From the Tiger Beat Archives, April 1969:
1. If you could interview any person, living or dead, who would you choose?
I remember being asked this question before and at the time I believed I said Jesus Christ. I would still answer it that way today. Just imagine a man only 33 years old and the tremendous influence he has had on the world from his time on.
A lot of what is said about Christ may just be hearsay, because a lot of the early translations are wrong. But just think-20 centuries ago this man lived and died-and even today we have his words and they still have great meaning. The Bible is the biggest selling book in the world. I think Jesus was a very very wise man to be able to say things that still hold true and make sense today.
2. Suppose you had a younger brother who is left in your care for a whole day. What would you do to keep him entertained?
First, I’d take him to the zoo, because I think all children dig animals. Even I love to see the different kinds of funny animals from all over the world. After that I take them to Disneyland. Disneyland, to a child of 4 or 5 must be like something they’ll remember the rest of their lives. It must be like all their dreams come true. I think those 2 things would make a pretty good day.
3. Suppose there was a fire in your apartment and you just had time enough to grab one item before escaping safely. What would that one item be?
That’s a good question because how can anyone measure how much one item means to them, the value it would have to you over other items. I could say, well I’d grab that picture on the wall because it’s groovy someone spent maybe 200 hours painting it; or I’ll grab my guitar because I’ve written many hits on it… I don’t know.
I suppose if it came right down to it in a fire as far as the thing that costs the most, they don’t enter into it. It’s the things that are irreplaceable. There’d be no way in the world that I could tell you what I would grab.
There something I’m really beginning to appreciate. Like these beads I happen to be wearing today were given to me. But whether or not I ever wore them is not important. The simple fact that someone gave them to me and at that moment I really dug getting them, that’s what’s important. It’s just the groovy feeling of giving and receiving.
4. What is your favorite time of year?
Well, when I’m in Los Angeles there isn’t a favorite time of year because it’s always the same. But when I was young and lived in places that had 4 definite seasons, the fog used to depress me immensely. I used to love summer time because that was a happy time that seemed like all red balloons and fleecy white clouds. I suppose all boys love summer time, I certainly did.
No I especially liked the fall. Paul impresses me because all of a sudden it’s like somebody shut off the sound. It’s like everything is encased in glass. All of a sudden the leaves are turning colors, like things are going to sleep and there’s a very still kind of beauty. There something about the fault it’s very peaceful.
Spring is completely different. It’s like an alive kind of beauty. It’s like watching something come alive. It’s like looking at a picture and suddenly turning it on and it comes to life.
5. Do you believe in astrology?
To a certain degree. I’m a Piscean and suppose a girl I’m dating is an Aquarian. Supposedly two signs like that couldn’t get along too well. Well, I think we could! That is, if you have an open mind! That’s what counts, not what your rising sign is.
Like there are certain tribes of people where if you commit a crime to which Dr. says, “Heh, man, you have done bad, therefore you are going to die.” That person, from that time knows he is going to die, and one day he just sits down and dies. You see, it’s all in his head. He believes he’s going to die and he does.
It’s the same thing with astrology. If you believe so hard that you cannot get along with such and such a sign, then you won’t. You can let it rule you, but I think it’s more fun just to groove on all people.
6. What fault do you find most unforgivable in a girl?
Just trying to be something she’s not. Trying to come off with too much class, or too hip or too anything. Trying to come off as anything but herself.
7. Do you really spend as much time as you say here in Hollywood? Don’t you ever leave for reasons other than touring?
Every once in a great while I do take off, but it’s always by myself. Not too long ago I went to the desert, by myself with a sleeping bag, some pots and pans and some rice and other food. I just went off and had a beautiful peaceful weekend alone with nature.
Sometimes I think it’s more fun to share experiences with people close to you, but I’m around people so much of the time, I guess it is the constant pressures that make me want to be alone sometimes.
8. What would you really like to do if you had an entire day to yourself?.
I would just like to spend a day completely relax. Wake up when I felt like it, have a leisurely breakfast, maybe play some tennis, which I haven’t done for a long time. I’d love to go someplace like the Fillmore Auditorium.
I went to the Factory once, but I doubt that I’ll ever go again. I’m not putting it down, but I would only go there to see someone like Donovan or the Beatles. But to just go to the Factory and sit around and say, “Heh, there’s so-and-so,” is really nowhere. I’d rather go somewhere like the Fillmore because most of the people come there because they want to hear some really good music.
9. What song that you’ve written says the most to you?
It is hard to choose from all the songs, because it depends on what kind of emotion you’re trying to convey. There’s a song on the “Revolution” album I called “I Hear a Voice.” It’s kind of hard to hear the words and I don’t think many people got the story of the song.
The song is about this guy whose girlfriend has died. He tells about what it is like remembering her. The last verse says something like… “The healing beads in shades of mellow yellow, green and blue and gray. A few of them will make it right, but all of them will let me be with her tonight.”
The “beads” were obviously pills. “A few of them will make it right, but all of them will let me be with her tonight.” I felt that song was pretty for that type of thing. I think “Too Much Talk” is about the best positive statement we’ve made.
10. What you like most about your fans?
The fact that they are there. The presence of fans seem to indicate to me that at least for a while on making somebody happy.
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