Jim Carroll interview from 1987

Here's a scanned copy of an interview with the recently-departed punk poet icon Jim Carroll, by Joseph Menn in the Boston Globe. The article is not available anywhere online, and it's a fascinating read, so I'm glad Joe scanned it and published to Flickr.

Joe says, "[The interview took place] in person, at a Boston hotel in 1987. He was an amazing mix of imaginative power at work and straight-up stoner dude. He talked about how when he was in heroin withdrawal, the images he wanted would pile up uselessly like parked cars, then move too fast for him to catch, as in Koyanisqaatsi. But first he saw the chocolate on his pillow and said, 'Man, I could dig THAT later!'"

Flickr set of scanned images. Click "all sizes" on each scanned page to view a size large enough to read comfortably on-screen, they're scanned in high-rez. You can follow Joe on Twitter here.

Previously on BB: The great punk poet Jim Carroll has died.

[#1 posted by caffeine addict, September 14, 2009 10:14 AM]

Erm... wouldn't scanning and posting online something that the original author hasn't given permission for be a breach of copyright? I know it's one of those little-heard-of laws that no-one knows much about, but still...

[#2 posted by caffeine addict, September 14, 2009 10:17 AM]

[I'm half asleep... when I said 'Author' I actually meant Boston Globe, not the bloke who is actually the author. Stupid bug/brain/commenter]

[#3 posted by dculberson, September 14, 2009 10:48 AM]

Ahh, so you get to define what is and was Punk?

He was in a punk band, if that's a prerequisite. He also hustled and did heroin, which seem like strong credentials for being a punk. (Several of my punk friends have spent time with the needle.)

[#4 posted by dculberson, September 14, 2009 11:19 AM]

Oops, now my comment makes no sense. It was in response to someone impugning Carroll's punk status.

[#5 posted by maoinhibitor, September 14, 2009 4:58 PM]

Pulled out my wife's copy of Void of Course and I have to say I am enjoying re-reading it quite a bit. With lines like this how could I not?

You'll always be trapped luminous in my vectors
The vicarious essence of a tragic chorus
How far do you imagine you can go from my undertow?

[#6 posted by Fred H, September 14, 2009 8:55 PM]

He's dead?!?

[#7 posted by Anonymous, September 14, 2009 11:03 PM]

Here's my interview with Jim Carroll from 1992. It originally ran in the Atlanta and Tampa editions of alternative weekly Creative Loafing:

http://bit.ly/18n4o6

[#8 posted by Anonymous, September 17, 2009 8:16 PM]

>Erm... wouldn't scanning and posting online something that the original author hasn't given permission for be a breach of copyright? I know it's one of those little-heard-of laws that no-one knows much about, but still...

LOL oh no the internet police are going to serve some worthless blogger with a civil suit for millions of $ owed to some no name writer at the daily bumsville bugle.

On a side note RIP Jim, Patti sang beautifully at your service my Brother.