International Times



         


The Underground Press paper International Times (??IT??) started in 1966 in the UK, was based in Ladbroke Grove. Editors and writers included founder John Hopkins (Hoppy) and anarchist member of the Deviants Mick Farren.

??IT?? was launched on 15 October, 1966 at the Roundhouse by a gig featuring Syd Barrett?s Pink Floyd. The event It promised a 'Pop/Op/Costume/Masque/Fantasy-Loon/Blowout/Drag Ball. The All night rave to launch ??IT?? also featured Soft Machine, steel bands, strips, trips, happenings, movies. The launch was described as ?one of the two most revolutionary events in the history of English alternative music and thinking. The ??IT?? event was important because it marked the first recognition of a rapidly spreading socio-cultural revolution that had its parallel in the States? said Daevid Allen of Soft Machine (1).

A Benefit gig ??The 14 Hour Technicolor Dream?? was organised by ??IT?? and held on April 28 1967 at the Alexandra Palace (??Ally Pally??) in London which demonstrated the importance of the quickly developing UK Underground scene. Although ??underground?? venues such as the UFO Club and the Middle Earth Club were hosting counterculture bands this was certainly the biggest indoor event by that time and probably after. Bands who appeared included Pink Floyd, The Pretty Things, Savoy Brown, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Soft Machine, The Move and Sam Gopal Dream (featuring a young Lemmy of [Hawkwind]]/Motorhead fame/notoriety).

Col Turner was one of the people at the ??The 14 Hour Technicolor Dream?? and recalled ?I believe LSD was now illegal? ? ?As far as I know the first designer drug ever to hit the market surfaced that day. From memory it was called STP and was an offshoot of LSD? ... and it was ?distributed free to all who attended and wanted it.? ? ?Also given out freely were banana skin joints which was the fad at the time thanks to Donovan's song ??Mellow Yellow?? (Don't try it, it doesn't work!).? (2).


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