Editing Love (band) (section)

== History ==
=== Formation and early years ===
[[File:Love band performing 1966.jpg|thumb|Love performing {{circa|mid-1966}}]]
Singer/multi-instrumentalist [[Arthur Lee (musician)|Arthur Lee]], who was originally from [[Memphis, Tennessee]] but had lived in [[Los Angeles]] since the age of five, had been recording since 1963 with his bands the LAG's and Lee's American Four. He wrote and produced the single "My Diary" for Rosa Lee Brooks in 1964, which featured [[Jimi Hendrix]] on guitar.<ref name=":4" /> [[The Sons Of Adam]], which included future Love drummer Michael Stuart, recorded the Lee composition "Feathered Fish". After attending a performance by [[the Byrds]], Lee decided to form a band that joined the newly minted folk-rock sound of the Byrds to his primarily [[rhythm and blues]] style.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book|last=Strong|first=Martin C.|title=The Great Rock Discography|publisher=Mojo Books|year=2000|isbn=1-84195-017-3|edition=5th|location=Edinburgh|pages=585–586}}</ref>

Singer/guitarist [[Bryan MacLean]], who had met Lee when he was working as a roadie for The Byrds, joined Lee's new band, which was first called the Grass Roots. MacLean had also been playing in bands around Los Angeles since about 1963.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bryan-maclean-mn0000525687/biography|title=Bryan MacLean {{!}} Biography & History|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Tobler|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/jan/02/guardianobituaries|title=Bryan Maclean obituary|date=January 2, 1999|work=The Guardian|access-date=February 18, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Also joining the band was another Memphis native, lead guitarist [[Johnny Echols]], and drummer Don Conka. A short time later, Conka was replaced by Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer. Love's first bassist, Johnny Fleckenstein, went on to join the [[Standells]] in 1967. Fleckenstein was replaced by [[Ken Forssi]] (formerly of a post-"[[Wipe Out (song)|Wipe Out]]" lineup of [[The Surfaris]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/love-mn0000314600/biography|title=Love {{!}} Biography & History|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Upon the appearance of another group called [[The Grass Roots]], Lee changed the name of the new band to Love.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" />

Love started playing the Los Angeles clubs in April 1965 and became a popular local attraction, while gaining the attention of [[the Rolling Stones]] and [[the Yardbirds]].<ref name=":0" /> The band lived communally in a house called "the Castle", a large but run-down residence sourced by Ronnie Haran.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/love-california-dreaming|title=The Man Who Inspired Hendrix: The Crazy World Of Arthur Lee & Love|last=February 2016|first=Max Bell19|website=Classic Rock Magazine|date=February 19, 2016 |language=en|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> It was a dilapidated mansion that the band was allowed to live in if they did the maintenance and paid the taxes.  According to [[John Einarson]] in the book "Forever Changes", the cover photo of their first two albums was of the band taken in Laurel Canyon at a burned down house that only had the remains of a fireplace left standing.

Signed to [[Elektra Records]] as the label's first rock act,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-26-vl-28061-story.html|title=Love's Main Man Looks Back on the '60s, Man : Arthur Lee, leader of Elektra's first rock band, talks about the Doors, the Byrds and Mick Jagger.|date=August 26, 1993|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> the band scored a minor hit single in 1966 with their version of [[Burt Bacharach]] and [[Hal David]]'s "[[My Little Red Book]]". Their first album, ''[[Love (Love album)|Love]]'', was released in March 1966. The album sold moderately well and reached No.&nbsp;57 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] [[record chart|chart]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> The single "[[7 and 7 Is]]", released in July 1966 (from their second LP DaCapo), gained notice for the exceptional guitar work of Johnny Echols and proto-punk style drumming of Pfisterer. The single became Love's highest-charting single at No.&nbsp;33 in the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Two more members were added around this time, Tjay Cantrelli (real name John Barbieri) on woodwinds and Michael Stuart on drums. Pfisterer, never a confident drummer, switched to harpsichord.<ref name=":0" />  Elektra's art director, [[William S. Harvey]], designed a distinctive logo for the band, "four cartoonish letters with exaggerated, curvaceous serifs", incorporating [[gender symbol|male and female symbols]].<ref>[https://www.bandlogojukebox.com/blog/2017/11/13/e9p5i07uo77smrwdq2ooqn24bqv0ch Jim K. Davies, "Love", ''Band Logo Jukebox''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625053732/https://www.bandlogojukebox.com/blog/2017/11/13/e9p5i07uo77smrwdq2ooqn24bqv0ch |date=June 25, 2020 }}. Retrieved June 25, 2020</ref>

Arthur Lee had an exclusive contract with Herb Cohen for a short time after signing with Elektra Records. After Lee met Ronnie Haran, booking manager for the Whisky a Go Go, Cohen was fired by Arthur in favor of Haran.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Einarson |first=John |title=Forever Changes: Arthur Lee and the Book Of Love - The Authorized Biography of Arthur Lee |publisher=Jawbone Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-908279-22-4 |edition=1st |pages=33–34, 60}}</ref>  Haran continued to manage Love, despite not having an official contract, for a couple years.  Mike Gruber took over after Haran departed as manager, though Haran remained somewhat involved with the group.<ref name=":9" />

=== ''Forever Changes'' era ===
[[File:Love (1966).png|thumb|Love, pictured in a 1966 promo for the single "[[My Little Red Book#Love version|My Little Red Book]]".]]
Love's second album, ''[[Da Capo (Love album)|Da Capo]]'', was released in November 1966 and included "[[7 and 7 Is]]" as well as the subsequent singles "[[She Comes in Colors]]" and "{{lang|es|[[¡Que Vida!]]|italic=no}}".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/da-capo-mw0000195829|title=Da Capo – Love {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> It marked the experimental direction Arthur wanted to take. With the seven member lineup for DaCapo, shortly after this album,  Cantrelli and Pfisterer left the band, leaving it as a five-piece once again.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> Their third album ''[[Forever Changes]]'' was released in November 1967 and was co-produced by Bruce Botnick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richieunterberger.com/botnick.html|title=Bruce Botnick Interview|first=Richie|last=Unterberger|website=Richieunterberger.com|access-date=May 20, 2018}}</ref> The album displayed a softer and more avant-garde approach for the band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/forever-changes-mw0000193671|title=Forever Changes – Love {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> By this time, tension arose between Arthur Lee and Bryan MacLean, who wanted more of his songs on the album.<ref name=":2" /> The band recorded the album in only 64 hours, though many professional session players were used, including some who replaced actual band members in one or two songs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.classicrockreview.com/2012/07/1967-love-forever-changes/|title=Forever Changes by Love album review {{!}} Classic Rock Review|date=July 24, 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Writer [[Richard Meltzer]], in his book ''[[The Aesthetics of Rock]]'', commented on Love's "orchestral moves", "post-doper word contraction cuteness", and Lee's vocal style that serves as a "reaffirmation of [[Johnny Mathis]]".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Meltzer|first=Richard|title=The Aesthetics Of Rock|publisher=Hachette Books|year=1987|isbn=0-306-80287-2}}</ref> ''Forever Changes'' had one single, MacLean's "[[Alone Again Or]]", which reached number 123 on the pop charts. By this stage, Love were far more popular in the UK, where the album reached No.&nbsp;24, than in their home country, where it could only reach No.&nbsp;154.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> ''Forever Changes'' has since received recognition as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, appearing on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]],<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/forever-changes-love-19691231 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526212402/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/forever-changes-love-19691231 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 2003 |issue=Special Issue |at=40 &#124; Forever Changes – Love |access-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref> being inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award|Grammy Hall of Fame]], and added to the Library of Congress's [[National Recording Registry]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psychedelicsight.com/recording-registry/ |title=Love, Dead in National Recording Registry |publisher=psychedelicsight.com |access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref>

=== Later years ===
For unclear reasons, Bryan MacLean left the band after ''Forever Changes''<ref name=":1" /> (though one possible issue was a solo deal that he had signed with Elektra<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/love-story|title=LOVE STORY – Record Collector Magazine|website=recordcollectormag.com|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>), while Lee dismissed all the other members.<ref name=":0" /> MacLean later reemerged as a [[Contemporary Christian]] artist.<ref name=":1" /> Johnny Echols and Ken Forssi succumbed to drug addiction and crime, and disappeared from the music scene;<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/love-hurts-6401143|title=Love hurts|last=Scribner|first=Sara|date=March 25, 1999|website=Dallas Observer|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> and drummer Michael Stuart also retired from music.<ref name=":7" /> Echols eventually moved to New York and became an in-demand studio musician.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Breznikar|first=Klemen|author-link=Klemen Breznikar |date=December 29, 2017|title=Love interview with Johnny Echols|url=https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2017/12/love-interview-with-johnny-echols.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102210829/http://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2017/12/love-interview-with-johnny-echols.html|archive-date=January 2, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2020|website=[[It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

Arthur Lee, as the only remaining member, convened a new lineup of Love with Jay Donnellan (soon replaced by Gary Rowles) on guitar, Frank Fayad on bass, and George Suranovich on drums. This lineup played in a [[blues rock]] style, as opposed to the folk-rock and psychedelic styles of the band's previous incarnation. The new lineup never garnered the widespread acceptance or acclaim of the original group.<ref name=":0" /> Three albums were released by various permutations of this lineup: ''[[Four Sail]]'' (1969), ''[[Out Here (Love album)|Out Here]]'' (1969), and ''[[False Start (Love album)|False Start]]'' (1970).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography" /> The last featured a guest appearance by [[Jimi Hendrix]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/false-start-mw0000308241|title=False Start – Love {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Another album by this incarnation of the band was recorded in 1971, but the material was not released until 2009 on the compilation album ''Love Lost''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-lost-mw0001777902|title=Love Lost – Love {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Arthur Lee released the solo album ''[[Vindicator (album)|Vindicator]]'' in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/vindicator-mw0000751489|title=Vindicator – Arthur Lee {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Another lost Love album titled ''[[Black Beauty (album)|Black Beauty]]'' was recorded in 1973 by a new lineup featuring guitarist Melvan Whittington, bassist Robert Rozelle, and drummer Joe Blocker, but Arthur Lee's record label went out of business before it was released. The album was finally released by [[High Moon Records]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/11/love-black-beauty-review.html|title=Love: Black Beauty Review|date=November 11, 2014|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> The final official Love album, ''[[Reel to Real (album)|Reel to Real]]'' (1974), was recorded by Lee and session musicians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/reel-to-real-mw0000839507|title=Reel to Real – Love {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> It features the track "[[Everybody's Gotta Live]]", which was previously recorded by Lee for ''Vindicator''.<ref name="Copyright 1972">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEchAQAAIAAJ|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series|date=1972|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|date=November 16, 1974|title=Billboard's Top Album Picks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61|language=en|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc.|page=61|access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref>

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, there were various attempts to reunite the original Love lineup. At the suggestion of late-period guitarist John Sterling, Arthur Lee and Bryan MacLean reunited for one show in 1978, which was recorded and released as ''Love Live'' in 1980.<ref name=":0" /> Material from ''[[Out Here (Love album)|Out Here]]'' plus four previously unreleased live tracks was released as ''Studio/Live'' in 1982.<ref name=":0" /> Arthur Lee was largely inactive in the 1980s and only made sporadic onstage appearances with pickup bands.<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/arthur-lee-1945-2006-78583/|title=Arthur Lee (1945–2006)|last1=Sullivan|first1=James|date=August 4, 2006|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>

Lee reemerged in 1992 with a new album titled ''Five String Serenade'', released under the name Arthur Lee & Love.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/five-string-serenade-mt0011489520|title=Five String Serenade – Arthur Lee {{!}} Song Info|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> The album's title track was later covered by [[Mazzy Star]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-tonight-that-i-might-see-mw0000102852|title=So Tonight That I Might See – Mazzy Star {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Lee then returned to semi-regular performing, often backed by the band [[Baby Lemonade (band)|Baby Lemonade]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/61807/love-backing-band-splits-with-arthur-lee|title=Love Backing Band Splits With Arthur Lee|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> In 1995, [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]] released the compilation ''Love Story'', a two-disc set with extensive liner notes which chronicled the band's 1966–1972 period.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/9244/Interviews/Love--Interview-with-Johnny-Echols|title=Love – Interview with Johnny Echols|website=www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218163505/http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/9244/Interviews/Love--Interview-with-Johnny-Echols|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ken Forssi, bassist for the classic Love lineup, died of a suspected [[brain tumor]] at age 54 on January 5, 1998.<ref name=":3" /> Bryan MacLean died of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] at age 52 on December 25, 1998, while having dinner with a young fan who was researching a book about Love.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-bryan-maclean-1044305.html|title=Obituary: Bryan MacLean|date=January 1, 1999|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> Arthur Lee was in prison when both of these former bandmates died.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/loves-arthur-lee-to-be-free-243446/|title=Love's Arthur Lee to Be Free|last1=Greenwald|first1=Matthew|date=December 12, 2001|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>

=== Reformation and reunions ===
After spending six years in prison from 1995 to 2001 for firearms offenses, Lee began touring under the name Love with Arthur Lee, with the members of Baby Lemonade rounding out the lineup.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/arthur-lees-new-love-254867/|title=Arthur Lee's New Love|last1=Greenwald|first1=Matthew|date=August 9, 2002|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref> In 2002 Michael Stuart (now known as Michael Stuart-Ware), the drummer on the Love albums ''Da Capo'' and ''Forever Changes'', wrote the acclaimed book ''Behind the Scenes on the Pegasus Carousel with the Legendary Rock Group Love''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/book-review-forever-changes-arthur-lee-and-the-book-of-love-by-john-einarson/|title=Book Review: "Forever Changes: Arthur Lee and the Book of Love," by John Einarson|last=James|first=Falling|date=July 28, 2010|website=LA Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Lofgren 6.23.06 Arthur Lee Benefit Beacon Theater.jpg|thumb|240px|right|[[Nils Lofgren]] performing at the Beacon Theatre Benefit For Arthur Lee, June 23, 2006]]
Johnny Echols joined Lee's latest group for a special ''Forever Changes'' 35th Anniversary performance in the spring of 2003 and again for tours in 2004 and 2005.<ref name=":5" /> Due to Arthur Lee's battle with [[acute myeloid leukemia]], the details of which were not known by the band at the time, he could not participate in the final tour in 2005. Since no one knew of his illness, Lee's decision to forgo the final tour was met with confused reactions.<ref name=":4" /> The remaining members of the band, led by Echols, continued to perform without Lee, under the name The Love Band.<ref name=":5" />

Michael Stuart-Ware and Johnny Echols performed with Baby Lemonade at Hollywood's Whisky A Go-Go on June 28, 2006, in a benefit concert for Arthur Lee. The show included guest appearances by [[Robert Plant]] and [[Nils Lofgren]]. Lee died of [[acute myeloid leukemia]] on August 3, 2006, at age 61.<ref name=":4" />

In 2009, a reformed version of Love, featuring Johnny Echols, members of Baby Lemonade, and Probyn Gregory of [[the Wondermints]], toured the United States and Canada. Michael Stuart-Ware was listed as a member of this act for a time in 2009. The group continued to tour sporadically in the following years under the name the Love Band featuring Johnny Echols. This group completed a 'farewell tour' of the UK in 2019,<ref>[http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2018/12/11/news-farewell-uk-tour-from-the-love-band-featuring-johnny-echols/ Simon Godley, "Farewell UK Tour from The Love Band featuring Johnny Echols", ''GodIsInTheTV'', 11 December 2018]. Retrieved July 5, 2019</ref> but continues to perform in the U.S. as LOVE-Revisited.<ref name=":8">[https://www.love-revisited.com/ "Love Revisited"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027110142/https://www.love-revisited.com/ |date=October 27, 2021 }}. Retrieved October 27, 2021</ref>  In November 2021, they announced that they would again tour in the UK in 2022, and at some shows would play the whole of their first two albums, ''Love'' and ''Da Capo'', in their entirety, as well as ''Forever Changes''.<ref>[https://www.love-revisited.com/  "LOVE with Johnny Echols – UK Tour 2022", ''LOVE Revisited'', 2 November 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027110142/https://www.love-revisited.com/ |date=October 27, 2021 }}. Retrieved November 3, 2021]</ref>

In August 2024, a new album of unreleased music written by Lee was announced. Titled ''Just to Remind You'', the release comprises material recorded between 1990 and 2005 "curated and polished by trusted collaborators". ''Just to Remind You'' is scheduled for release in 2025.<ref>[https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/new-album-from-loves-arthur-lee/  "New Album From Love’s Arthur Lee: “Hearing Arthur’s voice again was scary but it was beautiful.”"], August 12, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2025]</ref>