Hells Angel Terry "The Tramp”with Ustad Alla Rakha (Monterey Pop Festival 1967)
In San Francisco during the mid-1960’s, one of the most visible groups was the San Francisco chapter of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club.
The was taken at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and features Terry “The Tramp” from the San Francisco Chapter of the Hell's Angels with tabla guru, Ustad Allah Rakah. At this magnificent venue, the Western culture audience were mesmerized by Alla Rakha's stunning rhythmic artistry. His oral recitation of compositions and the clarity and crispness of his strokes left the audience spellbound. The wit and spontaneity in his hands were mirrored on his face, which projected exuberance and a child-like smile. Grateful Dead drummer, Mickey Hart, can be quoted with “watching Alla Rakha was an epiphone - "He's the Einstein of rhythm.” Aside from this being an unpublished photograph of Alla Rakha, it is one of the rare occasions that a member of Hell’s Angels willingly allowed himself to be photographed.
