Various (Wenner, Jan (Editor); Burroughs, William S.; Cassady, David; Green, Robin; Palmer, Robert; Thompson, Hunter S. et al.)

Rolling Stone No. 108 (May 11, 1972, UK Edition)

San Francisco, CA: Straight Arrow Publishers, 1972. First UK Edition. Folded Sheets. “William Burroughs lives in a sparsely-furnished flat near Piccadilly, in London. The neighborhood is comfortable, but Burroughs works and lives with a minimum of encumbrances: typewriter, table, plain chairs, bed, books, a cassette machine. Brion Gysin, Burroughs’ friend and long-time collaborator, lives upstairs in surroundings that include Moroccan rugs, a few of Brion’s paintings of Marrakesh and the desert, a stereo, two Uhres, and an extensive library of sounds which Brion records in Morocco. It’s a quiet place for a man who has made some of the biggest waves in contemporary literature: from the early autobiographical ‘Junkie’ through the influential ‘Naked Lunch’ and early experimentation with psychedelics, lightshows and the surreal cut-up writing technique.” (Robert Palmer, Rolling Stone, p. 34) This wide-ranging interview between long-time music journalist Robert Palmer and both William S. Burroughs [1914-1997] and Brion Gysin [1916-1986] touches on two pieces of immense importance to this bookstore: The Third Mind and Ali’s Smile. Within the lengthy conversation, Burroughs discusses infrasound in music and experiments with projections, on the establishment/anti-establishment dichotomy, pop music, his writing, giant black centipedes, control systems, Mayans, and more. Palmer is clearly a fan, and even name-drops his own band, The Insect Trust, as it was inspired by Burroughs' work. Done in 1972, not too long after Ali’s Smile was released by Unicorn Books, Burroughs discusses Scientology and E-meters and how he was now critical of their “reactionary policies” (though this interview is not a part of the Ali's Smile: Naked Scientology collection) He also obliquely refers to the book when asked about soundtracks going with books. “I had not thought of that. I think that is a very brilliant idea, because people have put out books with a record. I even did that, but the record simply consisted of a spoken tape of the book, which in this case was a short book.” We highlight these references for two reasons: our release this week of the Holy Grail of Burroughs, the original Ali’s Smile with accompanying recording [see item 8217]; and due to their connection with this piece’s provenance, as it comes from the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed friend in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton. Both Burroughs and Gysin discuss their collaboration on The Third Mind, which at this point was still in conception and would not be published until 1977; they discuss here the difficulties in getting the project published. (Maynard and Miles, E36, p. 206) (Schottlander, C345, p. 69) This issue also includes a Hunter S. Thompson political piece, a lengthy feature on David Cassiday by Robin Green (with accompanying shirtless photos of Cassiday) music reviews, contemporary ads, and more. A valuable companion piece to Ali’s Smile due to its unique provenance. From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published some of the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles. After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House Bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining treasures of Unicorn & Public House, some of which have become the stuff of myth. Beginning with today's assortment of New Arrivals exclusively dedicated to this collection, Third Mind Books will reverently curate & present incrementally the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy that is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. Large format, bi-fold tabloid newspaper. First Edition. In relatively Fine condition with moderate staining and smudging to leaves, some chipping to loose side, with a small tear to the outside centerfold. Age-toning of leaves throughout. Fine. [Item #8214]

Price: $200.00