Various (Bukowski, Charles; Baldelli, Giovanni; May, John; Kent, Nick; Sanjines, Jorge et al.)

Frendz No. 24 (April 28, 1972)

London, England, UK: Echidna Epics LTD., 1972. First Edition. Folded Sheets. “Any complaints concerning this issue should be addressed to the Grateful Dead, Kinney Records. Yes, folks, it’s all their fault that this has been the most stoned-out, doped-up, deep-spaced, gone-freaked week-long weekend in the history of our time. They made practically everyone forget about practically everything. Not only that but your Catmother correspondent, Janja Banana, had a birthday party that must have made a fortune for jelly manufacturers everywhere. Address any complaints about that to Formentera where they will be gratefully recycled. And as if that wasn’t enough, we’ve found seven rich, liberal dwarfs who are going to pump enough bread into our ailing coffers to make certain that Frendz remains your favorite ug tabloid magazine. Did someone notice the sun come out then? Juicy.”--Masthead. Friends/Frendz Magazine was launched in London in winter 1969 as a direct result of the closure of the short-lived UK edition of Rolling Stone Magazine. It was first published by Alan Marcuson in December 1969 as Friends of Rolling Stone. Later it was retitled Friends and, from May 1971 became Frendz. Friends was closely connected with the UK underground media such as London Oz magazine and Time Out, and had many contributors who were part of the London counterculture and avant-garde scene in the 1960s. These included Barney Bubbles (1942-1983), Pennie Smith (b. 1949) and Charles Radcliffe (1941-2021). The magazine ceased publication in August 1972 (after which it, again, became Rolling Stone UK). Offered today is the April 28th, 1972 issue, Frendz No. 26. This issue features: an excerpt from Diary of a Dirty Old Man by legendary poet-vagabond Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), with points in Debritto, B629, pg. 228; an entire page spread titled “Panther Page” which features a number of small pieces and the ten-point program of the White Panther Party U.K., the English branch of the famous Sister organization to the Black Panther Party, originally founded by John Sinclair (1941-2024) in the U.S.; a number of book reviews including a review on Social Anarchism (1970, written by Giovanni Baldelli) by Luxembourg Lucie, and The Ruined Map (1967, written by Kobo Abe) by John May; a series of film reviews by Nick Kent, including Blood of the Condor (1969) a revolutionary Bolivian film by Jorge Sanjines (b. 1936) about the Bolivian revolution & La Hora DeLos Hornos/The Hour of the Furnace (1966) the incredible Argentinian film about colonialism, revolution, and the overthrow of imperialism; and of course the Continuing Adventures of Harold Hedd, the gonzo, anti-establishment, cornucopia of the surreal cartoon by Rand Holmes (1942-2002), the legendary Canadian artist and underground comix pioneer among many other great contributions! From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the legendary American-expatriate poet, publisher & bookseller). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item No.s 8217, 8366). 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 which is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining gems of Unicorn & Public House such as this. Third Mind Books is proceeding to reverently curate & incrementally present the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy that is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. Large-format newspaper. First & only printing. In relatively very fine cognition with only minor wear to fine edges, and slight discoloration/spotting due to age-toning throughout. Very Fine. [Item #8467]

Price: $60.00