Name: Arthur Lee and Love; Occupation: Los Angeles acid rock band and their cult leader

Rock status: First multiracial rock band of psychedelic era, 1965 to 1971

Where, when and why in York in 2004: Fibbers, on Sunday, June 28, for filler date on Love's summer tour itinerary. At an after-show party, Love's manager had mentioned to Mike Harrison, manager of York band The Yards, how Arthur Lee was looking for small-scale venues to fill gaps on tour. Harrison suggested Fibbers, wheels were set in motion, and now this will be the summer of Love in York

What is special about Love?: "Love's music has been a life-long addiction for me," enthuses rock monster Alice Cooper.

"Arthur Lee and Love is what your mind feels, but what your mouth never gets around to saying," expounds English singer Robyn Hitchcock. Lloyd Cole name-checked "listening to Arthur Lee records" on Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken. Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett and Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant have sung Love's praises; so too have Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Ian Brown and The Coral

What is special about Love, Arthur? "Variety is the spice of life, and God gave me a talent to be able to use any kind of music I choose," boasts singer/guitarist Lee, whose band cut a psychedelic swathe through acoustic folk, electric blues-rock, symphonic pop and jazz-tinged balladry

Band history: Formed by Arthur Lee (born Memphis, Tennessee, 1944); co-lead singer/songwriter Bryan Maclean; John Echols, guitar; Ken Fossi, bass; Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer, drums, keyboards. Key albums were Love (1966), Da Capo (1967) and their darkly unsettling masterpiece, Forever Changes, (1968)

Forever changing: Later albums, with changed line-up, were Four Sail (1969); Out Here (1970) and False Start (1971). After 1972 solo set Vindicator, Lee re-convened new version of Love for Reel To Real (1975) and reunited with Maclean for Love Live (1980).

Who has covered Love's songs?: The Hooters, She Comes In Colors; The Damned, Calexico, Alone Again Or; Alice Cooper, Billy Bragg, 7 And 7 Is; Mazzy Star, Five String Serenade. In 1994 Alias Records released We're All Normal And We Want Our Freedom: A Tribute To Arthur Lee And Love, featuring Urge Overkill, Teenage Fanclub etc

Anything negative?: Lee has suffered problems with drug abuse and alcoholism in the past. In 1996, he was given 12-year sentence for illegal possession of firearm

Love is all around: In 1990s, Lee toured with The High Llamas and Shack (leading to Live In Liverpool album in 1992). Resurg-ence of interest in back catalogue prompted Rhino/Elektra to re-release first four albums; Forever Changes has sold of 40,000 copies in Britain since re-launch. Lee has had comeback tours in 2002, 2003 and this year, sometimes presenting Forever Changes as a complete work with string and horn sections. Last November, he performed on BBC2's Later With Jools Holland

Latest album: Forever Changes Live, on CD and DVD, 2003

Tickets for Love in York: £16.50 in advance on 0870 9070 999; £18 on door.

Updated: 16:19 Thursday, May 20, 2004