Louie Louie

<P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office /> </SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>Worldwide scores of millions of people recognize the opening strains of 'Louie Louie' the instant they hear them. Whether listening to The Kingsmen blasting away on the radio or CD or tape or watching actors performing in countless movies like<I style=mso-bidi-font-style: normal> Animal House </I>or<I style=mso-bidi-font-style: normal> Mr. Holland's Opus </I>or<I style=mso-bidi-font-style: normal> Dave</I> people of all ages and backgrounds break into smiles the moment that primal riff first tickles their ears. On a multitude of levels 'Louie Louie' has embedded itself deep within our collective consciousness and become a permanent element of our cultural identity. Yet few know the true story behind this legendary recording and its aftermath.</SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>Since The Kingsmen's release of Louie Louie in 1963 a controversy over the questionable lyrics remains unresolved. Untold millions of copies have been sold and well over 1000 cover versions have been recorded giving the recording iconic status while crowning the band the fathers of garage rock and bestowing The Kingsmen with the title of </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags /><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>America</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>'s Party Band.</SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>Forty years ago as a member of The Kingsmen I lived through or perhaps I should say survived the original pandemonium that surrounded the song. Back then following an extensive FBI investigation personally directed by J. Edgar Hoover a federal judge found that our version of the song was unintelligible at any speed. His declaration gave the youth of </SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>America</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''> the nebulosity necessary for the growth of the rumors and accusations that helped create the legend of Louie Louie.</SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in><SPAN style=COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: ''''Times New Roman''''; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: ''''Times New Roman''''>Herein the humorous sometimes unbelievable details of what really happened to The Kingsmen and Louie Louie are revealed for the first time. The never-ending controversy that lies at the heart of this tale is more than just once-upon-a-time hi