This is a great story. It's got all the twists and turns you would expect from fiction....But its all true... It is the story of the soundtrack to "Lucifer Rising."
"Lucifer Rising" is a short film that was directed by Keith Anger and was completed in 1972, having been commenced in 1966. It stars Kenneth Anger, Bobby Beausoleil as Himself, Donald Cammell, Marianne Faithfull, Lilith Myriam Gibril and Chris Jagger (brother of Mick). Initially Anger commissioned Jimmy Page of Led Zepplin to compose the soundtrack, however after three years of the soundtrack not being forthcoming, Anger fired Page and sort a musician who had played in Arthur Lees band "The Grass Roots" which, in time became the legendary Love.
His name was Bobby Beausoleil and was also a Charles Manson "Family"member, murderer and had originally been engaged by Anger to act in the film, (some footage of him in "Lucifer Rising" was filmed early on). With the permission of the of the prison in which he was sentenced to spend life (orginally he received the death sentence) for the murder of music teacher and fellow associate Gary Hinman on July 27, 1969 he wrote and recorded the soundtrack to Lucifer Rising that now appears in the film. The murder was the first in a series of murders committed by The Family culminatng in Helter Skelter, a "war" in the summer of 69 that had been predicted by Charles Manson as a repsonse to racial tensions between whites and blacks through his interpretation of the Beatles White album.
Fast forward 30 plus years and Jimmy Page has announced that music orginally written and recorded for the soundtrack to "Lucifer Rising" by himself will be released next week.
Jimmy Page updated the following commentary on his facebook page;
"On March 20, the Spring Equinox 2012, the title music for 'Lucifer Rising And Other Sound Tracks' will have its premiere and release. The title music, along with other musical pieces recorded at my home studio in the early Seventies, have been revisited, remixed and released for the first time. This is a musical diary of avant-garde compositions and experiments, one of which was to appear on the film 'Lucifer Rising'. The collection has been exhumed and is now ready for public release. This will be available exclusively on [JimmyPage.com].
There will be a standard release on heavyweight vinyl. In addition there will be a special run of 418 numbered copies. The first 93 copies will be signed and numbered. There are liner notes and commentary to each track."
Excellent, there will be a vinyl release! Pages soundtrack will no doubt be awesome, however the background story to the soundtrack that eventually came out with the film is equal in it's intrigue.
Beausoleil's last parole bid in 2010 was denied and the next scheduled hearing isn't until 2015. Lucifer Rising: The Soundtrack Album by Beausoleil was re released in 2005. Jimmy Pages version 'Lucifer Rising And Other Sound Tracks' will be available on the 20th March 2012.
When you get a chance check out " Lucifer Rising " here:
