Bucky Wetherell interview

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Photo by Haynes McFadden. Bucky is left behind the projector.

Bucky Wetherell was at Atlanta School of Art when ‘the scene’ started, worked with early light shows at The Catacombs  with The Electric Collage Lightshow. He then became part of STOMP.  STOMP was a tribal musical like Hair, but actually created by hippies. It started in Texas, matured here, moved to New York and returned to be firebombed in Atlanta.

Mother David , king of Atlanta hippies according to the papers, was a model at the Atlanta School of Art by The High Museum where a lot of the ‘scene’ started.

Introduction to Bucky

The Strip

The Catacombs

Light shows

Light show techniques moved into movie making and into Atlanta’s Electric Collage Light Show. Lots of creativity tales centered around the High Museum area.

Hendrix

Filmaking

High Museum

Haynes McFadden

Stomp – on stage

Stomp arson.

Palinurus Gallery, 15th street

Bradshaws

Richards nightclub

Alex Cooley

The scene blossoms in 1969. People and places emerge.

Cliff Enders

Banjos

Wallace Brothers

Bucky’s best experience

Richard Greene

Bucky’s worst experience around The Strip

Places I remember

The 12th Gate

 

2 thoughts on “Bucky Wetherell interview

  1. I am desperately trying to contact Bucky Wetherell or Cliff Endress about the photos
    for our Smithsonian Folkways CD that is in production now. Please please Bucky or
    Cliff send your contact info so we can finish up. The contribution of both of you is so significant to the memory of Josh Thomas I feel as did Mike Seeger. Also I have now
    met Josh’s nephew Carl Johnson and played some tunes and showed him your photo.
    We need to get the high quality photos to include in the CD booklet with the two cuts of Josh. And it would be wonderful to meet you. Your email died with a computer and I’ve been searching for you. Somehow the best photo color negative got lost at Folkways. And some of the b&w photo proofs. Please help us get this CD out. We already have your name spelled right. Best, Cece 919 623 3372

  2. Some serious fact checking is needed on Bucky’s memories.
    For example I shot the jimmy Hendrix 16m film we used in the Electric Collage and have it in my collection. The Hendrix people bought it and included it in “Jimi Hendrix Electric Church” DVD. If Bucky has a copy of it he needs to return it to me. So far he has not answered any attempts to contact him to include him in the official history of the Electric Collage. Now this about the film lends some explanation to that.
    The light show house was broken into when it was disbanding after Atlanta Pop 2. The stereo system and cameras were stolen along with some light show media and equipment. The Dekalb police found some of it in a closed down teen club back in the early 70’s.
    Bucky was an art student that we picked up at the Catacombs because we needed a 3rd person to help with the live show. He was later dropped for never coming to rehearsals or helping with any other work. We hired a guy to take his place in the live show.
    Nice guy, art school freshman student but not a fit for us.

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