William S. Burroughs

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The line that's drawn from linear to experimental and back to linear

with the wisdom of lateral thinking all steeped in a life that melded

sound, text and visuals in a life of desperation - whether alone or with collaborators -

had that unmistakable Burroughs stamp that even overrode Gysin's contribution

to the artform of the cut-ups. Singularly important and aggressively individual in tone.

That's right, for my money. "Junkie" is a great documentary book. The other stuff OUGHT to be total rubbish, but it speaks, even the stuff with Byron Gysin. And the humour that 7/4 (was it 7/4?) pointed out comes through clearly and frequently.

Am I dying, mister.

MG

[7/4]

And the humour that 7/4 (was it 7/4?) pointed out comes through clearly and frequently.

Sounds like something I'd say.

[Joe]

Though I don't read him much (or at all) any more, WSB is, after Twain, probably the most important satirist America has ever produced.

http://vispo.com/cgi-bin/wonder/cutup/cutup.cgi

[Dave Garrett]

(vaguely recall an interview with Steely Dan, where they say the got their band name from naked lunch but hadn't read the whole book either)

Steely Dan was a dildo.

A milk squirting dildo, to be exact!

A steam-powered, milk-squirting dildo!

[clifford_thornton]

You know, his property in Lawrence, KS bordered a friend's backyard.

Even after he died, apparently the "caretaker/archivist" still had people over to, you know, shoot things off of peoples' heads and eat pizza.

[7/4]

Might as well put those guns to use!

.

[7/4]

[David Ayers]

You know, his property in Lawrence, KS bordered a friend's backyard.

I've been there. What a day that was.

[AllenLowe]

best writing is the early stuff. I'm not a big fan of Naked Lunch et al.

Also, I think his son, William Burroughs Jr, was a MUCH better writer.

[jazzbo]

I met Burroughs at the University of Chicago in '75 (I think it was '75). He and Ginsburg were visiting and reading from their work (or singing in Ginsburg's case). Afterwards at a "sherry hour" at our dorm tower students were able to talk with them. Few did, so I screwed up my courage and asked some questions. Burroughs was pretty quiet. Eerie guy.

[7/4]

Burroughs was pretty quiet. Eerie guy.

yikes! cool story...