Rob Ayling, yer Gonzo Grande Fromage, writes:
"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Thom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth and Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied within seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not?"
SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS
Whether it be the jaded drug journey epic EASY RIDER
or the anarcho-surrealism of DR.STRANGELOVE or THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN,
our lives have been altered by the satiric Satryicons of Terry Southern.
Whether it be the debauchery of CANDY,or the journalism of GROOVIN IN CHI
or the sharp sparks of FLESH &FILIGREE-or his screenwriting in BARBARELLA /CINCINNATI KID
Terry was employed by Esquire,Rolling Stone,Yale University and Saturday Night Live.
He is on the cover of SGT.PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND(between Poe and Faulkner)
He traveled with The Rolling Stones when they recorded EXILE ON MAIN STREET,
and his short story THE ACCIDENT began the first issue of THE PARIS REVIEW.
He hung out in Paris with Henry Miller and Samuel Beckett.He was also close friends with Ringo Starr.
His pre-Gonzo journalism of first person witness/narrative(post Stephen Crane/Norman Mailer)
was evidenced in GROOVIN IN CHI and FLESH &FILIGREE and his short stories and satire.
From the tradition of Baudelaire and Voltaire,among contemporaries Joseph Heller ,Thomas Pychon & Kurt Vonnegut,
who was the one who read his funeral eulogy when drugs,drink and debt ended his stories at 71.
"My aim is not to shock-but to ASTONISH!"..And he did.And still does..
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