They say that the teen brain is not yet fully formed. That’s probably the reason we thought it was a good idea in 1970 to drop acid, drive into New York City from Newark, and go see Pink Floyd at the Fillmore while tripping. On the way there, we smoked some opiated hash. We had a tough time negotiating the circle coming out of the Holland Tunnel and we almost mistakenly headed back to Jersey. As we were going around and around, we stopped to ask a fellow longhair directions and a huge plume of smoke exited the car when we opened the window. We somehow parked yet one of us fainted on the line to get in.

I seem to remember the opening acts were The Woody Herman Big Band and Linda Ronstadt. Pink Floyd was touring in support of its Ummagumma album. We were hoping to see Syd Barrett who wrote and sang their Beatlesque hit “See Emily Play” but he had already left the band to be replaced by the unctuous Roger Waters. We were “peaking” when they went into “Careful With That Ax, Eugene.” Ten minutes of mellifluous organ music made us mellow…until the scream. I knew the scream was coming but I guess I forgot about it. Upon the scream, I freaked out, bolted out of my cheap seat in the balcony, and ran outside. I continued to run, hyper-ventilating, sweating, profoundly tripping, and ducked into a club. It was jazz club Slugs.

I leaned against a wall and figured I was hallucinating when I saw a guy on the small stage with three saxophones in his mouth at the same time and blowing a flute through his nose. Then they kicked me out.

That was my introduction to Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He is this month’s “Jersey History” subject. Also this issue, old-school show-biz legend Tony Orlando opens up his voluminous scrapbook with us as we go “Up-Close.” Heavy metal hero Ed Fuhrman of Hades shares The Ultimate Guitar Practice Guide in “Jersey Bookshelf.” There’s five new videos in “Visual Sound,” two months of shows in our “Calendar,” plus “Events,” news and, of course, “The Hot 100,” 100 songs from 100 artists.