by Lewis Carroll
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


It's obvious when you watch the film footage of NOVEM that Dan Cook, better known to NOVEM fans as Dan “the Doobie Man,” did an amazing job working with the raw talent that was NOVEM in 1973. Thanks to their music and Alan's film footage, “the Doobie Man” has become one popular dude on college campuses.

As far as we can tell, Dan was a brilliant producer and engineer who worked at Dark Horse for Mark Winstead's uncle, John Cody. Based on his amazing guitar solo in Peace of Mind, he apparently was a frustrated rock and roller as well!

His version of Jabberwocky, Lewis Carroll's 19 th century poem, is one of the most talked about scenes from the film footage. Click here to see it.

But Dan's supply of pot is what earned him the name Dan “the Doobie Man.” It really kept several NOVEM members “loose” and “far out” during the recording sessions.

We recently found Dan living in a nursing home in Nashville, Tennessee. Unfortunately, because of a stroke, he was unable to communicate with us. His son did help us visit with him. It was a moving experience for us. His son did mention that his dad became a recluse shortly after NOVEM died, illustrating children's books for cash. During this period, he also was arrested several times for growing and smoking the devil weed.

What else would we expect from Dan “the Doobie Man!”?