Split over Scientology, ’60s band ‘People’ reunites for one night

SAN JOSE – Nearly four decades ago, a folk-rock band called People rocketed up the music charts in the U.S. and abroad with the hit “I Love You” – before youthful tensions over song titles and differences over Scientology tore them apart.

The six original band members reunited for one more performance Friday night, when an enthusiastic audience came to see the Summer of Love-era band inducted into San Jose’s Rock Hall of Fame.

Lead singer Larry Norman let out his trademark growl on the refrain of “I Love You,” the song that took them to the top of the charts in Israel, Italy, Japan and other countries in 1968. His band mates looked energetic from the opening drum hits to the closing bar.

Brothers Geoff and Robert Levin formed the band in San Jose in 1966 during an era of personal experimentation and resculpting of popular music. People quickly gained worldwide fame with the release of “I Love You.”

But the band broke up in 1968 – not long after some members began experimenting with Scientology, a religion based on L. Ron Hubbard’s best-selling book, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.”

Rift over Scientology

The Levin brothers, drummer Dennis Fridkin and keyboardist Albert Ribisi became Scientologists, who believe spiritual enlightenment is possible by ridding one’s mind and soul of the accumulated, unwanted effects of innumerable lifetimes.

“We were looking for something,” Geoff Levin said. “We were very zealous about things.”

But lead singers Norman and Gene Mason weren’t interested and had no plans for a conversion. That led to friction that had a hand in the band’s rapid unraveling.

Norman, a devout Christian, said the band founders issued an ultimatum.

“They said, ‘We all have to get into Scientology or you can’t be in the band,”‘ Norman said. “I thought ‘OK, I’m free.’”

Related News Articles Topic(s): Scientology Related Tags / Keywords: Larry Norman Read Another Religion News Article Latest headlines: RNB Homepage RNB Quick Takes: Religion News in Brief Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Subscribe only to this topic: Scientology Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Scientology Most Popular RNB Articles Today Televangelists Benny Hinn and Paula White deny affair Tyke, 3, raised as shady guru’s ’son’ A Polygamist’s Victory: Will Texas Have Better Luck with Warren Jeffs? Utah court tosses FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs’ conviction Supreme Court: FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs gets new trial Pastor in Russian Republic of Dagestan Killed Texas, feds wait turns in polygamist cult leader cases Jury to decide if John Allen Rubio will get death in beheadings

---

Religion Search Engines:   • Religion News    • Christian Apologetics Search    • Counter Cult Search

---

Search Religion News Blog

More Religion Search Engines:

Counter Cult Search: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Apologetics Search: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.