The 1960’s and 1970’s were riddled with unique personalities, but few were on the level of Augustus Owsley Stanley III, better known as Owsley or “Bear.” Stanley was a crucial figure in numerous scenes, helping the Merry Pranksters as well as the Grateful Dead during their formative years. Now, it’s all being chronicled in a new book: Bear: The Life and Times of Augustus Owsley Stanley III.
Something of a mad scientist, Stanley’s biggest claim to fame was the synthesis of Lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD. Between the years of 1965 and 1967, Stanley estimated that he produced more than ten million doses of the psychedelic drug. Some of his acid is still in existence, if Oteil Burbridge is to be believed.
Stanley’s biggest distributors and users of said LSD were the Merry Pranksters, who were leading figures of the mid-60’s counterculture movement. They were throwing events called Acid Tests in San Francisco, CA while the drug was still legal, and hired the Grateful Dead as the house band. Before long, the mad scientist of Stanley became the band’s principal financier and sound engineer. He also designed the famous lightning bolt logo for the Dead’s equipment during this era, and reportedly helped to turn figures like Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon onto LSD as well.
The biography will feature these stories and many more, bringing interviews with a number of Stanley’s friends and colleagues. Due out on November 15th, the book was written by journalist Robert Greenfield, best known for penning works on Bill Graham, Jerry Garcia, The Rolling Stones, Timothy Leary and more. You can read more about the new book via Amazon.
[H/T JamBase]