‘We tried to levitate the Pentagon’: the almost unbelievable life of Ed Sanders, trickster god of the US counterculture
He gave Jimi Hendrix his gear, freaked out Frank Sinatra, inspired Norman Mailer – and tried to topple the American war machine. As a documentary about his band the Fugs comes out, the 87-year-old gives a rare interview
TL;DR
- Ed Sanders, a musician, poet, activist, journalist, and author, was a pivotal figure in the US counterculture and founded the band The Fugs.
- Sanders chronicled the Manson family in his bestselling book 'The Family' and has been an activist for peace throughout his life.
- The documentary 'Fugs Film!' examines the Fugs' blend of street theatre, dadaist spectacle, poetry, and music, and their role in the nascent counterculture.
- The Fugs aimed to protest the 'American war machine' through their music and performances, including a notable attempt to 'levitate' the Pentagon.
- Sanders also ran the Peace Eye Bookstore and published 'Fuck You/A Magazine of the Arts,' advocating for free speech and facing obscenity charges.
- The Fugs experienced setbacks with record labels, including being dropped by Atlantic Records, but eventually signed with Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records.
- Sanders views current censorship challenges as a continuation of historical struggles for free expression and is inspired by young musicians' activism.
- He remains an optimist, believing the American people will vote out the Republicans and advocating for persistent struggle against despair.