Ballad of the Skeletons by Allen Ginsberg

This is basically a glorified music video from 1997, directed by Gus Van Sant — but with music by Philip Glass and Paul McCartney, and spoken word by none other than Allen Ginsberg. I got a charge out of seeing him dressed as Uncle Sam, though by the end of the video I was beginning to tire of the poet-as-prophet schtick.

Incidentally, Howl, the movie, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, is set for release in September. That should breathe some new life into the Ginsberg cult.

2 Comments

  1. Reply
    PRA 10 June, 2010

    Great job on this site! I’d just like to point out a spelling mistake: it’s ‘Ginsberg’, and not ‘Ginsburg’…

    • Reply
      Dave Bonta 10 June, 2010

      Oops! So right you are. Thanks.

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