You may recall the rock band "Steely Dan," out of New York in 1971. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen named the group after the strap-on dildo featured in William S. Burroughs' novel "Naked Lunch," published on 11/20/1962. And if I thought that Bill Senior looked kind of "Beat" when I met him, (ha ha), I wasn't prepared for Bill Junior! I was sitting in my kitchen at home in Santa Cruz one night, and there's a knock on the door. It was Billy Junior, with only a sleeping bag and a gallon of red wine in his hands. He had just hitchhiked out from Denver, (I still don't know how he found me), where he had just received a liver transplant! (One of the first in History! Burroughs' money, I suspect). He came in and said, "check it out." He lifted his shirt to reveal a HOLE in his right side! I almost hurled. I said, "sit down, Billy, but I don't think the wine is such a good idea." He said, "why not? I can always get another liver!" So, being the gracious host that I was, we drank at the kitchen table for about 3 weeks, until one morning I drove him down to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, where he died. (His bio says that he died in Florida, but I'll never forget taking him into the ER, with the doctors kind of shaking their heads, so who knows?). Born in Conroe, TX, to a heroin-addicted father, and an alcoholic mother, one Joan Vollmer, who was also addicted to Benzedrine, Bill Jr. had a rough upbringing, but he still managed to publish his novels "Speed," and "Kentucky Ham." For those who want to know more about "Billy," (doubtful, but) I recommend "Cursed From Birth: The Short, Unhappy Life of William S. Burroughs, JR." (Paperback. 10/1/2006. $16.95 on Amazon). Fare Thee Well, Billy Boy, JC
I met William Seward Burroughs only once. It was at a "Beat Convention, or "Beat Gathering," or "Beat Reunion," or something. (You get the Idea). It was held at the Civic Auditorium and Convention Center in Santa Cruz, CA, around 1980 (?). My memory about dates in Time is suspect. Probably due to all of that "clean living" that I did in the '60s, ha ha. Bill was a speaker, as was my mom, Carolyn. After the conference, we all went over to the Cooper House on Pacific Avenue with some other guests and Bill bought us all a round of drinks. His grandfather was, after all, the inventor of the Burroughs adding machine, so Bill could afford to party. Bill was born 2/5/1914, in St. Louis, MO. Died 8/2/1997, in Lawrence, Kansas. Aged 83. That's a pretty good run for all that he had been through. Before I run out of room here, I'm going to post this, then tell you the story about Bill Jr. It'll curl your whiskers! JC
Hi John – I also met WSB once. I thought you might've seen him more often. Would it be fair to say that Burroughs and your father did not get on so well?
A teardrop explodes McClure was my friend colleague and mentor who introduced me to Kesey Brautigan and Neal Cassady and Bob Kaufman. San Francisco was a melting pot of acid dreams. Congratulations Leon Horton for Corso book and keep rocking the Casbah
I did love the Teardrop Explodes and the linked Mersey gang. Even knew Julian Cope for a while. Was once sitting in the window of the great Armadillo restaurant in Mathew Street and Julian saw me and came to say hello. Good times.
You may recall the rock band "Steely Dan," out of New York in 1971. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen named the group after the strap-on dildo featured in William S. Burroughs' novel "Naked Lunch," published on 11/20/1962. And if I thought that Bill Senior looked kind of "Beat" when I met him, (ha ha), I wasn't prepared for Bill Junior! I was sitting in my kitchen at home in Santa Cruz one night, and there's a knock on the door. It was Billy Junior, with only a sleeping bag and a gallon of red wine in his hands. He had just hitchhiked out from Denver, (I still don't know how he found me), where he had just received a liver transplant! (One of the first in History! Burroughs' money, I suspect). He came in and said, "check it out." He lifted his shirt to reveal a HOLE in his right side! I almost hurled. I said, "sit down, Billy, but I don't think the wine is such a good idea." He said, "why not? I can always get another liver!" So, being the gracious host that I was, we drank at the kitchen table for about 3 weeks, until one morning I drove him down to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, where he died. (His bio says that he died in Florida, but I'll never forget taking him into the ER, with the doctors kind of shaking their heads, so who knows?). Born in Conroe, TX, to a heroin-addicted father, and an alcoholic mother, one Joan Vollmer, who was also addicted to Benzedrine, Bill Jr. had a rough upbringing, but he still managed to publish his novels "Speed," and "Kentucky Ham." For those who want to know more about "Billy," (doubtful, but) I recommend "Cursed From Birth: The Short, Unhappy Life of William S. Burroughs, JR." (Paperback. 10/1/2006. $16.95 on Amazon). Fare Thee Well, Billy Boy, JC
That is some story, John. What a tragic existence Billy Jr. rendured. A crazy life, a death all too soon.
I met William Seward Burroughs only once. It was at a "Beat Convention, or "Beat Gathering," or "Beat Reunion," or something. (You get the Idea). It was held at the Civic Auditorium and Convention Center in Santa Cruz, CA, around 1980 (?). My memory about dates in Time is suspect. Probably due to all of that "clean living" that I did in the '60s, ha ha. Bill was a speaker, as was my mom, Carolyn. After the conference, we all went over to the Cooper House on Pacific Avenue with some other guests and Bill bought us all a round of drinks. His grandfather was, after all, the inventor of the Burroughs adding machine, so Bill could afford to party. Bill was born 2/5/1914, in St. Louis, MO. Died 8/2/1997, in Lawrence, Kansas. Aged 83. That's a pretty good run for all that he had been through. Before I run out of room here, I'm going to post this, then tell you the story about Bill Jr. It'll curl your whiskers! JC
Hi John – I also met WSB once. I thought you might've seen him more often. Would it be fair to say that Burroughs and your father did not get on so well?
A teardrop explodes McClure was my friend colleague and mentor who introduced me to Kesey Brautigan and Neal Cassady and Bob Kaufman. San Francisco was a melting pot of acid dreams. Congratulations Leon Horton for Corso book and keep rocking the Casbah
I did love the Teardrop Explodes and the linked Mersey gang. Even knew Julian Cope for a while. Was once sitting in the window of the great Armadillo restaurant in Mathew Street and Julian saw me and came to say hello. Good times.
Fabulous Madchester - Leon is in good company
Wow.
I'll try. I have to sit down a lot more these days.
‘I Can’t Stand Up for Sitting Down’ to misquote Elvis 🤔😐
Do you need images for David Winters or shall I leave it to you as always