I think I saw these folks open for Steve Stills at the 69 Monterey Pop.
This video was of course shot in the Stanford Protein Dance Group’s heyday, before the 1972 production of the ill-advised “Antibody” series that resulted in most of the group being indicted for false imprisonment. Though the charges were subsequently reduced to disorderly conduct, the damage had of course been done. When the “initiation factor” dancers were arrested for possession of acid with intent to distribute, the Protein Dance Group finally broke up.
Protein-related dance such as this was one of the highlights of US culture in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and it’s really a shame that all the troupes eventually folded.
Via Nick.
Yeah, the molecular-bio types love that clip. Supposedly there are several incipient bigshots (Nobelaureates, etc.) represented.
Indeed, the SPDG is sorely missed. And the truth is I could never really groove to their transcription stuff—too predictable. But who could forget their soul-stirring performance of “Cytochrome C Synthesis” at Frost Amphitheater in ‘70? Or the famously controversial and paradigm-shattering unfinished “Hemoglobin Trilogy” across the Bay in Berkeley, ‘71?
As for the band, I prefer their early stuff.
and it’s really a shame that all the troupes eventually folded.
Bravo, sir. :)
Chemstry students really needed an internet back in the 60’s.
I love how the explainy guy looks really nervous, like he’s being threatened in some way, he’s got that whole “I must keep my back protected by the whiteboard or the clown will eat me” jitteryness going on.
Also, everything you wrote to accompany that video is fucking wrong and evil.
That’s worse than that whole “W: the last hen” joke I whipped out after someone started gushing at me about Y:the last man. there is not a salsa covered cat in the entire world big enough to shove up your rectum in response to that.
I’ve missed you, r. mildred.
=v= Phlogiston Productions has a MySpace page (though Rupert isn’t letting me look at it).