Weblogsky: Arthur Lee, 1945

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Arthur Lee, 1945 - 2006

Arthur Lee was the creative force behind the band Love. Love's first three albums were a significant part of my life's soundtrack, especially the remarkable "Forever Changes," one of the greatest rock albums, if rock is the correct classification. (It was really unclassifiable.) Lee was difficult, made some wrong turns, spent time in prison... then made a triumphant return to the stage in 2002, touring and performing the complete Forever Changes, though his backing band split with him in August 2005, evidently frustrated at his mental and physical issues and a resulting decline in the quality of his performances. He was treated for acute myeloid leukemia.

Arthur Lee died yesterday, August 3, 2006.

This is the time and life that I am living
And I'll face each day with a smile
For the time that I've been given's such a little while
And the things that I must do consist of more than style

This is the only thing that I am sure of
And that's all that lives is gonna die
And there'll always be some people here to wonder why
And for every happy hello, there will be good-bye
There'll be time for you to put yourself on
— Arthur Lee, "You Set the Scene"

Love performs My Little Red Book: