Hi Kids: 1967 was the year a much younger version of myself( I was 22) landed in Montreal via my first trip in an airplane to "scout out" Montreal. The family on my mother's side had lived here for 100 years. Montgomery St. was Grandma's place where the gas stove was always on. My first words in French were "patates frites" that could be obtained in a paper bag for $.15 on the corner of Ontario & Montgomery. Hogan, Bercy, Hochalaga were the streets of familiarity back in 1952. We came up every few years to visit. Way before that first plane ride. My uncles owned a hardware store in the area, and another on St. Denis. I used to help them prepare paint, cut keys, etc.

I met John Foley in 1967, he had just opened the Yellow Door. Guys from the U.S. were there as it was a haven for people who weren't interested in going to Vietnam. Drug counseling, aid for the old Folks were under way under the guidance of Roger Balk, a Pastor/Reverend, I think, with long sideburns and connected to McGill. A hang loose, nice guy who was always smiling. For me, the core was "The Door" and the McGill Ghetto, La Bodega, and the Spanish bars along Park. You could slip in to the McGill Cafeteria and blend in nicely with the Canadians...HA

This was a concern because I knew the F.B.I. had been looking for me back in Rhode Island. Not showing up for the draft was, uh, "not good" from their perspective. So, I spent the early years wondering if somebody would show up in a car and take me back across the border.

For me, at that time, Old Montreal was "a bit tense" with the "Quiet Revelolution" perculating in that area. I found peace in Chinatown, with Lee Siu Pak and my Martial Arts friends.

'67 was when I met Penny Lang, at a Hoot. She told John, "you should give this guy a gig, he's good." So, I was "in". The Door had food. You could create a sandwich for $.15. A slice of cheese was 5 cents, slice of bread 5 cents, ham 5 cents...That, and the never ending coffee. Blessings...

There was this protest singer I admired. He sang songs that made sense..."Che Guevara", "Can I Come Across to You", etc. Always in a green fatigue jacket, or woodsman's coat. His name was Bruce Murdoch.

So to return to the era...Park Avenue was for souvlaki, a new thing for me. We would go up there after a show to "The Meracles", Bougatsa, Galaktobouriko(if I spelled those right, witness a minor miracle.)
We walked in with guitars, which the owners perceived as "trouble". It was a bit of a "closed society" up there, back then. I spoke to the owner and explained to him we were musicians there for the food, and not "hippies" wanting to disturb the tranquility. We got accepted...

So, The Yellow Door was the core, you could get gigs in the outlying areas, Chateauguay, "up North", Sherbrooke, etc. The contacts were great and a lot of us "bonded" in more ways than one.

Hangouts? "Phantas" for records. You could sit on the couches. One day I was in there, checking out stuff on the back wall. I hear a loud bang at the cash, and the sound of a record player arm scratching 'cross a disc. I turn around and see that everybody is on the floor except me...HOLDUP. The guy is waving what looks to me like a 1911 '45. The banging is coming from him hitting the cash register with it. He disappears into the street...

Flashback to some Sgt. Det. in Montreal who used to carry an Uzi on a sling under his trenchcoat. Investigating the mob will not get you many friends. He goes to a Dep for some cigs where a robbery starts to take place in back of him as he's at the cash. He waits 'til they grab some money and head for the door. Then he opens up with the Uzi...Bye Bye bad guys. Bullet holes in the walls across the street. Ah yes, the 60's(and early 70's), Peace & Love...

Skipping around here. Yeah the Krishnas, Hare, Hare. Those "Feasts" on Sundays helped with food on a few occasions. Respect & Thanks...Swiss Hut(10 cents a draft) New Penelope, Coffeehouse in a dark church basement near The Bay...

But it was the people, the incredible people...Penny Lang, Wayne & Penny Rose(Rose's Cantina), John Foley, Bruce Murdoch, Chuck & Jenny Baker, Gary Davis, Bruce Cockburn, Dennis Brown, Bill Garrett, Roger Balk, Tex Koenig, Tammy Bayliss, Liz Tansey, Rick Whitelaw, Ron Bankley, Frank Quinn, Fred Torak, Murray McLaughlin, Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, "Tippy" Trudeau(Pierre's brother) & wife, Lindsay Cameron, George Gruenfeld, Peter Chalmers, Jesse Winchester, Sue Ellen Lothrop, Allan Fraser, Daisy DeBolt, Roger the Clown, Ellen Shizgal, Kay Johnson, Noah Zacharin, David Young, Mike Regenstrief, Bill Staines, Paul Geremia, Roy Book Binder(U.S.), Mark Nerenberg, Josh Onderisin, Linda Pressman(Phantasmagoria), hundreds more...

Thanks for the memories, Much Love & Light to you all...
bob