Rock and soul legend Lester Chambers, who was attacked by a racist fan at a blues festival in California on July 13, thinks marijuana should be legalized.
After dedicating "People Get Ready" to Trayvon Martin at the fest in Hayward, California, a woman climbed on stage and shoved the 73-year-old singer/harmonica player over. He needed to be hospitalized. "I was asking for peace," Chambers said. "The verdict hadn't even been read yet… I've never ever in my life been so shocked and traumatized as that."
Chambers' attacker, Andruws Potter, told him that "he started all of this" and called him a motherfucker several times. She was wrestled to the ground by band members and arrested by police, who charged Potter with suspicion of battery and then released her.
Several years ago, Chambers told Eric Brenner of the California Marijuana Report, "I support marijuana legalization and hope everyone who benefits from it can obtain it without problems."
The Chamber Brothers came out of the folk-gospel scene of the early '60, evolving into a unique hybrid of rock & roll and rhythm & blues. They're best known for the psychedelic masterpiece, "Time Has Come Today," sung by Lester, which peaked at No. 11 in 1968. The group split up in 1972. Chambers moved from Los Angeles to New York, where he became a fixture on the local music scene.
