From Jorma Kaukonen

Saturday, November 10, 2001 Meigs County, Ohio

Vanessa just called me from Racine up on the River and said that she heard on NPR that Ken Kesey had just died. If it weren't for Ken I probably would never have joined the Jefferson Airplane. When I went to sit in with the then nameless band he stopped by with an echoplex and had me plug my guitar through it. The electronic voices that came out of my speaker that day informed me that maybe Rock 'n' Roll might be fun.

Ken was not a close friend... we weren't bros, but he was an undeniable part of my past... a part of my generation's past. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is one of those books that seems as if it should have always been with us... an eternal classic. And of course there is Further on down the road, getting on the bus... that whole moment that seems to recall the Sixties in a brilliant flash.

The last time I saw him was in 1996 when the Furthur Festival played in Eugene and he jumped on stage in his American Flag getup and sang Gloria! There is a picture of this event in our workshop at the Fur Peace Ranch.

He is gone and time is moving on. My two year old nephew, while contemplating the concept of death reflected, 'When someone dies, he goes to God's House to visit Marlo.' Marlo was my old Bull Terrier who died almost three years ago. Well, this could be true... and if it is, Marlo is giving him a hearty lick and three full throated Roos. I can hear it now...

Roo...roo...rooo

Rest in peace Ken! We'll miss your presence but your spirit will endure!

Fur Peace Ranch

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