Cacophonous, tribal rhythms… Mind-splitting guitar sounds… Hard and heavy blues driven by relentless bass lines. These are just some of the aural trademarks of THE ELECTRIC PRUNES – a group whose musical energy would vibrate into the ether, manifesting itself as an echo that reverberates throughout time, continuing to influence countless other bands and defining psychedelic heaviosity for generations to come.
In the first part of our exclusive history RACHEL LICHTMAN has too much to dream with original members James Lowe, Quint, Mark Tulin and Ken Williams.
ulling from influences as diverse as Bo Diddley, Ravi Shankar and Wes Montgomery,
The Electric Prunes
synthesised something alchemical, magical; they acted as a lightning rod for a charged, intense energy that existed in the magnetic centres of the universe at the time. During the ’60s, Southern California, along with London, became a breeding ground for innovation and an awakening of social and spiritual consciousness. Still, while other California-based bands like The Beach Boys or The Turtles were borne of So Cal sunshine, the Prunes were shade grown, hothouse flowers; they existed in garages and studios, propagating a much darker aesthetic.
London, 1967: Ken Williams, Mike Gannon, James Lowe, Mark Tulin, Mike “Quint” Weakley
While in many ways their narrative is similar to that of other bands of the period
– frequent line-up changes, lack of record company support, disastrous tours, an embittered break-up – their story has so many unique elements that set the Prunes apart from their garage-rock contemporaries. As fascinating for their failures as their successes, their true story lies in the conflicts and the often cloudy dealings of the people in and surrounding the group. In the words of singer James Lowe, the “gospels were told by four different guys so you get four different points of view.” In this case, we will be taken through the story of the Prunes by James Lowe (vocals and autoharp), Mark Tulin (bass), Mike Weakley (drums), Preston Ritter (drums) and songwriter Annette Tucker (who with Nancie Mantz wrote the lion share of the group’s early material). Compiled from hours of interviews, this is the full story: The Gospel According To The Electric Prunes.
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