To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of the legendary Ken Kesey on Nov 10, 2001, experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Ken Babbs, one of the last Merry Pranksters, to chat about the life and impact of Kesey and his coterie on the counterculture of the 1960s and the world.
Discover the origin of the Pranksters' name and the first-hand account of their infamous 1964 journey across America in the Day-Glo bus 'Further', blazing the first wave of psychedelia behind them. Learn the only thing that ever slowed Neal Cassady down and it's not what you think! From the Acid Tests to Goa and Global Trance Culture, the Pranksters' legacy expands beyond the party to a deeper understanding of reality itself, to the idea of Group Mind and how to play the Game. Absorbed by history into the tapestry of American folklore, the story of these psychedelic pioneers has been recounted in the recent documentary Magic Trip by Magnolia Films.
But here, join master storyteller Ken Babbs as we learn why the psychedelic outlaws of yesteryear deserve to be remembered as the heroes of today.
Originally aired on: Nov 3, 2011