"Louie Louie," recorded by the Kingsmen, began climbing the pop charts 60 years ago. It's a song almost everybody can recognize, but almost nobody understands the words to. And even fewer people know ...

RASCOE: "Louie Louie," recorded by the Kingsmen. Almost everybody knows it, but almost nobody can understand the words. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOUIE LOUIE") THE KINGSMEN: (Singing, inaudible). RASCOE: ...

Our 14-year-old recently spent his summer lawn mowing money on a used electric guitar, which is a good thing because it keeps him away from the Internet, the devil's playground. He has learned only ...

Left to right: Norm Sundholm, Lynn Easton, Dick Peterson, Mike Mitchell, and Barry Curtis of the touring version of the rock and roll band "The Kingsmen" perform onstage in 1964. (Michael Ochs | ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. THE KINGSMEN: (Singing, inaudible).

The Kingsmen's enduring recording of the song turns 60 this year, and remains a classic, in part because of its dramatic history. 'Louie Louie': The story behind the song everyone knows but no one ...