Francisco Bay Area, performing in community centers, clubs, political rallies, and colleges. As the band's music was intended for education and promotion of the Black Panther Party, the band's members were made to intensely study history and politics. The Lumpen also put on shows for the Temple of the Son of Man, which was a non-denominational spiritual center run by the Black Panther Party. San Quentin prison concert One of the highlights of The Lumpen's career was a concert in San Quentin prison with Muhammad Ali and Curtis Mayfield which was organised by journalist Belva Davis. The Lumpen began their concert with their version of Curtis Mayfield's song "People Get Ready", before moving onto The Lumpen's song "Free Bobby Now" and "Ol' Pig Nixon". However, during the fourth song, "Revolution is the Only Solution" the prison guards ended the concert after taking note of the lyrics. The Lumpen band member Saturu Ned recalled the moment the prison guards stopped the concert:"All of a sudden, the mics went dead. The guards had pulled the plug. They cut our mic and said, 'You're not gonna sing anymore, or we're gonna end this concert and we're gonna send the prisoners back.' So Curtis came out, and Muhammad Ali was back there just busting up. 'They didn't let y'all sing, huh? Well, I guess I'm gonna have to get out there and tell the truth anyway.' I never will forget that." 1971 East Coast tour The band began a tour of the East Coast of the United States with Emory Douglas in late 1971, beginning with a "kick-off concert" at Merritt College with a packed audience. The Lumpen played at both fundraisers and colleges in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, New York City, Boston, New Haven, and the Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention. During their 1971 East Coast tour, The Lumpen played near a prison in New Haven where black political prisoner Bobby Seale was being imprisoned. They played to an angry and threatening crowd. Band member Saturu Ned recalls the incident: "They threatened us in New Haven, [but] we said, 'Oh, well. We might not get another opportunity to consistently say this.'"A live recording of the tour was made however the album was never released and the master tapes were lost and are now considered Lost media. Later work and disbandment After returning to Oakland from their 1971 East Coast tour, The Lumpen began performing throughout California.