William S Burroughs | Artist

William Seward Burroughs II was an American writer and visual artist born 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born into a wealthy family, grandson of the inventor and founder of the Burroughs Corporation. Burroughs was a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author whose influence affected popular culture and literature. In Jack Kerouac's classic "On The Road" Burroughs' character is named Old Bull Lee. Much of Burroughs' work is semiautobiographical, primarily drawn from his experiences as a heroin addict, as he lived throughout Mexico City, London, Paris and Morocco. His major works include the novels Junkie, Queer, The Naked Lunch, The Soft Machine, The Ticket That Exploded and Nova Express. Burroughs made many excellent spoken word recordings of his own works, as well as, in his later years, working with musicians such as Laurie Anderson, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphopricy and Tom Waits. Outstanding albums include Call me Burroughs, Dead City Radio, Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales, Vaudeville Voices and The Naked Lunch reading.

Artist Website: realitystudio.org

Featured Albums: William S Burroughs

Related Artists: Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Laurie Anderson, Tom Waits, Brion Gysin, Material