They say his music possesses magical properties - the sonic equivalent of a mind-altering drug. In fact, his fans claim that his self-styled Hindu Biker Rock doesn’t just break on through to the other side… Instead - they swear, Harley Krishna takes you to the other side.

Though he was best known in the underground music scene as a quirky visionary, Harley Krishna attained extraordinary prominence. Indeed, his loyal cult of fans propelled him to mythological proportions. Revered by many for his shaman-like insights, his popularity also attracted crass commercial interests. But his refusal to compromise, along with his nomadic nature, led him from the spotlight that could have made him a worldwide star. Instead, his status remains that of a poetic voice for the common man. Harley’s reluctance to promote himself, or even appear in public – except to play music – not only added to his legend, but also produced rumors, conjecture and outright flights of fancy. Even today, people of every culture continue to clamor for the slightest bit of information, looking for clues that could answer the most basic but profound questions: Who is Harley Krishna? – Where did he come from? – and, Where is he now? The fact that he has been incognito for so many years only adds mystery to the saga that spawned his legend. Mind boggling tales and outrageous claims are all part of his story - a story that inspired artists and mesmerized music lovers for decades. To find the answers so many were seeking, every possible lead was followed – through exotic alleyways, Tibetan monasteries, Amazon rainforests and hidden Hollywood mansions – until Harley finally surfaced. Now, after a series of clandestine meetings, Harley Krishna sheds light on, at least, portions of his life. In a spellbinding tale, he recounts his aspirations, his incredible rise to fame, and a coma-induced journey that showed him the way. Everyone, who’s familiar with his work, agrees that Harley Krishna revolutionized the music scene. But, it’s his own words that illuminate his true nature, and give credence to the belief that he is a humble messenger with a simple mission - to rock the world into a better place.

HIS STORY [The Man, The Myth, The Truth]

The last day of Woodstock, 1969, was the first day of Harley Krishna’s life... He wasn’t due to grace this planet for another week or two, but he recalls the music he heard in the warmth of his mother’s womb. It was so compelling that he had to see who was playing it. His entry into the midst of muddy humanity occurred just as Jimi Hendrix was finishing the “Star Spangled Banner.” And though he wasn’t the only birth at that famous music festival, he was the last; and his life would forever be linked with the ideals of the counter-culture and love for his fellow man. His parents were ecstatic - not from psychedelics, but because they got to take more than memories home with them that day. Their bundle of joy symbolized everything they believed in, and they chose to name him after those things they most beloved. His mother, the only female ever allowed to ride with Sonny Barger and the Hell’s Angels, was immortalized in Hunter S. Thompson’s groundbreaking book covering the notorious outlaw bikers. She chose his first name. His father, a kung-fu master as well as master musician, was a devotee of the Maharashi Mahesh Yogi and deeply into Eastern philosophies. He considered the birth a gift from God, and named his son accordingly. From that day on, Harley Krishna had a lot to live up to. His early years were spent traveling the world with his vagabond parents. As a result, he experienced a variety of cultures and beliefs and all types of music. His family moved from Hawaii to Japan to Taiwan, and then explored the South Pacific. While abroad, Harley kept two things close to him wherever he went – a miniature riding jeep he received on his third birthday, and a guitar he got on his seventh. They were the only American items he would see for his first twelve years, other than his mother’s custom Harley chopper, which she brought everywhere. Throughout all of these journeys, however, there was one constant that always fascinated little Harley – and that was music. It didn’t matter if it was regional, ethnic, classical, rock or pop – Harley loved it all. And, it soon became obvious that music would be his life. When his family returned to the States, they settled in a commune located in Marin County just North of San Francisco. By his thirteenth birthday, Harley was a worldly and accomplished musician. He had developed a unique playing style that incorporated the ethnic melodies and exotic rhythms he heard as a child. He filtered these sounds through his new American ears and came up with a rhythmic driving force that gave him a signature sound. Harley began writing songs that had a familiar yet fresh approach. His themes covered the spectrum of life, the good, the bad and the crazed. His lyrics focused on the positive, but railed against injustice and oppression. He didn’t just write about peace and love, but rather how hell on earth comes too easily to too many. Even at such a young age, he was familiar with this subject matter, because his songs were memories. He had witnessed it all and wanted his music to lift the mind as well as the spirit. And, his early songs did inspire the best in people, by letting them know the world could be a better place – even in the worst of times. High ideals indeed, but when you’re a teenager everything seems possible. Harley, however, was no ordinary teenager. Compared to his peers, he was an old soul. By the time he was sixteen, he was playing in San Francisco’s North Beach. It was there that he began to experiment with a much wilder and darker style. In fact, his shows were so intense that they became part of local lore. Bill Graham invited him to play the Fillmore West, and soon Harley’s profile was on the rise. Underground papers like the San Francisco Free Press and Orion reviewed his shows in glowing terms. Mainstream press jumped on the bandwagon as well, with the SF Chronicle and Rolling Stone calling the young rocker the next Bob Marley. They even compared his lyrics to Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Journalists point to that time as the start of his legend. All that praise and attention, however, did not thrill Harley. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate the notice, or didn’t want stardom. He just didn’t believe the hype, and didn’t want to contribute to it. So, he left the Bay Area and became incognito for many years. His disappearance from the public eye caused everyone to wonder – Where is Harley? What is he doing? What they didn’t know is that during those “lost years” Harley traveled the world, exploring his consciousness and honing his craft. Early on, he landed in the Peruvian Amazon where he studied under a native shaman and participated in sacred rituals involving the “spirit vine.” That particular plant is known for its magical powers. In fact, it’s reputed that those who consume the “vine of the souls” are bestowed with the ability to commune with spirits, diagnose illness, treat disease, and even predict the future. His shaman guide also taught him power songs and supernatural melodies used for healing. Harley remembers that time as the most intense and direct contact he ever had with the spiritual plane. It was also an essential precursor in his search for truth during his stay at a Tibetan monastery. When Harley finally came back home, he moved into an old bungalow along a canal in Venice California. Playing on the boardwalk every weekend, he worked on his songs and picked up a few bucks from tourists. It was just this sort of covert activity, however, that made it difficult to separate myth from reality. Articles asking “Where Is He Now?” pervaded music publications on the anniversary of his disappearance - and rumors ran rampant. The tabloids printed blurry pictures of “Harley Sightings,” and everyone had a pet theory. As his legend grew, so did Harley’s hair. With a full beard and hair that flowed around his shoulders, Harley was unrecognizable and often mistaken for the late Jim Morrison. During this period, he became a regular on the Sunset Strip and eventually formed a band called Harley Krishna and The Dogs Of Love. They became The Whisky’s house band and recorded several videos there. At first, no one knew it was the original Harley. They thought it was simply an homage to him – a nice gesture that evoked their missing idol. But, once they heard him, it was like lightening striking. Harley was back… But, his music had taken an unusual twist. It was mystical, magical and harder than any rock he had ever performed before. Some said it was because of the mushrooms, mescaline and meditation. Others believed he was tapping into a cosmic consciousness. Whatever it was, it was powerful and very potent. His themes remained fairly consistent. He tried to focus on the positive to give people hope and some joy in life. Because, as he often said, “Sometimes, that’s the best you can get when you’re down.” His music, however, evolved into something heavier and more dangerous. It was as if Harley was sonically painting a portrait of life at its most horrible, while still encouraging his listeners to overcome it. His heavy rhythms overwhelmed the senses, the conflicting emotions cut deeply and the messages were strongly felt. In fact, his shows were such a shocking experience that, once again, his myth expanded. And, by the early 90’s, Harley Krishna was back on top. He had a new record deal and was about to start a tour with young band from Seattle, called Nirvana. While preparing for the tour, however, tragedy struck … Harley’s younger brother was diagnosed with a debilitating disease and needed an immediate transfusion. Only one person in the family had the same blood type – a rare RH negative. Harley wasted no time jumping on his chopper and racing up North to his family and brother. The facts are sketchy at this point, but a few are known. Harley was traveling on the Pacific Coast Highway, just North of Ventura, when two young boys ran in front of him on their way to the beach. Harley laid the bike down to avoid hitting them and his body skidded and bounced along the pavement for almost two hundred yards. The kids were so horrified they called an ambulance. When the paramedics got to him, Harley was barely conscious. Nevertheless, at the emergency room he demanded that they take the blood his brother needed and get it to him immediately. Harley was told that he had already lost a massive quantity and, that if they took any more from him, he may not survive. He considered the consequences and insisted. As soon as they got what they needed, Harley Krishna lapsed into a coma. It was in this dream-like state that Harley began having visions. He saw sights and sounds unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. The spirit world beckoned him with impressions and rhythms that seemed to come from life itself. It was exciting, stimulating and, at times, scary - yet peaceful. He could see himself translating those rhythms and forms into music, and knew that some day he would. But, what he didn’t know is that it wouldn’t be any time soon. After the news of his accident hit the front pages and every radio station broadcast, his fans spread the word among Internet chat rooms – along with plenty of rumors. The problem was, no one knew for sure if Harley really was hospitalized. Nobody would confirm it and even the paparazzi couldn’t get a picture. His motorcycle had disappeared and no one could find the site of his accident. Skeptics thought it could be another ruse to escape notoriety, and began wild speculations. Nonetheless, fans camped outside the most likely hospital for months on end, lighting candles and singing Harley songs. As time dragged on and the years passed by, the stories grew but the crowd got thinner, until no one remained. Eventually, even Harley’s family came by only twice a year – once at Christmas and again on his birthday. He was essentially alone, but still alive – and dreaming those wonderful dreams. Harley’s coma lasted almost nine years. When he finally awoke, it was September 12, 2001, the day after the most horrific attack in U.S. history. To say that times had changed would be an understatement. But, Harley Krishna was ready to face the new world. What he wasn’t ready for was the change that pervaded the country: the anger, hostility and overwhelming negativity that seemed to be as strong as national pride. Harley was just as patriotic as the next person, but he knew these emotions were destructive. During his long and tedious rehabilitation, Harley attempted to reconcile the changes he was seeing with the feelings he had. He also began playing his guitar again – the docs said it was good therapy and seemed to make him happy. He worked hard, and in less than two years, Harley was back – sort of. He wasn’t ready to face the public yet, but he was ready to face a new challenge. The sounds he heard in his coma ignited his imagination, and the changes he saw in the world inspired articulation. Indeed, Harley was going to write until it was all out of him - every feeling, thought and belief he harbored. And, for two years, he did just that. Moving into an abandoned gear room of a famous Hollywood recording studio, Harley wrote, played and recorded enough material for two albums. Only the studio owners knew he was there, but he was never seen – by anyone. Occasionally, they could glimpse the glow of his lava lamp seeping under the door and hear him playing strange melodies on his guitar. But, they gave him his space and respected his privacy. Even today, they refuse to allow the name of the studio to be mentioned. Suffice it to say that the most popular rockstars in the world passed through its doors, while Harley remained behind his. Though there are rumors that he secretly played on some of the biggest albums of that time, no one will confirm it. The only thing the studio owners will say is that “It was an honor to have him on the premises.” They also mention an unusual occurrence while Harley was living there. Not one piece of equipment ever needed repair. Now, no one knows whether Harley did stealth maintenance on the million dollar consoles, or if it was simply his positive energy that made everything run smoothly. Whatever the reason, the owners were so grateful that they dedicated one of their studio rooms to Harley Krishna. His self-imposed exile produced two phenomenal albums. The first was self-titled and difficult to categorize, but impossible to ignore. Gritty, edgy and provocative, it rocks with all the earmarks of early Harley. Those coma-induced rhythms were brought to life - the music became his voice, and his thoughts were transformed to words. The cover art shows a little boy in a miniature jeep, with the universe expanding behind him. There are some who claim it’s a vision that Harley remembered from his long deep sleep - a combination of his past and his future. We may never know, though, because Harley’s not saying. His second album, Believe For Real is simply a masterpiece. It’s the kind of record you live with forever. Combining mystical insights with hardcore Biker Rock, it’s a tour de force by what sounds like a super group. This new brew evokes images of travel and dreams and feelings you never knew existed. It is a rock opus, epic in scope but intimate in detail. Harley challenges us to ask, “What’s going on?” And warns of society’s focus on the machine. He worries about humanity, but also gives us a reason to live. The critics could hardly express their opinions articulately. They were at a loss for words – except to say that Harley was playing at the highest musical level. The underground fanzines said that he created a new form of music – Hindu Biker Rock they called it. Advance copies of both albums made their way through inconceivable channels and networks, creating such a stir that musical icons from around the world came to visit Harley. His dynamic playing and intense appeal made him a musician’s musician – while his words maintained his common man status. Some say the coma heightened his senses, giving him special insights and making him a better artist. Maybe - but his experiences with shamans and monks and years alone must have also contributed to his vision. His incredible will and deep spirituality made him a survivor; and, seemingly, brought him to a place where he appears to be comfortable – or so it seems. All who know him realize that this new lease on life may not mean he’s going to be any more accessible than he was before. But, finally, Harley’s ready to share his art and talent and the lessons he’s learned. The full extent of his story may never be known. But, perhaps it doesn’t need to be. He may still be reclusive, but his influence will be felt. Truth and myth, fallacy and fact are all intertwined when it comes to the life of Harley Krishna. And it doesn’t really matter which is which, because he conveys truth. Harley is carrying on – and taking us with him on his incredible journey. He believes… believes in humanity, believes in his fans, and believes in himself. In fact, there’s no doubt that Harley Krishna believes enough for us all. His music tells us so…

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