The Glass Bead Game returns to its roots

June 28, 2012

Alida van Almelo
907-474-7588
6/29/12

Photo by Howard Ringley. A photo of the band taken at the Howling Dog in Ester in 1973. Left to right: Rif Rafson, Susan McInnis (front), Donna Stewart, Pat Fitzgerald, Gary Westcott, Sam Levine, James Bartlett, Phil Falkowski. Missing: Al Green.

Once upon a time, circa 1972 or so, a legendary Fairbanks rock band grew up out of the sawdust floors at the old Howling Dog in Ester. The Glass Bead Game, named for a Hermann Hesse novel, started off with a little folk, then moved into blues and jazz and rock and roll, every night until the wee hours. Many of its members were students at the University of Alaska.

This summer, after a 40-year break, the Glass Bead Game is back under the midnight sun. The band will give a free outdoor concert Sunday July 1 at 7 p.m. on the steps of the Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Bring folding chairs and a picnic. Parking is free at UAF on the weekends.

The band’s early connections to the university remain today. The band’s informal manager was UAF’s chancellor, Brian Rogers, who was a student at the time and editor of the Polar Star student newspaper. He owned a bright yellow van that served as his mobile lemonade stand, which was frequently seen around town and near band gigs. Band-members dubbed him “the flow master” for his “I can take care of that” role. That skill proved valuable again as he helped bring the band members back together for this summer’s “End of the World Tour.”

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Susan McInnis at chillwordsmith@msn.com. Summer Sessions at 907-474-7021 or summer@alaska.edu.

ON THE WEB: http://www.uaf.edu/summer/

AV/06-29-12/288-12