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| The Split/Apple was known for "Open Canvass Walls" where you can paint your imagination! |
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| An original poster on the outside wall, 1997 |
In July we organized and hosted “The Festival of Life”
event, a multi-day counter-cultural event that coincided with the 1996
Democratic National Convention which featured a lot of political activities
including Rennie Davies
(from the historic 1968 DNC, he is of the original “Chicago 8”), some good,
groovy music and a lot of booze and drugs. That event kicked off a series of
events at The Split/Apple almost every other weekend between July and November,
we always sold out and a splendid time was indeed had by all! It was the same
deal as before, there was a cover charge (the band got that), we charged for
bottomless cups (we got that part) and we always a cut from the others who sold
their goods in our house. Once a month it was “Ralph’s Kind” show, the band
developed a strong following but with the new regular scene of other artists
also playing at The Split/Apple, they enjoyed a larger crowd each month.
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| A Poster circa '95 |
During
the summer and fall of '96 The Split/Apple featured a number of renown guests
like blues legend Eddie
King, emerging jazz great Michael Zerang, even a
random visit from Bill Murray one night. We featured the young hippie jam band
now known as “moe.” who
once played there as did John
Kadlecik of “Hairball Willie” & “Dark Star Orchestra” (who would later
join the surviving members of The Grateful Dead to form “Furthur”). It was
during these “Festival of
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| John Kadlecik @ The Split/Apple '96 |
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| The Split/Apple on New Year's Eve 1995/96... |
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| The Split/Apple Stage on New Year's Eve 1995/96... |
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| The Festival of Life Day #2 From The Split/Apple stage... |
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| Everybody shakin their bones in the sweltering jams! |
We eventually gained notice from High Times magazine, I
wrote a piece about my efforts as an activist for the reform of the marijuana
laws and mentioned the non-stop party scene of The Split/Apple. They didn't use
my op-ed piece (too long) but they did send a reporter and photographer to
feature The Split/Apple as a cool underground place to visit in Chicago. All
summer long, well into the autumn too, I was on a manic binge that fueled
several episodes of staying awake for 36 hours, not eating for almost a week
and just pouring all this creative energy into making The Split/Apple and
Ralph’s Kind the next best thing since Haight/Ashbury and The Good Old Grateful
Dead! In fact, it was this curious period that I got a response from Ken Kesey:
I sent a note of sorrow when Jerry Garcia died the previous year. I long forgot
about it but one day in late September, I got this strange little package in
the mail at The Split/Apple. It was from Ken Kesey and inside was a little hand
painted post card sized piece of art with a short little note thanking me for
the kind words. He encouraged me to stay in contact, wished me well, signed it
“Love, Keez” and for me, at that moment in my manic perceptions, this was a big
sign of agreement from the universe!
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| The Split/Apple Dance Floor from the "crows nest" POV |
Getting that message from Kesey, exactly when I did, inside
my head validated everything, crazy as it was, it confirmed for me that I was
on the right path. I had the system of operation down so well that we drew
close to 1,000 people over the course of any weekend. No matter who performed,
whatever the cover charge was, we had people coming to The Split/Apple in
droves and many of them were underage, almost everybody
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| Everybody got high at The Split/Apple... |
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| The Poster Image for "Ralph's Kind Phish Heads or Tales Tour" |
In November of 1996, while the famous hippie jam band
“Phish” was touring around college campuses in the Midwest, I set up a tour we
called “Phish Heads or Tales” where “Ralph's Kind” performed in the same towns
as Phish either before or after the famous band was there. The little tour, our
first real outing, was a mixed bag of results but the bottom line was we lost
money. It was the first event I planned which didn't meet expectations, I was
held most accountable for the debacle and it created a deep divide between
certain people associated with the band and myself. There was, unknown to me at
the time, a coup at play with the goal of removing me from my position and
sending me on my way. This conspiracy was hatched by the band's roadie with a
couple of close friends of the band who wanted to be more involved, more in
control of the band's affairs. They planted seeds of doubt, pointed out all my
erratic actions, my crazy ways and insane temper were called into question and
all of this being communicated without my knowledge. After the Thanksgiving
weekend, on a frigid, snowy Sunday evening, the 1st of December, 1996, we had a
big meeting. The band, along with the roadie and his friends, with me all
gathered in circle at the back of the loft. I was literally up against a brick
wall, feeling the trail pass before, waiting for the execution that I knew came
next. They grilled me, fired questions about why I did what, how I spent
whatever, but all of it for me was just fucking bullshit. I was done, I didn't
care so I stood there and let them shoot me down. I was simply just dead. After
the meeting, without a word, I gathered my bags and walked out the door.
Against the wind up Michigan Avenue, I found a pay phone and called Kelly.
Before I explained a thing, I cried. Kelly was there in an hour, scooped me up
and whisked me off to a suburban hotel room. We cuddled, cried and crashed for
the night. From that very night forward, including every night in between then
and now, we are together. Always have, and forevermore…that’s the story of our
Love, that’s how we Handle with Care.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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| dphilipchalmers.net |
This is an excerpt from “MY BiPolar Reality; How Life Goes
On…”, taken from the end of chapter 3, during the last year of my infamous
underground hippie club, The Split/Apple” and it was inspired by a random
connection I made on Google+ recently…it started in a thread about the issues
surrounding legalization in D.C but from it, I got this awesome e-mail the next
day:
“Hello d'Philip
Chalmers. My name is Raissa and I wanted to thank you for liking my comment on
the DC/marijuana post on Google+. I saw from your info you were associated with
the Split Apple in Chicago. I am from the Chicago suburbs, West Chicago, Geneva
area. Back in 1996 the band my now husband was in played at the Split Apple
right before the Chicago Weedfest. I obtained an excellent hash brownie from
someone that night which left my face sore from all of the smiles and laughter
(who could say that is a harmful thing?). Just wanted to say "hi" cuz
I think you're groovy and appreciate what you're about. Keep on keepin on
brother. Thanks for your "like", your time, and everything you're
about.
Peace and Love,
Raissa"
I was simply blown away, what a blast from the past,
stepping up to me in my path and stopping me in my tracks to remind me, “Hey
yeah, I did do that, didn’t I?”
“Yes you
did…” my wifey reminded me when I recounted the experience to her, “I know, I
was there too!”
“I know,
but it’s just I forget it really happened, you know?” I smiled and sighed, “I’m
old.”
“That’s
right, you’re my old man!” she chuckled and hugged me before whispering, “That
was a long time ago, almost 20 years…be happy people still remember that place
and you. She had good memories of The Split/Apple, nearly anyone who was there
did, d’Philip…it was an amazing place and yes, you did that too…I Love You!”
“I Love You too…” we gave each a
little smooch before being busted by our kids and I sat back thinking about
those day, almost 20 years ago…more than 20 years ago now, The Split/Apple
Creative Co-Op was an organization I started in the summer of 1994 along with
+Matt Glasson, and a few others. The original vision was to create a place
where “emerging artists” can get viable support in the expression of their
artistic talents. We hosted several art gallery and performance arts
exhibitions, there were a couple of plays, a student film had been shot there
and dozens upon dozens of concert performance by a variety of different groups.
In addition to the performance space, we had a photographic darkroom, a small
A/V recording studio and several bedroom spaces that we shared with those in
need. It was an altruistic venture, one founded with the purest of good
intentions and a place I hoped to grow a new breed of artist while continuing
to forge the principals of my own deep hippie roots in The Grateful Dead
community. The Split/Apple officially opened the doors on Halloween, 1994 but
it was another 6 months before we really started to see any progress. It was
frustrating to me back then because I had yet to learn the lesson of being a
gardener. The Split/Apple was a garden and it requires time, the right
combination of essential elements and patience. I was not a patient person when
I was in my 30’s, so the struggle seemed very hard. However, as you can tell by
both the story and e-mail I mentioned earlier, it did eventually come to fruition,
we did accomplish something unique, original and maybe not ever-lasting, but certainly
a good time memory for many! “The idea for the new colony is based on The
Split/Apple principal…” I was explaining to my 18 year old son, “Freedom of
Association, Creative Expression…”
“That’s cool, Pop…” my son strummed
a few chords on his new guitar, “I wish I could have been at The Split/Apple,
it sounds very cool.”
“It was…” I smiled and patted my
talented son, “But you haven’t seen anything yet!”
This is the second article I’ve posted in 2015 and although
I do want to include passages from the book, I really think if you like my
blog, you’ll love the book. I’m conflicted, however, because I don’t want to
simply pimp my book and offer little else in terms of thoughts and ideas. I
know there will be other excerpts from the book posted over the following few
months, especially as we get ready to hit the road and promote the book and
awareness campaign, my publishing contract dictates that and I like writing
this “after the excerpt” bit too…but I do intend on putting more issues out
there, I like to start discussions and participate in dialogues, but I’ll also
take time to write about the simplicity of family life or how I practice The Secret
Art of Daydreaming. There was a time in my life when I protected EVERYTHING I wrote,
I didn't share much of it with anyone and when I did, I asked them to keep
their opinions to themselves. It’s a complicated story to explain why I was
like this (but it’s in “My BiPolar Reality”) however, almost 30 years later and
I’ve grown into a more mature, self-confident individual. I thrive on sharing
my stories, essays, articles and thoughts of creative expression and I
encourage ANYONE who is struck by my work, be it good or not, it doesn't matter…please,
if you will, simply repost and share something of mine freely at will, just be
sure you copy-it-right!
Take Care and be well!
Peace,
d'Philip
12 January 2015
