Wrote the book NAKED LUNCH Ahead of his time-worth looking up on the web.Just wondering do sign your posts' with che guevera quotes because you believe what he stood for or because it's cool to have his likeness on clothing.I'm old enough to remember him,dude may have had a rightous
cause but used violence to advance cause.This makes him no different than other groups or countries that use violence.
Is that a Burroughs-Quote ? I remember that line from a Steely Dan song. Actually I think, this IS a Steely Dan song.
But Fagen and Becker are pretty literate anyway, so it wouldn't be surprising.
Wasn't Burroughs in a U2-Video shortly before he died ? "Staring at the sun" from "Pop" ?
Never read anything from him, but would really like to. Is "Naked Lunch" a good start ?
I recommend Bukowski, by the way.
A friend of mine stayed with Burroughs on his ranch in Kansas a couple of years before he died. He was a hunchback by then.
David Bowie and Burroughs did a joint interview and photo session for Rolling Stone in 1974, and Bowie cited him as a big influence on his writing, especially the 'cut up' technique
kleinhond wrote: David Bowie and Burroughs did a joint interview and photo session for Rolling Stone in 1974, and Bowie cited him as a big influence on his writing, especially the 'cut up' technique
Know it's off topic, but didn't Bowie only use the 'cut up' technique for the lyrics on some of his albums (most obviously on that year's 'Diamond Dogs')?
Burroughs was in U2's video for Last Night On Earth. Parts of the video were shot in nearby Kansas City, not far from Burroughs's home outside Lawrence, Kansas.
Bowie's not used cut ups on all his albums, that's true, but Diamond Dogs (which he was recording when he met Bill for the first time), Heroes, Lodger and Outside did, among others
Any major dude is a song by Steely Dan.The name Steely Dan comes from Burroughs novel Naked Lunch.In the novel, steely dan is the name of a dildo.Don & Walt went to Baird together.Good jazz chops and a technicolor motorhome.I have read some ealy reviews and the we're Dubbed Two librarians on acid.Queen Rocks!
tymd wrote: Any major dude is a song by Steely Dan.The name Steely Dan comes from Burroughs novel Naked Lunch.In the novel, steely dan is the name of a dildo.Don & Walt went to Baird together.Good jazz chops and a technicolor motorhome.I have read some ealy reviews and the we're Dubbed Two librarians on acid.Queen Rocks!
Ah yeah, the dildo-thing, I read that some time ago. Now I see the connection.
Librarians on acid - great quote ! I luv'em, only discovered them 2 years ago and now have every´record. Quite rare combination of witty cleverness and killer-grooves.
The book is waaaay better!
Burroughs has been a major keyfigure in especially the Beatnik-writers flow. (And my favourite US writer of all time) His themes were drugs (a lot of HEAVY drugs!) and homosexuality. Most of his writing is all about the influence of drugabuse on the human psyche. The way he writes... Well, it's not easy to explain, but I always like to think of his books as sort of 'Trainspotting'-the movie in literary form. Very black humor on very serious problems.
And let's not forget his huge influence on the gay-community in the USA!
Musically, yes he was a friend of both Lou Reed and David Bowie, with whom he did as said photosessions and split interviews and stuff. He has been an influence in some way on a lot of rock n roll stars. (Because of his modern, ahead of his time opinions). And, ah yes, the U2 video...
In a way he was a sort of a rockstar. For example, like mentioned, he's one of the few writers who's image is on hip t-shirts.
For some music try to find 'The Priest They Called Him', a collaboration of Burroughs-lyrics ánd voice and Kurt Cobain-composition and guitars.
Anyway: he's dead!
Recommanded reading (in order!):
-Naked Lunch (arguable his best, his best known and his most comprehandable work)
-Junky
-Queer
Not by Burroughs himself but very very interesting work about Burroughs and his work (Mainly a study OF his work with lots and lots of parts of his works presented in full and put into context): 'Word Virus', the William Burroughs Reader (Forgot the writers' names... have to look at home)
(And please note while reading, that all his writings are autobiographical for a very very great part)
BUT: I agree this should be in the personal section cause I can not see any link between Burroughs and Queen (though I would find it a probability that bookworm Brian has at least read sómething by him...)