Creek Running North 大自然 And here you thought the early Seventies were uncool

October 10, 2007

And here you thought the early Seventies were uncool

I think I saw these folks open for Steve Stills at the 69 Monterey Pop.

This video was of course shot in the Stanford Protein Dance Group’s heyday, before the 1972 production of the ill-advised “Antibody” series that resulted in most of the group being indicted for false imprisonment. Though the charges were subsequently reduced to disorderly conduct, the damage had of course been done. When the “initiation factor” dancers were arrested for possession of acid with intent to distribute, the Protein Dance Group finally broke up.

Protein-related dance such as this was one of the highlights of US culture in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and it’s really a shame that all the troupes eventually folded.

Via Nick.

Posted by: Chris Clarke

Categories:
Science

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‘69??? Woodstock and Altamont, but only Monterey Jazz and Blues Festivals were held that year as i recall. 1967 was the year of the International Pop Festival that seems to live in both infamy and glory simultaneously. And 40 years ago was a long time.

This video reminds me of the NCIS episode last night that featured the Element song as a main clue to solve a mystery. What with House being a treasure trove of very hip indy-music i can only imagine that one might find the Protein Dance Troupe coming soon.

1
By: spyder
on October 10, 2007
at 03:33 PM

Yeah, the molecular-bio types love that clip. Supposedly there are several incipient bigshots (Nobelaureates, etc.) represented.

Indeed, the SPDG is sorely missed. And the truth is I could never really groove to their transcription stuff--too predictable. But who could forget their soul-stirring performance of “Cytochrome C Synthesis” at Frost Amphitheater in ‘70? Or the famously controversial and paradigm-shattering unfinished “Hemoglobin Trilogy” across the Bay in Berkeley, ‘71?

As for the band, I prefer their early stuff.

2
By: Sven DiMilo
on October 10, 2007
at 05:40 PM

and it’s really a shame that all the troupes eventually folded.

Bravo, sir. :)

3
By: astronautgo
on October 10, 2007
at 05:44 PM

Chemstry students really needed an internet back in the 60’s.

I love how the explainy guy looks really nervous, like he’s being threatened in some way, he’s got that whole “I must keep my back protected by the whiteboard or the clown will eat me” jitteryness going on.

Also, everything you wrote to accompany that video is fucking wrong and evil.
That’s worse than that whole “W: the last hen” joke I whipped out after someone started gushing at me about Y:the last man. there is not a salsa covered cat in the entire world big enough to shove up your rectum in response to that.

4
By: R. mildred
on October 11, 2007
at 06:01 PM