It's summer and that means it's Bohemian Grove season once again. Time for the elite to get naked, have gay sex and make human sacrifices to a giant owl totem, just as they have been doing since the days of the cavemen, when the whole elitist conspiracy thing began.
The Alex Jones Zombie Brigade will be there in force, with protest signs and video cameras hoping to catch some wrinkled octogenarians dancing around a fire naked, smearing caviar on their genitals and baying at the moon. They're firmly convinced that what began as a combination corporate retreat and fundraiser for the San Francisco Opera is actually a gruesome black mass in which the global elite worship Satan and commit all manner of atrocities while plotting our world-wide subjugation underneath the redwoods.
The truth about Bohemian Grove is that it's all about hedonism, letting go and relaxing, and perhaps shedding some inhibitions - pretty much what we all do on vacation - if taken to a higher level. The only questionable activity for which there is some evidence is dressing up in costume and putting on silly plays in drag, and some organized prostitution (gay and straight). It's rich guys getting drunk, getting laid, acting silly and peeing in the woods. It's a giant frat party with trees. If I had to run a government agency I'd want to blow off some steam too. The downer is that it also includes quite a few speeches, but if you're drunk enough I imagine they're fairly amusing.
Aside from the ever-present hatred of the global elite, the main objection to what goes on at Bohemian Grove seems to be the hedonism. People having fun just doesn't sit well with the moralistic fascists who follow demagogues like Alex Jones. It's especially bad if that fun includes anything even vaguely gay, because homosexuals are Satan's recruiting force or some such. Dress in drag once, and you'll be on your knees servicing the devil for the rest of your life. And of course homosexuality and Satanism lead directly to global government and tattooing bar codes on everyone's foreheads.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Clavos
I'm STILL laughing!
Excellent, and VERY funny!
Do (or did) the Dead really get invited? Do they have to sing for their supper?
2 - pablo
and what do you know about the dead clavos? huh?
3 - Clavos
Pablo didn't read the article again, I see.
4 - pablo
Oh yes I did, and I asked you what you know about jerry and bobby bucko
5 - pablo
Oh and Pig Pen, and Keith too bucko
6 - Clavos
Sorry, pablo, I thought you hadn't.
I don't know anything (and I mean NOTHING) about them, and don't care, beyond liking their music, so please, don't tell me all about their memberships and associations, it bores the shit out of me.
I like their music; I don't need to know anything else.
7 - pablo
Just for the record Clavos, I personally saw that particular band over 700 times LIVE, the JGB about 200 times LIVE, so yeah when someone mentions the dead it perks my ears, as imho they happen to be the best fucking band that ever existed. I have also been talking with Eric about doing a series of articles on my experiences of over 30 years being one of their heads as it were. :)
8 - Clavos
So, did you ever see them at the BG, "bucko?"
9 - STM
Pablo: "I personally saw that particular band over 700 times LIVE, the JGB about 200 times LIVE".
Fair dinkum?? A touch obsessive, d'ya reckon? But kudos to ya, I don't know how you fouind the time in between reading up on all them conspiracy theories :)
We have a large group of serious-minded people working on the second floor of my building here in Sydney ... they are known to the rest of us as The Grateful Dead.
By the way, I reckon Dave knows way too much about the subject matter here. He writes with what I'd suggest is great insider knowledge
Come on, fess up Nalle ... but please, mate, don't give us too much information. We've just had the Pope here.
10 - pablo
Do you mean did I see them at a Bill Graham event Clavy? BG?? The main venues out here on their home turf was the Fillmore, Fillmore West, Greek Theatre, Jerry Band Keystone Berkeley and the Stone in SF. Down in the Peninsula was Shoreline, I dont know BG bucko.
STM,
Obsessive? Well when you discover the best band in the world at at 12 as I did, it was very easy to become obsessive. Perhaps you have heard of the Human-bein Golden Gate Park Jan 15th 1967, I walked there from my house. So yeah me and most of my friends were avid deadheads, and enjoyed every second of it for decades. Yep I was obsessive about the Grateful Dead, and I will soon write about some of my experiences on the Music section on here.
As to Bobby and Micky being members of the Grove, post Grateful Dead, I as you can imagine, as well as many people that I know were not too thrilled by it. By the way I personally know most if not all of the back woods in that particular area of Sonoma County as it used to be my running grounds.
Frankly I was a fan of Jerry's, the rest of the band for the most part was back-up, and always found Phil to be an extreme snob anyways.
I can tell you this however, I had the time of my life seeing those guys play, as did the rest of the audiences, and I do not regret for one minute all of the time that I spent following them around.
11 - pablo
I will however give you a brief list of where I did see them Clavy. Golden Gate Park many times, original Fillmore Auditorium on Geary and Fillmore in the sixties numerous times, the Greek in Berkeley tons of times, The SF Civic numerous, The original Oakland Auditorium, now known as the Henry J Kaiser Auditorium, tons. Europe, Essen, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Paris, Frankfurt, the East Coast, tons of places, Midwest Alpine Meadows, Soldier Field, Oregon Washington Nevada and too many other venues to name, but BG? Never heard of it bucko.
12 - Dave Nalle
Do (or did) the Dead really get invited? Do they have to sing for their supper?
Apparently two of the surviving members are regular attendees. One of them actually stays in the same bunkhouse as former President Bush (Sr.).
One of the things which Alex Jones doesn't really play up is that the core body of the BG attendees are local San Francisco arts and business notables. The next largest group is major business figures from all over the country. Politicians make up only a smaller element of the total membership.
Dave
13 - Dave Nalle
Oh, and an interesting note on all of this for those who like mysterious little inside jokes.
Harry Shearer who is a member of BG wrote a satirical play about it called "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" and the Grateful Dead wrote a song of the same name (the amazon link on this article) which seems to be about the BG, disguised as a children's song.
Oh, and I love the fact that this article is accompanied by an ad for Anton Lavey ringtones. Who knew that the Beast made ringtones...
Dave
14 - STM
Pablo,
Given all the early venues you quote, you're obviously a product of 60s and 70s San Francisco. Am I right? If so, good luck to you ... I'm surprised you can remember any of it.
The first time I went to SF, in I think 1979, or thereabouts anyway, I did the usual visit to Haight/Ashbury, and there were acid casualties and mad people roaming around. I must say, too, I felt quite at home, which was a worry ...
SF is a lot like Sydney in its looks and both are a bit brash and funky.
Because we have such a large population of Italian migrants here, the place is awash in good coffee and Australians are a bit like the Italians and Portuguese: they like their coffee and to sit in cafes shooting the breeze.
SF (North Beach) was the only place in the US at the time apart from Little Italy in New York and a place in Chicago and some areas of Miami where I found a decent coffee, which I thought was really quite bizarre for a nation of coffee drinkers.
Last time I was there I spent a lot of time in a little white waterfront cafe over in Sausalito, where a friend had an apartment.
Great place ... love to go back one day, and to Miami too hopefully to visit Clav, although I'm worried they might not let me back in after the golf cart and (multiple) vending machine incidents.
15 - pablo
STM
Yep I was born and raised in SF. By 1979 as you know that Haight was a ghostly shell of its former self, I moved up north to Orygun in 77. Some of the other notable bands that I have seen live, The Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Love, Otis Redding at the Fillmore, Hendrix at Winterland, The Stones countless times, Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin about ten times, the Who, Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Burden and the Animals, Fleetwood Mac, the Loading Zone with Linda Tillary, The Fugs, the Band, HP Lovecraft, Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash, and quite a few more bands. However it was always the Dead that I liked the most.
As I have always loved music, I was at the right place in the right time, and loved every minute of it.
As to my dabbling with conspiracy theories, I have been an astute political observer for at least the last 25 years, and even back in 1965 I was out with my whole family protesting the War in Vietnam.
I did not start with an agenda, other than all those 25 years ago, I knew as did most of my friends, that something was terribly wrong with my countries political machinations. My studies have led me to the beliefs that I hold now, not any hatred of anyone, particularly those of another race or religion. I do not claim to know all that there is to know about politics, nor do I have an answer for the miserable state of affairs. I do however believe that JFK was killed as a result of a conspiracy, (as did the congressional panel that studied his assassination). I have read in the neighborhood in total probably 50 books on the subject.
As I have said repeatedly on this website, I am not paranoid, if I was I would not be openly talking about those that rule the planet. I am just not afraid of them, as I was given my freedom from on high, and it is where I will always seek my refuge.
Dave frequently talks about the Socialist conspiracy as being the true evil one. However my studies have shown me that the Bolshevik Revolution was funded by Wall Street, not some poor rabbled masses yearning for some bread. Even today the so called socialist conspiracy that he frequently refers to is certainly not being promulagated by poor folk. What we have is a welfare state for the rich as witnessed so recently by Bear Stearns, and FreddieMac bailouts.
The use of fiat currency that is inflationary is an indirect tax, and in my opinion is used on purpose to disenfranchise the masses, at this time particularly the middle class. They want a surfdom, a feudalistic future, where there is rich and poor period, in a totalitarian environment
I stand by everything that I have said about the CFR, the Bilderbergs, Bohemian Grove (google 'the franklin coverup') and the Rothschilds. They have plans for this earth and it doesn't include most other people, and those that it does include will be little more than slaves.
My two sense worth
Pablo
16 - Andy Marsh
I went to an event at the Sonoma County Fair Grounds last year called the "Harmony Festival". At one point I actually stood up and yelled, "What does bitching about the president have to do with harmony!" Then I left.
That's all it was, was a few musical acts interspersed with people bitching about the president. Nothing harmonious about it.
17 - Ruvy
Harry Shearer who is a member of BG wrote a satirical play about it called "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" and the Grateful Dead wrote a song of the same name (the amazon link on this article) which seems to be about the BG, disguised as a children's song.
You just wrecked that tune for me. My cousin made a CD with Garcia where this song featured prominently. That Amazon link looked awful familiar and now I see why.... It's the cover to my cousin's CD.
18 - Dave Nalle
Dave frequently talks about the Socialist conspiracy as being the true evil one. However my studies have shown me that the Bolshevik Revolution was funded by Wall Street, not some poor rabbled masses yearning for some bread. Even today the so called socialist conspiracy that he frequently refers to is certainly not being promulagated by poor folk. What we have is a welfare state for the rich as witnessed so recently by Bear Stearns, and FreddieMac bailouts.
My concern is not about the old-style marxists left over from the Soviet Union nor is it about the home-grown socialism by necessity practiced by our government. I'm concerned about the international NGOs and influence groups and the increasing power of the UN. Not secret conspiracies, but groups with common interests working together against US sovereignty and capitalism.
The use of fiat currency that is inflationary is an indirect tax, and in my opinion is used on purpose to disenfranchise the masses, at this time particularly the middle class.
I actually agree on this, but I think you've totally misread the effect which it has. IMO the target of the invisible tax inherent in issuing fiat currency is foreign investors. We're using devalued currency to make China finance our wars.
Dave
19 - bliffle
The purpose of the fiat currency is for the 'insiders' (the government, congress, etc., and their enablers the big corps) to defraud the 'outsiders' (unimportant US citizens, most foreigners, most foreign corps, etc.).
20 - Clavos
"'insiders'...to defraud the 'outsiders'
Isn't that the way of the world?
Your condo association?
Religions?
Trade unions?
Lobby groups?
Professional associations?
Industry associations?
Inner city gangs?
There are only two types of people: Predators and prey.
21 - Dr Dreadful
As a housing authority 'insider' I do try not to defraud my 'outsider' tenants and landlords.
Whether they return the favor is another question entirely!
22 - Joanne Huspek
Damn funny. Now besides wishing I had grown up in San Francisco (my adopted home), I wish I were a man, a BG-er, rich, and able to take three weeks off from work.
Good job.
23 - Dave Nalle
You could always attend as a prostitute. I hear they're very well paid. Gah, imagine sex with Dick Cheney. Never mind. No payment is enough.
Dave
24 - Dr Dreadful
I'll be having nightmares for weeks now. Thanks a bunch, Dave.
25 - STM
Bliff: "The purpose of the fiat currency."
I prefer an Alfa Romeo myself.
BTW, on a serious note, when it comes to that stuff, I would say that this country (Australia), rather than being defrauded, has benefited hugely from its association with the US. Much like the US, it's also had and still has close ties to Europe, Britain and Ireland particularly, and benefits too from close ties to Asia. Obviously, our British background has a lot to do with it, but our recognition of the US as our main partner post WWII has made this country the the premier nation on this side of the Pacific rim.
For American visitors, most of the time, apart from the fact that we speak properly, have a decent flag and drive on the proper side of the road, you wouldn't even know you weren't in America - which is what they always say.
I don't see the US, for all its Hollywood-style bulsh.it on occasion (like under the current administration), as a force for bad in this world.
You only have to come here to see what good has come from that association. Do you think the Europeans and the Japanese think they've been defrauded by the US?
No way - pretty much except for the British, they all owe their current way of life to a magnanimous United States that mostly brought peace and democracy to the defeated and shattered people of the world post WWII.
Perhaps you guys need to learn to give yourselves a bit of a pat on the back sometimes.
No, it's not perfect - but I can think of many far worse alternatives and scenarios than the US being the world's most powerful country.