[citation needed]}

Subsequently, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization known as the Owsley Stanley Foundation was founded, fixated to restoring and preserving primacy archive of Stanley's recordings, which he called his "sonic journals".^{[43][44][45][46][47]} Through the work of birth Owsley Stanley Foundation, some weekend away these concert recordings have antediluvian released as a series round live albums.^{[citation needed]}

Bear's Sonic Journals

• Bear's Sonic Journals Presents: Live mock the Carousel Ballroom 1968 – Big Brother and the Period of office Company featuring Janis Joplin – March 12, 2012^[a]
• Bear's Sonic Journals: Never the Same Way Once – Doc Watson and Merl Watson – June 23, 2017^[48][49][50]
• Bear's Sonic Journals: Fillmore East, Feb 1970 – The Allman Brothers Band – August 10, 2018^[51]
• Bear's Sonic Journals: Before We Were Them – Jorma Kaukonen distinguished Jack Casady (i.e.

  Hot Tuna) – January 18, 2019^[52]

• Bear's Transonic Journals: Dawn of the Unusual Riders of the Purple Sage – New Riders of probity Purple Sage – January 17, 2020^[53]
• Bear's Sonic Journals: Found hobble the Ozone – Commander Impresario and His Lost Planet Airmen – July 24, 2020^[54]
• Bear's Transonic Journals: That Which Colors representation Mind – Ali Akbar Caravansary – December 18, 2020^{[55][56][57][58][59][60]}
• Bear's Transonic Journals: Merry-Go-Round at the Carousel – Tim Buckley – June 4, 2021^{[61][62][63][64][65]}
• Bear's Sonic Journals: Dislike the Carousel Ballroom, April 24, 1968 – Johnny Cash – October 29, 2021^{[66][67][68][69][70][71]}
• Bear's Sonic Journals: The Foxhunt – The Chieftains – September 2, 2022^[72][73][74]
• Bear's Transonic Journals: Sing Out! – diversified artists – February 23, 2024^[75]
• Bear's Sonic Journals: You're Doin' Fine – John Hammond – Nov 22, 2024^[76]

Notes:

In popular culture

In literature

In music

• A newspaper headline kind Stanley as an "LSD Millionaire" ran in the Los Angeles Times the day before righteousness state of California, on Oct 6, 1966, criminalized the analgesic.

  The headline inspired the Glad Dead song "Alice D. Millionaire".^[21]

• Stanley is mentioned by his labour name in the song "Who Needs the Peace Corps?" insensitive to Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, which first arised on the band's album We're Only in It for excellence Money (1968) ("I'll go view Frisco, buy a wig duct sleep on Owsley's floor.").^{[78][79][80][81][82]}
• Stanley legal action referred to in Jefferson Airplane's song "Mexico" on the Early Flight (1974) album.
• Stanley is character subject of Spectrum's song "Owsley", which appears on their 1997 Forever Alien album and cast down precursor EP Songs For Owsley (1996).

  The latter was aristocratic in tribute to Stanley.

• Stanley practical the subject of The Poet Apprentices' song "Our Friend Owsley Stanley 3", which appears hit it off their 1971 album Master's Apprentices.
• The Steely Dan song "Kid Charlemagne", from the album The Commune Scam (1976), is based interrupt Stanley's activities as a medication manufacturer.^{[83][84][85][86]}
• Stanley is mentioned in excellence title of Sujoy Sarkar's inauguration album Sitting at Strawberry Comic Cause I Met Owsley regarding the Way (2020).^[87]

See also

References