Our Technicolor Dream

Institute of Contemporary Art, London, April 21st 2007

'Our Technicolor Dream' on Saturday April 21st 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the 14 Hour Technicolor Dream in true psychedelic style. The sell out event at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Central London played host to some of the original artists who participated in the 1967 event including Arthur Brown and The Pretty Things. Pink Floyd headlined the original 1960's event (but unfortunately didn't appear this time) and apparently John Lennon met Yoko Ono for the first time there.

A full psychedelic lightshow was laid on in the main theatre and the bar area by Optikinetics and others comprising numerous Solar 250, Solar 575, K series, Rank Aldis Tutor and early OHP based units and film projectors. Effects ranged from simple wheels/cassettes to Solar Systems and manually operated film strips and oil dishes etc - the effects were stunning!

The evening started with Malcolm Boyle's one-man play, 'The Madcap': a journey into the psychedelic underground as seen through the distorted mental lens of Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett. Circulus, Britain's finest neo-medieval psychedelic folk-rock band, then performed (sorry we missed them with the photos!) before The Amazing World of Arthur Brown proved he really is still the God of Hellfire! The Pretty Things ended the night with a fantastic performance.

Video clips: (requires Windows Media Player)

OHP Oil Effect Waving oil effect on OHP projector  > Play higher quality 1.2MB	Boyle: Arnold Layne Boyle's version of Arnold Layne from his play  > Play standard quality 1.9MB  > Play higher quality 4.6MB	Boyle: Astronomy Domine 'Syd' (Boyle) performs Astronomy Domine during one-man play  > Play standard quality 1.9MB  > Play higher quality 3.2MB
Boyle: Waters & Barrett discus 'Syd' (Boyle) performs Astronomy Domine  > Play standard quality 2.8MB  > Play higher quality 5.5MB	Boyle: "Fuck off and write me some hits" The record company boss demands hits from Barrett... See Emily Play  > Play standard quality 2.9MB  > Play higher quality 4.5MB	Boyle: Singing and Singing Boyle performs a remix of Syd Barrett's 'Golden Hair'  > Play higher quality 1.88MB
Nick Pynn Nick Pynn on violin just before Arthur Brown enters  > Play standard quality 1.5MB  > Play higher quality 2.3MB	Arthur Brown enters A cloaked Mr Brown enters the stage complete with wooden staff  > Play standard quality 5.7MB  > Play higher quality 9.0MB	Arthur Brown, Hellfire intro Arthur Brown amusingly talks his way into his classic God of Hellfire  > Play standard quality 2.76MB  > Play higher quality 4.1MB
Arthur Brown, God of Hellfire (2) Arthur Brown performs The God of Hellfire  > Play standard quality 1.9MB  > Play higher quality 3.3MB	Arthur Brown, God of Hellfire (3) Arthur Brown enters the audience during God of Hellfire  > Play standard quality 3.4MB  > Play higher quality 5.0MB	Arthur Brown, Freaky Dancing Behold the freaky dancing of Mr Arthur Brown!  > Play higher quality 6.6MB
Pretty Things 1 Pretty Things on stage (clip 1 - sorry, poor sound)  > Play standard quality 5.0MB  > Play higher quality 7.5MB	Pretty Things 2 Pretty Things on stage (clip 2 - sorry, poor sound)  > Play standard quality 3.7MB  > Play higher quality 5.5MB

Photos:

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