ISSUE ELEVEN

MARCH 1997

 

 

SUN RA INTERVIEW WITH KPOO RADIO(SAN FRANCISCO)BETWEEN SETS AT
THE MABUHAY GARDENS IN SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA.SEPT.27,1986.

KPOO:WE'RE HERE WITH THE GREAT SUN RA IN SAN FRANCISCO AT THE
MABUHAY GARDENS.SUN RA,THAT WAS A GREAT SHOW AS USUAL.WHAT HAVE
YOU BEEN DOING THE SINCE LAST TIME YOU VISITED THE BAY AREA?

SUN RA:I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE LOW PROFILE.BUT SINCE THE WORLD IN
SUCH A BAD CONDITION AND I NEVER HAVE PRESENTED WHAT I REALLY
REPRESENT,BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT,BUT,
SEEMINGLY,NO ONE KNOWS THE ANSWER SO I HAVE TO PRESENT WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT.TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE,YOU KNOW.BUT THE POSSIBLE HAS
REACHED THE STAGE OF PUSHING THE BUTTON AND THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE
LEFT IS THE HEIGHTH OF INTELLECTUAL ENDEAVORS.THE HEIGHTH OF WHAT
YOU CALL LIFE AND DEATH AND THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE LEFT IS PUSHING
THE BUTTON.BUT I'M REPRESENTING SOMETHING ELSE AND I NEVER REALLY
PRESENTED IT BECAUSE I'M NOT A MINISTER AND I'M NOT A CULT
LEADER.I'M NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN CLASSIFY ON THIS PLANET.SO
THEREFORE IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT.IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO APPROACH
PEOPLE WITH AN IDEA LIKE THAT.BUT SINCE THEY'RE FACING TOTAL
ANNIHILATION MAYBE THEY'LL LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE.'CAUSE THEY
SAY TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION,YOU KNOW.THE TRUTH I'M TALKING
ABOUT IS STRANGER THAN ANYTHING.IT'S TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE.BUT IT'S
THE ONLY WAY.IT'S ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN BOOKS.IT'S NEVER
BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE.IT'S TOTALLY UNKNOWN.BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY
AT THIS POINT.THE PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK THE PATH OF THE UNKNOWN BE-
CAUSE THE KNOWN THINGS HAVE LED TO THE POTENTIAL OF TOTAL DE-
STRUCTION.THAT'S WHAT THEIR KNOWLEDGE BROUGHT THEM TO.WELL,I'M
NOT DEALING WITH THAT.THAT'S JUST FIVE PERCENT OF MAN'S BRAIN,
ANYWAY.I'M DEALING WITH THE POTENTIAL OF THE NINETY FIVE PERCENT
OF THEIR BRAIN THAT THEY NEVER USE.THAT'S WHAT THIS MUSIC IS
ABOUT.IT'S ABOUT REACHING THOSE AREAS OF THE MIND AND THE SPIRIT
THAT'S NEVER BEEN REACHED BEFORE.

KPOO:YOU TALKED ABOUT,A LITTLE BIT EARLIER,YOU MAKING A SCHEDULE.

AND YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO BE WITH STEEL PULSE DOWN IN SAN
DIEGO.STEEL PULSE WAS JUST HERE EARLIER THIS EVENING AND THEY

HAVE A SONG OUT CALLED SAVE BLACK MUSIC.HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY .
THE STATE OF BLACK MUSIC RIGHT NOW? . . ,

SR:IT'S DEFUNCT RIGHT NOW.BECAUSE IT'S DEALING WITH EARTH
THINGS...THEY(MUSICIANS)KNOW ABOUT THE TREES AND THE BIRDS

AND THE BEES AND MOSTLY THEY SING ABOUT SEX.BUT I'M(NOT)

SINGING ANYTHING ABOUT RELIGIOUS THINGS BUT I'M NOT CONCERNED
WITH THOSE THINGS.I'M CONCERNED WITH SOMETHING ABOVE THOSE
THINGS AND SO,THEREFORE,MY MUSIC IS DIFFERENT.IT HAS A TOUCH

OF SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE AND IF YOU CAN CATCH IT THEN ANYTHING
CAN HAPPEN.IT'S NOT TOO EASY TO CATCH AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT
BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY MIGHT
THINK IT'S LIKE OTHER RELIGIONS AND THINGS THEY CAN JUMP OVER
IN THERE.BUT THEY WON'T SURVIVE IF THEY'RE NOT PURE AND SINCERE.
SO THEREFORE,IF IT WEREN'T FOR THAT FACT I'D HAVE ME A TEMPLE
AND CHURCH,TOO.MAKE ME MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.BUT I DON'T WANT TO
HURT ANYBODY.SO THIS IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE THAT PURE IN HEART AND
SINCERE.THE OTHERS CAN STAY BACK AND LEARN.THEY HAVE TO LEARN
THE HARD WAY AND THE HARD WAY IS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER KIND OF
TRUTH THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT AND IT'S YHE ONLY EXIT.ANYTHING
ELSE THEY CAN FORGET IT.'CAUSE THEY TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE,YOU
SEE.DIDN'T WORK.

'x‘
’.

KPOO:YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT SPACE IN YOUR MUSIC AND WITH THE SPACE
SHUTTLE BLOWING UP EARLIER THIS YEAR(DO)YOU THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID OF SPACE NOW?

SR:THEY GOT TO DO THINGS PROPERLY.IN THE FIRST PLACE THEY'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO SEND ANYBODY UP THERE UNLESS THEY GOT THEIR PASSPORTS
AND GOT ALL THE IDENTIFICATION PAPERS AS WHO THEY ARE,WHAT THEIR
INTENTS ARE,BECAUSE THAT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S TERRITORY.AND WHEN YOU
GO TO EUROPE OR ASIA(OR)ANYWHERE ELSE YOU GOT A PASSPORT...(TAPE
RUNS OUT)...(AFTER TEN SECONDS TO TURN THE TAPE OVER THE INTER-
VIEW CONTINUES)...THERFORE_THEY WERE TOTALLY UNPROTECTED AND THEY
HAVE TO BE PRECISE.THEY HAVE TO BE DISCIPLINED.THEY HAVE TO HAVE
THEIR MINDS ORIENTATED TO FORGET FREEDOM AND BE ON DISCIPLINE
PRECISION PLANE.AND IF THAT HAD BEEN DEALT WITH THERE WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN NO EXPLOSION BUT THERE WAS SOME HUMAN ERRORS OR SOME-
THING AND THEREFORE THAT MEANT FREEDOM.IT MOST CERTAINLY DIDN'T
MEAN PRECISION AND DISCIPLINE.IT WAS A LACK OF PRECISION AND
DISCIPLINE THAT CAUSED THAT VEHICLE TO DO WHAT IT DID.AND THEY
DIED BECAUSE THERE WAS A LACK OF PRECISION AND DISCIPLINE.AND I'M
ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT PRECISION AND DISCIPLINE.I KNOW MAN IS PRONE
TO RELAX AND FEEL AT HOME...MAN'S A BIG BABY,YOU KNOW.AND HE HAVE
TO HAVE ALL THESE LITTLE OLD THINGS TO PENT HIM UP AND MAKE HIM
THINK,OH.ISN'T LIFE WONDERFUL LIKE A BABY...BUT IT'S NOT TRUE.HE
HAS TO STRUGGLE.HE HAS TO BE PRECISE AND DISCIPLINED.HE HAVE TO
MAKE CHOICES.HE GOT TO MAKE SOME TERRIFIC CHOICES NOW THAT'S
ABOVE THE MENTALITY OF A MAN.MAN CAN'T DO IT.HE GOT TO USE HIS
OTHER PART OF HIM.AND IF HE DO THAT,EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE
ALLRIGHT.BUT IT'S A VERY CRITICAL STAGE AT THIS POINT.LIKE I TOLD
A FELLOW IN PHILADELPHIA.I SAID,WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO STOP BEING
A MAN AND EVOLUTE(SIC)TO SOMETHING BETTER?HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AT
FIRST.BUT EVERYTIME I SEE HIM NOW HE GREETS ME WARMLY BECAUSE HE
REALIZE I TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT MAN.IT'S NOT SUITABLE,YOU KNOW,TO
BE GOING OUT IN SPACE.BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE DOWN THERE.A LOT
OF ANGELS ARE DOWN HERE NOW.AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUTER SPACE
AND IF PEOPLE LISTEN TO THEM THEY'LL PAVE THE WAY.BUT THEY MIGHT
NOT BELIEVE IT JUST 'CAUSE THEY GOT TWO LEGS AND LOOK LIKE MAN
AND WOMAN.THAT IS NOT TRUE ANYMORE.THERE ARE A LOT OF SPACE
PEOPLE DOWN HERE WILLING TO HELP.BUT THEY HAVE TO BE REEDUCATED.
YOU KNOW.'CAUSE EVERYTHING THEY THINK IS RIGHT IS WRONG.

KPOO:THE STORIES ABOUT YOU APPEARING IN EUROPE ARE LEGENDS.YOU'D
GET TWENTY FIVE,THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE SHOW UP AT YOUR SHOWS AND
MOB SCENES AT THE AIRPORT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.ARE PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY BECOMING MORE AWARE OF YOU AND YOUR WORK?

SR:I NEVER TRIED TO REACH THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY,REALLY.I
NEVER TRIED BECAUSE YOU HAD ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE
LEADERS TO DO THAT SO I DIDN'T SEE WHY I SHOULD UNINTELLIGIBLE
WHEN THEY HAD ALL THESE LEADERS ALL AROUND.OF COURSE THEY DON'T
HAVE ANY NOW.BUT THEY DID HAVE A LOT OF THEM AND I STAYED OUT OF
ALL THEIR MOVEMENTS BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO FAIL EVEN
THOUGH THEY WERE SINCERE AND WILLING TO DIE FOR.I KNEW THEY WERE
GOING TO FAIL.I'M DEALING WITH EQUATIONS AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND
PEOPLE:THAT'S NOTHING FOR EUROPE.IN FRANCE I HAD ONE HUNDRED AND

FIFTY THOUSAND IN A PARK THERE.THAT'S THE WAY IT IS IN EUROPE
BECAUSE THEY GOT A CULTURE MINISTER.MOSTLY I GO THERE UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE CULTURE MINISTER.NOW AMERICA DOESN'T HAVE A CUL-
TURE MINISTER AND THAT'S WHY IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME HERE BECAUSE
IF YOU HAD A CULTURE MINISTER IN AMERICA HE WOULD SEE TO ME PLAY-
ING FOR AMERICAN PEOPLE.BUT SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE ONE AND MUSIC IS
MOSTLY IN THE COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT AND NOT IN THE CULTURE DE-
PARTMENT AND THAT IS THE ONE BIG FAULT IN AMERICA.I'M SURE IF
THEY HAD THE CULTURE MINISTER INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT CRACK AND
COCAINE THEY SHOULD PUT SOMETHING THERE THAT TEENAGERS COULD BE
PROUD OF.LIKE A CULTURE MINISTER.THAT COULD REPLACE ALL THE DOPE.
YOU SEE,IF AMERICA HAD SOME ETHNIC STRUCTURE SOME OF THE PEOPLE
COULD FEEL A PART OF AND THE SPIRIT OF THEY WOULDN'T BE DESOLATE
THE WAY THEY ARE,YOU SEE.S0(A)BIG LONILINESS AMONG TEENAGER(S).
AND THAT'S WHY THEY DOING THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY KNOW GOOD AND
WELL THAT WHATEVER SYSTEMS MAN HAS IT'S NOT SUITABLE FOR THIS
KIND OF AGES.NOT SUITABLE.SO THEY SEARCHING.THEY LOOKING FOR AN
OUTLET.THAT'S WHAT IT IS.BUT IF THEY HAD A CULTURE MINISTER THAT
WOULD BE AN OUTLET BECAUSE SOMEBODY WOULD CARE ABOUT BEAUTY AND
CULTURE AND IF YOU TAKE ALL THE DOPE AWAY FROM THEM WHAT DO THEY
HAVE LEFT,YOU KNOW.BUT THE BUTTON,YOU KNOW.

KPOO:SPEAKING OF CULTURE:THERE'S A NEW JAZZ MOVIE COMING OUT AND,
I GUESS HOLLYWOOD IS GETTING READY TO SPEND SOME BIG MONEY ON
JAZZ.DO YOU THINK THAT THE JAZZ SCENE IS GETTING TO BECOME LIKE
IT WAS IN THE THIRTIES AND FOURTIES?THE REVITALIZATION OF THE
JAZZ SCENE IN AMERICA SINCE YOU'VE BEEN AROUND SO LONG.

SR:AMERICA IS A BIG SUPERFICIAL COUNTRY.IT'S NOT NOTHING LIKE
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND IF THEY WAS DEALING WITH TRUE JAZZ THEY
WOULD START BACK WHERE IT STARTED FROM AND SHOW THE MUSICIANS WHO
PEOPLE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.THE ONE'S THEY GOT IN THE ARCHIVES AND
EVERYTHING ARE ALL HIDDEN.(THEY ARE)TRYING TO DO SOMETHING NEW.
TRYING TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT BLACK PEOPLE.TRYING TO DO SOME-
THING WITHOUT BLACK MUSICIANS.THIS IS TOTALLY SELFISH AND IT
WON'T WORK,YOU SEE.THEY GOT TO GO BACK THERE AND WITH A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.I MEAN EVERY MUSICIAN
THAT HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER IN AMERICA:HE MUST BE DOCUMENTED AND
SPOKEN OF.EVERYBODY WHO EVER DID SOMETHING GOOD IN AMERICA THEY
GOT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT.OR THIS COUNTRY WILL HIT THE DIRT AND BE
LIKE THE REST OF THEM.THEY MUST GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
EVERYBODY HELPED TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY.SO YOU CAN'T LEAVE ANYBODY
OUT.YOU CAN'T LEAVE ANYBODY OUT.ALL OF THEM STRUGGLED AND HELPED
TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY.THEREFORE THEY ALL GOT A PART IN IT.THEY
ALL SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE AMERICA
WOULDN'T BE AS STRONG AS IT IS IF EVERYBODY,EVERYBODY RICH AND
POOR,BLACK AND WHITE,CHINESE AND JAPANESE.EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTED
TO THIS COUNTRY AND EVERYONE.EVERYONE SHOULD BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR
WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THAT KIND OF COUNTRY,
YOU KNOW.THE TRICK IS:THEY SAY THEY TRUST IN GOD AND THAT'S THE
MOST DANGEROUS THING THEY EVER SAID.BECAUSE WHY?THEY GOT TO GIVE
ACCOUNT NOW.THEY GOT TO GIVE ACCOUNT.NOW,PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE
IN GOD DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ACCOUNT.BUT THE ONE'S WHO SAY THEY DO:
THEY GET JUDGEMENT DAY.JUDGEMENT DAY IS HERE FOR THEM.NOW,THE

REST OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD;THEY DON'T HAVE A
JUDGEMENT DAY.BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY BELIEVE. BUT THE ONE'S
WHO SAY THEY BELIEVE AND BEING HYPOCRITICAL:THEY GOT TO PAY NOW.
THEY HAVE TO PAY.BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY WELL ORDERED UNIVERSE.
AND ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING.THAT WAS THE BIGGEST
TRICK EVER BEEN PLAYED ON AMERICA.THEY THINK NOBODY'S WATCHING.
THEY THINK NOBODY WATCHED THE SLAVERY.THEY THINK NOBODY KNOWING
ABOUT WHAT THEY DOING TO OLDER PEOPLE.BUT THAT WAS JUST TO GIVE
THEM ENOUGH ROPE TO HANG THEMSELVES.OF COURSE IT'S NOT TOO LATE
IN A SENSE.IF THEY DEAL WITH BEAUTY AND CULTURE INSTEAD OF VIO-
LENCE.BUT MAYBE YES,MAYBE NO.IT DEPENDS.

KPOO:YOUR DOING AN INTERESTING SHOW DOWN IN SAN DIEGO WITH STEEL
PULSE.HOW DID THAT PAIRING COME ABOUT?IS THAT YOUR IDEA?

SR:WELL,SOMEBODY IN SAN DIEGO TRYING TO STOP ME FROM COMING DOWN
THERE.SO I ASKED THE CREATOR TO SEND ME DOWN THERE ANYWAY SO HE'S
SENDING ME DOWN THERE TO SHOW THIS PERSON THEY CAN'T STOP ME.BUT
THEY BEEN DOING IT ABOUT FIVE YEARS.THEY WAS ...SOMEBODY DOWN
THERE WAS TRYING TO STOP ME BECAUSE WE WERE DOWN THERE ONCE AND
THIS PERSON SAID THAT SOMEBODY IN THE BAND CALLED HIM A HONKEY.
WELL,I DIDN'T,YOU KNOW!BUT,I MEAN,I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
CRUCIFIED BECAUSE WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING IN THIS BAND,YOU
KNOW.HE'S SUPPOSED TO JUDGE BY WHAT I'M DOING AND NOT BY WHAT
SOMEBODY DO.BUT THAT'S WHY HE BLOCKED...SO I'M GOING THERE ANYWAY
'CAUSE I'M REPRESENTING THE CREATOR.AND ANYTIME I WANT TO GO
SOMEWHERE,I'M GOING.OR ELSE THERE WON'T BE NO SAN DIEGO.THE
CREATOR BRING AN EARTHQUAKE THROUGH THERE AND GET RID OF IT.YOU
KNOW,SEE,I'M WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY WANTS ME TO HELP
THIS PLANET.ANYTHING(THAT)GET IN THE WAY THEY GOT MY SYMPATHY.

KPOO:BESIDES YOU,WHO ELSE COULD BE CONSIDERED THE MASTERS WHO ARE
STILL AROUND?

SR:MOST OF THE MASTERS IN ALL WORKS OF PERFORMANCE,THEY STAY HID-
DEN FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY SCARED OF THEM.THEY BE OUT ON THE
MOUNTAINS,THEY IN THE DESERT,THEY IN THE FOREST.THEY STAY AWAY
FROM PEOPLE.PEOPLE HAVE TO LOOK FOR THEM.I'M THE ONLY SOMEONE THE
CREATOR EVER SENT ALONG THAT'S IN THE MIDST OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
(AND)TALKING TO THEM.IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.WHICH MEANS THE
SITUATION IS SO CRITICAL ON THIS PLANET THAT THE CREATOR WOULD
EXPOSE SOMEBODY LIKE ME TO HUMAN BEINGS WITH ALL THEIR FRAILTIES
AND WHATEVER THEY GOT.MOST DREADFUL,YOU KNOW.BUT NEVERTHELESS I'M
IN THE MIDST OF THEM AND I'M TELLING THEM WHAT THEY GOT TO DO SO
THAT'S IT.THEY HAVE TO LISTEN.AND IT'S NOT THAT I WANT THEM TO
LISTEN.(IT'S)NOT MY PLANET.BUT SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS THEM TO LIS-
TEN AND THAT SOMEONE IS SO POWERFUL THAT CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT
LISTEN.WHICH WORRIES ME.I MIGHT END UP OWNING FIVE BILLION PEOPLE
AND I DON'T WANT THEM.(CHUCKLES)

KPOO:ON THE MUSIC SCENE,SUN RA,WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?WHAT ARE YOU
GETTING READY TO DO MUSICALLY?

SR:THE PEOPLE ARE THE INSTRUMENT.THAT'S WHAT I TOLD THEM IN
GERMANY TEN YEARS AGO.THE PEOPLE ARE THE INSTRUMENT.

KPOO:SO YOU UTILIZE THE PEOPLE TO INTERPRET WHAT YOU SEE AND
FEEL. —

SR:NO.THEY GOING TO BE PART OF THE BAND.THEY GOING TO BE THE
INSTRUMENTS'CAUSE I REACH OF A YYPICAL POINT WHERE HORNS CAN'T DO
IT AND NO MAN MADE INSTRUMENTS CAN DO IT.SO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THE PEOPLE.THEY'RE NOT MAN MADE,YOU KNOW.THEY'RE INSTRUMENTS IN A
SENSE.WELL,THEY GOT TWO HARPS UP THERE ON THE SIDE OF THEIR HEAD
THEY CALL EARS.SHAPED JUST LIKE A HARP.THEY GOT STRINGS IN THERE,
TOO.SO EVERYTIME I PLAY FOR THEM THESE STRINGS BE MOVING
THEREFORE THEY'RE HARP PLAYERS YOU MIGHT SAY.THEY GOT TWO HARPS
UP THERE.THESE STRINGS BE MOVING AND THEY BE PLAYING AND AS THEY
DO THE WHOLE BODY WILL RESPOND AND TUNE ITSELF UP.YOU KNOW,YOU
HAVE TO TUNE A AUTOMOBILE UP.THESE PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ARE OUT
OF TUNE.AND SO THEY GOT TO BE TUNED UP.THEY GOT TO BE TIGHTENED
UP LIKE THEY DO A PIANO.IF YOU TUNE THEM UP TO THE CREATOR
THEY'LL BE IN COMMUNICATION.IF YOU TUNE THEM UP TO SATURN THEY'LL
BE IN COMMUNICATION THERE.WHEREVER YOU TUNE THEM THAT'S WHAT THEY
GONNA BE.BUT RIGHT NOW THEY IN TUNE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEATH.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY ONLY END UP OVER THERE BECAUSE THAT'S(WHERE)
THEY IN TUNE.DEATH HAS,YOU KNOW,SOUNDS AND IT HAS VIBRATIONS.
THESE PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET ARE TUNED TO DEATH AND DEATH COMMUN-
CATES WITH THEM ALL THE TIME'CAUSE THEY HAVE NO COMUNICATION
WITH NOTHING ELSE;BUT IF THEY TUNED UP ON A HIGHER LEVEL THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO REACH A HIGHER ORDER OF BEINGS AND IT'S UP TO THEM IF
THEY...YES.IT DEPENDS UPON THE MUSIC.BECAUSE MUSIC IS A LANGUAGE.
IT'S THE ONLY PURE LANGUAGE.IT'S THE ONLY UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE AND
IF THEY WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING THEY GOT TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.
YOU KNOW,YOU HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT FACE THE MUSIC.THAT'S WHAT

THEY GOT TO DO.WELL,SEE,I NEVER LOOKED FOR FAME OR FOR MONEY OR
FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT SO THE TRICK IS;HOW CAN THEY GET ME TO
HELP THEM?THAT'S GOING TO BE THEIR GREATEST PROBLEM.GETTING ME TO
HELP THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NOTHING I WANT.I DON'T NEED
THEIR DIAMONDS AND GOLD AND NOTHING THEY GOT.IT DOESN'T INTEREST
ME.SO HOW COULD HUMAN BEINGS ACTUALLY...WHAT CAN THEY FIND TO IN-
DUCE ME TO SOLVE THEIR SITUATION AND GET RID OF THIS FOOLISHNESS
THEY IN?WHAT CAN THEY DO?IT INTERESTS ME QUITE...I'M VERY INTER-
ESTED AS WHAT......BUT,PERSONALLY,IF THE CREATOR GIVE ME FULL
AUTHORITY I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY ON THE PLANET THEIR
EVICTION NOTICES.THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.NOW,ONE BLACK MAN
ASKED ME AND SAID,"WHERE WE GOING?"I SAID NOT MY PROBLEM.WELL,I
SAID YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH THIS PLANET SO,REALLY,THE
CREATOR HAS TRIED A LONG TIME WITH PROPHETS AND ALL THAT TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEM.I GOT THE ANSWER.IF YOU GIVE ME AUTHORITY I'M GIVING
EVERYBODY EVICTION NOTICES.AND THEY CAN GET OFF THIS PLANET AND
NO LONGER CALL IT HOME BECAUSE THEY DON'T APPRECIATE IT AND THEY
SHOULDN'T BE HERE,YOU KNOW.THEY SHOULDN'T BE HERE EITHER LIVING
OR DEAD.I WOULDN'T EVEN LET THEM BE BURIED IN THE PLANET.THEY
(CAN)GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.IT'S A LOT OF PLANETS OUT THERE THEY CAN
GO OUT.WHY SHOULD THEY STAY HERE AND POLLUTE THIS AND MESS IT UP?
IT'S THEIR HOME AT THIS POINT.BUT THEY CAN BE GIVEN EVICTION
NOTICES.A LOT OF NATIONS HAVE BEEN ON THIS PLANET.ENDED UP WITH
ONLY ONE LEFT AND ALL THAT SO...I MEAN...THEY SHOULD TAKE HEED
FROM HISTORY BUT THE MOST SUPERIOR THING YOU HAVE ON THIS PLANET
IS MUSIC.WELL,THE MUSICIANS ON THIS PLANET ARE NOT EVEN RESPECTED
AS MEN AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND STOLEN FROM ALL THIS TIME.
IT'S A SHAME AND A DISGRACE.IT'S A NATIONAL DISGRACE FOR AMERICA
THE WAY THEY WOULD LET MUSICIANS BE TREATED.AND MUSICIANS HAVE
GIFTS FROM THE CREATOR.AND IF ANYTHING IS A SIN AGAINST THE HOLY
GHOST IT'S A SIN AGAINST THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIFTS FROM THE
CREATOR.THAT IS UNFORGIVABLE.SO THEY GOT TO WATCH THEIR STEP,YOU
KNOW.

KPOO:SO HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THE MUSIC OF STEEL PULSE.YOU THINK
YOU REALLY LIKE WORKING WITH THEM? -

SR:I NEVER HEARD THEM BUT I APPRECIATE ALL MUSICIANS.ALL
MUSICIANS PLAY WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT.THAT'S ALL THEY CAN PLAY.

A MASTER COME ALONG AND CAN ADD SOME THINGS AND ENCOURAGE THEM.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DONE.THAT'S THE REASON BLACK MUSICIANS ARE
SO GREAT IN AMERICA.BECAUSE THEY HAD MASTERS TO TEACH THEM.
HIDDEN MASTERS WHO WERE UNSELFISH WHO TAUGHT THEM WHILE THE
WORLD WAS ASLEEP.AMD THEY TAUGHT THEM.EVERY MUSICIAN WHO CAME UP
IN AMERICA,JAZZ MUSICIAN,WHO BECAME GREAT WAS AT THE FOOT OF A
MASTER.AND THAT'S WHAT MADE THEM GREAT AND THAT'S WHAT,IN A
SENSE,WHAT MADE BLACK MUSICIANS LOSE ENERGIES OR SOMETHING
HAPPENING HERE IN AMERICA BECAUSE THEY GOT SO PROUD TRYING TO

BE LIKE WHITE PEOPLE AND TRYING TO GET INTO POLITICS UNTILL THEY
LOST.YHEY STOPPED FOLLOWING THE MASTERS THAT THE CREATOR SENT
THEM.AND NOW THEY'RE AT A STAGE OF...WELL,ANNIHILATION AS
MUSICIANS BECAUSE YOU GOT ALL THESE ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS AND
EVERYTHING.AND THAT TENDS TO PUT THEM OUT OF WORK,YOU KNOW.BUT IT
DOESN'T NECESARILY HAVE TO HAPPEN IF THEY WOULD LISTEN TO THE
MASTERS.THEY'RE AMONG THE MASTERS HERE FOR ALL BLACK PEOPLE.THEY
HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE MASTERS.THEY BEEN LISTENING TO THE WHITE
MASTER.WELL,HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME NOW.HE CAN'T HANDLE THE
SITUATION SO...YOU HAVE TO START LISTENING TO THE BLACK 0NES.THEY
WON'T ABOUT REVOLUTION.THEY'LL TALK ABOUT YOU GETTING OFF THIS
PLANET.YOU DON'T BELONG HERE NO WAY.YOU'LL NEVER BE PART OF IT.
YOU CAN JUST FORGET IT.

KPOO:I GOT TWO MORE QUESTIONS.THE FIRST IS WHAT WOULD YOU...YOU
JUST EXPLAINED THAT HOW THIS COUNTRY TREATS ITS MUSICIANS.WHAT

WOULD YOU TELL A YOUNG MUSICIAN COMING UP AS FAR AS FURTHERING

HIS FUTURE AS A MUSICIAN?A MUSICIAN IN AMERICA.

SR:WELL,THEY GOT TO COME PAST ME BECAUSE I'M GETTING READY TO
NULLIFY ALL THE MUSICS THAT BLACK FOLKS DOING BECAUSE I'M ANGRY
WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY’HAVEN'T TREATED ME RIGHT EITHER SO I JUST
NULLIFY EVERYTHING THEY GOT.WHICH INCLUDES THEIR MUSICIANS,TOO.
I'M GOING TO NULLIFY EVERYTHING THAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT.I'M
GOING TO NULLIFY THEIR MUSIC.I'M GOING TO NULLIFY EVERYTHING THAT
MAN HAS BEEN HOLDING ON TO.AND HE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BY ME.
NOW,I'M NOT GOD.IF I WAS GOD I'D FORGIVE THEM.IF I WAS THE DEVIL
I'D PUNISH THEM.BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO EITHER ONE OF THOSE
THINGS.I'M GOING TO ACT LIKE THEY DON'T EXIST.LIKE THEY BEEN
DOING ME.

KPOO:FINALLY,IF,WHEN THESE MUSICIANS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO JOIN
THE RA BAND WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE TO DO TO HOOK UP WITH YOU AND
PLAY IN YOUR BAND?

SR:THEY GOT TO BE TOTALLY SINCERE.OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE QUITE
DANGEROUS.I'VE TRIED TO HELP A FEW TEENAGERS.I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT
WOULD BE THE ANSWER.BLACK ONES:THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT,YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE,YOU KNOW,THEY WERE PROUD AND THEY WERE SELFISH AND PEOPLE
LIKE THAT,THEY WON'T MAKE IT WITH ME.BUT,YOU KNOW,IT'S HARD TO
FIND...IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE SINCERE.IT'S QUITE
DIFFICULT.IT USED TO BE EASY IN THE BLACK RACE.(NOW IT IS)QUITE
DIFFICULT.

KPOO:AGAIN THOSE CONCERTS DATES.THEY MENTIONED A COUPLE OF
CONCERRT DATES.YOU GOING TO BE AROUND THIS WEEK?

SR:I'M GOING TO BE AROUND.I'M GOING TO A LOT OF SAN PLACES.LIKE
SAN RAFEAL,SANTA CRUZ,SANTA ROSA AND THEN I'M GOING TO A PLACE...
THE LAST DATE I'M PLAYING IN CALIFORNIA I'M GOING TO A PLACE
WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE OPPOSE US.(THEY)SAY DON'T GO THERE.AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THEY CALL THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE
NAME OF IT.BUT ONE OF THEM HEARD US IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE LONE
STAR AND HE WANTED US TO COME AND PLAY FOR THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.
SO OF COURSE I'M GOING TO PLAY FOR THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.IT
INTRIGUES ME WHY THEY WOULD TELL ME DON'T GO THERE.IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE MAYBE ABOUT...THE TOWN'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS
LONG AND THE PEOPLE COME OUT(FROM)THE MOUNTAIN TO HEAR THE BAND.
WELL,I'M VERY INTRIGUED AND HAPPY THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
CAME TO NEW YORK AND HEARD US AND WANTS US TO PLAY FOR THEM.SO
THAT IS A...YEAH,I'M PLAYING FOR THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.AND THEY GOT
TO COME OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN TO HEAR US AND THAT'S GOOD.I'M SURE
THAT IN AMERICA WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME IS THAT THE HILL-
BILLIES AND THE SOUTHERN PREJUDICE PEOPLE AND THE KU KLUX KLAN
AND ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE THAT DISCRIMINATE ARE GOING TO SEE I GET
THE PROPER CHANCE HERE.THEY GOING TO SEE TO IT.WHERE IT SHOULD BE
THE BLACK PEOPLE AND THE WHITE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SO
LIBERAL.THEY SUPPOSED TO DO IT BUT THEY NOT DOING IT.SO THEN THE

CREATOR GOING TO TAKE THE OTHERS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE THE VERY
ENEMY OF BLACK PEOPLE AND THEY GOING TO HELP ME BECAUSE THEY CAN
DISCRIMINATE.A PERSON WHO CAN DISCRIMINATE WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE THE
BEST.AND THE DISCRIMINATORS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT SEE TO
IT THAT AMERICA TREAT ME PROPERLY.AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M GOING
TO PLAY FOR THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.WE WENT UP IN NEW ENGLAND PLAYING
AND NEW ENGLAND,THEY HAVEN'T HEARD...YOU KNOW,THEY VERY STAID UP
THERE.A FELLOW IN PHILADELPHIASAID,'WELL.DO YOU PLAY FOR WHITE
PEOPLE?I SAID,'YES.WE PLAY FOR THEM ALL THE TIME.HE SAID.'NO.I'M
TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE WHITE PEOPLE.THE YANKEES OF NEW ENGLAND.
THEY NEVER DO HAVE ANYTHING UP THERE...WOULD YOU PLAY FOR THEM?‘
I SAID,'SURE.'SO ANOTHER BOOKING AGENT,THEY BEEN TRYING TO GET US
THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.HE NEVER COULD GET US UP THERE.FINALLY
WE DID GO UP THERE AND NEW ENGLAND GAVE US STANDING OVATIONS.WE
GETTING READY TO GO BACK.THEY LIKED WHAT WE WERE DOING.AND ONE
TIME THE MAN SAID,'WELL,HOW DID WE REDNECKS TREAT YOU?WE TREAT
YOU ALLRIGHT,DIDNT(WE).'AND THEY DID.IT WAS VERY NICE.SO NEW
YEARS EVE,ATLANTA,GEORGIA WANTS ME TO PLAY DOWN THERE EVERY NEW
YEARS EVE AND WE PLAYED THERE TWO NEW YEARS AND THEY WANT US TO
COME BACK AND PLAY AND THAT'S THE GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH.BUT I
HAVEN'T BEEN IN ALABAMA TO PLAY...IN OTHER PARTS OF GEORGIA OR
MISSISSIPPI.I'VE BEEN TO NEW ORLEANS....THERE'S A LOT OF STATES
I'VE BEEN T0.0KLAHOMA...BUT I'M GETTING READY TO GO TO SALT LAKE
CITY.I NEVER PLAYED THERE.WHEN I LEAVE CALIFORNIA I'M PLAYING THE
MORMON TERRITORY.WE'LL SEE WHAT THE MORMONS SAY.

KPOO:(LAUGHING)THAT SHOULD BE INTERESTING.OK.THANK YOU VERY MUCH
SUN RA.YOUR SHOW IS GREAT AS USUAL AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU OUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

SR:OK.THANK YOU.

CONVERSATION WITH SUN RA,JOHN HINDS.PETER HINDS AND CARLOS
SANTANA....SEPTEMBER 29,l986....BETWEEN SETS AT NEW GEORGE'S
SAN RAFAEL,CALIFORNIA............. . . . . . .... . . . . . . ...........

SUN RA:AND THE FIRST THING:I'M GOING TO GET THE HILLBILLIES.I GOT
THEM ALREADY.I GOT THE HILLBILLIES.AND I GOT THE REDNECKS.I
PLAYED UP IN NEW ENGLAND AND THE REDNECKS SAID.'TREAT YOU PRETTY
GOOD,DIDN'T WE?WE REDNECKS ALLRIGHT.'I SAID,'YES.'(LAUGHTER)

UP IN YANKEE TERRITORY.WENT UP THERE.AND NOW I'M GETTING READY TO
GO TO THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA WHICH EVERYONE SAYS.
‘DON'T GO AND PLAY FOR THEM.'I SAY,'I'M GOING TO PLAY FOR THEM.’

PETER HINDS:UP IN GARBERVILLE.

SR:THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.THEY GOT A TERRIBLE REPUTATION.I'M GOING
TO THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE WHEN?

PH:MONDAY.
WOMAN'S VOICE:WHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS ARE YOU GOING?
SR:IT'S A TOWN ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS LONG.START WITH A G.

PH:GARBERVILLE.

SR:AND THEY MOUNTAIN PEOPLE...THEY...MOST OF THEM I HEAR ARE
VETS.AND THEY GOT TIGER TRAPS AND BEAR TRAPS IN THE MOUNTAIN(S).
TRAP PEOPLE THAT COME UP THERE THAT NOT INVITED.AND THEY
UNINTELLIGIBLE AND IT'S TERRIBLE.BUT ONE OF THEM CAME TO NEW YORK
AND HEARD US AND INVITED US THERE TO PLAY.

WV:HOW NICE.HOW VERY NICE.

SR:THE BOOKING AGENT SAID,'DON'T GO UP THERE.'WHY SHOULDN'T I
PLAY FOR THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE?SAID,'TERRIBLE.THEY'RE TERRIBLE.'

I SAID,'BUT,THEY'RE WARM LIKE US.I'M GOING TO PLAY FOR THE
MOUNTAIN PEOPLE.'TOLD THE FELLAS,'DON'T WALK OUT IN THE WOODS.
GOT TIGER TRAPS.'THEY TELL ME THE FBI GOT SIGNS UP THERE.DON'T
VENTURE IN THEIR TERRITORY.THEY GOT THEM OUT THERE(TRAPS)BASIC-
ALLY SET FOR THE FBI AND CIA NOW.I HEAR.I HEAR THEY VETS AND
THEIR OWN LITTLE PRIVATE ESTATES AND PARKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT
SO THEY DON'T WANT THE CIA AND FBI UP IN THERE.SET BEAR TRAPS AND
TIGER TRAPS.AND WE STAY RIGHT AT THE HOTEL AND WE NOT GOING...IF
ANY OF'THEM GET CAUGHT IN THE TIGER TRAPS...IT'S TOO BAD.
(LAUGHTER)I'M NOT GOING OUT THERE TO GET THEM.

SUN RA:THE WORLD THE WAY IT IS...IT'S THE SAME WAY IT WAS WHEN I
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IN
BERKELEY.AND THEY FIRED ME.EVERYTHING I SAID HAS COME TRUE.EVERY-
THING.AND I SAID,'WELL,IT'S NOT A UNIVERSITY IF STUDENTS CAN'T
HEAR EVERYTHING PRO AND CON.IT'S NOT A UNIVERSITY.'CAUSE A UNI-
VERSITY MEAN THEY HAVE TO BE EXPOSED TO EVERYTHING.'CAUSE THEY
GET OUT THERE AND THE ONE THING THEY COULDN'T LEARN COULD BEAT
THEM ON DOWN TO THE GROUND AND DEFEAT THEM.I TOLD THEM THAT.AND
NOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS SPREAD OUT ALL OVER PLANET EARTH.
EVERY NATION HERE.AND THEY GOING TO HAVE TO FACE IT,YOU KNOW.

IT IS THE TRUTH.I WISH IT WASN'T.IT IS.IT'S ANOTHER KIND OF
TRUTH.IT'S GOING TO STOP EVERY WHEEL THAT'S ON THIS PLANET.
'CAUSE I'M DEALING WITH A CREATOR THAT NEVER EVER EVEN APPROACHED
THIS PLANET EXCEPT WHEN THESE PLANETS CEASE AND HE LEFT IT.HE
NEVER...HE NEVER APPROACHED IT.ALL THAT STUFF THEY GOT...THAT'S
NOT HIM.HE NEVER DID APPROACH THEM 'CAUSE NOBODY ASKED HIM TO.
THEY'S TRYING TO DO THINGS THEIR OWN WAY.THEY WAS TALKING WHAT
THEY THOUGHT GOD IS AND,YOU KNOW,THEY HAD THEM OVER IN THEIR
IMAGE SAY(ING),'OH, HE'S THIS AND HE'S THAT.'AND ALL OF THEM CAME
UP AND NOBODY TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM.EVERYBODY FELL SHORT.THEY
ALL FELL SHORT.SO,YOU KNOW,SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO CLOSE NOW.THEY
DIDN'T MAKE IT.ALL OF THEM GONNA GET A X.FOR TOMORROW.GIVE ALL OF
THEM A X.KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?THAT MEANS(LAUGHS)THEY FAILED THE
COURSE.SO THEN NOW THEY GOT TO START ALL OVER AGAIN.WELL,THAT
COURSE WHAT THEY FAILED;THAT WILL BE ABOLISHED.THEY GET A WHOLE
NEW SYSTEM NOW,WHOLE THING SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT THEY GOING TO DO
WITH THAT.BUT THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK UNINTELLIGIBLE THE COURSE.
THEY JUST FAILED IT.SO,YOU KNOW,IT'S LIKE PLAYING A GAME OF
CHESS.IF YOU LOST THE GAME,THAT'S IT.YOU DON'T PLAY THAT GAME
OVER.I MEAN,YOU PLAY ANOTHER ONE.IT'S ALL A GAME,YOU KNOW.
NOTHING BUT A GAME.LIKE CHESS.AND SOMEBODY'S PLAYING THIS GAME
AND WHEN THEY TAKE THE MAN OF THE BOARD IT'S JUST LIKE CHESS.YOU
PUT THEM IN A BOX.AND ALL THEM FOLKS OUT THERE IN BOXES.THEY TOOK
THEM OFF THE BOARD.THEY LOST.AND WHOEVER WAS PLAYING THE GAME
LOST,TOO.AND SOMEBODY ELSE PLAYING THE GAME WON,YOU KNOW.SO I'M
FROM THE EMPEROR.NOW THEY TALKING ABOUT THE KING.KING'S DON'T

  
  

‘. ;»4gt»$,l%- .;,_,',”g:. 

 

   

STAND A CHANCE WITH EMPERORS,YOU KNOW.ANYBODY CAN BE A KING.NOT
EVERYBODY CAN BE EMPEROR 'CAUSE AN EMPEROR HAS AN EMPIRE.AND THIS
CREATOR HAS AN EMPIRE OF THE OMNIVERSE.YOU CAN'T GO NO HIGHER
THAN THAT.HE DON'T CARE NOTHIN' ABOUT NO UNIVERSE.HUGE UNIVERSE
(USED)FOR STEPPING STONE.BUT,SEE,IN NEW YORK I DID A LOT OF
THINGS THAT THE WORLD HADN'T HEARD AND I SAID,'WELL USE UNIVERSE
FOR STEPPING STONES.AND THEY NEED TO HEAR WHAT NEW YORK HAS
HEARD.FOR WHAT?ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS?FIFTEEN YEARS NEW YORK HAS
BEEN HEARING WHAT I'M SAYING AND PLAYING.REST OF THE WORLD
SITTING OUT HERE...DUMMIES.DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.BUT MOSTLY
I'LL BE PLAYING IN AVANTE-GARDE PLACES AND LIKE THAT AND MOSTLY
I'LL BE PLAYING IN THE EUROPEAN PLACES IN AMERICA.YUGOSLAVIA HAD
A PLACE THERE.I PLAYED FOR THEM.

JOHN HINDS:WHERE?

sR:YUGOSLAvIA.RIGHT IN NEw YORK CITY.THEY HAD A CLUB.AND (wHEN)wE
STOPPED PLAYING THERE IT_gLOSED_DOwN.NOEODY COULD DRAw THERE BUT
THEY CAME IN AND THERE WAS SOME PEOPLE FROM SWEDEN HERE,PLAYED
FOR THEM.SwITzERLAND.AMERIcANS?wELL...I'M BEGINNING TO wONDER IF
THERE ARE ANY.WE DON'T PLAY FOR THEM.wE ALwAYS PLAYING FOR SOME-
BODY PROM EUROPE wHO GOT CONTACT IN EUROPE.IT'S MOST AMAzING.YOU
KNOw.OR ELSE,THE ONLY AMERICANS wE PLAY FOR...HILLBILLIES AND
REDNECxS.PLAYED EOR THEM.AND THEN THEY....THE HARDCORE PLACES
LIKE THE MOTORCYCLE GANGS AND ALL THAT.PLAYED POR THEM.sEE.THEY
AwAKE.EUT THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT GOT THESE NICE CLUEs...wE DON'T
PLAY FOR THEM.'CAUsE THEY STILL ASLEEP.NOw I'M GETTING READY...
I GOT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF FANS THAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE
PRINGE OF RELIGION,PHILOSOPHY,SOCIETY.THEY ON THE OUTSIDE BUT

THEY AWAKE.THEY READY.AND I'M READY,TOO.

 

CARLOS SANTANA:EXCUSE ME MR.MYSTERY.MY NAME'S MR.SANTANA AND...
SR:COME UP CLOSER.

CS:AND I'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR ALL YOU
HAVE DONE TO ILLUME AND TRANSFORM AND ELEVATE THE CONSCIOUSNESS
OF HUMANITY THROUGH YOUR MUSIC...(SPOKEN SOFTLY)

SR:SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER.

CS:I SAY I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR ALL
YOU HAVE DONE TO ILLUME..TRANSFORM AND ELEVATE THE CONSCIOUSNESS S
OF HUMANITY THROUGH YOUR MUSIC AND THROUGH THE MUSIC OF YOUR A
BROTHERS.I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I §
ASPIRE TO INVITE YOU AND THE MUSIC OF OLATUNJI AND PERHAPS DO A L
CONCERT WITH THREE BANDS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.AND IF YOU WOULD
BE INTERESTED I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER.

SR:ALLRIGHT.WILL YOU GET HIS...YOUR NUMBER.AND HE'LL GIVE YOU
MINE. 1

CS:THANK YOU.SUN RA.

SR:AND NOW. WE GETTING READY TO GO TO...WHEN WE LEAVE HERE WE'RE
GOING TO SALT LAKE CITY UP THERE IN MORMON COUNTRY.THEN WE KEEP
ON TO WASHINGTON DC THEN WE HEADED TO FLORENCE AND ROME.AND WE BE
GOING THERE ABOUT A WEEK.WE SUPPOSED TO GO TO FRANCE BUT DUE TO
THE ATMOSPHERE IN FRANCE...I-DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING THERE,YOU
KNOW.I WANT TO GO MYSELF.I THINK SOME FELLOWS IN THE BAND ARE

12

 

AFRAID.BUT I'M NOT AFRAID.I'D GO THERE.I CAN FEEL THAT THEY KIND
OF NOT TO PLEASED WITH THE IDEA OF GOING TO PARIS.(CHUCKLES)

CS:(CHUCKLES)WE WALK IN GRACE,I'M SURE.WE WALK IN GRACE AND I'M
SURE THE BAND'S GOT PROTECTION AND DIVINE PROTECTION.

SR:OH YEAH.I KNOW I HAVE.BUT,YOU SEE,A LOT OF MEN DON'T HAVE
THEIR SHIELDS UP.YOU KNOW,AND THEY'RE SORT OF COMPLACENT AND THEY
DON'T REALIZE THEY GOT TO HAVE THEIR SHIELDS UP WITH COLORS AND
PERFUMES AND VIBRATIONS AND CLOTHES.THE RIGHT KIND OF COLORS.AND
THEY JUST WALKING AROUND LIKE THEY PROTECTED BUT THEY AREN'T.THEY
GOT TO PUT THEIR SHIELDS UP ‘CAUSE THESE FORCES ATTACK WHEN THEY
SEE A PERSON WITH THE WRONG COLOR ON FOR THEIR SPIRIT.EVERYDAY
THEY GOT TO BE CHANGING COLORS ACCORDING TO ...SOMETHING TO
COUNTERACT OTHER KIND OF COLORS.WHEN THEY PUT ON THE RIGHT
COLORS,THEN THEIR SPIRIT JUST VIBRATE AND HARMONIZE AND PUT PRO-
TECTION AROUND.BUT PEOPLE JUST PUT ON ANYTHING.ANY COLOR.IT'S
DANGEROUS.SO THEY HAVE TO BE TAUGHT.THEY HAVE TO BE TAUGHT TO BE
OBEDIENT AND TO LISTEN SO THEY CAN GET USED TO BEING OBEDIENT TO
THEIR SPIRIT AND YOU KNOW...BUT IT'S ALMOST WHERE IT'S TOO LATE.
ABOUT ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT.

CS:IT'S WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU AND AGAIN MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR
MUSIC...

SR:BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU.OK.ALL RIGHT.

(CARLOS SANTANA EXITS)

SR:EVERYTHING I WAS SAYING,YOU SEE,IS...WASN'T WRITTEN.I JUST
SAID IT ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAD FOUND OUT IN MY RESEARCHES AND

I WAS DOING THIS SPIRITUALLY.YOU GOT TO PUT THESE WORDS TOGETHER
PROPERLY.IF YOU GOT CERTAIN CHEMICALS TOGETHER THEY BECOME
DEADLY.THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WITH WORDS.THAT'S TRUE.BUT YOU DON'T

HAVE THIS OVER IN PHILOSOPHY.YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN RELIGION
NEITHER.THEY DON'T UNINTELLIGIBLE...(TAPE RUNS OUT).....

(TAPE CONTINUES) , . . . . ..

PH:THIS REMINDS ME OF THAT BOOK YOU SHOWED US A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
THAT OTHER SMALL EDITION FROM ENGLAND OR SOMETHING.

JOHN HINDS:FROM ENGLAND.

PH:REMEMBER THAT ONE?A RATHER LIMITED EDITION.TRANSCRIPTIONS.
SR:OH YEAH.WELL THIS A BIG BOOK WHEN YOU THINK OF IT.
PH:YEAH.THAT IS.

SR:MAYBE THESE POEMS SHOULD BE IN A BOOK LIKE THIS.ALL OF THEM.
JH:YEAH.THAT WOULD BE THE THING.YEAH.

SR:'CAUSE PEOPLE REALLY WANT IT.

PH:IT WAS NICE HEARING SPACE AURA.

SR:OH YEAH.SPACE AURA IS...IT'S A SLEEPER.IT'S VERY...IT'S

_ TALKING.I THINK I'LL PLAY IT WHEN I GO...I REALLY LIKE IT SLOW,

TOO.(SUN RA AND JOHN HINDS SING)....
13

SR:'CAUSE YOU DO A FAST VERSION FROM THE FIFTIES.THERE'S A COUPLE
VERSIONS.ONE'S FAST AND ONE'S REAL SLOW.OH,IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

SR:RIGHT.THAT'S THE THING ABOUT MY COMPOSITIONS.THEY CAN BE
PLAYED BOTH WAYS.THEY(CAN)BE PLAYED SO FAST YOUTTHINK THE
MUSICIANS...BUT,YOU KNOW,IT'S REACHED A STAGE WHERE SOME
MUSICIANS,IF THEY PLAY THEM WRONG,THEY GET WEAKER AND WEAKER.
THAT'S RIGHT.SOME THEY GET STRONGER AND STRONGER SO,YOU SEE,THIS
IS ANOTHER KIND OF MUSIC.

PH:BILLY BANG.I HEARD AN INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT ON ART SATO'S
SHOW...

SR:OH YEAH.BILLY BANG.YOU SHOULD HEAR HIM PLAY WITH US.
PH:WELL,HE WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU ON THIS INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT...

SR:WHAT DID HE SAY?...HE SAY HE'S GOING TO BE OUT HERE AROUND
THIS TIME.

PH:HE'S BACK EAST RIGHT NOW BUT ART SATO PLAYED A SEGMENT OF THIS
LONG INTERVIEW HE DID WITH BILLY BANG AND BILLY BANG WAS TALKING
ABOUT YOU IN THIS SEGMENT HE PLAYED AND HE SAID,'BOY!SUN RA KNOWS
SO MUCH AND HAS GOT SO MUCH MUSIC THAT I KNOW HE'S TAKING IT EASY
ON ME...'(SUN RA LAUGHS)HE GOES.'I'M HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING UP
AND I KNOW HE'S TAKING IT EASY ON ME.'YOU KNOW.YEAH.THAT WAS
GREAT.SO HE WAS JUST SO PLEASED TO...HE SAYS HE WANTS TO
ESTABLISH HIMSELF BUT HE'S,LIKE,TORN'CAUSE HE WANTS TO PLAY MORE
WITH YOU...(SUN RA LAUGHS)AND HE'S REALLY WORKING ON MAKING ROOM
FOR BOTH NOW.SO IT'S VERY NICE,YOU KNOW.

SR:YEAH.HE DID SAY EVERYTIME HE PLAY:'I GOT TO COME TO
PHILADELPHIA AND STAY WITH YOU ALL BUT YOU DID SOMETHING ELSE
TONIGHT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT...'ONE NIGHT WE WAS PLAYING.JUST HE
AND I AND THEN HE STOPPED...

PH:AT HOME?

SR:N0.0N THE JOB IN NEW YORK.AND.YOU KNOW,EVERYBODY LAID OUT AND
I PLAYED HE'S PLAYING AND ALL AT ONCE HE STOPPED.BUT I ASKED HIM,
I SAID,'WHY DID YOU STOP?’(HE REPLIED)'WELL,IT WENT...IT WAS
GOING SO(FAST)...I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.'(LAUGHS)I SAID,'WHAT
YOU WERE PLAYING WERE BEAUTIFUL.'HE SAID,'YEAH.BUT I JUST REACHED
A STAGE(WHERE)I HAD TO LISTEN TO YOU INSTEAD.SO...IT REALLY IS
BRANCHING OUT.IN FACT,'CAUSE THE PIANO PLAYER(GRAHAM CONNAH),LAST
PLACE WE PLAYED(SANTA CRUZ),MAYBE HE WASN'T EVEN TWENTY,HE SAY,
'YEAH.OH,TONIGHT YOU PLAYED ALL MY FAVORITE NUMBERS AND MY FAVO-
RITE NUMBER IS IMAGES.AND YOU PLAYED THAT.

PH:WHERE WAS THIS,NOW?IN SANTA CRUZ?LAST NIGHT.

SR:SANTA CRUZ.AND HE SAID...YEAH,IMAGES.AND HE SAID,'I BEEN
TRYING TO...I BEEN TRYING TO PLAY THAT.I LISTEN TO IT AND I TRY
TO WRITE IT AND I THINK I GOT IT...I CAN'T...IT'S SOMETHING WHERE
I CAN'T CATCH IT.'I SAID,'YEAH.WELL,IT'S THAT KIND OF NUMBER.’ IT
OFFERS SO MANY POTENTIALS WHEN YOU PLAYING IT YOU HEAR SOMETHING
ELSE.AND I SAID,'I'VE WRITTEN IT SEVERAL TIMES OVER.ANOTHER WAY
TO WRITE IT.'OTHER CHORDS COME IN THERE AND THEY ALL SOUND GOOD.

14

I SAID,'IT'S ONE OF THOSE SONGS.'I GOT ANOTHER ONE LIKE THAT.
IT'S...THEY PLAN(TO LEAVE).THAT SONG...THE BASS CAN BE A LOT OF
THINGS.IT'S INTRIGUING.CAN'T TELL WHAT KEY IT'S IN EITHER.
ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE IN A CERTAIN KEY,WHEN YOU WRITE IT THEN
YOU NOT SATISFIED.'CAUSE IT'S INTANGIBLE.IT'S AN INTAGIBLE SONG.
AND I GOT A LOT OF SONGS LIKE THIS.INTANGIBLE.THEY DON'T
EVEN...THERE NOT IN ANY EARTH KEY.I CREATED THEM AT THE HOUSE AND
I GOT TO PUT THEM OUT BUT I'D HAVE TO TEACH THE BAND OVER.I'D
HAVE TO TEACH THEM OVER EECAUSE THEY LOST THE FEEL.SEE.THEY MIGHT
PLAY THE NOTES BUT THE FEELING IS SOMETHING ELSE.AND I'M GOING TO
GET BACK TO THAT.BUT IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE I GO AND GET SOME
MUSICIANS AND THEY COULD BE JUST FULL OF STEAM AND READY AND THEY
GET WEAKER. EVERY NIGHT THEY GET WEAKER,WEAKER AND WEAKER AND
THAT'S THE REASON I GOT MY ELECTRONICS...AND I GOT TO GET SOME
MORE.FIVE OR SIX OF THEM AND THEN I'LL PLAY THAT.I HAVE TO KEEP
ON MOVING.I HAVE A MESSAGE TO GET EXPLAINED.I HAVE TO DO IT
WETHER THE MUSICIANS CAN MAKE IT OR NOT.I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO STAND
STILL.BUT I CAN DO IT AND THEN YOU CAN HEAR IT.HIT ONE NOTE.BAM!
AND YOU WAIT A LITTLE.ANOTHER NOTE.BAM!AND IF YOU HIT THAT NOTE
TOO SOON THERE'S NO MESSAGE THERE.THAT'S HOW DELICATE IT IS.THAT
NOTE HAS TO BE...THAT'S THE REASON JOHN CAGE HAS GOT HIS WATCH.
HE DOING IT LIKE THAT.HE GOT THAT WATCH.....YOU'LL SEE HIM CHANT.
AND HE WAIT.SUDDENLY HE'LL DO IT LIKE THAT.BUT I'M NOT DOING IT
LIKE THAT.I'LL DO IT...I'M DOING IT NATURAL.THAT MAKES IT MORE
DIFFICULT.NOW,IT'S POSSIBLE HE CAN TAKE HIS THING...HE CAN TEACH
SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAS GOT THEIR WATCH.I CAN'T.I DON'T HAVE A
WATCH.EVERY TIME I GET ONE I LOSE IT,ANYWAY.(LAUGHTER)BUT I CAN
SAY THAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING MORE INTENTLY AT WHAT I'M DOING AND
WHAT I'M SAYING.THEY LISTENING.

PH:IT wAs FUNNY WHEN THE SET ENDED TONIGHT YOU WERE STANUING WITH
YOUR ARMS CROSSED STARING AT EVERYONE.N0 ONE wAs SINGING.I wAs
WONDERING...N0 ONE wAs REALLY SINGING IN THE CROWD wnxcn IS UN-
UsUAL.ANU I THOUGHT YOU wAs JUST LOOKING AT THEM...

SR:THEY wAs JUST wATcHING ME.  

JH:JUST TOTALLY INTENT ON THAT§sO POWERFUL.

SR:)LAUGHS)

PH:WELL,I THINK THEY WERE A LITTLE TRANSFIXED,YOU KNOW.

15

SUN RA AND NOEL SCOTT
NEW YORK. . .1989. . . . . .
PHOTO:ANDREW HILL. . . .

MARSHALL ALLEN AND JOTHAN CALLINS
NEW YORK . 1 99 1 . PHOTO : R .' MAYEDA

-4

= JUNE TYSON
f NEW YORK.l99l
% PHOTO:R.MAYEDA

JAMES JACSON
NEW YORK . 1991
PHOTO: R . MAYEDA

SUN RA AND JUNE TYSON
OUTSIDE SWEET BASIL
NEW YOR-K.JULY 1984
PHOTO:C.ROMA

I'M REPRESENTING SOMETHING ELSE AND I
NEVER REALLY PRESENTED IT BECAUSE I'M

‘ NOT A MINISTER AND I'M NOT A CULT 1
LEADER. I'M NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU

CAN CLASSIFY ON THIS PLANET. SO
THEREFORE IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT. IT'S
BEEN DIFFICULT TO APPROACH PEOPLE
WITH AN IDEA LIKE THAT. BUT SINCE
THEY'RE FACING TOTAL ANNIHILATION
MAYBE THEY'LL LISTEN TO SOMETHING
ELSE. ’CAUSE THEY SAY TRUTH IS STRANGER
THAN FICTION, YOU KNOW. THE TRUTH I'M
TALKING ABOUT IS STRANGER THAN

ANYTHING. IT'S TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE. BUT
|T's THE ONLY WAY. IT'S ABOUT SOMETH INC
THAT'S NoT IN BOOKS. IT'S NEVER BEEN
MENTIONED BEFORE. IT'S TOTALLY
UNKNOWN. BUT IT'S THE ONLY wAv AT
THIS POINT. THE PEOPLE HAVE To WALK

THE PATH OF THE UNKNOWN BECAUSE
THE KNOWN THINGS HAVE LED TO THE
POTENTIAL OF TOTAL DESTRUCTION.
THAT'S WHAT THEIR KNOWLEDGE BROUGHT
THEMTO.

SUN RA