1. Ron
Schneider Interview
2. Arthur Blessitt Interview
Jack Connell Ask Ron Schneider
(Tour
Manager of The 69' Rolling Stones Tour)
About The 1969 Palm Beach Pop
Festival
1. Jack:
What do
you remember about the festival . The event itself.
Ron
: Freezing cold, windy, rainy and wet-the boys were debating on playing
but since some fans had battled the elements they
felt that they owed them…
2. Jack: Where did
Palm Beach fit into the 69’ tour in relationship its importance.
Ron : It was a last minute
event on the schedule that was on again off again subject to the guarantee being
paid—which at the last second it was. (we were
surprised)
3. Jack: What did you know about the Military
presence and Governor’s involvement.
Ron : NO
|
Ron Schneider is among a
select handful of individuals who can honestly claim to have taken an
active part in the explosive beginnings of 1960's rock'n'roll. Upon leaving
the University of Miami, where he majored in business, Ron Schneider moved
to New York City and took a job with ABKCO Records. There he was
responsible for handling the direct accounting for the likes of Sam Cooke,
Neil Sedaka and Bobby Vinton. Then, Allen Klein instructed him that he
would be touring with a group of boys called The Rolling Stones. Schneider
would be responsible for them and their money. This led to the task of
managing their finances for the '65 world tour. After accepting this
challenge, Ron embarked on the road with the coolest addition to the
British invasion of that year. This established a working relationship
that resulted in Schneider's performing similar duties on the '66 tour.
And finally, achieving sole responsibility for the Stones 1969 World
Tour. It was his camaraderie with the rock "bad boys" that led to Schneider's hiring of the noted Maysles brothers to record on film the Stones Madison Square Garden concert in "69. Schneider also invited the Maysles to film the very rare, free, outdoor concert, Altamont. This film footage became Gimme Shelter. |
Jack
Connell Ask Rev. Arthur Blessitt
About The 1969 Palm Beach Pop
Festival
An Interview by Email with Rev. Arthur Blessitt
6/10/09
I would like to first say Hi
Arthur!!
Greetings, peace and blessings,
It is awesome to be alive
these forty years later. The same month as the Festival I left on Christmas Day
1969 to carry a 12 foot cross across America from Hollywood and then to all the
world… every nation and major island group on earth. I am thrilled to be a small
part of remembering this historic event. Like then I can still say ‘Turn on to
Jesus’! ha
1. How did Arthur Blessitt end up at The Palm Beach Pop
Festival in 1969? Who brought you here? And Why?
I was running a Jesus
nightclub on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. I had gone the to the
early ‘Love In’s’ in Griffith Park in Hollywood-LA in 1967 and spoke on stage
between band breaks about Jesus. This led to me staying in Hollywood and
speaking on stage many times at Gazarries Rock and Roll nightclub. I then opened
‘His Place’ on the Strip and would speak at midnight doing what I called ‘Soul
Sessions’. I went and spoke at hippie gathering from Hawaii to New Mexico. I was
interested in going where the young people were gathering and sharing love and
helping them connect with the real Jesus. I had known Dr. Jess Moody at First
Baptist Church in West Palm Beach and had spoke at the college there. I do not
remember if he contacted me first or I contacted him when I heard about the Rock
Festival. But we talked. I remember the promoter of the festival was having
problems with the police and officials. I wanted to preach on stage there and
Dr. Moody said he and his church and other churches would work with me to set up
a Jesus Tent to help with overdosed kids or people sick or in need of food and
drink free.
We said we would support the Festival if they would give me a
spot on stage and let me have a Sunday morning meeting where we could sing and I
could speak and share Jesus.
Mr. Rupp wanted support and was trying to get
the police off his back and the battle of permits. I flew from LA for a meeting
with him and pastor and I publicly pleaded for the authorities to allow the
gathering saying that I would be speaking and we would have a Jesus tent. I
asked for the festival be allowed. The group of local ministers supported
this.
2. What were you
thinking once you found yourself there at the festival? Were you aware of the
trouble we had with the Governor and National Guard ?
Once I arrive with my
music group and met with local church people that came to help us I was totally
out of touch with what was happening. I was on site 24 hours a day and slept
there in a U Haul truck we had at the Jesus Tent. I was only in touch with the
onstage people that allowed me backstage access where I talked and prayed with
many of the groups. I heard many rumors but that was
all.
3. Tell us about the service
for 20,000 attendees that performed, and how did you set that up?
We had
my band play called the ‘Eternal Rush’. All were on my staff at His Place on the
Strip. It was one of the very first Jesus Rock Bands. Glen Swartz of Pacific Gas
and Electric was there and played with the band and gave a brief testimony that
Jesus had come into his life and changed him. Then I spoke. It was awesome. Some
fellow came on stage and stared playing some weird horn to disturb me but to no
avail. Ha
News report say about 20,000 people were there. I shared things
like”
“If you want to get high… pray… and you’ll go all the way to
heaven!
“If you want to get loaded… then load up on a little Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John.”
“Jesus is the ultimate eternal rush”.
“Real peace is
Jesus”
“God is love, Jesus shows it”
“Jesus is your friend not your
enemy”
“The cross shows that God loves us and give us hope in a troubled
world.”
The young people were eager and wonderful both when I spoke and all
during the festival.
They were dreamers of peace and love… so am I and still
am.
4. What was your previous background before coming to Palm Beach Pop
Festival? Had you been in the Deep South of Fla. Before 1969?
I
have only gone there shortly before the festival as stated above.
5. Who
is Arthur Blessitt today and what have you been up to since then?
I felt the
call of Jesus to take the cross off the wall of His Place and carry it across
America. I had made short walks along Sunset Blvd with is since 1968. I left
Christmas Day Dec. 25, 1969 and carried the 12 foot cross across America via New
York to Washington DC. Then the next year I went overseas to England and then to
the world.
I have now carried the cross in every nation and in every
major island group in the world! This is 38.102 miles in 315 nations, major
island groups and territories. This was about 76 million steps carrying a total
weight of about 16 billion pounds. I’ve walked through jungles, deserts, 52
wars, been arrested or taken in by police or army 24 times around the world.
I have met with and prayed with many world leaders from Pope John Paul 2 to
Yasser Arafat.
I have been welcomed with the cross as I share that the worse
of man met the best of God at the cross and there is good news and ‘hope’ in a
troubled world.!
6. What would you
like to say to the people who you inspired back at the festival in
1969?
“Peace! I seem to be one of the last remaining
hippies! Ha, I’m still traveling the world, living on the road and staying in
the homes with the people and still working for peace and blessings. I’m still a
dreamer. Don’t lose hope. I’m still turned on to Jesus and welcome you to stay
radical in seeking to live out the life and love of Jesus one with
another.
If there is anything you want to say that I did not ask you
about please
feel free. Thank you again. Both of you !
Check out my
website at www.blessitt.com and also www.thecrossmovie.com
There
has been a movie made of the walk around the world and starting out from Sunset
Blvd. to the world. There is also a book of the walk.
Both the movie and the
book came out in 2009 and are called “The Cross” You will love the book and
movie.
I am happy this project is happening. The late 60’s and early 70’s in
America was a wild and wonderful time that brought out the worse and the best in
people.
I have just loved God and people and given my life to lifting people
up to the love of God.
God bless you all. Peace!
A pilgrim follower of
Jesus,
Arthur Blessitt
Luke 18:1
P.S. My wife Denise has been with me
in 291 nations and island groups. She is awesome.
Interviews
Video Interviews and Filming Starting in
Feb. 2009,
carried on at different locations.
Audio Interviews done by Phone or In
Person
Collectible
Concert Photo Prints and Licensing of the 1969 Palm Beach Pop
Festival
a 3 Day Event with Acts Such as The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin,
Johnny Winter, Spirit, Grand Funk Railroad, and Many
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See Photos
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Michael Lang's first Festival which led to
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photographed by Ken
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