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THE MINI REVOLUTION SHOW



This show may have helped start a mini revolution, coming out of the SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.



I grew up about 45 minutes from the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Sylmar is the last town at the Northern Most Point of the San Fernando Valley. All we knew about Rock music was Led Zepplin. We were saturated with the current trends as far fetched as Motley Crew and other funny glam spandexers of the early 80s.



I went east for 2 years to try living with my father. Thats where I meet my friends who were into the dead. I saw shows at Providence R.I. and Meadowlands NJ. I couldnt wait to bring this new culture out West as I know my friends back home were missing out big time.



After returning home we were soon at Ventura County fairgrounds with my two best West Coast friends at the ripe age of 13. Mom had dropped us off in the bubble blue Chevette. The crowds were still so intimate back than that I clearly remember an old head saying hay look, there is some knew heads. Im sure our age being all tie died out at 13 and me being half black made us stand out in the crowd.



We entered and settled in on the dirt floor surface nice and close to the stage. A full blooded American Indian, standing almost 7 feet joined us. He was dressed in only a cloth around his mid section. He gave us the piece signal after sharing some of Sylmars finest skunk together, and he magically disappeared into the crowd. This indians slow flowing movements made us very mellow!



With the wind blowing in from the ocean breeze the dead commence to go into a SUPER SHKEDOWN It was the first time I had scene my friends dance, although reluctantly. Half way into Shakedown Phil made sure that we shook our bones, even if they had never been shakin before. I know that this is the first time my friends have ever been inspired to dance.



We never left our spot trying to take it all in. Yes Phil was truly on one during Shakedown. It had that sound you hear thumpin in the urban community today, Micky was in on it, slamming his floor tom wildly. Even my young 13 year old ears knew this was truly a Super Shakedown as it was refered to in the after concert glow and mermer.



We brought back Hacky Sacks and introduced them to Olive Vista Jr. High. A few months later hackie games were breaking out all over the campus. Every year I returned to Ventura more and more Sylmar rockers would show up, revealing a much softer tie-died side. The heavy metal radio stations soon ditched Motley Crew, and became Classic Rock Only.I think it was 97.1 who led the way with the Classic Rock all the way into the early 90s.



I know there were many other factors but I cant help but think this show helped play a part in this sudden popularity in Classic Rock. Before this show all Sylmar knew was Hard Rock no one had passed this culture down to us Sylmar Stoners. But now where you saw a Zepplin Blimp sketched on a Pee Gee Folder ion someones locker you also saw a steal your face or a skull in roses. Funny how that is currently the trend coture today Skulls on everything. Man we been rockin skulls 24 years ago.



I thank the Jersey heads who turned me on to this tremendous music. It will always inspire me. Brian McCartie my spirit warrior brother RIP and the Meanch Bros of Providence NJ will always be in my spirit.



This show is really something special. And phil was thumping for a reason. He was connecting to the low rider culture of Southern California and the heavy thumping deep bass that could be heard pounding from the mini trucks, that couldnt be missed in the Ventura vicinity.



Sure it may have been a mixer issue but phil made it part of The GREATEST SHAKEDOWN STREET OF ALL TIME. The One They Call SUPER SHAKEDOWN..check it out. Give your Woofers somthing to do.



PS Ventura had the most picturesque settings I ever saw. With the Infamous train conductor who seemed to know to light up his light on cue, when he would pass by only 200 yards behind the stage. The time it happened years later during an "I know you Rider", the crowd gave an ovation cause he hit the light on cue when Jerry said Wish I was a head light.



And on another occassion - dont forget the fire on the hill, during Fire On The Mountain, sure the dead knew there was a real dragon with matches running around the hills in the distance and it took a whole pale of water just to cool him down.



The belowing smoke and flames was just incredible. perfectly framed beyond the stage.

Famous KC Amos -- December 25, 2007The Show The began the REVOLUTION IN THE VALLEY