Power, Passion and Beauty

Starting in 1971 and lasting in one form or another for five years, the Mahavishnu Orchestra exploded onto the popular music scene while simultaneously trashing all existing conventions, forging a new direction that is still controversial to this day. The loudest and fastest band in the entire world, the MO literally could 'scare' people - yet also could create music of great beauty. All five members of the original band: John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman and Rick Laird cooperated with the author.