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Over the years, the F.B.I. has
conducted a wide variety of rather unusual investigations.
Created in 1908 under the United States' Department of Justice
department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation gathers information
about potentially dangerous activities in order to protect
the safety of the American citizens. As with any research
project, time is spent gathering data that may or may not
be useful. The process of proper investigation demands comprehensive
research, an acute eye for detail, patience in dealing with
complicated subjects, and an intelligent approach in evaluating
the results of the data.
The F.B.I. has spent many hours
investigating subjects that seem completely irrelevant by
today's standards. Sex lives of celebrities were monitored
by government-paid voyeurs, all under the auspices of national
security. Entertainers with political beliefs counter to the
status quo were routinely harassed, while the crimes of corporate
theft went undetected.
Very few F.B.I. efforts could
compare with the Louie Louie investigation.
Under the auspices of "ITOM,"
a federal law prohibiting Interstate Transportation of Obscene
Material, "Louie Louie" was investigated by the F.B.I. to
determine whether the song was actually obscene. Spurred on
by naughty notes from teenagers that claimed to know the "actual
lyrics," concerned parents contacted government authorities
to see what could be done to restrict distribution of this
controversial rock song.
In the mid 1960s, many people
considered this subject a very serious matter. Rock and roll
was considered a subversive movement, and governor Matthew
Welsh of Indiana actually used his powers to restrict airplay
of this song. Of course, all of this controversy helped spur
more record sales, as teenagers rushed to the record store
to buy the record that shocked, or at least confused their
parents. It was no accident that the extra notoriety contributed
to the popularity of "Louie Louie" as one of the greatest
party songs of all time.
 In
1984, I petitioned the F.B.I. for information on the Louie
Louie investigation, using the Freedom of Information Act.
When Dave Marsh wrote his book on the Louie Louie phenomena,
he acknowledged me as the original source for bringing these
papers to the public.
The F.B.I. investigation of the
song, which took over two years, uncovered very little relevant
information. Despite a lengthy investigative process that
included repeating listenings of the song at different speeds,
and interviews with author Richard Berry, and members of Kingsmen,
the study could find no evidence of obscenity. In fact, the
bureau came up with the conclusion that the song was "unintelligible
at any speed."
The Louie Louie F.B.I. Files
are a curious document to behold. Names are blacked out in
this odd collection of paperwork, giving an appearance of
Dadaist art manifesto that makes absolutely no sense. There's
an assortment of imaginary lyrics, actual lyrics, copies of
record labels, letters from concerned parents, and government
forms filled out by lowly F.B.I. agents that were probably
asking themselves "Why am I investigating this stupid little
song, anyways?"
Deciphering this collection is
something of a puzzle that few people would want to indulge
in. Casual readers would probably be better served by tracking
down Dave Marsh's out-of-print LOUIE LOUIE book, which summarizes
some of the basic elements of the investigation into simple
English.
For those interested in a copy
of this investigation, what I offer from LouieLouie.Net is
an archival collection of notes that duplicate my correspondence
with the F.B.I. and their subsequent response; a total sum
of approximately 140 pages This is something strictly for
the serious collector, archivist, or scholar that wants a
definitive document of the F.B.I. investigation. Media professionals
that want to use these papers for a television show, documentary,
radio broadcast, or other public showcase will pay a higher
price.
My motives for the somewhat high
price are not greed, but merely adequate compensation. For
many years, I have dedicated a significant portion of my life
researching this subject, and have accumulated many expenses
in the production of the documentary. While I understand there's
little I can do to restrict copies of documents that I've
obtained from government agencies, what I offer is a specially-bound,
limited-edition collection direct from the person that initially
petitioned for it's public release. Autographed inscriptions
are available upon request.
By purchasing this material,
you agree to provide proper credit to Eric Predoehl and LouieLouie.Net.
If this material is to be referred to in any manner, be television
show, news program, magazine article, newspaper column, radio
show, internet website, or any other media outlet readily
available to the public, you agree to provide the proper credit
to the original source - "F.B.I. Files courtesy of Eric Predoehl
& LouieLouie.Net."
To purchase a bound copy of the F.B.I. files, go the
LouieLouie.Net merchandise page.
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