There’s some big news about some recently announced LOUIE LOUIE marathons!
THE FIRST BIG NEWS is all about a celebration to commemorate the big anniversary of the legendary KFJC “Maximum Louie Louie” event that took place in August 1983 – 40 years ago! For 63 hours, KFJC Radio celebrated that special song with over 800 unique versions of LOUIE LOUIE. It was crazy… and for those of us that were there, it was truly an unforgettable experience.
The official announcement from KFJC…
Louie 40
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 7:00PM — 10:00PMHosted by Brian Damage
One of the defining moments in The History of KFJC was the Maximum Louie Louie marathon of August 19 – 21, 1983.
Stretch Riedle and Phil Dirt aired 63 hours and over 800 different versions of “Louie, Louie,” the underground garage classic, in a marathon that ended only because station management couldn’t take it anymore.
We’ll be airing blocks of vintage-1983 airchecks from the original broadcast.
Prepare to get really excited about “Louie, Louie.”
Or get really sick of “Louie, Louie.”
It’s your choice!
That’s exactly ONE WEEK from TODAY….
When: Friday, August 18 7:00pm – 10:00pm (PDT)
Where: Broadcast at FM 89.7 in San Francisco-San Jose Bay Area
Webcast for the world at KFJC.org.
(Listen to or download the archive for up to two weeks after broadcast)
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THE SECOND BIG NEWS is that some folks in Portland, Oregon – the town where both the Kingsmen and Paul Revere and the Raiders recorded that song in 1963, there’s going to be a big 24 hour celebration of the song starting on October 7th at 6pm and ending at October 8th at 6 pm. It will both start and end with a performance of the song by the current version of the Kingsmen.
What: Louie Louie 24 Hour Marathon – Portland’s Only 24 Hour Live Music Performance of the Hit Song Louie Louie
When: Saturday, October 7, 6 pm through Sunday October 8, 6 pm
Where: AFRU Gallery 534 SE Oak St, Portland, OR 97214
Admission: Free with suggested donation to AFRU Gallery
Contact: louielouiemarathon@gmail.com
Web: https://louielouiemarathon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouieLouieMarathon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louielouiemarathon
Here’s what they wrote about this thing…
Many, many years ago, in a humble abode in North Portland, a then-young man named Luke Strahota had the crazy idea that just might be crazy enough to work: a 24 Hour Louie Louie Marathon. In his mind, he saw a telethon event akin to the Jerry Lewis telethon. Luke wanted a bank of phone operators, a wacky non-stop talking presenter, and bands…a non-stop line up of bands playing the hit song Louie Louie created by Richard Berry and made infamous by The Kingsmen.
This vision resonated in Luke’s head. He told his spouse, who said something like “it’s so crazy it just might work” but the idea was like many of the best and was set to one side while Luke tackled music fest projects like Nuggets Night & Rave Up.
Then one day, Luke was visiting with Matt Stanger. He mentioned the 24 Hour Louie Louie Marathon and Matt’s mind began racing. As a person who also put together music fests like Gotham A Go-Go & wrote stage plays (Bikini Creature Beach Feature & The Groovy Vernacular Hippy Spectacular) as well as other wild collective fun, Matt immediately saw another version – one with a toga party, with a “keep your hand on the car” contest and a “dance alike” contest and so much more.
Years passed. But the dream was not forgotten. In early 2023, at a Greg Bigoni gallery showing, the idea was brought up and this time at a table including Jen Lane of Barfly, Julie Madsen of First Wednesday Readings, Taylor Valdes of The Venderia, & Megan Stanger. The synergy was strong. The group decided to meet again. And the Louie Louie Committee Committee was born.
Adding a few additional power-house talents to the crew, such as Michael Joyce who helped establish The Portland Winter Light Festival & Chris Pickolick of Don & The Quixotes, the LLCC began contacting people they knew HAD to be involved in … [dramatic pause] … this epic event of preposterous proportions.
While we do not have the telephone operators waiting to answer your calls and collect your donations, we do have bands…a non-stop line up of performers playing the hit song Louie Louie. The song will be going a full 24 hours at Portland’s #1 all-night-long party-til-you-drop Art & Performance Gallery AFRU.
You have been warned….
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Reference links:
Memories of KFJC Maximum LOUIE LOUIE (2022)
https://www.louielouie.net/blog/?p=10753
KFJC Maximum LOUIE memories – LOUIE of the Month (2015)
https://www.louielouie.net/blog/?p=7128
Neil Young performs LOUIE LOUIE for KFJC
https://www.louielouie.net/blog/?p=861
KFJC Tomb of the Unknown LOUIEs, part 1
https://www.louielouie.net/blog/?p=324