Phil Ochs was the ‘The Prince of Protest’ in the 1960s. A genuine rival to Bob Dylan, Ochs was the archetypal Greenwich Village topical songwriter. 

 

This edition of On Track provides a valuable insight into an idealistic artist who created songs of rare beauty and power with an authentic political punch. 

 

As Phil's career progressed, his lyrics and music becoming more poetic and sophisticated though he never lost sight of his cause. Towards the end of the sixties he joined with the Yippies in protest against the Vietnam War. But idealism became Phil’s downfall as he could see no point in continuing if he was unable to make the world a better place. 

 

Phil lost all hope and descended into depression, which, along with excessive alcohol consumption, led to his suicide in 1976. Shortly before he took his life, Phil asked his brother if he thought anyone would listen to his songs in the future. Sixty years later, here we are still listening. The songs of Phil Ochs are as relevant as they ever were.

 

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Opher Goodwin is the author of many books on rock music and science fiction and taught the first 'History of Rock Music' classes in the UK. He was fortunate to spend the sixties in London, the epicentre for the underground explosion of rock music and culture, where he was able to see everyone from Pink Floyd, Hendrix and Cream to The Doors, Captain Beefheart and Roy Harper. He now lives happily in East Yorkshire, UK.