Richard Shaw Brown
Encyclopedia
Richard Shaw "Rick" Brown (born in 1947) was the lead singer, harmonica player, and co-song writer of Psychedelic group The Misunderstood
. The Misunderstood were a rock band originating from Riverside, California
in the mid-1960s. The band moved to London early in their career, and although they recorded only a handful of songs before being forced to disband, they are considered highly influential in the then-emerging genre.
Richard Brown is currently a gemologist and popular Jewelry designer
in Bangkok
, Thailand
, creating fine gems-jewelry based on the Navaratna
belief in Jyotish talisman
s.
"The Misunderstood
were one of the most innovative and enigmatic bands of the Sixties and one of the psychedelic era's best loved groups." Brown's most well-known songs, I Can Take You To The Sun
and Children of the Sun, are considered psychedelic music
classics. While working successfully with the band in London, the group broke-up when Brown was drafted by the US Army to go to Vietnam
, but being opposed to the war, he escaped from boot camp and left the country for India, where he was a fugitive for 12 years. Creem
magazine, in a September 2004 review, write, "The saga of the Misunderstood is one of the most unbelievable, heartbreaking, and unlikely stories in the entire history of rock."
bhakti
from Swami Bon Maharaj in Vrindavana, U.P., India for six and a half years. Brown departed from Swami Bon and returned to his original Guru, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in late 1973. During his time in Asia, Brown learned to speak Bengali, Hindi and Thai, and read Sanskrit and Hindi.
system of Asian birthstones.
as a conscientious objector
and discharged from the Army.
in 1983. They disbanded in 1985 when Campbell moved to New Zealand and Brown moved to Thailand.
Cherry Red Records (UK) released three albums of Misunderstood music, viz., "Before the Dream Faded" (CDM RED 32) in 1992, "The Legendary Goldstar Album" (CDM RED 142) in 1997, and a full album of The Misunderstood's later material under the name of "The Misunderstood: Broken Road" (CDM RED 147) in 1998.
Recently, in 2004, Ugly Things
Records (USA) issued another full album of previously unreleased tracks named The Lost Acetates 1965-1966, that received International media coverage.
A motion picture screen play (The Misunderstood: WGA 977444) about the Band and Rick Brown's adventures was written by Rock Historian, Mike Stax (Editor of Ugly Things
Music Magazine) in 2002, and is under revision.
A novel: "Like, Misunderstood" - based on the script was published in October 2007.
In 1983 Brown graduated as "Gemologist" from the Gemological Institute of America
(GIA). Brown's book Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans received the "1996 Benjamin Franklin Award" from the Publishers Marketing Association (PMA). He is currently working as a gemologist and jewelry designer in Bangkok
, Thailand
for the popular brand, Astral Gemstone Talismans.
The Misunderstood
The Misunderstood were a psychedelic rock band originating from Riverside, California in the mid-1960s. The band moved to London early in their career, and although they recorded only a handful of songs before being forced to disband, they are considered highly influential in the then-emerging...
. The Misunderstood were a rock band originating from Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
in the mid-1960s. The band moved to London early in their career, and although they recorded only a handful of songs before being forced to disband, they are considered highly influential in the then-emerging genre.
Richard Brown is currently a gemologist and popular Jewelry designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, creating fine gems-jewelry based on the Navaratna
Navaratna
Navaratna is literally a Sanskrit compound word meaning "nine gems".-Royal setting:The ancient origin of the 9 Gems—called Navaratna in Sanskrit, Hindi, Burmese, Indonesian, and Nepalese, Navarathinam in Tamil, Navarathnalu in Telugu,Navarathnam in Malayalam, Navaratne in Singhalese, Nopparat in...
belief in Jyotish talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
s.
Band
The Misunderstood
The Misunderstood were a psychedelic rock band originating from Riverside, California in the mid-1960s. The band moved to London early in their career, and although they recorded only a handful of songs before being forced to disband, they are considered highly influential in the then-emerging...
were one of the most innovative and enigmatic bands of the Sixties and one of the psychedelic era's best loved groups." Brown's most well-known songs, I Can Take You To The Sun
I Can Take You To The Sun
"I Can Take You To The Sun" is a psychedelic rock song that was composed and recorded by The Misunderstood at Philips Studio in London in 1966...
and Children of the Sun, are considered psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
classics. While working successfully with the band in London, the group broke-up when Brown was drafted by the US Army to go to Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, but being opposed to the war, he escaped from boot camp and left the country for India, where he was a fugitive for 12 years. Creem
Creem
Creem , "America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine," was a monthly rock 'n' roll publication first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay. It suspended production in 1989 but received a short-lived renaissance in the early 1990s as a glossy tabloid...
magazine, in a September 2004 review, write, "The saga of the Misunderstood is one of the most unbelievable, heartbreaking, and unlikely stories in the entire history of rock."
India
In 1967 Brown was initiated as Hrisikesh Das by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada He also lived as a monk and received instructions in KrishnaKrishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
from Swami Bon Maharaj in Vrindavana, U.P., India for six and a half years. Brown departed from Swami Bon and returned to his original Guru, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in late 1973. During his time in Asia, Brown learned to speak Bengali, Hindi and Thai, and read Sanskrit and Hindi.
Welfare activities in Asia
During his stay in India with Swami Bon Maharaj Brown was engaged in the establishment of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Academy, a primary school, in Nandagram, U.P., as well as expanding the Institute of Oriental Philosophy in Vrindavan, U.P. Before returning to America Brown was also instrumental in establishing Sri Hari-siddhi Primary School in Dhulikhel, Nepal In 1999 Brown was a co-founder and is currently Acting Secretary of the Institute of Planetary Gemology in Bangkok, Thailand a school that teaches the NavaratnaNavaratna
Navaratna is literally a Sanskrit compound word meaning "nine gems".-Royal setting:The ancient origin of the 9 Gems—called Navaratna in Sanskrit, Hindi, Burmese, Indonesian, and Nepalese, Navarathinam in Tamil, Navarathnalu in Telugu,Navarathnam in Malayalam, Navaratne in Singhalese, Nopparat in...
system of Asian birthstones.
Influence in India
Through Swami Bon's educational service Brown moved in the highest circles of Indian society, even being received twice by India's President V.V. Giri at Rastrapati Bhavan in 1972; and he successfully organized two high society functions in Bombay and Delhi during 1971-1972 which were supported by India's elite.Amnesty
In 1979, after 12 years in exile, Brown returned to America where he was granted amnestyAmnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
and discharged from the Army.
Post-Misunderstood music
In 1982, the two core members, the singer and the steel guitarist, reunited as "Influence" and recorded two self-penned tracks, "No Survivors" and "Queen of Madness", for UK's Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
in 1983. They disbanded in 1985 when Campbell moved to New Zealand and Brown moved to Thailand.
Cherry Red Records (UK) released three albums of Misunderstood music, viz., "Before the Dream Faded" (CDM RED 32) in 1992, "The Legendary Goldstar Album" (CDM RED 142) in 1997, and a full album of The Misunderstood's later material under the name of "The Misunderstood: Broken Road" (CDM RED 147) in 1998.
Recently, in 2004, Ugly Things
Ugly Things
Ugly Things is a music magazine established in 1983, based in La Mesa, CA. Editor is Mike Stax, born 1962, England. It covers mainly 1960s Beat, Garage rock, and Psychedelic music...
Records (USA) issued another full album of previously unreleased tracks named The Lost Acetates 1965-1966, that received International media coverage.
A motion picture screen play (The Misunderstood: WGA 977444) about the Band and Rick Brown's adventures was written by Rock Historian, Mike Stax (Editor of Ugly Things
Ugly Things
Ugly Things is a music magazine established in 1983, based in La Mesa, CA. Editor is Mike Stax, born 1962, England. It covers mainly 1960s Beat, Garage rock, and Psychedelic music...
Music Magazine) in 2002, and is under revision.
A novel: "Like, Misunderstood" - based on the script was published in October 2007.
Musical recognition
- In his "Peelenium" (Greatest Songs of the 20th Century) John PeelJohn PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
lists Brown's song, I Can Take You To The SunI Can Take You To The Sun"I Can Take You To The Sun" is a psychedelic rock song that was composed and recorded by The Misunderstood at Philips Studio in London in 1966...
for 1966. - Record Collector Magazine's book, "100 Greatest Psychedelic Records", list I Can Take You To The SunI Can Take You To The Sun"I Can Take You To The Sun" is a psychedelic rock song that was composed and recorded by The Misunderstood at Philips Studio in London in 1966...
as the number 6 song. - Mojo Magazine April 2009 - "I Can See For Miles: A-Z" lists The Misunderstood for "M".
- June 11, 2010 Classic Rock Magazine named The Misunderstood as #18 in their list of "Cult Heroes".
Recent activities
Gemological Institute of America
The Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, is a nonprofit institute dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology and the jewelry arts. Founded in 1931, GIA's mission is to protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones by setting and maintaining the standards used to evaluate...
(GIA). Brown's book Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans received the "1996 Benjamin Franklin Award" from the Publishers Marketing Association (PMA). He is currently working as a gemologist and jewelry designer in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
for the popular brand, Astral Gemstone Talismans.
Published books
- Richard Brown (1975). Sri Chinta Mani. Astro Jewels Co. Bangkok, Thailand.
- Richard S. Brown (1982). Handbook of Planetary Gemology. AGS Inc., Laguna Beach, California.
- Richard S. Brown (1988). Handbook of Planetary Gemology II, Mckinney Intl., Hong Kong.
- Richard S. Brown (1995). Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans. AGT LTD. ISBN 974-89022-4-2
- Richard S. Brown (2000). Astral Gemstone Talismans Designs 2000. AGT LTD. ISBN 974-87630-5-6
- Richard S. Brown (2002). Astral Gemstone Talismans 2002. AGT LTD. ISBN 974-88562-9-1
- Richard S. Brown (2003). VOOM Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-07-1633-4
- Richard S. Brown (2004). Six Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-91395-7-7
- Richard S. Brown (2005). Sri Chintamani Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-07-1643-1
- Richard S. Brown (2006). Akash Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-93383-9-1
- Richard S. Brown (2007). Mangala Navaratna Collection. Hrisikesh Ltd. ISBN 974-07-1853-1.
- Rick Brown & Mike Stax (2007). Like, Misunderstood. UT Publishing, USA. ISBN 0-9778166-1-3.
- Richard S. Brown (2007). Ancient Astrological Gemstones & Talismans - 2nd Edition. Hrisikesh LTD. ISBN 978-974-8102-29-0
See also
- NavaratnaNavaratnaNavaratna is literally a Sanskrit compound word meaning "nine gems".-Royal setting:The ancient origin of the 9 Gems—called Navaratna in Sanskrit, Hindi, Burmese, Indonesian, and Nepalese, Navarathinam in Tamil, Navarathnalu in Telugu,Navarathnam in Malayalam, Navaratne in Singhalese, Nopparat in...
- JyotishaJyotishaHindu astrology , also Jyotish or Jyotisha, from Sanskrit , from "light, heavenly body") is the ancient Indian system of astronomy and astrology...
- GemologyGemologyGemology or gemmology is the science dealing with natural and artificial gems and gemstones. It is considered a geoscience and a branch of mineralogy...
- A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
- Swami Bon Maharaj