I'm sad to report that Bud Mathis has recently passed away, you may be familiar
with his name from the Bud Mathis' Sunset Trip compilation of material that he
had written and produced. He was manager of the Brain Train and was responsible
for getting them signed to Elektra, where they became Clear Light, and also of
the Joint Effort. Amongst his many song writing credits he co wrote Me with Doug
Lubahn for the Brain Train and the Third Eye with the Joint Effort. Prior to his
involvement with the music industry he had been a champion boxer and more
recently had been working as an actor on TV and films, appearing in Pirates of
the Caribbean and several music videos. He also ran several clubs around
Hollywood in the late sixties and was a well known figure in hip circles,
despite being in his early 40s. He self published his memoirs a while back,
"Confessions of a Robot" which are a fascinating insight into a lost America of
the 40s, 50s and 60s and well worth seeking out.  Bud had been battling mouth
cancer for many years, caused by material used for gum shields back in his
boxing days, but was always happy to talk about the old days and his spiritual
beliefs as a devotee of Sant Mat. Over the past few years he had become a good
friend and I enjoyed our long phone conversations, but I know he was prepared
for the next spin of the wheel and had no fear of what the future held for him.
He always finsished his converations and correspondence with the phrase
"Straight Ahead!" and I like to think that is the direction he has now taken.

Goodbye Bud.

Take a jaunt over to the site to check out a couple of new photos over at
www.officialclearlight.com.

Check out the new content at www.officialclearlight.com.

Thanks Fred, check out the big changes that have taken place in the last 24
hours and let me know if you approve - or suggestions for improvement!


--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, Fred Rayworth <Rayworth1973@...> wrote:
>
>
> Gray,
>
>
>
> Cool! Glad to see more updates.
>
>
>
> Fred
>
>
>
>
>
> To: clear_light@yahoogroups.com
> From: graynewell@...
> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 21:55:06 +0000
> Subject: [clear_light] Site Updates
>
>
>
>
>
> Mosey on over to www.officialclearlight.com to check out some of the new
content on the rare recordings page.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Windows Live™: Life without walls.
> http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_032009
>

Mosey on over to www.officialclearlight.com to check out some of the new content
on the rare recordings page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybyhxp8fCfM

OK, the link is the early 70s TV movie Sunshine, starring Cliff De
Young (and Brenda Vaccaro!) and featuring a soundtrack of songs that
included compositions by... ole "Rocky Mountain High" himself, John
Denver.

By the way, has anyone been over to www.officialclearlight.com yet?
I'm still working on the site but there's plenty to see. I'd be
interested to hear if you notice any glaring mistakes or formatting
errors!

Cheers

Gray

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "clearlight67" <graynewell@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> I thought you might be able to shed some light on the subject :)
>
> By the way, many many moons ago, (and I may have asked you about
this
> before so forgive me if I have suffered a lapse of memory) you were
> engaged in some Clear Light postings over on the Bomp list and one
of
> the other correspondents posted a message saying she (Moreen) had
some
> photos of Clear Light playing live. Did you ever get to see these
pics?
> I'm interested to know if they were the same as the set I have of
the
> band playing in Tompkin Park or if they were something completely
> different that I need to get copies of :) Do you perhaps have a
contact
> for Maureen?
>
> I'm still on the trail of the lost second album sessions, it seems
> dallas had a copy of the acetate but it is long lost now :( The
quest
> continues...
>
>
> Gray
>
> --- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Fornatale" <sknoof@>
wrote:
> >
> > --- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "clearlight67" <graynewell@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > OK for a bit of fun I have a question to pose for you:
> > >
> > > What is the link between Clear Light and John Denver?
> > >
> >
> > The link between Clear Light and John Denver can be found in
> precisely
> > the same place as the link between Clear Light and Brenda
Vaccaro. ;)
> >
>

Hi Mike,

I thought you might be able to shed some light on the subject :)

By the way, many many moons ago, (and I may have asked you about this
before so forgive me if I have suffered a lapse of memory) you were
engaged in some Clear Light postings over on the Bomp list and one of
the other correspondents posted a message saying she (Moreen) had some
photos of Clear Light playing live. Did you ever get to see these pics?
I'm interested to know if they were the same as the set I have of the
band playing in Tompkin Park or if they were something completely
different that I need to get copies of :) Do you perhaps have a contact
for Maureen?

I'm still on the trail of the lost second album sessions, it seems
dallas had a copy of the acetate but it is long lost now :( The quest
continues...


Gray

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Fornatale" <sknoof@...> wrote:
>
> --- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "clearlight67" <graynewell@>
> wrote:
> >
> > OK for a bit of fun I have a question to pose for you:
> >
> > What is the link between Clear Light and John Denver?
> >
>
> The link between Clear Light and John Denver can be found in
precisely
> the same place as the link between Clear Light and Brenda Vaccaro. ;)
>

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "clearlight67" <graynewell@...>
wrote:
>
> OK for a bit of fun I have a question to pose for you:
>
> What is the link between Clear Light and John Denver?
>

The link between Clear Light and John Denver can be found in precisely
the same place as the link between Clear Light and Brenda Vaccaro. ;)

OK for a bit of fun I have a question to pose for you:

What is the link between Clear Light and John Denver?

It may seem unlikely, but there is a connection. No prizes I am afraid -
  just the self satsifaction of showing your knowledge.


Gray

PS More exciting Clear Light news due in the coming weeks! Stay tuned
for details...

Happy Yule to you too! Look out for www.officialclearlight.com -
coming soon in 2009!


--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Rayworth" <Rayworth1973@...>
wrote:
>
> I just wanted to say Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, Merry
> Three Kings, and Happy New Year!
>
> Don't forget Clear Light!
>
> Fred Rayworth
>

I just wanted to say Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, Merry
Three Kings, and Happy New Year!

Don't forget Clear Light!

Fred Rayworth

Click on the link to be whisked away to the Acid Sanctuary's collection
of uploaded pages from Crawdaddy where you will find references to
Clear Light - if you look closely enough!

http://www.lysergia.com/LamaWorkshop/Crawd/lamaCrawd.htm

G

Hi Nicole,

I'm sure you have probably read this Red Legs section from the Waldo
Point site, but it does mention Bob a few times and I know some of
the other folk in here will find it enlightening too!

http://www.waldopoint.net/belkamp/redlegs_1.html

Enjoy!


Gray

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, nicole wills <willinics@...>
wrote:
>
> Yes a sad day indeed...but these things have a way of finding their
way back to us.
> After all, I had lost track of what happened to Bob and Nancy for
30 years.  It seems to have a life of it's own.  It is indeed a small
world and the 6 degrees of separation became so clear here.  My e
mail is on the bottom of this feel free to keep in touch with me as
well.  Untill the next incarnation this is Nicole saying Rock on...
> Nicole Wills  Bevmax Office Center  1 Liberty Plaza  23rd Floor
New York, NY 10018  T:  212-201-6110  C:  347-513-9291  E-mail
willinics@...      
>
> --- On Thu, 10/30/08, Fred Rayworth <Rayworth1973@...> wrote:
> From: Fred Rayworth <Rayworth1973@...>
> Subject: [clear_light] Tomorrow The Switch Turns Off For A While
> To: clear_light@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008, 9:50 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>             I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow when the
Clear Light site
>
> will be on it's last day (for a while). I, for one, think this has
>
> been a great labor of love and I feel priviledged to have been part
>
> of it.
>
>
>
> Funny how a little slab of plastic with grooves on it can have such
>
> an affect on one's life. I've outlined many times on this site how
>
> much that one gem of an album has affected me. Apparently, though
>
> there are few of us now, I wasn't alone. I've been happy to see
such
>
> interest in the band and to learn what happened to all the
musicians
>
> involved. I've started new friendships, from Gray Newell, the
creator
>
> of this site, to Doug Lubahn. Then there are the fans, like me,
such
>
> as Bonnie Hall, Nicole Wills, and Mike Staxx.
>
>
>
> I've been able to contact all the other living members at least to
>
> tell them how much I loved their lone contribution to the world of
>
> psychedelia. My only regret is not being able to tell that to Robby
>
> Robeson.
>
>
>
> I think it would be cool to hear from you out there, how you feel,
>
> what this site did for you. I know Gray would sure appreciate it.
>
>
>
> Fred Rayworth
>

It's cool people, this yahoo group will continue so we can all keep
in contact, it's just the Clear Light band site that will be
disappearing for a while. In the meantime a lot of work will be going
on in the background as Mike Stax and I continue to carry out
research and interviews for the comprehensive Clear Light articles in
Ugly Things. I'm really excited by these developments as it provides
a chance to really get the full story of the group in to print and
therefore preserved in a less transient form than the internet, which
we can see is pretty ephemeral, as sites come and go.

It's not the end, merely the beginning of something new!

Gray

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Rayworth"
<Rayworth1973@...> wrote:
>
> I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow when the Clear Light
site
> will be on it's last day (for a while). I, for one, think this has
> been a great labor of love and I feel priviledged to have been part
> of it.
>
> Funny how a little slab of plastic with grooves on it can have such
> an affect on one's life. I've outlined many times on this site how
> much that one gem of an album has affected me. Apparently, though
> there are few of us now, I wasn't alone. I've been happy to see
such
> interest in the band and to learn what happened to all the
musicians
> involved. I've started new friendships, from Gray Newell, the
creator
> of this site, to Doug Lubahn. Then there are the fans, like me,
such
> as Bonnie Hall, Nicole Wills, and Mike Staxx.
>
> I've been able to contact all the other living members at least to
> tell them how much I loved their lone contribution to the world of
> psychedelia. My only regret is not being able to tell that to Robby
> Robeson.
>
> I think it would be cool to hear from you out there, how you feel,
> what this site did for you. I know Gray would sure appreciate it.
>
> Fred Rayworth
>

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Rayworth"
<Rayworth1973@...> wrote:
>
> I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow when the Clear Light
site
> will be on it's last day (for a while). I, for one, think this has
> been a great labor of love and I feel priviledged to have been
part
> of it.
>
> Funny how a little slab of plastic with grooves on it can have
such
> an affect on one's life. I've outlined many times on this site how
> much that one gem of an album has affected me. Apparently, though
> there are few of us now, I wasn't alone. I've been happy to see
such
> interest in the band and to learn what happened to all the
musicians
> involved. I've started new friendships, from Gray Newell, the
creator
> of this site, to Doug Lubahn. Then there are the fans, like me,
such
> as Bonnie Hall, Nicole Wills, and Mike Staxx.
>
> I've been able to contact all the other living members at least to
> tell them how much I loved their lone contribution to the world of
> psychedelia. My only regret is not being able to tell that to
Robby
> Robeson.
>
> I think it would be cool to hear from you out there, how you feel,
> what this site did for you. I know Gray would sure appreciate it.
>
> Fred Rayworth
>
Sad day indeed for the 360+ members here. I don't post much, but do
read all the messages and do dip into the site when time allows.

Thanks to gray especially for the wealth of info site - found out a
lot about the band from there and also from the various posts here.
I'm sure between all here there is enough to fill a small book on
the band, if ever anyone had the time and money to do it. Who'd have
thought that of a band that almost no-one's heard of?

And also additional thanks to Gray for getting those 2nd album
tracks out for us to hear - I still play them on a regular basis and
consider what might have been...

Cheers

I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow when the Clear Light site
will be on it's last day (for a while). I, for one, think this has
been a great labor of love and I feel priviledged to have been part
of it.

Funny how a little slab of plastic with grooves on it can have such
an affect on one's life. I've outlined many times on this site how
much that one gem of an album has affected me. Apparently, though
there are few of us now, I wasn't alone. I've been happy to see such
interest in the band and to learn what happened to all the musicians
involved. I've started new friendships, from Gray Newell, the creator
of this site, to Doug Lubahn. Then there are the fans, like me, such
as Bonnie Hall, Nicole Wills, and Mike Staxx.

I've been able to contact all the other living members at least to
tell them how much I loved their lone contribution to the world of
psychedelia. My only regret is not being able to tell that to Robby
Robeson.

I think it would be cool to hear from you out there, how you feel,
what this site did for you. I know Gray would sure appreciate it.

Fred Rayworth

As the website is going down at the end of the month and it may be some
time before I get it together to start a new one, I have been thinking
about how to ensure that the Clear Light story gets told in a less
ephemeral medium. So I have managed to persuade Mike Stax to
collaborate with me on a comprehensive series of articles on the band
for his Ugly Things magazine. I'm pretty excited at the prospect of
finally giving the band the coverage they deserve in such a respected
and widely read magazine and I have just set the ball rolling in
arranging some further interviews with various band members and
associates. I'll keep you up to date as things progress.


Cheers,

G

Excellent! That's what I would call "post punk new wave." Those video
effects were state of the art back in 1980. Thanks for sharing.

--- In clear_light@yahoogroups.com, nicole wills <willinics@...> wrote:
>
> we made this at Todd Rundgrens studio in Bearsville.  I hadn't seen
it in 25 years! 
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7a7DTMJe0U
>
>
>
> Nicole Wills  Bevmax Office Center  1 Liberty Plaza  23rd Floor  New
York, NY 10018  T:  212-201-6110  C:  347-513-9291  E-mail
willinics@...      
>

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HHEUyu9lpIE