It was 1972 when I first heard of Compendium Bookshop in London. I was 21. [I was saving hard for a first trip to the USA]. In love with my idea of America and I’d not long discovered Jack Kerouac. [Thanks to Mr. Smith at evening classes and my pal Mart Postlethwaite, we shared…
Author: Kevin
Beat Scene First Words
DEAREST ROGER – The Letters of Brion Gysin to Roger Knoebber – these letters span the years 1962 -1984. Intimate, revealing documents, carefully annotated by Demi Raven. 125 numbered copies in the regular Beat Scene Press chapbook series format – 8″x5″ inches. THANK YOU to all those who purchased a copy. The edition sold…
Beat Extras
Just heard that the English performer Heath Common has died aged 69. Heath made a string on albums in recent years, much of it centred around members of the Beat Generation. A memorable track, for me at least, is WHY TRUCK DRIVERS RISE EARLIER THAN STUDENTS OF ZEN, a take on the Gary Snyder poem….