I am reasonably new to hippiedom and would like to know the starters of the hippie movement, hippies who were the leaders, basically, or great musicians
It didn't exactly get started by one person, but a few of the originals were: Jerry Garcia The Beatles Arlo Guthrie (apparently) Timothy Leary Abbie Hoffman
Bob Dylan's gotta be up there somewhere. And in a twisted way all the corrupt American politicians did their part to make "hippies" what they are. Or were. Or whatever.
I don't believe there is a leader, a lot people mistake being a hippie for fashion and drugs, but really it's about being free, being real, and loving all. It's more about feeling the music and keeping the faith.. But everyone has there own opinion. Danny
Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters started spreading the message in 1964 with their cross country bus treks and their acid tests. Other musicians who contributed to the movement were Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane and Country Joe and the Fish.
ken kesey,ken babbs and all the merry pranksters ,jack kerouac ,allan ginsberg and others like neal cassady ,hugh romney (wavy gravy ) were at the forefront of the hippie movement but was much larger than just them
Heres my opinion. To be a hippie you don't need to listen to Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Doors, or Pink Floyd. You don't need to smoke weed, drop acid, or munch on shrooms. You don't need to wear tye dyes, faded jeans, and patchworks. All you need to do to be a hippie is believe. Believe that this very minute is a gift and to make the most of it that you can. To love with all of your heart, not only to your family, but to every beautiful shining face you see. To speard the joy that has been given to you to others. Show the world that there is more to life than bills, loans, cars, houses, and a career. Cause you know what? There IS so much more to life. Although ... indulging in the latter dosent hurt either. =]
i agree its not about fahion or drug use or what you think or yea man peace man its about being yourself and expressing your opions and fighting for what you belive in and not letting anyone stand in your way or tear your belifefes or opions down
i agree with you but that isnt what he was asking. i think he just wants to learn more about how the culture started. i agree with what other people said too. the beats are the main thing though, their the step before hippies.
Ginsburg, Kerouac, Cassady, Romney, Kesey et al., were Beatniks. Some, like Ginsburg and Cassady, hung around for the hippie scene. Kerouac didn't-- he wanted nothing to do with it.
he's looking for "freakstory." The particular counterculture was a reaction to the WWII generation and the materialism of the time. Most flower children were from middleclass to wealthy parents and struck out claiming their folk's value systems were corrpupt, while happily living on family money in many cases! THe wealth-value of America was growing at a scary rate, but a recession was brewing, keeping dad worried about the retirement fund. Since these kids were middle-upper class, the boys could avoid service with a student deferment, for a while. Highest educational attainment generation in US history, I believe. But teen rebellion was made cool in the 1950s, at least in pop culture. THe Youth culture which flowered in the 20s was dampened through two world wars. Rock and jazz and bebop really allowed a resurgence in youth culture. At the same time, the civil rights movement was gaining steam, from bus boycotts to lunch counter sit ins to voting drives. THat was where a lot of future war resisters got their organizational feet wet. Some would also go on to the gay rights and women's rights fights. With the Beatniks aging and the less intellectual freaks starting to form communities in pockets here and there, the vangard of the Youth became the soon to be christened hippie.