Thank you, Montse Carreno of AM communications, for the thoughtful questions and research that went into them. You’re causing me to go down memory lane. I would like to address these questions in a short story.
Flashback! Sunset on the beach in 1968, I dropped Acid for the first time. Three of my buddies joined me. We Listened to the Moody Blues and the Doors on a cassette deck as we made camp in the sand dunes of Lake Michigan, a large fresh water inland sea that is 3% larger than the United Kingdom.
I didn’t know what to expect as it started to come on. The display of creation was profound as the earth turned. The afterglow of sunset melted into twilight. The sound of surf washed through me as the cry of seagulls began to fade. The flickering light of a campfire lit up our party. I started to rush and began to peak. We spent a lot of time and energy laughing uncontrollably. Everything said was hilarious. It was hard to catch my breath.
After two hours we seemed to drift apart into our own individual trips. We stopped talking to each other and began murmuring to ourselves and the stars. The sun came up as we came down the next morning and warmed the sand. I was back! Life was somehow different pondering the dimensions I traveled through.
Tripping Influenced my musical writing and my lyrics transformed into metaphor. I couldn’t get the notion out of my head of a creator, there must be something higher.
The songs of Ode To Quetzalcoatl are about moving through the darkness of the void into the light, a difficult and traumatic journey! Losing your mind then finding it. The album reflects that, starting with Drug Song and ending in Peace.
After too many journeys through inner space, I burned out on my last trip when I tumbled into the void out of control, scattered, unable to recognize myself. I lost the soul I never knew I had. In David Bowie’s 2001 Space Oddity, Major Tom is on a one-way trip into space. That’s how I felt.
While performing songs in Christian coffee shops, Brian MacInnes would play lead guitar on a 12 string. Brian told two men in the priesthood, Don Degraaf and Micky Gully about me. They Came to the venue to hear me and to basically witness to me of Christ and personal encounters. I was encouraged to pray for myself.
When alone I prayed for the first time. It felt awkward and strange talking to nothing but air. However, I felt I was listened to. I was broken and I knew it. I was desperate, humble and sincere. Now I have really lost my mind! Talkin to nothing. In three days, I got the answer I was looking for. I began having conversations in my head with the listener. I woke up out of this nightmare with a new spirit and started composing songs.
I shared my experience with these three men. We held a prayer and meditation meeting inviting five more people to participate in what started to become a ritual. We moved our meetings into a larger room and grew to 300 people.
I presented my music at the beginning of the meetings, in the middle with a bible verse, then an ending song. Brian and I played free flowing music without lyrics as a background for both prayer and meditation.
Don changed his name to Sir, assumed leadership and another Christian cult was born. We gave up our willingness and responsibility of exercising free choice and became sheep. Young people were leaving churches all over the United States in the late sixties, Cult groups flourished. After seven years of cult discipline, I was empty, disillusioned and had to cut ties, Going it alone. I lost my way and was embarrassed to be a part of this for so long.
I traveled the USA in a van with a guitar and PA system performing ‘60s cover tunes at beach bars. I never performed these original songs again until I was discovered in 1996 by a music journalist, Matt Procak from Las Angles, California. We found two LPs in very good condition. Matt sent them to Guerssen Records for reissue. What a surprise to be offered a contract to reissue both Ode to Q and Harbinger. It validated me and I took my music more seriously. I had a label, or it had me! maybe a little of both. Anyway, I felt real somehow. After the reissue I was invited to perform this music in live concerts. I did a short tour in London, Lisbon, Germany and Belgium in May of last year. Now I am performing at the Mud in Lleida on the 16th of March.
The next reissue of this LP will contain the back story of Quetzalcoatl, Montezuma and Cortez. I consider this release a collector’s edition by Guerssen Records.
Europeans seem to be attracted to alternative folk music, songs that say something. This is verry lucky for me! They wrap themselves around the performer and show respect. It brings out your best. The audience is predominantly young adults the age I was when I wrote these songs. Most are not religious in any way, and neither am I. Religion is something to hang on to, Spiritual freedom letting go.
In many interviews I was asked how does it feel to be in Europe performing songs I wrote 55 years ago? Did I ever imagine this would happen? No! I am surprised, grateful and humbled. It’s a phenomenon and a little bit spooky.
What I am saying in these songs everybody already knows deep down inside themselves. We just have to hear the words wrapped in melody to make the connection.
Minstrels and troubadours of old did what I am doing today.
– David Bixby
Dave Bixby will be performing LIVE at the MÚSIQUES DISPERSES FESTIVAL (MUD) in Lleida, Spain on Saturday, March 16th, 2024. Tickets are available for €20 HERE.
Don’t miss this amazing opportunity! Other festival performers include Lina_, Luar Na Lubre, Shooglenifty, Mercedes Peon, Judit Neddermann, Alba Careta I Henrio, Marala, Dengue Dengue Dengue, and River Omelet – March 14th – 17th, 2024
Dave Bixby 