I'd like to start off my tale by saying this – never underestimate the power of reference books. The reference section of the library is a magical place. Let me tell you, for example, that at this very moment I have an encyclopedia open on my lap. It happens to be open to the page explaining the past decades in history. Seeing as this book was released about two years ago, the 1960's is the most recent section in this chapter. There is an amazing amount of information about the 1960's here….most of which I didn't even know. That's no surprise to me though. As much as I traveled the world through the sixties, I could have been living under a rock for all the things I missed. Anyway, here's what it says at the top:

The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969.The term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends which occurred roughly during the years 1956–1972 in the west, particularly United States, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, Spain, Italy, and West Germany. Social and political upheaval was not limited to these countries, but included such nations as Japan, Mexico, and others. In the United States, The Sixties as they are known in popular culture today lasted from about 1963 to 1973. The term is used descriptively by historians, journalists, and other objective academics; nostalgically by those who participated in the counter-culture and social revolution; and pejoratively by those who perceive the era as one of irresponsible excess and flamboyance. The decade was also labeled the Swinging Sixties because of the libertine attitudes that emerged during this decade. Rampant drug use has become inextricably associated with the counter-culture of the era, as Jefferson Airplane co-founder Paul Kantner mentions: "If you can remember anything about the sixties, you weren't really there."

The 1960s have become synonymous with all the new, exciting, radical, and subversive events and trends of the period, which continued to develop in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond. In Africa the 1960s was a period of radical political change as countries gained independence from their European colonial rulers, only for this rule to be replaced in many cases by civil war or corrupt dictatorships.

Some commentators have seen in this era a classical Jungian nightmare cycle as a rigid culture, unable to contain the demands for greater individual freedom, broke free of the social constraints of the previous age through extreme deviation from the norm. Booker charts the rise, success, fall/nightmare and explosion in the London scene of the 1960s. This does not alone however explain the mass nature of the phenomenon.

Several Western governments turned to the left in the early 1960s. In the United States President John F. Kennedy was elected as president. Italy formed its first left-of-centre government in March 1962 with a coalition of Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, and moderate Republicans. Socialists joined the ruling block in December 1963. In Britain, the Labour Party gained power in 1964.

So, I think basically, this encyclopedia is not in favor of the sixties. I agree with Paul Kantner though. And why wouldn't I? He's a smart man and a brilliant guitarist. For those of you who don't understand his quote, however, I'll explain. Most people, including myself, were out of their minds on drugs back then. It made the world a hell of a lot more interesting, though, I have to admit.

I'd imagine most people over the age of thirty two at the time did not fully understand the behavior of the world at that time. I think they were mostly in the dark. I pity them. They weren't the teenagers or the younger generations who were out partying and living he lifestyle. They weren't the older folks who were engrossed with politics and the like. They were the ones who were worried about keeping their kids in line, and making a good living, which was nearly impossible. They were the ones who were more oblivious to the world than anyone else, though they were convinced they knew everything. And even the people who were in the business – the music business that is – at that age…they still had no idea. The musicians – little bastards as we were – made sure that our producers and managers stayed the hell out of our business. They were the know-it-alls. They were so sure they had a handle on us that they let us run free.

Mistake number one.

Then there were the time when, ok, they kept us on a short leash. And they kept us working. And they still thought they were in control. But when we were taking a break in the studio smoking weed and shooting heroin, they didn't do a thing. They passed it off as us trying to "fit in" as it were. Well, let me tell you. We were the rock stars; the musical prodigies. We were never going to fit in.

Mistake number two.

After we had our fun, written a few songs, released a few records, then the tours started coming it. The phones started ringing. And when they start ringing, they never stop. Once the career kicks off, it really kicks off. There's no going back. Because once you live the life of fame and you try to go back to a normal life, you don't know what to do. Your life feels like it's missing something, something big. Music, fame…it becomes a drug that you are stuck on. You need it in order to survive and if you don't have it you go crazy from lack of things to occupy your time. Most people drink a whole lot or go back on drugs when they stop touring to take up their time. You see where it gets them. Which brings me to my last mistake the producers make – money. We play, we make money, they give it to us. Who would do something so stupid? We're basically a bunch of ten year old kids in adults bodies and you're feeding us millions of dollars a year so we can what? Buy a mansion to sit on the floor in and snort cocaine?

Mistake number three.

Three strikes you're out.

Anyone born after 1971 was lucky. You missed the revolution. Your life was spared. Sometimes, I wish I was born twenty years later. I like to think what my life would've been like without all the…sixties. It must've been nice. My other self that lives in an alternate universe, where there was no music, no fame, was one lucky bastard. People like me don't get enjoyment out of life. We're lucky if we survive.

My name is Jasper Tagg and this is my story. Sit back and relax, because you're in for one hell of a ride.