Bob Rosenthal Interview (On Photography) – 1

August 27, 2018Simon Pettet

[Bob Rosenthal and Allen Ginsberg – Photo: Brian Graham]

Continuing and concluding our series of interviews regarding Allen-the-photographer

John Shoesmith interviews Bob Rosenthal

Bob Rosenthal first met Allen Ginsberg in the mid-1970s, when he and his wife helped the poet secure an apartment in the New York City building where they were then living. He started doing some part-time work for Ginsberg in 1977, eventually becoming his fulltime secretary in 1979, a job in which he remained until Ginsberg’s death in 1997. Often referred to as Ginsberg’s “right-hand man,” his main role was to handle the increasing amount of administrative … Read More

Barry Farber Interview – 6 (continues)

April 22, 2018Simon Pettet

[ Carl Solomon, Allen Ginsberg and John Tytell are shown here at Allen’s Cherry Valley Farm. Photo: Mellon Tytell]

“You’re making some sort of Cold War problem when what I’m saying is that the problem is ecological”  (Allen Ginsberg to Barry Farber, 1976) –

The Allen Ginsberg-Barry Farber conversation continues.

BF: Allen, when you got out of that plane, being kicked out of Prague, you wrote (“Kral Majales”)… Did you know you were going to write a poem before you got to London? AG: No.. I always carry a notebook with me. Like, I’ve got one now, just … Read More

Friday’s Weekly Round-Up – 359

March 30, 2018Simon Pettet

[Carl Solomon at home in the Bronx, 1991 – Photo: Allen Ginsberg, courtesy Stanford University Libraries]

Today, Friday March 30th. is Howl dedicatee, Carl Solomon‘s birthday. For last year’s Carl Solomon posting (“Remembering Carl Solomon”) – see here)

It’s also the anniversary of Rimbaud‘s lover, the poet, Paul Verlaine‘s birthday.  (For a posting on Verlaine’s “Chanson d’Automne” – see here)

And, while we’re on the subject of anniversaries – Our dear friend Bob Creeley died on this date thirteen years ago. Much missed, thinking of you, Bob.

David S Will’s Beatdom continues to deliver challenging A.G. … Read More

Remembering Carl Solomon

March 30, 2017Simon Pettet

[Carl Solomon (1928-1993) – Photograph by Allen Ginsberg]

DREAM OF CARL SOLOMON

I meet Carl Solomon.                                                                                                                        “What’s it like in the afterworld?”

“It’s just like in the mental hospital.                                                                                                    You get along if you follow the rules.”

“What are the  rules?”

“The first rule is: Remember you’re dead.                                                                                         The second rule is: Act like you’re dead.”

 – circa 1996 from Wait Till I’m Dead: Uncollected Poems Grove Press / Penguin UK 2016

Carl Solomon would have been 89 years old today

Previous Carl Solomon postings on The Allen Ginsberg Project  here, here and  here, (and a Carl Solomon … Read More

Studs Terkel Radio Interview – Part 6

September 15, 2016admin

[Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in Water Moon Form (Shuiyue Guanyin) Liao Dynasty (907-1125), 11th Century  (willow with traces of pigment,  woodblock construction), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York]

Studs Terkel’s 1959 interview with Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and a taciturn Peter Orlovsky (courtesy PennSound) continues
ST: So in other words you believe in compassion ? (or) you’re afraid of that word too?
GC: Compassion is a beautiful word.
AG: I’m in favor of compassion in other people.
GC: That’s compassion for Gregory.
ST: But you feel you are not..  Now are you putting.. Is this a façade?
AG: I … Read More

Studs Terkel 1959 Radio Interview – Part 5

September 14, 2016admin
Studs Terkel‘s 1959 radio interview transcript (courtesy PennSound)  continues. See previous transcripts here, here, here and here

ST:  While the discussion goes on in the background. I was trying to whisper to the audience that I think there’s a seriousness and semi-seriousness, but we’ll see if you can sort of discern the chaff from the wheat.

AG:  No, I’ll talk over him (Gregory Corso)., I’ll talk over him. Now, the end of the poem [“Howl”] – which is where – “I’m with you in Rockland”, (which is a bug-house). I’m saying, “I sympathize, I … Read More

Carl Solomon’s Birthday

March 30, 2015admin

 

Carl Solomon – dedicatee of “Howl” –  We recently posted a poetry-prose reading by him (from 1982)  and see also on the Allen Ginsberg Project our birthday salutes to Carl here and here.  Born in the Bronx on March 30 1928, he would have been eighty-seven years old today had he lived – thinking of you, Carl

                        
[Carl Solomon – Photograph(s) by Allen Ginsberg  – c, The Estate of Allen Ginsberg]

… Read More

Carl Solomon and Jack Micheline

March 14, 2015admin

Carl Solomon and Jack Micheline this weekend on the Allen Ginsberg blog.   The occasion is the 1982 Jack Kerouac Conference at Naropa These two Beat luminaries were among many notable figures gathered in attendance. Their reading is available (with introduction by Al Aronowitz and supplementary introductions by Allen) –  here 

Al Aronowitz, pioneer of rock journalism

[Al Aronowitz (1928-2005]

Allen Ginsberg:  (approximately eighteen minutes in) – “We have the distinguished introducer, Al Aronowitz here, who introduced me to Bob Dylan and introduced Bob Dylan to The Beatles and also introduced The Beatles to grass (this is Al Aronowitz) – as well as introducing the American public … Read More

Gerd Stern – 2

October 20, 2014admin

Gerd Stern

[Gerd Stern]

Gerd Stern‘s vivid memories – from  From Beat Scene Poet to Psychedelic Multimedia Artist 1948-1978. The complete text is available on-line from the University of California  

 

“So I came and saw him [my father], and he dragged me to my uncle the doctor. My uncle supposedly discovered I had some kind of a problem with my kidneys. They put me into  the hospital. After the hospital, they made me go see a psychiatrist who was a friend of  my uncle. The psychiatrist says to me, “Look, I can’t help you because your father can’t afford to pay … Read More