:People!

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = People!

| image = Hitz.JPG

| alt =

| caption = People! 1968 Back Row: (l to r) Robb Levin, Denny Fridkin, Al Ribisi, Geoff Levin; Front Row: Gene Mason and Larry Norman

| image_size = 200px

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = San Jose, California, U.S.

| genre = Psychedelic rock

| years_active = 1965–1971, 1974, 2006–2007, 2018–present

| past_members = Robb Levin
Geoff Levin
Albert Ribisi
John Riolo
David Anderson
Larry Norman
Gene Mason
Denny Fridkin
Tom Tucker
Scott Eason
John Tristao
Steve Boatwright
Rob Thomas

}}

People! was an American one-hit wonder rock band that was formed in San Jose, California in 1965. Their greatest chart success came with their summer hit single "I Love You". The song, written by The Zombies bass guitarist Chris White, rose to number one in Japan (twice), Israel, Australia, Italy, South Africa, and the Philippines, and peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1968. At various times, band members have included Robb Levin, Geoff Levin, Albert Ribisi, John Riolo, David Anderson, Larry Norman, Gene Mason, Denny Fridkin, Tom Tucker, Bruce Thomas Eason (as Scott Eason), John Tristao, Steve Boatwright, and Rob Thomas. On October 19, 2007, People! was inducted into the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.sanjoserocks.org/inductees.htm |title=San Jose Rocks |publisher=San Jose Rocks |access-date=June 23, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sanjoserocks.org/v2b.htm?vn=people_iloveyou1b.flv&vt=People%20-%20I%20Love%20You&ttime=260 |title="I Love You" VIDEO 2007 |publisher=Sanjoserocks.org |access-date=June 23, 2013 |archive-date=August 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812170542/http://www.sanjoserocks.org/v2b.htm?vn=people_iloveyou1b.flv&vt=People%20-%20I%20Love%20You&ttime=260 |url-status=dead }}

After People! broke up, Larry Norman became one of the pioneers of Christian rock music.Sanford, David. [http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/news/2005/larrynorman.html "Farewell, Larry Norman."] Christianity Today. June 27, 2005. Retrieved December 26, 2007.[http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/larry-norman-interview "This World is not My Home"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315210446/http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/larry-norman-interview |date=March 15, 2010 }}. Wittenburg Door. Retrieved August 13, 2010.

People! recorded an album which was funded through an Indegogo campaign in May 2018.{{cite web |url=https://tonyortega.org/2018/05/02/fifty-years-later-and-finally-all-post-scientology-60s-band-people-aims-for-a-comeback/ |title= Fifty years later and post-Scientology, 60's band People! aims for a comeback |website=The Underground Bunker |access-date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714073048/https://tonyortega.org/2018/05/02/fifty-years-later-and-finally-all-post-scientology-60s-band-people-aims-for-a-comeback/|archive-date=July 14, 2018}} Current members include Gene Mason, Denny Fridkin, Robb Levin, Geoff Levin, and John Tristao.{{cite web|title=The Jerry Bovino Show|url=http://www.grassrootstv.org/view?showID=14939|website=Grassrootstv|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830073858/http://www.grassrootstv.org/view?showID=14939|archive-date=August 30, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Scientology connection

After all of the band members except lead singers Norman and Mason embraced Scientology, Norman claimed other members of the band issued the ultimatum: Join Scientology or leave the band. Norman and Mason both refused.{{cite web |author=Harris, Ron |title= Split over Scientology, 60s band 'People' reunites for one night |date= October 22, 2007 | url = http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19712/people|publisher= The Salinas Californian }}Denny Fridkin, in Tony Cumming, "People!: Drummer and songwriter Denny Fridkin recounts his life in music", (August 26, 2007), [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/People_Drummer_and_songwriter_Denny_Fridkin_recounts_his_life_in_music/28810/p1/] People Drummer recounts his life in music Some band members indicate that Norman was asked to leave the band because he was seen as a "Suppressive Person".{{cite web|url=http://www.failedangle.com/site/people/people.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504114648/http://www.failedangle.com/site/people/people.html|archive-date=May 4, 2012 |title=Failed Angle - People!|work=failedangle.com}} Norman claimed that he was harassed by other members of Scientology.{{cite web|url=http://www.failedangle.com/site/people/DadLetter.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306032829/http://www.failedangle.com/site/people/DadLetter.pdf|archive-date=March 6, 2012 |first=Larry|last=Norman|title=letter to Joe Norman|work=failedangle.com}} On the Jerry Bovino TV show, Eye on Aspen, brothers Robbie and Geoff Levin clarified that they kicked Larry Norman out of the group based on their interpretation of Scientology policy categorizing Larry as an anti-social personality. Levin claimed kicking out members broke up their group.

Discography

File:Larry3.JPG

= Singles (45 rpm) =

Title (A Side/B Side) (Label Number) Year

"Organ Grinder"/"Riding High" (Capitol 5920) 1967{{cite web |url=http://www.meetjesushere.com/ily_singles.htm |title=ILY Singles |publisher=Meetjesushere.com |access-date=June 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728193504/http://www.meetjesushere.com/ily_singles.htm |archive-date=July 28, 2013 }}
"I Love You"/"Somebody Tell Me My Name" (Capitol 2078) 1968 US No. 14
"Apple Cider"/Ashes of Me (Capitol 2251) 1968 US No. 111
"Ulla"/Turnin' Me In (Capitol 2449) 1969 US No. 129*
"Turnin' Me In"/Ulla (Capitol 2499) 1969
"Love Will Take Us Higher & Higher"/"Living It Up" (Paramount 0005) 1969
"Sunshine Lady"/"Crosstown Bus" (Paramount 0011) 1969
"For What It's Worth"/"Maple Street" (Paramount 0019) 1970
"One Chain Don't Make No Prison"/"Keep It Alive" (Paramount 0028) 1970
"Chant for Peace"/"I Don't Carry No Guns" (Polydor 14087) 1971
"I Love You" (re-issue)/"Nobody but Me" (the Human Beinz) (Capitol P4482 and X-6224)

US Chart is Billboard unless otherwise noted. * Record World singles chart.{{cite book| last = Whitburn| first = Joel| title = The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954-1982| publisher = Sheridan Books| year = 2015| isbn = 978-0-89820-213-7|page=387}}

= Albums =

I Love You (1968) (Capitol ST-2924) CD re-release (1994) (Capitol CDP-29797)
Both Sides of People (1969) (Capitol ST-151)
There Are People and There Are People (1970) (Paramount PAS-5013)
Larry Norman and People! - The Israel Tapes 1974 A.D. (1980)
Best of People Vol. 1 - 40 Year Anniversary (2006) (Solid Rock CD-SRP-001)
Best of People Vol. 2 - 40 Year Anniversary (2006) (Solid Rock CD-SRP-002)
People! The Reunion Concert 2006 (2007) (Solid Rock)
I Love You Korea (2007) (Solid Rock ILY-001)

Video interviews

"The Jerry Bovino Show - Rock and Roll Brothers with Robbie Levin, Geoff Levin, and Host Jerry Bovino"{{Cite web |url=http://www.grassrootstv.org/view?showID=14939 |title=The Jerry Bovino Show - "Rock and Roll Brothers" with Robbie Levin, Geoff Levin, and Host Jerry Bovino |access-date=October 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830073858/http://www.grassrootstv.org/view?showID=14939 |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |url-status=dead }} 2017

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928055629/http://www.meetjesushere.com/people_page.htm Collection of People! promo items]
[https://sanjoserocks.org/rockers/john-tristao/ John Tristao's biography at San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame website]

Category:Musical groups established in 1965

Category:Psychedelic rock music groups from California

Category:Musical groups from San Jose, California

Category:Larry Norman

Category:Scientology-related controversies