Friday, November 13, 2009

Billboard Toots
2 minimovies


video

video

Thursday, November 12, 2009

scratch card

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

'boy dolls kiss kiss (try a little tenderness)' drawing from beat generation ballads sequence

Monday, November 02, 2009

ENGLISH PUNK BALLAD

1977 was year job nut. National Front invade Lewisham. Johnny Rotten beaten up by teddy boys. William Burroughs sends good on yer telegram to Sex Pistols for topping UK hit parade with 'God Save the Queen'. Rockin' Records in Maple Road Penge had copies if Woolworths did not. Colin sold Sniffin Glue and autographed copies of Patrik Fitzgerald's 'Safety Pin Stuck in My Heart' EP with 'Screaming and Shouting (like a kid gone wrong)' track. Pete the factory girl could dance to this.

Peter Butler was an Elvis fanatic. Fan as fanatic. Pete didn't come to work at Holdsworth the day Elvis died. He began an Elvis archive of voice, image, name - self-publishing unique homemade books. Elvis photographs, press cuttings, line drawings reproduced on 1977 photo-copiers. Elvis, king of rock and roll. Elvis, last and first king. Twelve-tablet epic of Lasluz Laserlee. Twelve-ballad epic of Elvis Presley.

In 1970s epic of Gilgamesh President Richard Nixon is troubled King who meets wild half-bull Elvis Enkidu and they become brothers-in-arms as Mesopotanian gods decree. Not later Elvis in comic book superhero jewel-encrusted Vegas jump suit. Elvis young 1950s animal with sideburns.

Gilgamesh and Enkidu return from House of Shadows to great-walled city of Uruk. Return to Graceland. Ann-Margret plays Shamat, priestess of Ishtar.

In the next 25 years Peter was to self-publish two photocopied collections of his writings and poetry; make DIY Elvis books and artworks; contribute to rock 'n' roll fanzines, international Elvis Monthly features; Chinese poetry magazines (one had work by Rod Mengham in it) and write hundreds of letters to Elvis fans from Texas to Tehran.

from beat generation ballads sequence

Friday, October 30, 2009

PAPERBACK WRITER

During the fall of 1962, before second Pan books' printing in England of On the Road with William Eichel backcover photo of Kerouac, American beat writer William Lee gathered together his typescripts and cut-ups for Nova Express.

Lee'll finish his science fiction novel in London. Protagonist anti-hero British-based Scotland Yard nova cop 'Inspector J. Lee'. Writing agent up against cosmic terror. Imagery 1920s Henry Miller and 1930s Lester Dent pulps. Doc Savage villains with terrifying psychic powers.

Lee juggled his time since 1960 between America, Paris, London and Tangiers.

Flight from Washington DC checked in London Airport midday cold March 1963. The writer had spent most of Sunday afternoon with immigration officials, convincing them he was in UK to write and broadcast, not sell narcotics.

"Been clean since 1959. Need to make a call if that is permitted, gentlemen."

Lee'd made literary and arts supporters in Blighty after previous problems applying for UK visitor status. Macmillan's government was in terminal crisis.

"Mr Fixit will have a word with Brooke, Bill."

One telephone call to the Home Office from Arnold Fixit and Lee is given three-month permit to stay.


from beat generation ballads sequence

Monday, October 12, 2009

Billboard Toots


Thursday, October 01, 2009

Two linked poems sharing short 'penned in the margin haiku moment' from beat generation ballads:


Tears in the Fence
casual reading issues -
thirty-four to thirty-eight


Bob Dylan's New Morning LP
moonlight on a frozen
theme-timed lake