Three years before Stonewall, there were the Sunset Strip riots, where teenagers led the battle against the police. Hit with bully clubs and banned from listening to music, LA teenagers fought for acceptance, for love... And for gay rights.

Being gay was taboo in 1966. Even the hipster burger join Barney's Beanery had a sign up saying Faggots Stay Out. It had been there since 1953. LA's teenagers wanted to fight social taboos. They wanted freedom. For all.

Taris West moves to Los Angeles on November 12, 1966, the very day of the Sunset Riots. Taris, his brother, and cousin, who make up a band called Go West, find themselves in the middle of the street fight between teenagers and police. Although Taris is an eyewitness to the riot taking place on the corner of Sunset and Laurel Canyon, he is also eager to explore the mythic hills that are the home to many music legends.

Soon he’s rubbing shoulders with Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Frank Zappa, Sonny and Cher, to name a few. There’s also a slightly mysterious former Air Force officer named Winter, who’s moved to Laurel Canyon to pursue his own musical fortune. Winter is incredible, but he also has a weirdo roommate who puts off everybody he meets. There’s also something strange going on in Winter’s Laurel Canyon house. Somebody keeps bumping and scraping in the middle of the night and a mural above his bed keeps getting additions as Winter and Taris sleep.

Can these two broken men find acceptance, or even love, as history evolves right in front of their eyes? Can they make music together? And what about the burning civil rights issues of the day? Can a little canyon help mend bridges across the universe?

As Frank Zappa often said, “Laurel Canyon is freaky, man.”

This book has been previously published. It has been edited and revised for republication.