Purple Haze

Purple lies somewhere between blue and red... It could be magenta or heliotrope, depending on the saturation.  It's the color of royalty because in earlier days, cloth made of purple dye was very expensive.  Haze, is aa rather meteorological term, referring to an atmospheric phenomenon whereby dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky.  "Purple Haze" is the title of a song by Rock guitarist,  Jimmi Hendrix from an album called, “Are you Experienced.”

Jimmi Hendrix, born Johnny Allen Hendrix in 1942, was famous for his msic, attire and his use of psychedelic drugs.  The word, “experience”in this particular album title, may or may not refer to the drug experience and "purple haze" may or may not refer to a particular type of LSD, (also called acid) but truth is that Hendrix was known to experiment with it. When asked if this was the case or not, Hendrix claimed the title to the song had nothing to do with drugs. In fact, he said that the song is said to have an original title of “Purple Haze-Jesus Saves.” He said that he had changed it before it was recorded.  Hendrix's story about the song itself is that it is about a dream, not an acid trip.

In his dream, he says that he was walking under the sea, surrounded by purple haze. He became lost and Jesus saved him. So, it’s not about being in a Purple Haze while you are on drugs, or anything like that…at least according to Hendrix.  Hendrix died September 18th, 1970, in London, possibly from a drug overdose, but maybe asphyxiated with either vomit or wine as the autopsy showed.

But let's look at LSD...What is LSD anyhow?

LSD, (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) was a popular drug in the 60’s. It is a hallucinogenic drug whose creation was first documented in Holland by Albert Hofmann in 1938. It is derived from a fungus that grows on grains, particularly rye.

During the sixties the drug called acid or LSD became a recreational drug one that Henrdix recreated with.  The “experiences” were refereed to as “trips” and have been described by some survivors as inducing mystical, brilliantly colorful, psychedelic, religious-like experiences.  The sensory perception of a person who is “high,”on LSD becomes distorted. One of the most famous people in the drug culture and outspokenly that promoted the use of LSD was another man, named Timothy Leary.

Timothy Leary, who died in 1996, was an avid and LSD advocate. He became famous when he was kicked out of Harvard University for using student volunteers in his drug studies. Over the course of his life, he spent time in jail for possession of marijuana and even at one time escaped prison, only to be apprehended by the FBI in Afghanistan. Leary became well-known as a professional druggie, and is considered by some to be an “avatar of the mind,” He is known as a proponent of the “spiritual” use of LSD and other mind altering drugs.

Another LSD expert is Augustus Owsley Stanley III. (not the deceased Kentucky Senator.) It was this guy who was the first “hippie alchemist” to produce very pure LSD in his home which he then sold in mass quantities. His specialties were the legendary Purple Haze, White Lightening, and Orange Sunshine, which he marketed on the streets in San Francisco, California. In 1967, he was arrested when he was found in possession of several hundred thousand individual doses and he was imprisoned for three years as a result. Stanley is thought to be responsible for most of the LSD used in the 60’s when this song wa popular:

Purple Haze...  Jimmi Hendrix
 (lyrics)
Purple Haze all in my brain,
lately things don't seem the same,
actin' funny but I don't know why
'scuse me while I kiss the sky.

Purple Haze all around,
don't know if I'm comin' up or down.
Am I happy or in misery?
Whatever it is, that girl put a spell on me.

Purple Haze all in my eyes,
don't know if it's day or night,
you've got me blowing, blowing my mind
is it tomorrow or just the end of time?