Pranksters carry on Ken Kesey’s bus saga

Daily Emerald

April 10, 2006

The Nouveau Roadies of the Prankster Stage appeared on campus on the bus Further to promote the band the New Riders of the Purple Sage, which was playing at Taboo on Monday.
Joined by friends, Ken Kesey’s son, Zane, and grandson, Caleb, rode around town talking, yelling and singing over the bus’ speaker system through microphones and headsets.
Further is a new form of Ken Kesey’s bus, the adventures of which are chronicled in Tom Wolfe’s 1968 book “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.”

Clockwise from center, Zane Kesey, John “Magic Swan Dog” Swan, Jon Sebree, Greg Sale, Taylor Davie, Karlee Anderson, Liz Babbs and Ken Babbs pose in front of Further.

The roof was usually occupied by John Swan, also known as “Magic Swan Dog,” Caleb, Liz Babbs, and her friends Karlee Anderson and Taylor Davie. Babbs’ father, Ken Babbs, was best friends with Ken Kesey, Liz said.
Swan, who started touring with Kesey in 1985, said the last trip the Pranksters took was to Las Vegas in October to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Acid Test.
The group welcomed anyone who wanted to join the group onto the bus.

John Swan, who asked to be called Magic Swan Dog, disembarks the bus Further to resume his post as co-pilot on the roof of the bus. He graduated from the University in 1987.

Most onlookers smiled and waved, but a few simply looked down as they shook their heads.
Zane said the bus would drive around “as long as the excuse lasts,” but after returning to Taboo and seeing that the New Riders of the Purple Sage had arrived, the group disembarked to continue the party inside.