Alice Brock, Inspiration Behind Arlo Guthrie’s "Alice’s Restaurant Massacree," Dies at 83
Early Life and Career
Alice May Pelkey, better known as Alice Brock, was born in New York City and grew up to be a lifelong rebel. She was a member of various organizations, including Students for a Democratic Society. In the early 1960s, she dropped out of Sarah Lawrence College and moved to Greenwich Village, where she married Ray Brock, a woodworker.
Meeting Arlo Guthrie
Guthrie, son of folk musician Woody Guthrie, first met Brock around 1962 when he was attending the Stockbridge School in Massachusetts and she was the librarian. They became friends and stayed in touch after Guthrie left school, when he would often stay with the Brocks at their converted church residence.
The Inspiration Behind "Alice’s Restaurant Massacree"
On Thanksgiving Day, 1965, Guthrie and his friend, Richard Robbins, were helping the Brocks throw out trash, but ended up tossing it down a hill because they couldn’t find an open dumpster. Police charged them with illegal dumping, briefly jailed them, and fined them $50. This seemingly minor offense had major repercussions, as it led to Guthrie’s avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War and the creation of his iconic song, "Alice’s Restaurant Massacree."
The Song and Its Legacy
By 1966, Alice Brock was running The Back Room restaurant in Stockbridge, and Guthrie was a rising star. His breakout song, an 18-minute talking blues, recounted his arrest and its consequences. The chorus, a tribute to Alice, has become a holiday classic: "You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant / You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant / Walk right in it’s around the back / Just a half a mile from the railroad track / You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant."
Later Life and Legacy
Alice Brock continued to run restaurants, including three different establishments, although she would later acknowledge she didn’t initially care much for cooking or business. She wrote a memoir, "My Life as a Restaurant," and collaborated with Guthrie on a children’s book, "Mooses Come Walking." At the time of her death, they had been discussing an exhibit dedicated to her at the Guthrie Center, which serves free dinners every Thanksgiving.
Conclusion
Alice Brock’s legacy is immortalized in Arlo Guthrie’s iconic song, "Alice’s Restaurant Massacree." Her life was marked by her rebellious spirit, her passion for social justice, and her enduring friendship with Arlo Guthrie. Her death at 83 is a loss felt by all who knew her and loved her music.
FAQs
Q: What was the inspiration behind "Alice’s Restaurant Massacree"?
A: The song was inspired by a series of events, including Alice Brock’s arrest for illegal dumping, which led to Arlo Guthrie’s avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War.
Q: What was Alice Brock’s relationship with Arlo Guthrie?
A: Alice Brock was a lifelong friend and inspiration to Arlo Guthrie, who wrote the song "Alice’s Restaurant Massacree" in her honor.
Q: What was the significance of Alice’s Restaurant?
A: Alice’s Restaurant was a real restaurant in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where Arlo Guthrie and his friends would often gather. The restaurant became a symbol of the counterculture movement and a hub for social activism.
Q: What is the Guthrie Center?
A: The Guthrie Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Woody Guthrie and his son, Arlo Guthrie. The center serves free dinners every Thanksgiving and hosts various cultural and educational events throughout the year.
