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  • Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon

  • Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops, and the Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream
  • Written by: David McGowan
  • Narrated by: Bill Fike
  • Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon

Written by: David McGowan
Narrated by: Bill Fike
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Publisher's Summary

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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ever wondered why some bands make it big??

This was an excellent insight into how the music industry has built itself up into the decadent monster that it is. It used to nag at me how a good song or a talented band never makes it, how some are promoted and some are not. In the end, its all about how much you are willing to sacrifice and who you are. I believe no one becomes famous by accident, no one makes it big because they have all the talent, fame is a construct, a carrot dangled to the masses that will never be reached.
Its easy to see how these people involved at the outset in Laurel Canyon were less than blessed with ability, but who they were born too. The shadow governments that run almost all countries use any weapon it can against its people, the world we live in, is as fake and false as it gets. War and fake terrorism to create fear and programs the weak minded to give up their freedoms to very people who are terrorizing them. They are distracted by music, movies, materialism, the drugs that governments flood each country with.
This book shows how easy it was and how it would be easy to spread the message. How to control the masses who are turning against you. Just like in Europe, they used the very same cultural controls with music and fashion, women's lib, divide and conquer to shape the current climate. This book goes behind the curtain to see how you can make a talentless band look plausible, how you can push music that is appalling and convince the public that it is great music. How to sell a drug that will destroy your life and not ask any questions. How the so called justice system is just a mafia who control all of these events, substances, create serial killers and push them into the public domain. So many iconic figures are included in this book, all relative, interconnected. Relationships where none appeared to exist. How someone can come from nowhere and become a massive star, who they really are....surprised to find that they aren't just a nobody. Sex drugs and rock n roll was created, it never happened organically, neither did any of the groups or individuals. A new religion is thrust upon the masses, a new way of believing, whatever these people say must be true. Music carrying hidden messages, manipulating the subconscious and how the CIA are were in the middle of it all, controlling it all along.
Everything you could want is included in this book by a brilliant author, someone who has gone far too soon. I recommend that you read this book, it will open your eyes to a lot of what was going on then, in the world and what is still going on now...

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Complete garbage and waste of time

wish I could get my credit back, worst book ever imHo never again a book by this guy.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

still reads like a collection of web posts

A lot of suggestion and much repetition. While the content is interesting it is mostly innuendo.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Read For Fun

A lot of people died in the Laurel Canyon scene. Author believes it's due to the military and CIA connections of some prominent artists. I personally got annoyed halfway through. Just a lot of death deemed "suspicious" by the author. Gets tiring. I do enjoy hearing some historical facts about pop culture, but be warned there are some disturbing underage situations which unfortunately exists in our world. Be ready to cringe.

Read this for fun. Taking it seriously is what made it hard for me.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story, terrible narration

the story is interesting. too bad I can barely follow along because of the terrible narration.

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    2 out of 5 stars

Poorly written, annoying experience

The worst written conspiracy-laden concoction I have ever experienced. Subject matter interesting but author’s style was not for me. Filled with nudge nudge wink wink phrases such as, “I don’t have to tell you” “if you can believe it” “Get ready for this” “You’re not going to believe this” making it really hard to listen to or take seriously. Tries in vain to create case that Laurel Canyon hippies were working for CIA. Really?!

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