Cut Ups and Drones Updated

8/10/2019 Cut Ups and Drones Updated

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/cut-ups-and-drones-updated 1/35

CUT-UPS AND DRONES

DAVID BEALES



Copyright 2014 David Beales

ISBN 978-0-9574614 7-5







I the seveties! "e#ore the iteret! yo$ had to "$y! "e give!

or "orro% a re&ordig o# '$si&( I# yo$ o%ed a re&ord it "e&a'e a treas$red possessio( )$si&ias o loger have to

so$r&e ideas "y listeig re&ords over ad over agai or

%at&hig '$si&ias play live( Be#ore the iteret! 'eetig

other '$si&ias %as o#te part o# the so&ialisatio that

a&&o'paied dr$g $se( I a' ot advo&atig or apologisig #or

dr$g $se "$t it %et o ad is asso&iated %ith ro&* '$si&( I

the early seveties tho$gh the $'"er o# registered addi&ts had

levelled o$t #ro' the i&rease at the ed o# the si+ties! the$'"er o# dr$g sei,$res had i&reased( here %ere 2000

addi&ts i treat'et the! there are 200!000 today( Dr$g $sig

'$si&ias had to so&ialise at so'e poit eve i# it %as .$st to

spea* to a dealer( Dr$g dealers %o$ld prey o '$si&ias

"e&a$se they had 'oey! #or stat$s! ad they li*ed the '$si&

%hi&h %as o#te a so$dtra&* to dr$g $se( /%ay #ro' the ro&*

&o&erts there %as a rit$al to s&orig that had its o% eti$ette(

/ 'a.or ro&* star 'ay e+pe&t a dealer to &all i perso "$t #or

'ost str$gglig '$si&ias "$yig dr$gs 'eat a visit to the

lo&al dealer( Dr$g $se o&&$rs at all ho$rs "$t dealers ted to "e

late risers( hey %o$ld $s$ally e+pe&t yo$ to phoe #irst( &e

a &$sto'er %as at the dealers it 'ay "e a&&epta"le to as* #or

the dr$gs i''ediately ad it 'ay eve "e a&&epta"le #or the

deal to ta*e pla&e soo a#ter arrival "$t it 'ay "e &osidered

r$de ot to share so'e o# the dr$g %ith the dealer! ad a "rea&ho# proto&ol that &o$ld i#l$e&e #$t$re deals( aother

o&&asio the dealer 'ight "e "$sy ad he 'ay hit #or the

&$sto'er to leave i''ediately i %hi&h &ase it %o$ld "e

&osidered r$de ot to ta*e the hit( So yo$ &a see ho%

a%*%ard the dealer &$sto'er relatioship &a "e( /other

dealer 'ay &osider it to "e $&ool #or a &$sto'er to &o'e

right o$t %ith a re$est #or dr$gs( e 'ay get a *i&* o$t o#

5



'a*ig hi' %ait! ad 'ay e+pe&t &oversatio #irst! %hi&h

they "oth *o% &o$ld i#l$e&e the deal depedig ho%

#avo$ra"ly ay i#or'atio is re&eived( So'e ti'es the&oversatio %ill t$r to '$si& ad here the &$sto'er '$st "e

a%are o# the dealers taste i '$si& ad "e &are#$l to praise or

po$r s&or o the right '$si&ias( here 'ay "e a e+&hage

o# trivia or '$si&al ideas( he dr$g $sers %ill pro"a"ly have

so'e &oe&tio %ith the %orld o# ro&* '$si& eve i# they

oly "$y re&ords or atted &o&erts( 3or a dealer ay

&oe&tio %ith a '$si&ia is good #or "$siess( he dealer

'ay %ish to sho% o## a re&ord he has "o$ght ad the &$sto'er 'ay #eel o"liged to roll a .oit or t%o %hile they liste to so'e

'$si&( I# the &$sto'er ad the dealer are '$si&ias there 'ay

"e a e+&hage o# '$si&al ideas(

&e the dr$g $ser has s&ored it 'ay "e that he %ishes to $se

his dr$gs i the &o'pay o# other dr$g $sers( hese other dr$g

$sers 'ay "e the oly a$die&e #or so'e '$si&ias %ho %ill

ever re&ord pro#essioally or play i #rot o# a payig

a$die&e( his eed ot re#le&t o their a"ility( /gai there

%o$ld "e a e+&hage o# '$si&al ideas! a &ha&e to lear

te&hi$es ad share i#or'atio( It is ot $reasoa"le to

e+pe&t so'e o# this i#or'atio to travel(

I spet the s$''er o# 197 i a s$at %ith so'e hippies at

Bro%hill oad i Cat#ord( here %as aother s$at $p the

road at B$rt /sh ill that %as a old i&toria &ode'ed "$ildig( he I visited oly t%o hippies %ere at ho'e! they

%ere o the top #loor( e o# the hippies %as &alled Bo"! ad

he %as tryig to 'a*e sese o# %hat %as o&e a *it&he( he

other! ete! %as &leaig a s$are #oot o# a hopelessly dirty

&arpet %ith a tooth"r$sh "e&a$se Bo" had a&&$sed hi' o#

la,iess( ete %as &osidered to "e a a&id &as$alty! so'eoe

%hose 'id had "ee irrepara"ly a##e&ted "y SD( )ost o# the

6



lo&al hippies &alled hi' :3ar $t; ete( B$t his &oversatio

%as ratioal! i# his a&tios %ere a little strage( ete did ot

li*e to &lai' the ho'eless perso;s "ee#it he %as etitled to(<id hippies! =%hatever happeed to the'>! too* hi' i ad

#ed hi' ad i ret$r he %o$ld .$st &reep a"o$t $ietly s'ilig

o&&asioally( e %o$ld hide "ehid the so#a i# the hippies had

a televisio! "$t ot "e&a$se he %as #righteed o# the

progra''es? he %as #righteed o# the rays e'ittig #ro' the

s&ree( he he did &olle&t his 'oey! "e&a$se hippies &o$ld

ot al%ays a##ord to #eed hi'! he "o$ght a "ig sa&* o# #lo$r( e

%o$ld 'a*e "read! "$t istead o# $sig yeast he %o$ld piss ithe #lo$r 'i+! li*e so'e "a*ers did "e#ore they dis&overed

yeast( he the hippies %o$ld "e o"liged to s$pply hi' %ith

yeast! or "a*e &hapattis( ete had le#t a t$" o# %hole'eal #lo$r

i the $pstairs *it&he at B$rt /sh ill( he other hippie %as

%orried a"o$t rats( :hey;re oly o$tside they do@t &o'e i

the ho$se( I &o#ir'ed that I had see rats o$tside( ete

s$ggested I go $p to odo ad 'eet illia' B$rro$ghs(

Bo"! a vetera o# the British hite ather arty! i''ediately

sapped that B$rro$ghs %o$ld ot "e iterested i 'e( Bo"

%as also #a'iliar %ith the Dilly! he %as a e+-.$*ie %ho %as

re&overig i the s$"$r"s ad hoped to .oi a &o''$e i the

&o$try( ippies %ho 'ade the pilgri'age to ;he Dilly; do

ot $s$ally do %ell or ed $p shootig $p %ith illia'

B$rro$ghs( Shae )a&Ao%a des&ri"es the Dilly a&&$rately i

his sog he ld )ai Drag! %here he tells o# the #ate o# ret "oys o $ial! ad a *i&*ig #ro' the $sy'patheti& poli&e(

Bo" %as right! it %as good advi&e ad soo a#ter that I de&ided

to go "a&* to 'y parets( here %as dr$g ta*ig i the hippy

s$ats! so'e o# it re&*less! ad I de&ided to give art therapy a

go( I had heard that it &o$ld help yo$ re&over #ro' the dr$g

s&ee! tho$gh I did ot *o% aythig a"o$t it( B$rro$ghs ad

Bo%ie %ere patriar&hs o# &reativity i "ohe'ia so$th odo(

7



Nearly everyoe it see's had tried to read so'ethig "y

B$rro$ghs( It %as ot oly ol*ie! )ervy ea*e! ad

the I Chig o the hippie;s "oo* shelves(I early Septe'"er 197 ay visited 'e at 'y parets %ith

laie( She had "ro% hair! ot $ite sho$lder legth( ay

*e% ro&* siger ad g$itarist eter errett( I those days eter

errett %as a dealer %ho sold &aa"is ad had started a "ad!

the &alled glad;s Alory! %ho %o$ld "e&o'e "etter *o%

%he they &haged their a'e to the ly es( ay had "ee

itrod$&ed to eter errett! ad his %i#e ea! "y his heroi

$sig #rieds! ida ad Barry( eter ad ea errett hadspet a %ee*ed %ith o$ eed %he they shared rehearsal

spa&e at Ederhill st$dios i Aree%i&h i $ly 1972! %here

David Bo%ie had rehearsed his Spiders #ro' )ars i 1971(

o$ eed %or*ed %ith David Bo%ie %ho prod$&ed his

tras#or'er ! i 1972! a re&ord ay %o$ld play to 'e %he I

visited hi' at his paret;s &o$&il ho$se i St )ary Cray( ay

told 'e that laie *e% David Bo%ie( )y paret;s ho$se %as

t%o roads a%ay #ro' the ho$se i Irvie ay %here David

Bo%ie too* sa+ophoe lessos o the advi&e o# his step "rother

erry B$rs( It %as erry %ho s$ggested the yo$g David

telephoe oie oss! the sa+ophoist o&e &osidered the

#iest "aritoe sa+ophoist playig i the est d( It has "ee

said that other sa+ophoists %o$ld %ait o$tside the &l$"s i the

hope o# hearig hi' thro$gh a ope %ido% i# they &o$ld ot

a##ord the pri&e o# ad'issio( oie oss had to$red i a "ad s$pportig the )oder a,, F$artet( erry gave his &opy

o# the )F;s 3otessa to David Bo%ie the still David

oes( Besides re&ordig i his solo (( ;Cleopatra;s Needle!

oie oss %et o to "e&o'e a sessio '$si&ia! re&ordig

as oe o# :he Sessio )e; (;s o# &over versios o# the

Beatles ad o' oes( )ore #a'o$sly he played the

sa+ophoe solo at the ed o# o$ eed;s :al* o the ild

8



Side;( oie oss &harged G2 per lesso! ad David Bo%ie

stopped ta*ig lessos #or three 'oths! he had leart to play

the sa+ophoe %ell eo$gh to .oi a "ad( I re'e'"er a lo&al piao tea&her! )iss $'phries! tellig 'e that she &harged te

shilligs! o% #i#ty pe&e! #or a lesso "$t i# a %ated to lear

.a,,! I &o$ld go to oie oss do% the road( he elderly

%o'a said this la$ghig ad %ith so'e &ote'pt(

laie as*ed 'e %hat I did( I told her that I had paited ad

%rote ad that I %ated to go to &ollege to st$dy art( laie

as*ed to see 'y %or* %hi&h I hid $der the "ed i 'y paret;s

ho$se( I rea&hed $der the "ed ad p$lled o$t so'e s&raps o# %ritig ad paitig that I hoped %o$ld "e the start o# a

port#olio that %o$ld get 'e ito art &ollege( So'e o# 'y %or*

%as e+peri'etal( I had "ee tryig to 'a*e sese o# the &$t-

$ps te&hi$e( :C$t-$ps; is the a'e o# a %ritig te&hi$e

$sed "y illia' B$rro$ghs %ho %as give the idea "y Brio

Aysi( /&&ordig to B$rro$ghs the idea is to ta*e so'e

%ritig! ay %ritig ad &$t the page ito #o$r ad the

rearrages the %ritig to 'a*e e% sese( here are variatios

o this the'e! ad variatios o the $se to %hi&h this e+er&ise

i e+peri'etal %ritig is p$t( It &a "e tailored to prod$&e

poetry! des&riptive or eve arrative prose! paitig a pi&t$re i

%ords! evo*ig a pi&t$re %ith every phrase to the s$s&epti"le(

It has "ee &lai'ed that the res$lts &a "e propheti& i the sa'e

%ay that a &rystal "all or arot &ards are! s&ryig %ith %ords

#or a gli'pse ito the #$t$re(illia' B$rro$ghs %as %ell a%are that teeage "oys %ere

readig his "oo*s ad de&idig that %as the li#e #or the'( hat

%as the the'e o# his "oo* :he ild Boys;( he ild Boys o#

the ailroad is a #il' a"o$t teeagers i the depressio %ho

le#t ho'e to #id #ort$e o the railroads o# /'eri&a! "$t

B$rro$ghs; ild Boys %ere 'otivated "y the rallyig &all to

re.e&t the #a'ily $it( here is o do$"t that illia'

9



B$rro$ghs %as a e+&eptioal ad proli#i& %riter( I# yo$ had to

a'e a %riter %ho %as a 'aster o# his &ra#t! %ho &o$ld 'a*e

%ords da&e o a page the B$rro$ghs %as yo$r 'a( B$t I%oder i# those %ho praise B$rro$ghs; %or* o a literary level

realise ho% 'aip$lative he &o$ld "e( is gei$s %as

a&&o'paied "y a i&orrigi"le ad &os&io$sly a'oral

persoality( is heroes are the Ispe&tor ee type ad a teeage

"oy to help hi' de#eat a a'eless ee'y( B$rro$ghs too* $p

$ite righteo$s &a$ses %he he &o$ld have settled #or 'ore

pop$larity! ad to his &redit he stood $p #or the rights o# addi&ts

ad gay 'e( erhaps too '$&h 'ay "e 'ade o# his ti'e i)oro&&o! %e %ill ever *o% %hat e+a&tly %et o %he the

&ele"rity artists visited i the #i#ties ad si+ties! I thi* that

'ost o# his real parters %ere a"ove the age o# &oset "$t he

did ad'it to li*ig teeage "oys ad 'ay #id that

$a&&epta"le(

I 197 illia' B$rro$ghs %as still livig i D$*e Street! a

&o$ple o# h$dred yards #ro' i&&adilly Cir&$s %here

predatory gay 'e %o$ld pay to have se+ %ith :ret "oys; %ho

%ere $s$ally addi&ts %ho %ated 'oey #or dr$gs( /s a

teeager i the early seveties it %as heart"rea*ig to hear a

#ried tell yo$ that they %ere goig or had "ee :Ep the Dilly;(

I %as ho%ever aHve %he it &a'e to readig illia'

B$rro$ghs? loo*ig "a&* it is o"vio$s %here %hat his iterests

%ere( I %et o$t %ith a do&tor;s da$ghter %hose $&le had

lived %ith illia' B$rro$ghs i the otel )$iria i)oro&&o( B$t her 'other said the less said a"o$t hi' the

"etter( I %as itrig$ed "y the &$t $p ovels! ad #o$d the %ord

e+peri'ets evo&ative( I had read a"o$t the &$t-$ps i a

$dergro$d e%spaper "$t the 'ethod %as ot 'ade &lear i

the arti&le( idde #a&ts %ere apparetly gleaed #ro' the

rearrage'et o# rado' phrases "y tappig ito the

s$"&os&io$s( a 'ore pra&ti&al level illia' B$rro$ghs

10



$sed this te&hi$e to re%or* 'aterial he %as ot happy %ith(

By $sig the &$t-$p te&hi$e a %riter &o$ld rearrage %ords at

rado' .oiig #rag'ets #ro' di##eret sete&es to #or' ae% arrative( I this %ay B$rro$ghs %o$ld so'eti'es %eave

the %ords o# other %riters ito his o%! li*e a 'ore

sophisti&ated versio o# the parlo$r ga'e &ose$e&es(

laie %ated to *o% 'ore ad I prod$&ed the res$lt o# 'y

o% e+peri'ets? so'e s&raps o# paper o a #ood tray that I

have hidde $der 'y "ed! a #e% dra%igs ad so'e poe's!

so'e o# %hi&h had "ee disse&ted lie "y lie( laie as*ed 'e

to e+plai #$rther( I des&ri"ed the pro&ed$re( I had read a"o$tthe &$t-$ps "$t did ot $derstad B$rro$ghs ad Aysi;s

des&riptio so I iveted 'y o% variatio( I too* a poe' &$t

the poe' ito strips! lie "y lie! ad rearraged the' at

rado'( :It;s s$pposed to give a e% 'eaig to %hat I;ve

%ritte!; ad 'etio B$rro$ghs; a'e so as ot to ta*e all the

&redit sho$ld the e+peri'et %or*( B$t it %as ot a etirely

s$&&ess#$l de'ostratio! I read a #e% lies! a &o$ple o#

sete&es see' to itera&t "$t I #elt $easy ad as I %as p$ttig

the tray "a&* $der the "ed said that they 'ight "e alright as

lyri&s( I %as too e'"arrassed to e+plai ay #$rther( I did ot

%at to %rite %ords that that &o$ld "e $derstood ad

re'e'"ered easily( I those days i# yo$ "o$ght a re&ord yo$

%o$ld have to liste to it over ad over( It %o$ld have to stad

the test o# ti'e! stad $p to repeated plays( he re&ords that

ed$red %ere the oes that did ot 'a*e i''ediate sese! i# ever( illia' B$rro$ghs &$t-$ps see'ed to led the'selves to

poetry ad i t$r sog %ritig( o$ &o$ld read &$t-$ps over

ad over ad tho$gh they &o$ld "e evo&ative %itho$t 'a*ig

'$&h sese( I #o$d that the re&ords that I $derstood

&o'pletely! ho%ever %ell %ritte teded to "e&a'e tedio$s

a#ter a %hile( It %as the sa'e %ith 'elody( / si'ple pleasat

'elody is delight#$l! "$t there are oly so 'ay ti'es I &o$ld

11



liste to the sa'e sog( I %as iterested i atoal '$si& "$t ot

i# it %as too a&ade'i&( his %as $ite a radi&al idea at the ti'e!

years "e#ore the No ave '$si& that #reed ro&* #ro' str$&t$rei the sa'e %ay that 3ree a,, li"erated .a,, '$si&ias #ro'

the Be-Bop ad )oder a,, at the ed o# the #i#ties( I

re#raied #ro' tellig laie the theory I had arrived at ad

havig shared 'y literary e##orts! I hoped 'y g$ests to 'a*e

their e+&$ses ad leave! "$t laie had 'ore $estios ad I

started to #eel p$t o the spot( She as*ed %hat I iteded to do

e+t( I %as s$rprised she %as iterested( I started to say

%hatever &a'e ito 'y head! ;I %at to ta*e so'e 'oredr$gs;( :I %at to see aother "ad;( I told her that I had see

the Arate#$l Dead at e'"ley( :/ythig elseJ; she e$ired

ad so I said :&o''it s$i&ide;! $i&*ly addig that I %as .o*ig

ad did ot eve *o% ayoe %ho had &o''itted s$i&ide!

%hi&h at that ti'e %as tr$e( I added that ay did! "$t the loo*

i his eyes idi&ated that laie %as ot goig to "e i'pressed

"y the story he had told 'e o# the #ello% #ro' St )ary Cray

%ho dressed i "la&*! %as ito %it&h&ra#t! ad had .$'ped to

his death a#ter listeig to the #irst elvet Edergro$d

$der the i#l$e&e o# SD(

Co'plaiig that his #as %ere &oti$ally pesterig hi' "y

&allig at addo all i Nove'"er 197 David Bo%ie 'ove

o$t reted a #lat i )aida ale! the 'oved to a reted ho$se i

Chelsea( here %ere other reasos to leave the area? he hadsee his "est #ried Aeorge Eder%ood ad his step "rother

erry B$rs set to Cae ill! ad had told his %i#e /gie that

he #eared #or his o% saity( I the sa'e 'oth a 'eetig %as

arraged #or David Bo%ie ad illia' B$rro$ghs "y Craig

Copetas! %ho %or*ed #or ollig Stoe 'aga,ie( hey 'et i

odo( Bo%ie had apparetly read e+t to othig o#

B$rro$ghs; %or* "$t re#erred to a &hapter o# ;Nova +press;!

12



&alled :ay Color:! a des&riptio o# the #$t$re that des&ri"es

;eople City; ad ;he S$"li'ial <id;( /#ter 'eetig illia'

B$rro$ghs! havig "ee dis&o$raged "y Soia r%ell #ro'#ollo%ig his /laddi Sae %ith a '$si&al adaptatio o#

Aeorge r%ell;s 1984 David Bo%ie loo*ed to illia'

B$rro$ghs; ovel he ild Boys #or ispiratio( David Bo%ie

started to read the ild Boys! so'eti'es o$t lo$d to his ier

&ir&le o# #rieds at his #lat( e assi'ilated illia' B$rro$ghs

visio o# the ear #$t$re 'ergig it that o# r%ell;s 1984(

Bo%ie;s %as a"o$t to re&ord his ;Dia'od Dogs; (( %hi&h

starts %ith a des&riptio o# ;$ger City; set i the ear #$t$re(ho$gh they did ot dis&$ss the &$t-$p te&hi$e i a tras&ript

o# their 'eetig p$"lished i ollig Stoe 'aga,ie! "y

sprig David Bo%ie &o$ld "e see i the re&ordig st$dio %ith

his lyri&s ad a pair o# s&issors( e eve posed %ith s&issors #or

a p$"li&ity photograph(

By the early seveties B$rro$ghs $se o# the &$t-$p style that

had appeared dra'ati&ally over his si+ties ovels! he So#t

)a&hie! he i&*et that +ploded! Nova +press! %as

"egiig to r$ its &o$rse( Syd Barrett had re&orded his :ord

Sog; o# apparetly rado' #ree asso&iated %ords( I the early

seveties Do a liet! Captai Bee#heart! the ro&* siger

ad '$si&ia! &lai'ed to $se a "ag o# %ords( /yti'e that he

eeded a e% %ord #or a sog he said he %o$ld p$ll oe o$t o#

the "ag( I 1922 rista ,ara &a$sed a riot at a S$rrealist rally

"y &reatig a poe' "y p$llig rado' %ords #ro' a hat( DavidBo%ie %as a"le to itrod$&e literary i#l$e&es to pop$lar

'$si& raisig the itelle&t o# his %or* #or his 'aily yo$g

a$die&e(

I 1974 i /la eto";s do&$'etary ;Cra&*ed /&tor;! David

Bo%ie des&ri"ig ho% he does his &$t $ps! says(@I do@t *o%

ho% illia' B$rro$ghs does his &$t-$ps! "$t this is ho% I do

'ie@( David Bo%ie the goes o to de'ostrate ho% he

1



applied the &$t $p te&hi$e to the lyri&s #or his sog @S%eet

hig@! &$ttig a poe' or lyri&s ito strips! hori,otally! lie "y

lie! the very sa'e pro&ed$re that I had de'ostrated to his#ried i 197( I started to %oder i# laie had passed o 'y

versio &$t $ps to David Bo%ie or %hether he arrived at a

si'ilar &o&l$sio( ho$gh David Bo%ie has "ee a&&$sed o#

stealig ideas ad has ad'itted this hi'sel#! ho% he arrived at

the 'ethod is ot i'portat( I 1972 he ollig Stoes $sed

their versio o# the &$t-$ps 'ethod to %rite Casio Boogie! #or

their :+ile o )ai Street;( I do;t *o% %he David

Bo%ie "e&a'e #riedly %ith )i&* agger! "$t %he he "e&a'es$&&ess#$l he so&ialised %ith other ro&* stars( e had dier

%ith )i&* agger at the Ca#K oyal o $ly rd 197( hey

%ere .oied "y o$ eed ad see to "e gettig o %ell( )i&*

agger visited David Bo%ie at a*ley Street ad it is said they

%ere &lose #rieds( Close eo$gh #or the Bo%ies to have the

aggers to dier o Christ'as day 197! ad the &lose eo$gh

#or )i&* agger to sho% David Bo%ie the &over o# :It;s ly

o&* ad oll; "e#ore the re&ord %as released! ad #or David

Bo%ie to $se the sa'e artist! A$y eelheart #or his e% lp

:Dia'od Dogs; %hi&h he released "e#ote :It;s ly o&* ad

oll( he &halleged! David Bo%ie said that )i&* agger

sho$ld ot have sho% hi' the &over(

Brio Aysi re&ogised the si'ilarity "et%ee the res$lts o#

&$t $ps ad :a$to'ati&; %ritig! dire&tly #ro' the $&os&io$s

'id "ypassig &os&io$s &riti&is' ad editig( /s a yo$g'a Aysi had "ee ivited to e+hi"it %ith the S$rrealists "$t

%as e+pelled "y /dre Breto at the last 'i$te( Aysi tho$ght

that %ritig &o$ld evolve i the sa'e %ay as the 'oder

paitig( $st as he had "ee ispired "y the art o# the 'etally

ill! /dre Breto %as ispired "y the a$to'ati& %ritig o#

elee S'ith! a 3re&h %o'a %ho &lai'ed to "e i to$&h

%ith )artias %ho &o''$i&ated thro$gh her( 19th &et$ry

14



psy&hologist ierre aet e&o$raged psy&hiatri& patiets to

%rite a$to'ati&ally( S&hi,ophrei&s %he %ritig 'ay start

ay%here o the page! %rite #or a %hile the &oti$eso'e%here else o the page( S&hi,ophrei&s 'ay %rite do%

%hat their voi&es di&tate( illia' B$rro$ghs spet a 'oth i

psy&hiatri& hospital! %as diagosed s&hi,ophrei&! ad %hether

this diagoses %as a&&$rate or ot he 'aitaied a iterest i

S&hi,ophrei& art that is re#le&ted i his o% paitigs( he

%or* o# 'etally ill artists seldo' #ollo%s treds "$t to this

day &ote'porary artists are ispired "y the art 'ove'ets o#

the 20th &et$ry! ot least the S$rrealists the DaDa artists adthe +pressioists! %ho i t$r %ere ispired! i part! "y the art

o# the 'etally ill( It &o$ld "e arg$ed that the art o# the

'etally ill helped #ree the &avas #or the &ote'porary artist(

Sadly the 'etally ill re'ai stig'atised "y a so&iety that

&oveietly pre#ers to "elieve the 'yths o# 'etal illess

rather tha the reality( I# the p$"li& %ere a%are o# the

&otri"$tio that the 'etally ill have 'ade to the art %orld

they 'ight start to over&o'e their pre.$di&es(

ay ad I had a &o''o iterest ad that %as '$si&( Si&e

1972 %e had tried re&ordig o do'esti& tape re&orders( e

%ere a%are o# psy&hedeli& '$si& "$t I %as also a%are o#

ele&troi& '$si& thro$gh 'y #ried Nor'a( Nor'a;s #ather

%as a I-3i eth$siast! they "$ilt a&o$sti& spea*ers #ro'

s&rat&h! %he his parets %ere o$t shoppig or a%ay #or the%ee*ed %e listeed to re&ords o his #ather;s gra'ophoe(

Besides the psy&hedeli& ro&* that %as #ashioa"le at the ti'e!

%e listeed! o Nor'as;s sister;s advi&e to aythig that

so$ded strage! li*e )oro&&a '$si& or erry iley( Nor'a

had a re&ordig o# )oro&&a '$si& that had a polystyree

&eilig tile as part o# the &over( I %o$ld #id $$s$al re&ords

#ro' the li"rary ad re&ord shops( e re&ord I re'e'"er #ro'

15



this ti'e %as "y oh Cage ad David $dor( e side %as a

oh Cage piao i'provisatio! the other %as a re&ordig o# a

a$die&e as they etered the hall played "a&* to the a$die&eo&e they had ta*e their seats i the a$ditori$'( o&al

li"raries also sto&*ed ;ethi&; re&ordigs o# /#ri&a tri"al

'$si&! o#te re&orded "y David 3asha%e or ea e*is! or

3re&h ar&hivists( I %ere;t loo*ig #or ideas "$t I oti&ed that

ideas %o$ld sho% $p i o$r re&ordigs that I had ot

deli"erately p$t there( I other %ords I 'ight thi* I have a

origial part o# a t$e ad o playig "a&* the re&ordig

re&ogi,e the sa'e t$e as so'ethig I had heard "e#ore( hetapes %ere little 'ore tha %or* tapes $se#$l #or vettig the

re&ordig! editig e+er&ises( I# I heard so'ethig that did

so$d origial I 'ight re'e'"er to play that e+t ti'e( /t the

"egiig o# /pril 1975 I "o$ght a pra&ti&e a'p #ro' a shop

&alled igs that %as at that ti'e e+t to Bro'ley North

statio( he a'p %as a ri$'ph ;eo;! pro"a"ly the &heapest

i the shop it %as a"o$t t%o #oot high ad had t%o ip$ts ad a

vi"rato e##e&t %hi&h yo$ &o$ld t$r o ad o## ad ad.$st the

speed o# the e##e&t( I had a oher pi&*-$p #or the ;*o;

a&o$sti& g$itar that Steve sold 'e as he %as "$yig a e%

g$itar( I soo dis&overed that the a'pli#ier %as 'ade #or ro&*

'$si&! ad that it %o$ld distort as the vol$'e i&reased! that it

%o$ld prod$&e #eed"a&* %he the pi&*$p %as ear the spea*er

ad that "y restig the g$itar agaist the a'pli#ier %ith the

strigs to$&hig the a'pli#ier I &o$ld prod$&e a droe( I hadheard #eed"a&* "y the Arate#$l Dead ad %he I sa% the' at

/le+ader ala&e! see :Ned ad hil; &ele"rate )i&*ey art;s

"irthday %ith a oise i'provisatio that set s$egged otes

ad other atoal so$ds o$t o# the :all o# So$d; / at the

a$die&e(

he %he o$ eed released )etal )a&hie )$si& that

s$''er oh eel played a &o$ple o# 'i$tes o# it sayig

16



dis'issively it %as all li*e that! it %as eo$gh to edorse 'y

"elie# that there %as a #$t$re i &o'"iig atoal '$si& %ith

ro&* g$itar( o$ eed had also prod$&ed a droe e##e&t "y positioig t%o g$itars i #rot o# his a'pli#iers i his lo#t #lat

so they #ed "a&*! ad re&orded the res$ltat droe( e the

altered the speed o# the re&ordigs ad overd$""ed the' to

'a*e a eerie! evo&ative g$itar oise &o'positio that lasted

.$st over a ho$r( o$ eed %as ot pleased %ith his re&ord

&o'pay! C/ re&ords( hey had! i )ar&h 1975 %hile o$

eed %as to$rig! released :o$ eed ive;! a o#

overloo*ed sogs #ro' the sa'e &o&ert that had previo$sly "ee released as :o&* ad oll /i'al;! i 197( e o# his

.$sti#i&atios #or isistig that C/ release the e+tre'e oise

)etal )a&hie )$si& %as that i# they %ated heavy 'etal!

here yo$ are( o$ eed too* a "rea* #ro' to$rig #or 'ost o#

/pril! a#ter playig at the a''ers'ith deo o the 26 th o#

)ar&h! the res$'ed playig live i /'eri&a at the ed o# the

'oth( e too* aother "rea* at the ed o# )ay the res$'ed

to$rig agai! visitig apa! the /$stralia( / itervie% %ith a

yo$g reporter i /$stralia sho%ed .$st ho% $reasoa"le ad

&otrary o$ eed &o$ld "e! possi"ly aggravated "y his dr$g

$se( /'pheta'ie $sers &a "e otorio$sly ati so&ial ad

sel#ish( he they are ot e+perie&ig the e$phoria that the

dr$g &a "rig! or as addi&tio adva&es! a #eelig o# or'ality!

they ted to ta*e it o$t io those earest to the'! perhaps 'ore

so %ith a'pheta'ie ad 'ethedrie tha %ith other dr$gs(hey resort to ver"al a"$se dishoesty! so'eti'es to avege

their dr$g id$&ed paraoia( # &o$rse it is ot oly dr$g $sers

%ho are g$ilty o# that "ehavio$r! it &o$ld "e arg$ed that the

dr$g $sers "ehavio$r is e+asperated "y the #a&t that their

illess! addi&tio is o$tla%ed ad they have to &ope %ith the

#a&t they are! $e&essarily! i the eyes o# the la%! a &ri'ial(

o&* .o$ralist )i&* all! i his "iography :he i#e;! says

17



that )etal )a&hie )$si& %as re&orded three 'oths a#ter the

a$ary sessios %he o$ eed re&orded three sogs that

%ere re.e&ted "y his prod$&er Steve <at,( o &o'po$d theis$lt his re&ord &o'pay the released o$ eed ive!

o$tta*es his 197 live al"$'! o&* ad oll /i'al(

/&&ordig to )i&* all )etal )a&hie )$si& %as re&orded i

the 'oth log rest i /pril 1975 "et%ee o$ eed;s British

ad /'eri&a &o&erts( I had dis&overed the droe e##e&t soo

a#ter I "o$ght 'y a'pli#ier! "e#ore I heard )etal )a&hie

)$si& ad I %o$ld ot hear the i its etirety $til the 'id

1980;s( I *e% it so$ded #a'iliar "$t have oly .$st #o$d o$t%hy( o%ever I thi* it $li*ely that o$ eed %as i#l$e&ed

"y 'y e+peri'ets %hi&h ivolved restig 'y g$itar agaist

the a'pli#ier ad listeig to the &hage i pit&h a#ter ad.$stig

the toe &otrols o the g$itar ad the a'pli#ier( here is a #ait

possi"ility that the idea &o$ld have got aro$d thro$gh the dr$g

s&ee( /&&ordig to Diaa Clapto;s &adid "iography o$

eed had a dealer i every &o$try( ay %as a "it o# a

speed#rea*! he *e% dealers! he et%or*ed! ot as easy the as

it is o%( Ideas %ere ridi&$led i &oversatio? :o$;ll ever

g$ess %hat this "lo*e I *o% re&*osL;;p$ttig so'eoe

do% to i'press( $t-do%s %ere part o# the s&orig rit$al(

I ay &ase )etal )a&hie )$si& had a pedigree! as o$ eed

i'plied o the &over o# the do$"le (( %here he 'etios a

)ote o$g! the pioeer o# avat garde '$si& i Ne% or*

#ro' the late #i#ties o%ard( I 1967 a )ote o$g had "eei'pressed "y sheai player Bis'illah <ha ad his "ad! ad

$sed ta'"ora droes i his o% '$si&( So'e o# a )ote

o$g;s '$si& $sed sophisti&ated har'oies( 3or a %hile! oh

Cale played i a )ote o$g;s Drea' Sydi&ate! "e#ore he

played i the elvet Edergro$d %ith o$ eed( oh Cale

re&orded his o% avat garde %or* at this ti'e ad the elvet

Edergro$d $sed disr$ptive #eed"a&* ad repetitive hypoti&

18



the'es i their i'provisatio(

I tho$ght! li*e others! that ro&* '$si& %as "e&o'ig to

sophisti&ated ad itelle&t$al( his %as ot .$st so$r grapes!ad I %as ot the oly oe %ho #elt this %ay( )$si&ias see'ed

to "e $sig their virt$osity as a e+er&ise to sho% ho% &lever

they %ere! ad they see'ed ot oly happier tha their

a$die&e "$t also o#te had a s$perior attit$de %hi&h 'ay

#o$d alieatig( $" o&* "ads li*e Dr 3eelgood ad

<il"$r ad the igh oads %ere already playig '$si& that

had 'ore i &o''o %ith o&* ad oll '$si& tha the "ads

that %ere playig to stadi$'s( his %as .$st "e#ore $* o&* ad people %ere loo*ig #or so'ethig e%( ippie '$si& had

"e&o'e played o$t( / &hage i dr$g $se &oi&ided! i Britai!

%ith the loss o# #$ll e'ploy'et( he s$"se$et

$e'ploy'et 'eat dr$g $sers t$red to a'pheta'ie #or

e&oo'i& reasos( here %as a loss o# i'pet$s i the hippie

'ove'et %orld%ide %ith the ed o# /'eri&a 'ilitary

ivolve'et i /$g$st 197! ad %ith the #all o# Saigo i

/pril 1975( /'pheta'ie ad 'etha'pheta'ie t$red hippie

love to hate ad &otri"$ted to their paraoia( /d %hile the

poor ad street hippies t$red to speed #or *i&*s! the ro&*

'$si&ias &ele"rated s$&&ess "y grad$atig to &o&aie!

alieatig the' #ro' their a$die&e( he '$si&ias %ere le#t

%ith their virt$osity! "$t seldo' had aythig to say( he '$si&

see'ed to "e ispired "y the dr$gs they too*! ad ro&*

'$si&ias see'ed to "e a"le to ta*e dr$gs %ith i'p$ity! %hiletheir a$die&e %as 'ore li*ely to "e harassed "y the poli&e i#

they too* dr$gs( ay ad I had tried to #or' a "ad as %e had

.a''ed together a #e% ti'es( It %as ay;s idea! he %as #ar a

'ore a&&o'plished '$si&ia tha I %o$ld ever "e ad "esides

'y 'ai iterest %as i vis$al art( I %as dra%ig ad %or*ig

o a port#olio to ta*e to itervie%s #or art &ollege( B$t ay

de&ided that he too %ated to go to &ollege ad as*ed 'e to

19



help prepare a port#olio to apply #or &ollege( )y heart sa*

%he he applied to the sa'e &ollege as 'e? I %ated to go to

&ollege to es&ape the dr$g s&ee( B$t %hat &o$ld I doJ Itho$ght he %as a #ried ad visited hi' to help hi' orgai,e

his pi&t$res( e %ere "oth a&&epted(

ay 'et )ar* at registratio i /$g$st( Soo a#ter ay

itrod$&ed )ar* to Steve ad I %he %e %et #or a %al* i the

%oods i Chisleh$rst( he it &a'e to sittig aro$d s'o*ig

&aa"is! as a #e% st$dets did i those days! ad it %as )ar*;s

t$r to p$t oe together! he ivaria"ly %o$ld ot p$t as '$&h i

his .oits as ayoe else( hri#ty as this %as! it aoyed theother s'o*ers! "$t despite their 'a*ig &o''ets li*e ;Did

yo$ re'e'"er to p$t ay i thisJ; he re'aied ada'at ad

&ose$etly the .oits he rolled %ere passed aro$d li*e hot

potatoes( o add is$lt to i.$ry he %o$ld ivaria"ly have his

girl#ried 'ily i to% ad tho$gh she %o$ld;t ever roll a

.oit! she %o$ld happily s'o*e aythig passed to her( 'ily

li*ed to "e &alled )( Caa"is %as ot &heap it &arried a

&osidera"le ris* as the pealties #or possessio %ere higher

ad the attit$de o# the p$"li& %as 'ore hostile( So )ar*;s

a&tio &a$sed so'e reset'et %hi&h %as e+pressed oe

a#teroo soo a#ter College had started( ay! Steve ad

Sharo 'ysel#! )ar* ad his girl#ried %et #or a %al* i

Chisleh$rst %oods( re-%ared o# )ar*;s $so&ia"le ha"it! "$t

$a"le to "elieve $til %e ta*e ti'e to stop alog the %ay!

Steve %as o##eded( al*ig thro$gh the %oods Steve ad I "e&a'e separated #ro' the others ad %al* do% the path

to%ards Chisleh$rst ods ad the F$ees ead( I %odered i#

%e sho$ld have a s'o*e %hile the others %ere;t aro$d "$t

oh la$ghed ad said o( e %o$ld "e as "ad as )ar* i# %e

did that t%o %rogs do;t 'a*e a right( It %as a "it o# a

Idia s$''er! a pre&$rsor to the otorio$s hot s$''er o# the

#ollo%ig year 1976( Steve gathered so'e o# that %ild grass

20



%ith seeds li*e ears o# &or ad %he %e re.oi the others he

thro%s the' at )ar*s "a&* %hile he is ot loo*ig( Childre

"rea* o## the tops o# these plats ad thro% the' at other &hildre;s p$llovers( he Steve as*ed 'e to thro% a &o$ple o#

these grass darts at )ar*s p$llover( he %he %e stopped

agai )ar* oti&ed his p$llover %as &overed %ith darts ad

%ho got the "la'eJ Did yo$ thro% theseJ )ar* a&&$sed 'e( I

ad'itted that I thre% oe or t%o( here %as o poit i tellig

hi' that oh had haded 'e a &o$ple o# darts $rgig 'e to

.oi i so that he %o$ld ot have to ta*e all the "la'e( I did;t

say aythig a"o$t Steve %ho had "y o% &overed )ar*;s%ret&hed p$llover %ith a"o$t thirty darts( Steve s$##ered #ro'

paraoia! "ro$ght o "y his $se o# a'pheta'ie %he he %as

yo$ger( e did ot %at to get ito tro$"le ad %ated 'e to

ta*e the "la'e so I did( It did ot see' to "e a "ig pro"le'! so

I %as;t goig to grass( B$t o% )ar* had his &$lprit he started

to have a go at 'e! as*ig $estios to get 'e "a&* #or

thro%ig arro%s at hi'( opig that he %o$ld e'"arrass 'e

ad thi*ig he had a &ard to play he as*ed 'e a"o$t the "ad

ay ad I %ere tryig to start(: It;s a "it %eird :I said! hopig to

p$t hi' o##( ith the %or* that a&&o'paied startig &ollege I

had #orgotte a"o$t ay "ad( :ell %e *o% a "ad that;s

really %eird!; replied )ar*! &attily( I;d had this "e#ore %ith

ay! %he he "ro$ght his #ried o# Bo%ie! so I *e% %he I

%as p$t o the spot he %o$ld leave 'e too it( I had to say

so'ethig "e&a$se this ti'e I %as also spea*ig o his "ehal#(;ell %e i'provise!; I &oti$ed! agai hopig that this %as

eo$gh #or hi' to drop the s$".e&t( :hat &hords do yo$ $seJ;

he as*s :I do;t $se ay &hords( ay *o%s &hords ; I reply!

ad tho$gh this is #air eo$gh #or 'e a#ter all I a' playig

solos over ay;s rhyth' g$itar it is ot a #air des&riptio o#

ay;s playig( So I loo* to ay hopig that he %ill .oi i ad

"e s$pportive( B$t I %as diggig 'ysel# ito a hole ad he .$st

21



s'iled( I had read a itervie% %ith 3red 3rith i the )elody

)a*er ad I re'e'"ered the phrase &hord #rag'ets( I $i&*ly

de&ided that a &hord #rag'et is t%o or three otes playedtogether that so$d li*e a #rag'et o# a &hord! so I said; %e

'ight $se &hord #rag'ets!; he did ot $estio this "$t as*ed

a"o$t ;vo&als;! ot %ords or sogs or sigig( I did ot %at a

repetitio o# the e'"arrass'et that I had #elt e+plaiig 'y

e+peri'ets %ith &$t-$ps( So I s$ggested s&rea'ig( :e are

iterested i playig e+peri'etal istr$'etal '$si& that goes

o #or a %ee* ight ad day! a lot o# the ti'e it &o$ld "e .$st

droes(; I &oti$ed( :li*e Idia '$si&:( e had "eee+peri'etig! ad pra&ti&ig #or a &o$ple o# years! "$t had p$t

'$si& to oe side to prepare %or* #or &ollege itervie%s( e

had #o&$sed o$r ideas idivid$ally "$t did ot tal* a"o$t the'(

e re&orded %ith a t%o tra&* tape re&order! the a&o$sti& g$itar

%ith a pi&*-$p! the t%elve strig g$itar ad aythig else %e

&o$ld p$t to $se( I eded "y sayig that I le#t 'y g$itar restig

agaist 'y a'pli#ier %he I %et to the shops I %ated to

e+plai that it %as t$red o #eedig "a&* ad prod$&ig a

droe "$t )ar* t$red a%ay ad started to tal* to his girl#ried

i the 'iddle o# the sete&e! he see'ed satis#ied that he had

e'"arrassed 'e eo$gh( I had said eo$gh to &over #or Steve!

ad di##$se the sit$atio( I# he had let 'e #iish the sete&e

%hat I %as sayig %o$ld have 'ade sese "$t he %as itet o

sho%ig 'e $p &ovi&ed that I had &overed his .ersey %ith

grass darts(

Soo a#ter %e started the &ollege &o$rse ay "e&a'e distat

ad s$perior i attit$de to%ards 'e as I %as o #$rther $se to

hi'( e had $sed 'e ad o% had e% #rieds( /s %e %ere

oly re&eivig a grat #or t$itio #ees! %e %ere stayig i a

st$det s$at i So$th Croydo started "y )arti a%liso( I

ever #elt that I had #alle o$t %ith )ar*! he %as also a

22



residet i the s$at( arly i the ter' %e all %et to see

agerie Drea' at the 3air#ield alls( )ar* %as hired #or the

ight to help 'ove the sythesi,ers ad other ele&troi&e$ip'et the "ad "ro$ght %ith the'( /lso helpig %as Chris

Carter( I have reaso to s$spe&t )ar* *e% Chris Carter( e

%ere i'pressed "y the &o&ert! %he oy as*ed 'e %hat I

tho$ght o# the "ad I said that they so$ded id$strial( hat do

yo$ 'ea as*ed ay( i*e the $hr alley I replied(

It %as hard %or* dra%ig all day ie to #o$r! o#te "eig told

to s*et&h the &orridors or liste to a le&t$re a"o$t o"s&$re

artists ad their o"s&$re or $a##orda"le te&hi$es( :I# yo$;vegot a tho$sad po$ds to spare %e &a get yo$ o a video

&o$rse! that;s %here the #$t$re lies; %e %ere told( Neither o# $s

had the 'oey( )arti a%liso %as a st$det #ro' Croydo

College! )arti &alled hi'sel# the )artia arlord( I the

eveigs )arti $sed to liste to the Ne% or* Dolls! %ith his

eto$rage( e li*ed to stal* the streets i a log hair sheeps*i

#lee&e &oat ad a %ol# 'as* ad o&e %as "ro$ght "a&* "y the

poli&e( No%adays it is e+&eptioal ot to do these thigs! part

o# the sylla"$s "$t i those days the College %as stri&t( hey

had had tro$"le i the si+ties! %ith )al&ol' )&are ad

a'ie eid( hile )al&ol' )&are 'aaged the Se+ istols

a'ie eid desiged their art%or* ad oe o# the t$tors

re'ided $s o# this oe day %he ay ad I %ere 'a*ig a

oise %ith a violi %e had #o$d lyig aro$d i a st$dio(

)arti st$died s&$lpt$re ad had 'elted a radiogra' ad atelevisio ito strage lads&ape s&$lpt$res! %hi&h he &alled

)artia s&$lpt$res( vet$ally he %o$ld sho% these s&$lpt$res

at Croydo li"rary( So'e o# his dra%igs 'ight "e &osidered

porographi&( is parets had hi' p$t i arligha' ar*

"e#ore he "e&a'e a art st$det( erhaps he sho$ld have as*ed

the' "e#ore he 'elted their stereo ad televisio ad t$red

the' ito s&$lpt$res! perhaps they sho$ld ot have le#t hi' o

2



his o% %hile they %et o holiday(

I ret$red to the deserted B$rt /sh ill S$at a%ay #ro' the

dr$gs ad the &ollege( I tho$ght I &o$ld travel "y "$s "$t I hado travel grat ad %as o :o #i+ed a"ode; &o$ter pay'et( I

&arried o %ith 'y art %or* s*et&hig the roo' at the top o#

the ho$se( he ho$se had "ee deserted #or so'e %hile! si&e

the '$rder i #a&t( Es$ally s$&h ho$ses are vadali,ed "y lo&al

*ids "$t the ho$se %as stragely $to$&hed! tho$gh to say that

it had "ee lived i %as a $derstate'et( ears o# $se "y

hippies %ho had little regard #or tidiess or ho$se%or* had

ta*e their toll! yet the ho$se retaied a eerie )arie Celesteat'osphere( It %o$ld oly ta*e a little e+aggeratio #or lo&al

gossips to pla&e the '$rder i the old s$at( I p$t $p %ith the

old ho$se #or a %hile "$t &o$ld ot ed$re the .o$rey to

Croydo( he old i&toria #o$r story ho$ses at 12M125 B$rt

/sh ill are p$lled do% o% repla&ed "y 'oder #lats( Aive

the &hoi&e "et%ee attedig the &ollege 'ore reg$larly or

leavig! I &hose to leave( he ead o# he Depart'et 'ade a

&o''et a"o$t 'y ot "eig happy at the &ollege "$t %hat

%as 'a*ig it i'possi"le to atted %as the #a&t that I &o$ld

#id o a&&o''odatio ear"y! "e&a$se I &o$ld ot a##ord the

'oths; ret deposit re$ired "y ladlords( I sho$ld have as*ed

to see the so&ial se&retary "$t it %as &lear that they %ated

aother s&apegoat( hey had already e+pelled a #e'ale )$sli'

st$det #or dra%ig %ith traditioal )$sli' perspe&tive(

;o$;re here to lear %ester art!; said the t$tor #or still li#e adli#e dra%ig "$t she isisted i sti&*ig to her 'edieval

te&hi$e( )edieval i as '$&h as it did ot o"serve the r$les

o# the vaishig poit( hey %o$ld;t get a%ay %ith it today!

ad %o$ld o% perhaps e&o$rage her &$lt$ral di##ere&e! "$t

they i the seveties the sta## #elt that they desperately eeded

to 'a*e e+a'ples! lest hippies ad #oreigers o&&$py the

diig hall ad hold aother sit-i! or da$" a Sit$atioist sloga

24



o the &o&rete %alls agai! li*e )al&ol' )&are ad a'ie

eid had i the si+ties(

I %et "a&* to 'y parets yet agai "$t they had had eo$gh as

%ell ad tho$gh I held o$t d$rig the hot s$''er o# 76! as I!

started eatig less ad less! ad "e&a'e 'ore %ithdra% the

psy&hoti& depressio set i ad I started to "elieve thigs that

%ere .$st ot tr$e( No-oe %o$ld sell 'e dr$gs ad I "e&a'e

too agorapho"i& to visit ayoe( eople stopped visitig

"e&a$se %he they did I %o$ld loo* at the' as tho$gh they

%ere a '$rderer! the vi"e %as i the air! "$t I did ot *o%%here it &a'e #ro'( I tho$ght it %as so'ethig I had said or

doe! I still had ot "ee told a"o$t )ary %hi&h %as the real

reaso everyoe %et paraoid(

I "orro%ed :Co'posig %ith ape e&orders; "y ere&e

D%yer #ro' rpigto li"rary! ad 'ade tape loops aro$d

&o##ee .ars %ith rado' pie&es o# i'provised g$itar '$si&( I

%eighed the &o##ee .ars do% %ith aythig I &o$ld #id "$t the

e+peri'ets! li*e the &$t $ps &a'e to othig( Still these "asi&

editig e+er&ises %ere $se#$l( I &o$ld see that %ritig ad

'$si& eed ot "e li'ited "y &ovetioal editig te&hi$es!

ad they %ere ot e+pesive either( I "o$ght a &opy o# he o"!

itervie%s %ith illia' B$rro$ghs! "$t the tape re&order

e+peri'ets %ere too adva&ed #or a "orro%ed 2 tra&* tape

re&order %ith o overd$""ig #a&ility or varia"le tape speed( I

"o$ght so'e a spi&ig "lo&* ad tape! ad 'ade a #e% &r$de&$t $ps ad 'ade 'ore loops( B$t 'y artisti& e##orts %ere ot

appre&iated or e&o$raged( )y parets &o$ld ot &ope %ith 'y

%ithdra% state( Ee&essarily they &alled the poli&e %ho too*

'e to 3ar"oro$gh psy&hiatri& $it( / visit #ro' the #a'ily

do&tor %o$ld have "ee 'ore appropriate( Beig i psy&hiatri&

hospital sedated o dr$gs I either %ated or eeded at the

ed o# 1976 %as o pla&e to pra&ti&e ele&tri& g$itar( I %as

25



allo%ed to *eep the g$itar i the hospital! "$t ot the pra&ti&e

a'p( It %o$ld have "ee a good ti'e to play the oise g$itar

that I had dis&overed "e#ore Id$strial ad No ave '$si&ias$sed atoal '$si& ad oise

I le#t the hospital i a$ary 1977! "e&a$se ay helped 'e #id

a #lat i the ho$se i St a$l;s Cray %here he %as stayig( ay

evet$ally &o#ided i 'e a"o$t )ary( )ary %as a girl#ried o#

ay;s %ho had "ee '$rdered aro$d the &orer #ro' the

B$rt /sh ill s$at! "y aother o# his ad'irers! &alled S$e( #

&o$rse I %as sho&*ed ad it has ta*e loger tha I &are toad'it to 'a*e sese o# the sit$atio( It %o$ld ot have "ee

#air to ay to as* too 'ay $estios at the as he %as &learly

still grievig! I 'erely i$ired to %here the '$rder too* pla&e(

I tho$ght that e+plaied %hy the ho$se at B$rt /sh ill %as

deserted yet $-vadali,ed( o &hage the s$".e&t I as*ed hi'

i# aythig had "e&o'e o# the "ad that )ar* had told $s

a"o$t! the oe that %as really %eird( :h they helped 'a*e the

&over #or :/i'als;;! =the i* 3loyd >! "$t as the s$".e&t

see'ed to "rig hi' do% eve 'ore I did ot p$rs$e it( I

thi* that ay 'ay have "ee re#errig to eter :Slea,y;

Christopherso %ho ot oly %or*ed #or ypgosis! the

&o'pay that desiged the &over #or i* 3loyd;s :/i'als;

! "$t also played i ;really %eird; e+peri'etal "ad

;hro""ig Aristle( Chris Carter %as also i hro""ig Aristle(

D$rig 1976! "et%ee /rt College ad ad'issio to thesy&hiatri& Eit at 3ar"oro$gh I had 'ade the .o$rey to

odo! to visit the re&ord ad "oo* shops( /t Co'pedi$'

"oo*shop i Ca'de o% I "o$ght t%o iss$es o# Sady

o"ertso;s p$* ro&* #a,ie ;hite St$##;( I %as s$rprised to

read a itervie% %ith Aeesis -rridge! o# the ;Id$strial;

'$si& "ad ;hro""ig Aristle;( I it he said that he too le#t his

g$itar leat $p agaist his a'pli#ier %hile he %et to the

26



shops;( /t the ti'e I p$t it do% to 'ere &oi&ide&e( ater! i

Nove'"er 1977 I read a itervie% i :So$ds; '$si& paper

%here hro""ig gristle &lai'ed to have itrod$&ed the idea o# o &hords to '$si&( here %ere other &oi&ide&es! they too

%ere e+peri'etig %ith %ee*log droes! they des&ri"ed their

'$si& as id$strial( hey did ot $se &hords( So'e o# there

vo&als %ere s&rea's(

Aeesis -rridge! li*e David Bo%ie! had "ee &o'pelled to

'eet %ith illia' B$rro$ghs i the early seveties( I his

%ritig illia' B$rro$ghs had o pro"le' %ith re$isitioig

the %or* o# others ad i&orporatig ito his o% %or* "y'eas o# his e+peri'etal te&hi$es s$&h as the &$t-$ps(

hro""ig Aristle;s siger! Aeesis -rridge! had itrod$&ed

hi'sel# ad visited to illia' B$rro$ghs i 1972( I 1980

Aeesis -rridge ad eter Christopherso o# hro""ig

Aristle #le% to /'eri&a to &olle&t a shoe "o+ #$ll o# B$rro$ghs

&$t-$p tape e+peri'ets( I Si'o 3ord;s "oo* :re&*ers o#

Civili,atio; artist ad "ad 'e'"er Cosi 3ai $tti! is

$oted as sayig o# Aeesis -rridge! :e ever e+posed

hi'sel# to real li#e! pre#errig istead that others "rig it to hi'

ad the $tili,e their e+perie&e! ideas ad i#or'atio( It

stri*es 'e &learly that he &ospired to ivet hi'sel# via the

talet ad ideas o# others;(

I *o% that ideas are ot &opyright "$t it %as a "it strage to

s$spe&t that 'y ideas had "ee $sed "y so'eoe else( It 'ay

"e that hro""ig gristle 'e'"er Aeesis rridge hadde&ided to &all their '$si& Id$strial at a 'eetig i a p$" %ith

)ote Ca,,a,a a #e% %ee*s "e#ore the agerie Drea'

&o&ert at the 3air#ield all Croydo! "$t that does ot e+plai

%hy ro&* .o$ralist )ar* aytress &redits eter Christopherso

%ith a'ig their '$si&(

David Bo%ie ad'its stealig ideas i a itervie% %ith

27



Ca'ero Cro%e! p$"lished i ollig Stoe 'aga,ie(:he

oly art I;ll ever st$dy is st$## that I &a steal #ro'( I do thi*

that 'y plagiaris' is e##e&tive( hy does a artist &reate!ay%ayJ he %ay I see it! i# yo$;re a ivetor! yo$ ivet

so'ethig that yo$ hope people &a $se( I %at art to "e .$st as

pra&ti&al;(David Bo%ie! i Chris el&h;s "oo* ;e &o$ld "e

eroes; is $oted as sayig that! d$rig the re&ordig o# his

;o$g /'eri&as; (( i 1975! ;very day 20 *ids %o$ld "e

%aitig o$tside ad %e;d let the' ito help o$t ad give ideas:(

It %o$ld ot s$rprise 'e i# )ar* had re'e'"ered ad passed

o 'y ideas! a#ter all he %as a st$det %ith the re$isite s*ills(atiets i the &o''$ity o#te have o ed o# ideas "$t have

tro$"le p$ttig the' ito pra&ti&e( he so-&alled sae i so&iety

are 'ore li*ely to have the reso$r&es to p$t ideas ito a&tio!

"$t #or the' ideas are o#te thi o the gro$d( ho$gh the

patiet i the &o''$ity 'ay "e 'ore i to$&h %ith their

s$"&os&io$s! it is o#te to s$&h a e+tet that their a&tios are

ihi"ited! either "y the itr$sio o# the s$"&os&io$s! the

voi&es ad other hall$&iatios! or "y the e##e&ts o# the

'edi&atio ta*e i the hope o# &otaiig s$&h itr$sios(

/#ter te years sile&e David Bo%ie has 'ade a e% re&ord(

here is a e+hi"itio o# his stage &ost$'es ad other

'e'ora"ilia that has "ee sho% at the i&toria ad /l"ert

'$se$' ad has goe o to to$r the %orld( S$"se$etly there

has "ee a revival o# iterest i the 'a %ho is arg$a"ly the

'ost i#l$etial o&* siger( I a re&et radio progra''e oadio 4 &alled :I dressed iggy Stard$st;! Shya'a erera

des&ri"es ho% she set a s*et&h to David Bo%ie ad it

evet$ally "e&a'e oe o# his 'ay stage &ost$'es( he

progra''e &o&l$ded "y diplo'ati&ally sayig! as it %as so

log ago i a era o# dr$g $se "y David Bo%ie! ad others! that

'e'ories &o$ld "e $relia"le ad %e &o$ld ever say #or s$re(

he &reative pro&ess is o#te 'ore &o'ple+ ad ivolves 'ore

28



ip$t tha is evidet i the #iished %or*( / &$t $p is a editig

te&hi$e %ith %or* edig $p i the "i li*e #il' o the

&$ttig roo' #loor o# a #il' editor( Ideas passed aro$d istoed &oversatios 'ay "e #air ga'e( B$t there is a

di##ere&e "et%ee so'eoe 'a*ig a 'etal ote o# a idea

the passig it o i io&et eth$sias' ad $sig it as so&ial

&ollateral %ith 'ali&e a#oretho$ght( a*ig other %riters %or*

ad "ledig it i %ith his o%! B$rro$ghs &osidered that he

%as avoidig the pit#all o# :origiality : that %as prevetig

hi' #ro' %ritig 'ore( Brio Aysi poited o$t to illia'

B$rro$ghs that he %as already $sig phrases that %ere otorigial( illia' B$rro$ghs too* this &riti&is' as per'issio

to re$isitio other %riters %or*! ad $sig the &$t $p

te&hi$e t$r it ito e% prose( he %riter is rearragig the

%ords he *o%s ay%ay! illia' B$rro$ghs %as doig %hat

all %riters do "$t &os&io$sly( he sa'e pro&ess o&&$rs i

'$si&! &os&io$sly ad $&os&io$sly( o% 'ay ti'es have

'$si&ias &o'plaied that their '$si& has "ee stoleJ o%

'ay ti'es have '$si&ias do$"ted their o% origiality!

thi*ig that they '$st have heard a t$e so'e%here else "$t

&aot re'e'"er %heJ Big i' S$lliva! a sessio '$si&ia

%ho played o 'ay re&ords i the si+ties o&e said that i# he

&o'plaied every ti'e so'eoe stole oe o# his ideas he

%o$ld ot have ti'e to re&ord at all( or*ig '$si&ias sig

&otra&ts o"ligig the' to deliver '$si& "y a deadlie! ad

the to$r to pro'ote their e% (( Be#ore the iteret! ay'$si&ia %itho$t ideas! o$t o# to$&h %ith their a$die&e! &a

"e&o'e desperate to #$l#il the de'ads they have agreed to(

David Bo%ie has o#te "ee a&&$sed o# stealig ideas ad

ad'its this( )$si&ias s$&h as <eith Christ'as ete o%sed

ad )i&* agger have all a&&$sed David Bo%ie o# stealig

their '$si& or ideas( Ia D$ry a&&$sed ohy otte o#

&opyig hi'( So'eti'es the '$si&ias %ill ot eve

29



re'e'"er! evets are lost i the past adMor i a dr$gged ha,e(

I#! %he I des&ri"ed agerie Drea';s '$si& as id$strial)ar* had repeated %hat I had said I %as hardly "eig origial

'ysel#( the &over o# the l(p( :No p$ssy#ootig; "y o"ert

3ripp ad Bria o there is a &opy o# a "oo* &alled :3$t$rist

)ai#estos( / st$det #ried Nor'as had o"taied a &opy o#

this "oo* ad sho%ed it to 'e( he "oo* see'ed too

itelle&t$al #or 'e "$t I oti&ed that )arietti $sed the %ord

id$strial %he des&ri"ig his artisti& visio( I ay &ase these

ideas that %ere &otroversial i the days o# DaDa ad 3$t$ris'see' to have &rossed over via literat$re to i#or' o&* ad

op '$si&(

/t St a$l;s Cray a$l 3o%ler as*ed 'e to help hi' 'a*e a

tape he said he %as very ill ad did ot %at to "e re'e'"ered

as a "it o# a la$gh( e %as goig to %or* as a &oo* o adio

Carolie! ad %as allo%ed to play re&ords o the graveyard

shi#t a' to 6a'( B$t I did ot #id o$t that he played o$r tape

over the air%aves $til a %hile later! a#ter I had le#t the ho$ses(

adio Carolie %as r$ "y oa ;eilly! %ho also #ia&ed

the h$ City #estival %he it %as de&ided it %as to "e a #ree

#estival! ad the hite athers &o$ld ot a##ord to ret the

#ar'lad ad pay the '$si&ias( oa :eilly also started

the :lovig a%areess; philosophy that %as pro'oted "y theradio statio ad he 'aaged the :ovig /%areess; "ad that

re&orded a o# '$si& ispired "y the ideology that oa

;eilly iveted to &o'"at the de&lie i the pea&e ad love

val$es that %ere i de&lie as the hippies #ell #ro' pop$larity(

So the St a$l;s Cray ho$ses %ere a o$tpost o# hippie &$lt$re

as the $* o&*ers gaied a&&epta&e( he ovig /%areess

"ad %as adopted "y Ia D$ry %ho! %ith Cha, a*el .oiig

0



o g$itar ad as a &o-sog%riter! ad Davey aye playig

sa+ophoe "e&a'e his "a&*ig "ad he Blo&*heads(

Sadly a$l;s tape did little to #id hi' the re&ogitio he%ated( It %as a lo-#i re&ordig 'ade %ith the &ota&t

'i&rophoe o# a do'esti& &assette player! I played 'y ele&tri&

g$itar! a edso Strato&aster &opy! thro$gh the eo a'p! ad

%e "ala&ed the so$d o# a$l;s a&o$sti& g$itar "y havig hi'

sit earer the 'i&rophoe( I re'e'"er %e had to p$t the

a'pli#ier $ite #ar #ro' the 'i&rophoe i that s'all #rot

roo' o# the terra&ed ho$se i St a$l;s Cray( o% ill a$l %as!

or %hat "e&a'e o# hi' I do ot *o%! %he I le#t St a$l;sCray I did ot %at to ret$r( he a'pheta'ie $sers &a$sed a

lot o# ill #eelig there( here %ere so'e shady &hara&ters

aro$d ad as the hippy drea' &ollapsed! there %as "itteress

ad "ad itetios(

ay orgaised a .a' sessio i a h$t $p the road "ehid a pi,,a

resta$rat i St )ary Cray that %as reted o$t as a #lat to a

hippie #ro' iverpool( /gai it %as re&orded o &assette( o%

'ay tapes %ere lost! 'islaid ad stole o$t o# spite i those

days "e#ore lo-#i %as re&ogised as legiti'ate #or' o#

e+pressio i the eighties( o% 'ay aspiratios %ere

%rapped aro$d the spools o# gr$""y &assettes i the hads o#

hippies oly to "e p$shed to the "a&* o# the $e$e "y the $*

o&*ers! Id$strial "ads ad Ne% ad No aversJ here %as

al%ays the #ello% &o'plaiig a"o$t his lost &assette ad the

#ello% &ote'pt$o$s o# the 'edi$'( B$t this %as othig&o'pared to the &hage i attit$de #ro' :ovig /%areess; to

'eaess o# spirit ad hate#$less that a&&o'paied the

&hage i #ashio ad dr$g $se! triggered "y $e'ploy'et

ad the politi&al &hages at the ti'e( I %as re'ided o# the

at'osphere at B$rt /sh ill! ad re&ogised it o% as pre-

'$rderess( /#ter I le#t! the ho$ses i St a$l;s Cray %ere raided

ad the &aa"is plats ta*e a%ay ad so'e o# the hippies

1





the other ight the g$itar #ed "a&* ad %ith the s$stai #ro' the

#$,, "o+ it prod$&ed a droe that re'ided 'e o# the old eo

a'pli#ier ad edso g$itar ad the hypoti& e##e&t it had allthose years ago(

# &o$rse all this does ot 'ea I iveted :Id$strial; '$si&!

o oe perso did( he &$t-$ps! the droe the o-&hords the

s&rea'ig! all &ir&$'statial! ad "esides as i&hard ell said

:ideas are #ree property(; he &hage #ro' ippie to $* ad

Id$strial %as ot a straight#or%ard ad s$dde rea&tio "$t a

grad$al &hage! a 'eta'orphosis( o% 'ay others

&olla"orated $%ittigly i these &hages %e %ill ever *o%! "$t i the seveties it %as #a&ilitated "y a ro&* paper! the Ne%

)$si&al +press! %hose sta##! so'e o# %ho'! li*e o$ eed!

at the ti'e! see'ed to #avo$r a'pheta'ie over the &aa"is

pre#erred "y ippies( he e% ideas did ot i''ediately have

a &olle&tive a'e( 3or a %hile $" o&* %as the 'issig li*

"et%ee hippie ad p$*! i early 1976 the e% e'ergig

gere! $* o&* %as still 'aily $*o% o$tside the '$si&

"$siess( It %as ot $til Bill Ar$dy provo*ed the Se+ istols

to s%ear o :Natio%ide; a eveig e%s progra''e! ad the

daily )irror reported the i&idet o its #rot page $* o&*

"e&a'e the a&&epted a'e #or this e% '$si& that had "ee

gatherig 'o'et$' #or a &o$ple o# years(

I#l$etial o$ eed! idol o# the itelle&t$al ro&*ers %as

*o% #or his aggressive attit$de( e #re$eted the p$*

&l$"s! 'ore at ho'e there tha %ith the ippies %ho hedespised( o$ eed had led the elvet Edergro$d! a "ad

that %as a great #avo$rites o# hro""ig Aristle! %ho %ere i

t$r the 'a.or i#l$e&e ad ispiratio to the Id$strial

'$si&ias( D$rig the seveties! agai to so'e e+tet "e&a$se

o# the i#l$e&e o# the Ne% )$si&al +press! the i#l$e&e o#

the psy&hedeli& ippie "ads s$&h as the i* 3loyd! the

Arate#$l Dead ad e##erso /irplae %as played do% ad the



elvet Edergo$d %as re-%ritte ito the history "oo*s as the

i#l$etial si+ties "ad! eve 'ore tha the Beatles ad he

ollig Stoes( he British p$*s %ere also %ell *o% #or their $se o# a'pheta'ie! tho$gh so'e! o do$"t i#l$e&ed

"y the Ne% or* p$* ro&*ers started to $se heroi! %ith

disastro$s res$lts do&$'eted else%here(

So the e+&hage o# ideas that o&&$rred o the dr$g s&ee had

so'e &$lt$ral sigi#i&a&e( B$t o% '$si&ias o loger have

to %ait #or #rieds to tea&h the' s*ills that they &a o%

a&$ire #ro' the iteret( ith the iteret &oditios have&haged( No '$si&ia %ho has a&&ess to the %e" eed %at #or

ispiratio or ideas( B$t this iovatio has "ee a&&o'paied

"y illegal or lo% royalty legal! do%loadig! %hi&h has

deval$ed the (( as a &o''odity( )$si&ias are 'ore li*ely to

"e o"liged to play live #or their 'oey alterig the para'eters

o# %hat so'e &all the rip o## ga'e(

o$ do ot eed a large a'pli#ier ad spea*er to prod$&e the

#eed"a&* droe e##e&t #ro' a ele&tri& g$itar ad a s'all

porta"le pra&ti&e a'p( I #a&t yo$ eed ot 'a*e a lo$d oise

%ith #eed"a&* either! yo$ &a re#ie ad 'odi#y the so$d to

edless s$stai "y $sig the vol$'e &otrols o the a'pli#ier

ad the g$itar( he i# yo$ have the'! $se e##e&ts to alter the

so$d so yo$r e+peri'ets &a "e $ite eigh"o$r #riedly(

he #eed"a&* droe leds itsel# to ta"le top :i'prov; or :#reei'prov;( +peri'et "y 'ovig the a'pli#ier ad to$&hig the

g$itar to alter the toe( his appli&atio #or the ele&tri& g$itar

&a "e $sed to &reate so$ds&apes o its o% or %ith pre-

re&orded so$d or '$si&( Bled i the so$d o# a short%ave

radio or street s&ees to a$g'et yo$r atoal &o'positios or

&ovetioal '$si& re&ordigs( I'provise or s&ore yo$r %or*

i a live sit$atio! Coe&t %ith others $sig the iteret %here

4



yo$ &a also do%load yo$r res$lts #or others to hear ad

&o''et(

he ta"le top oise g$itar has therape$ti& possi"ilities(S&hi,ophrei& o '$si&ias &o$ld &reate evo&ative

so$ds&apes ad so$d &ollages to "lo&* $%ated voi&es(

e&overig addi&ts &a "$ild &o#ide&e ad a sese o#

a&hieve'et that &a the "e applied to 'ore pra&ti&al %or*( I

%or*shops patiets &o$ld &olla"orate to e&o$rage &reative

so&ialisatio( he so$d e+peri'ets o# "ohe'ia &a "e

$tilised to help the &as$alties o# so&iety(

David Beales

Documents

Cut Ups and Drones Updated