Season One, Episode 03

Dave Bixby at his home in Northern Arizona. Photo by Isvett Verde.
The first of Bixby’s solo albums, Ode to Quetzacoatl, was privately released in 1969. Only a thousand copies of the record were originally pressed.
Don DeGraaf was leader of the Group, a Christian cult established in the early 70s. Bixby describes DeGraaf as “a ruffian turned Jesus.” News clippings courtesy of Dave Bixby.
“After [my] LSD experience and recovery process, I could not put into words my experience, but music did it quite well.” — Dave Bixby
Free Spirit, the vessel Bixby captained as he sailed the western coast in the late 80s. Image courtesy of Dave Bixby.
Dave Bixby and his dog, Bubba, who was his only companion at sea. News clippings courtesy of Dave Bixby.
In high school, Dave Bixby played guitar in a number of bands including the Chalets, Friends of Mind, and Peter & the Prophets. Image courtesy of Dave Bixby.

Season One, Episode 03

Current With The Past

Current With The Past

A story of seclusion, discovery, creation, and worship.

Originally released in 1969, Dave Bixby’s Ode to Quetzacoatl is considered an underground classic in the psychedelic folk genre. With tracks such as “Drug Song” and “666″, the album remains dark, revelatory, and spiritual even in the 21st century. For years, rumors of Bixby’s disappearance and death spread amongst listeners. No one knew his story or his whereabouts or what influenced him to create an album dedicated to a Mesoamerican deity. He was a mystery.

In this episode, Everything Is Stories finds Dave Bixby in Northern Arizona where he shares his incredible adventures with hallucinogens in the 60s, a Christian cult in the 70s, sailing the open sea alone in the 80s, and what exactly influenced him to produce an album named after a feathered serpent.

Photos by Isvett Verde. Additional Music by Khris Reinshagen of Nostilevo and Men of Bissau.

Transcript
Transcript
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