After playing at the “Brave New World” for what seemed a lifetime, we (reluctantly) decided it was time, we moved onward and upward!

The group accepted a job at Bido litos, which was an acronym for [Bill Dorothy, Linda and Tommy.] Tommy Thompson, the son and “braintrust” of the family that owned the club, had made the Grassroots an offer, we “couldn’t” refuse. Since we would be the first group, to play there, we would have the opportunity, to design the stage and sound system, as a “showcase” for us.

It became readily apparent, that our move to the new club, would present the “perfect” time and space, for us to find a new name, and soon after we began playing at Bido litos “serendipity” stepped up and smiled on us.

Bryan, Arthur and I were Driving along Beverly Blvd. when we noticed a Huge billboard, for “Luv brassieres”; I mentioned to Bryan, that Arthur had once worked there, After he had finished laughing and “kidding” Arthur about it, Bryan said that “the Luv” would be a great name for our group! Arthur replied, that he was thinking the same thing, only spelled L.O.V.E. I joined-in (in complete agreement) but added, it should be “LOVE” with no [the] in front!

We were (all) elated, at how everything had fallen into place, “out of the blue and just like that,” the decision was made, right then and there; now and forever we would be known as “LOVE” and that’s exactly how the “Grassroots” got their new name!
After playing at Bido litos for a couple of weeks, we decided to allow the “crowd” to participate in the selection (even though the decision, was already “etched” in stone). Arthur gave them the names we were “considering” and without hesitation “LOVE” was the overwhelming favorite!

The choices were “Summers Children” “The Asylum Choir” “The Domino Effect” “The Coalition” and a few others, but we were (all) in complete agreement, that “LOVE” was the One! The next time we played Bido litos, was on a Saturday night. When the group was introduced, for the first time (anywhere) as “LOVE” the response was fantastic, the place was packed. Both the LA Times and LA Freepress had sent reporters, to find out what all the commotion was about.
They “found out” and in turn told the rest of Los Angeles, that in a place known as “Cosmo’s Alley” (where the club was located) a group called “LOVE” had arrived!

Night after night, we played and the crowd responded, it was an experience, that is almost impossible to describe, unless you were there and a part of it!

Because of a dearth, of factual information pertaining to the group, what few “tidbits” that were available, have largely become “apocryphal!
While the counterintuitive, illogical and patently ridiculous mythology, that swirled around this group with an almost religious intensity: may have helped, to cultivate, a rather bizarre and “darkly romantic” cult status. The fact remains, that no matter how talented, dedicated and well-schooled the “alchemist” is, he cannot transmute “bulls**t into reality!

After much reflection, I have decided, to at least “attempt” to set the record straight, (hence my tales, from the trenches) not only am I responding from the perspective of one who was there, through every step of the journey and blessed with a “pretty decent” memory. I also bring an added bonus, a kind of “ace in the hole.” I had the habit, which continues to this day, of putting it down on paper, resulting in a written journal, detailing the life and times of a group called “LOVE”!

That old aphorism “Truth is stranger, than fiction” could have easily, been written about this group, however it should be noted, that truth, (in this case) is a hell of a lot more interesting as well!

Just another day in the life

Johnny Echols