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term that he stated was the initials for the Sam
Houston Institute of Technology. Despite objections from administration officials, a full-page photograph of Simpson wearing the tee, angled as to not fully reveal the last initial, was subsequently printed in the university's 1973 student yearbook. An article written about the group in an Atlanta counterculture underground newspaper noted the band's blend of politics and original music.
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Simpson was questioned by administration officials after he made controversial political statements during on-campus shows. He also made provocative stage wardrobe choices, including shirts with the number 666 displayed over an upside-down cross and one with a four-letter scatological
American slang
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dance, reportedly the first ever openly held in the southeast United States, in the
Memorial Ballroom on the UGA campus. A court injunction was required for the campus concert to occur after the university refused to allow it on grounds that it would be "aiding and abetting" sodomy – a felony under
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The band's early music was muscular and lyrically intense, combining prototype punk elements with roots rock, British invasion and soul influences. Their sound was characterized by
Blasingame's blistering guitar style, the tight rhythm section of Brown and Towler anchored on the jazz inflections of
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During the band's early period, Ravenstone's concerts and club performances were notable for the band's wit, stage antics and political activism as much as their music. Known to their fans as the
Ravesters, the group's mix of humor and politics was illustrated in an early band photograph that
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were stationed outside of the university president's office, reportedly out of concern that the band's confrontational attitude and politically charged music would incite the several hundred students attending the show to riot.
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After the departure of Wilson, Towler and Brown from the group, Blasingame and
Simpson continued to perform and tour regionally as Ravenstone with other musicians including drummer Randy Delay, whose later work included the
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featured Brown in a bow tie and a gas mask, Wilson dressed in a military uniform hanging on a granite cross, and
Simpson wearing a tee shirt printed with the logo of a well-known comic book superhero.
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From the beginning, the band's original music was credited to all five members, listing them in alphabetic order. Although
Simpson is the group's lyricist, all members provide input in songwriting.
212:, vocals). A popular group in the southeastern United States during the early 1970s, the band is considered one of the godfathers of the internationally acclaimed Athens rock scene.
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The group is noted for its support of social issues, which predated and foreshadowed the activism of later Athens music groups such as R.E.M. In March 1972 Ravenstone played at a
296:' "Keep Your Hands To Yourself," and bassist Greg Veale, who subsequently became a founding member of the Athens group Normaltown Flyers. Ravenstone disbanded entirely in 1974.
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At an outdoor voter registration rally near the UGA administration building in May 1972, they were threatened with arrest after the band performed "Off A Pig", which advocated
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Wilson's drumming, and
Simpson's distinctive baritone, falsetto flourishes and topical lyrics. Simpson used a World War II-era air raid siren as an instrument during concerts.
288:, which Simpson directed in 1987. The track was also on the band's EP release in 2003. Other songs from the Web IV recording sessions have not been released to date.
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272:, not violence against the police. (Police were widely known as "pigs" in American slang at the time.) The band responded to the police threat by playing louder.
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219:(UGA) drama class. The band's name is a literary reference to a field where witches are executed in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's
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in 2005 and returned to Athens for a performance at The Ritz, which was chronicled on the DVD
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Blasingame, Simpson, and Wilson (the only Athens native) created the group after meeting in a
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Georgia law at the time that carried a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. The
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Shields, Mitchell (1972-05-05). "Students Rally, Register To Vote".
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Johnson, Jimmy (1972-03-09). "Rock
Concert Remarks Ire Candidates".
463:"Present at the Creation: Ravenstone & the Birth of Athens Rock"
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The original members of Ravenstone reunited in 2003. They released
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Ravenstone in concert, the Ritz, Athens, Georgia, August 27, 2005
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Lamb, Gordon (2005-08-10). "Kicking Ass Long Before You Were".
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Towns, Preston (1972-03-10). "Ravenstone Refutes Charges".
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Lamb, Gordon (2005-08-24). "Have You Been Ravenstoned".
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reportedly harassed the band after their performance.
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Fulton, Fran (1972-03-22). "Courts Lets Gays Dance".
433:"Interview With Michael Simpson (Ravenstone - 2002)"
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399:Roger (1972-03-20). "Now That I Can Dance".
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357:One Night Only: Ravenstone Live at The Ritz
313:One Night Only: Ravenstone Live At The Ritz
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350:Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers
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461:Burel, Charles (2005-08-21).
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67:Rock, Dance Rock, Protopunk
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77:1971–1974, 2003 to present
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401:The Great Speckled Bird
437:SleepawayCampfilms.com
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572:Ravenstone on MySpace
343:Shades in the Shadows
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217:University of Georgia
85:Prince Avenue Records
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294:Georgia Satellites
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101:Michael A. Simpson
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509:Athens Daily News
492:The Red and Black
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382:Flagpole Magazine
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115:Past members
103:Ralph Towler
99:Dwight Brown
73:Years active
319:Discography
170:lead guitar
123:Bob Wharton
119:Randy Delay
105:Bill Wilson
590:Categories
475:2007-09-11
442:2007-09-11
364:References
359:(DVD) 2006
247:gay rights
186:percussion
154:Ravenstone
125:Gary Davis
121:Greg Veale
23:Ravenstone
466:(excerpt)
333:(CD) 2005
325:More Love
282:More Love
206:saxophone
198:keyboards
182:harmonica
270:veganism
210:clarinet
194:mandolin
166:Georgia
136:Website
94:Members
54:Georgia
190:guitar
162:Athens
82:Labels
64:Genres
50:Athens
46:Origin
222:Faust
202:drums
581:IMDb
174:bass
158:rock
145:.com
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141:www
58:USA
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