The Last Seat In the House
John Kane
This is a short extract from a book detailing the history of Hanley Sound which had the distinction of providing the sound for both Woodstock and Millenium '73. One was "an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music" and one was "the most holy and significant event in human history." One was an astonishing success still talked about 50 years later and the other was a humiliating failure thanks to Rennie Davis and the young Prem Rawat aka the Guru Maharaj Ji and Lord of the Universe.
A year later, in early November 1973, Postlethwaite and Hanley were at the Houston Astrodome preparing for a spiritual spectacle called "Millennium 73." The three-day festival was slated for November 8-10 and was produced by the Divine Light Mission (DLM). The DLM organization was founded in 1960 by Guru Shri Hans Ji Maharaj in Northern India. Out of all the events in Hanley's history, nothing matched this short tour with the fifteen-year-old guru named Maharaj Ji.
The DLM saw immense growth in the United States during the early 1970s under the leadership of Ji Maharaj's youngest son Guru Maharaj Ji, known as Prem Rawat. This new religious movement in the West was often viewed as a cult; however, for many it was an alternative religion. The charismatic DLM leadership called the movement a church instead of a religion and people flocked.
At the time, Millennium 73 was billed as the "most significant event in human history." According to the New York Times, the Maharaj Ji inspired one of the fastest-growing religious movements ever in this country: "The Guru's loyal followers referred to him as the 'Lord of the Universe and King of Kings.'"34 Eleanor Blau of the New York Times wrote that the young "Guru Maharaj Ji" was known to wear a white Nehru suit, while his hair lay "slicked down." Donning the hint of a prepubescent moustache, the Guru often sat perched on top a gold velvet sofa.35
Hanley and his crew had seen their fair share of bizarre performances, but this was just another show. According to Hanley, "The Guru was fifteen years old, but did not look it. The whole thing was odd. People were in awe of him and there was this whole mysticism around him. We were on tour with him for a few dates."36
Hanley and his team, including Postlethwaite, were at the Astrodome a week prior to the event, installing a large sound system. The stage, at least five levels, stretched sideline-to-sideline based on the DLM's specifications. "It was around fifty yards deep and it was huge," recalls Postlethwaite, who was in in awe of the enormity of the venue. On the lower level, the stage housed a symphony orchestra. The sofa placed at the top was where the Guru sat.
Postlethwaite explains: "We built sound towers that were gigantic. They were 4x8 scaffolding that went at least five levels high. We were sitting on Astroturf, which had been covered by plywood. The Astroturf was real spongy and made getting those 2,000-pound bass bins up on those things pretty scary."37
Hanley claims John Tedesco provided the lighting for the event: "John was from the Fillmore East and was one of Chris Langhart's students."38 In a 1973 journal called The Divine Times, Hanley's sound system is noted as an essential component to this entire spiritual event:
Crucial to communication is the sound system that enables the festival participants to hear Guru Maharaj Ji speak and the airwaves to carry his verbal message, said Larry Bernstein, designer of the Millennium stage, "You've got sound problems in the Astrodome that are astronomical. There's really not a sound company in the United States that's anxious to do that job." However, a sound company was found - Hanley Sound Company. Bill Hanley, who developed the sound system for Woodstock in 1969, attended by 500,000 people, brought in three 4,000 ton clusters of speakers to enable all people to hear Guru Maharaj Ji and all other parts of the program. He is also working with the Blue Aquarius soundman to achieve the right "mix" of sound for the band of Shri Bhole Ji.39
Hanley recalls the acoustical challenges within an arena so large: "They have it wrong. It wasn't quite 4,000 tons! It was more like a couple if I remember correctly. This was my first time in the Astrodome and it was difficult directing the sound because it bounced all over. The building was enormous and there was no digital delay system technology like there is now, it was all analog."40 According to Postlethwaite, the Houston Astrodome was incredible:
This was quite a show. Talk about being thrown into the fire, I had never been into a facility this size. In fact there probably wasn't one in the world as big as the Astrodome. I remember meeting Annie Leibovitz under the stage. I remember Bill saying to me "go ahead take these men and go do something," he gave me like one hundred stagehands et cetera! It was a real interesting experience and one that tested my abilities!41
Looking back, Hanley remembers it all being very strange: "The Guru really had some faithful followers! They were all over the place! It was an infectious thing; these followers were all living together! There was a lot going on, and all these people were into mysticism."42 While electronic fireworks burst on an electronic scoreboard, the 20,000 or so followers chanted in praise of the young Guru. Their voices echoed throughout the giant Houston Astrodome.
Amid all of the visual chaos, a musical group called Blue Aquarius led by the brother of the Guru (clad in a glitter suit) played with big band fury. The New York Times reported, "Maharaj Ji, the young Indian guru whose followers say is god, talked about inner peace and accepted a golden swan … last night in the finale."43
In 1975 the Guru requested Hanley's services again for a festival called Hans Jayanti. The rider contract outlined these specifications: "A reliable sound system with excellent quality is needed for this Festival."44 According to Hanley, "I guess the Guru was really pleased with my work!"45
Cover image: Photo from May 1995 issue of Alpha Magazine, Trinity Square Ltd.
34. Eleanor Blau, "Revered Guru, 15, Brings His Mission Here." New York Times, July 28, 1973.
35. Blau, "Revered Guru."
36. Bill Hanley, interview.
37. Fritz Postlethwaite, interview.
38. Bill Hanley, interview.
39. "The Perfect Master in the Age of McLuhan." Divine Times, Millennium '73 ed., 1973.
40. Bill Hanley, interview.
41. Fritz Postlethwaite, interview.
42. Bill Hanley, interview.
43. Blau, "Revered Guru."
44. "1975 Sound Specifications Rider, Hans Jayanti Festival." Hanley archive.
45. Bill Hanley, interview.
46. Fritz Postlethwaite, interview.
47. Fritz Postlethwaite, interview.
48. Fritz Postlethwaite, interview