Three Rooms Press & Beyond Baroque present

THE OFFICIAL L.A. LAUNCH OF

DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS

William S. Burroughs in Conversation with Allen Ginsberg
edited by Steven Taylor

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Doors open 7:30pm | Showtime 8pm

The Los Angeles area will get a close up look at the “new” book by William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg as Three Rooms Press presents an evening of reading and storytelling at the LA launch of DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS: William S. Burroughs in Conversation with Allen Ginsberg. The event will be held at Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center in Venice on Thursday, November 15, 8 pm. Admission is $10 regular, $6 for students & seniors, and free for Beyond Baroque members.

The event features readings from the book and storytelling about legendary Beat icons from performance artist Linda J. Albertano, X lead singer Exene Cervenka, spoken word artist Rich Ferguson, poet-publisher-actor S.A. Griffin, performance artist Mike Mollett, poet Marc Olmsted, and record producer Pat Thomas. Three Rooms Press co-directors Peter Carlaftes and Kat Georges will host. As a special feature, a custom Dreamachine will be in full operation throughout the event.

Copies of DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS will be available for purchase at the event. The event is free and open to the public.

About DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS
In DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS, the fathers of the Beat movement converse about deeply intimate and personal history while gathered at Burroughs’ house in Lawrence, Kansas. The conversation includes discussion of:

• David Cronenberg’s film adaptation of Burroughs’ classic novel Naked Lunch 
• Shamanism, including a detailed description of the shamanic exorcism of the demon Burroughs believes forced him to kill his common-law wife in 1951
• Literary associates, influences, techniques, and insights
• Punk rock’s contributions to counterculture lore

With the current political landscape mirroring many aspects of the early Beat period, DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS is particularly timely. Interest in both authors’ work is on the rise. Many consider these legendary icons’ perspectives to particularly prophetic.

High Praise for DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS

“This oral trove is a compendium of trenchant, ordinary and magical gnosis . . . A tangible, tender, and totally engaging tour de force, and balm for the dystopia time we’re caught in.” —Anne Waldman, poet, feminist, and activist

“A beautiful book where you are pleasantly sitting with two originators of Beat-ism.” —Gus Van Sant, film director

“A penetrating riff on the starry dynamo of America.” —Dr. Peter Weller, actor, scholar

“Beatific banter … energy of intellect, eros and rapacious vision.” —Thurston Moore, musician

“Must-have resource for beat aficionados . . . thoroughly in tune, with two legendary literary iconoclasts.” —Publishers Weekly 

“Devotees of these Beat Generation icons will find these conversations between longtime friends both entertaining and revealing” —Library Journal

“Will make both fanboy and scholar sit up straight at attention.”  —Sensitive Skin

ABOUT THREE ROOMS PRESS
Three Rooms Press is a fierce New York-based independent publisher inspired by dada, punk and passion. Founded in 1993, it serves as a leading independent publisher of cut-the-edge creative, including fiction, memoir, poetry translations, drama and art. In addition, Three Rooms Press produces and promotes a variety of literary and cultural events worldwide. Three Rooms Press books are distributed in the U.S. and internationally by PGW / Ingram.