Easy Rider-- Little Steven's Comments-- Part 1

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of movie "Easy Rider" this month, here are Little Steven's comments on the flick from his Underground Garage radio show. I feel he pretty-well summed up the movie nicely.

"'Easy Rider' was my generation's 'On the Road.' It came to us in the version of a movie because Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' came out in the fifties, which was a book decade. 'Easy Rider' was part of the movie decade of the sixties. It premiered Bastille Day, July 14, 1969, which also happens to be Woody Guthrie's birthday, by the way, happy birthday Woody! But our heroes in 'Easy Rider' were not 'Bound for Glory.'

It might not be that unusual today, but at the time it was a profound revelation for us to have confirmed on film by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper that at least in the immediate future, in order to be honest and free, and live a life of adventure, you had to be an outlaw. That was the premise, at least at the beginning of the film.

The film would be our Rosetta Stone of a new cynicism that would really define the rest of our lives. Facts and our culture very quickly catching up to the movie's cynicism.

Now, along the way, Peter Fonda's character, Wyatt, also known as Captain America, had the opportunity to change his destiny. He could have stayed at that really cool commune or take the choice of that rancher and his Indian wife because Wyatt recognized the peaceful harmony and integration with nature the rancher had achieved."

Where does Little Steven come up with this stuff? He is kind of like that deejay on Northern Exposure when he gets like this.

More to Come.