The Hippie Doctrine
Earth Day & The Hippie Doctrine
For the last three decades there has been a concerted effort to paint the 60s Hippie movement as a bunch of misguided, acid-dropping, and dirty hippies. Most of these comments come from people not old enough for the 60s or from well publicized minority view of out of touch former Nixonians.
The Hippies of the 60s and 70s were about political change, protest, and most of all song. Their slogans and philosophy were about “Make Love Not War”, peace, non-violent political change, protecting the environment, and amazing music.
Earth Day was practically invented by the Hippie movement after the polluted Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland, Ohio caught fire on June 22, 1969. In Los Angeles, the smog was so bad you couldn’t see the Hollywood sign most days. Santa Barbara beaches had recently been ravaged by a massive oil spill, and the war in Vietnam was still raging. The Hippie movement peaked with 400,000 attending the Woodstock Festival in upstate New York.
Less than a year later, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, and 20 million, mostly young Americans took to the streets. Last year, over a billion people in 190 countries joined the celebration of our planet.
Gary Hempsey a card-carrying member of the Hippie movement, arrived in Key West in 1996. After a few years of performing, Hempsey gathered a group of fellow travelers of the mystical music journey of his favorite era and formed a special group. Terry Wetmore, Tom Conger, Will Hoppey, Pete Jarvis, Russ Scavelli, and the youngest Hippie, Emily Springsteen played frequently at the Schooner Wharf Bar. The band members had longish hairstyles, smoked weed, and could play any song anyone could remember from the 60’s. Originally, they had a different name but every time Hempsey would meet a fan, they would ask “when are you playing with that old hippie band again” so the fans named the band – That Hippie Band.
They performed often at the Schooner Wharf Bar but every Earth Day was special. The band would bring their “A” game and it was a seminal event. The songs of the Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Starship, and Crosby, Stills, & Nash would fill the evening air.
Fellow Hippie Band member, Pete Jarvis said it best, “…it’s what I call the “Hippie Doctrine”, which is: If one could mix all these ingredients in a bowl, the optimism of the 60’s/70’s peace and love movement, some star dust from the age of Aquarius, Jerry Garcia’s beatific smile and twinkled eyes, the gentle serenity of a calm sea, the melodious song of the evening bird, you will find a genuine belief that there’s still hope for mankind.
Every Earth Day became special with That Hippie Band. I helped Gary produce several Earth Day events at the Key West Theater and one at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. We planned a special 50th Earth Day celebration at the amp with Grammy Winner Paul Cotton but COVID shut us and world down.
Gary could not muster any of the original band this past Earth Day so he improvised with some great Key West talent. One of the youngest performers, Meghan Barter, debuted a new song she wrote just for Earth Day. Tony Baltimore performed some of his music with his dog Greybird by his side. CC and the Sunsetters featuring Collette Campbell and Ross Brown, nailed the 1967 Jefferson Airplane hit “Somebody to Love”, and a touching rendition of “Over the Rainbow” with a cool video, plus several of their original songs. 
They were followed by Jesse Wagner and Jillian Todd who warmed up the audience with Joni Mitchell’ s “Big Yellow Taxi” then hit some of their favorite Grateful Dead songs including “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie” with a smashing deadhead finalé, “Women Are Smarter”. It was a monster night of music.
I miss That Hippie Band and their unwavering love for the Age of Aquarius. Hopefully, this new group of followers will keep the Hippie Doctrine alive and well, and do some Janis Joplin and Jimmie Hendrix songs next year. Throw in a Joe Cocker tune and some Credence while you’re at it!
Love the music of the 60’ & 70.
The Hippie band and every one of the bands. I hope the earth day event continues on for years to come. Thank you Gary Hempsey
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