Charles Bukowski

by Howard Sounes

  I interviewed Carl Weissner (7 Mar&10 Aug, 1997) regarding the translation of Notes of a Dirty Old Man and its publication in Germany. The section about the fake Henry Miller quote, and the quoted Bukowski letter, is from Living on Luck.

  Details of Bukowski’s applications to the National Endowment for the Arts are from correspondence at UCSB. The quote, ‘I thought the life of a writer …’, is from a 1 Sept, 1970, letter from Bukowski to Neeli Cherkovski, published in Living on Luck.

  The extract from ‘Another Academy’ is from A New Year’s Gift for the Friends of Black Sparrow Press.

  8 LOVE LOVE LOVE

  Bukowski’s relationship with Linda King is primarily based on my interviews with Linda King conducted on various dates in 1996 and 1997, and our correspondence. Linda kindly made available her previously unpublished correspondence with Bukowski, her collection of artwork, magazines, and photographs. Extracts from her love letters to Bukowski appear with her permission. (NB: The letter from Bukowski to Linda about picking up a man on the way home has been lost, but Linda’s reply of 7 May, 1971, reads, in part: ‘I hope you had a good time with your homosexual pick-up …’)

  For additional background, I consulted the previously unpublished Bukowski–King correspondence at UCSB; and the article, ‘Bukowski’, written by Linda King and published in Small Press Review (May, 1973). The reference to the unpublished Bukowski poem, ‘I have eaten your cunt like a peach’, is from this article. I also referred to my interviews with Neeli Cherkovski, John Martin and Steve Richmond; to Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with Richmond; and to a previously unpublished letter dated 14 June, 1976, from Linda King to John Martin listing all the times Bukowski had been violent towards her.

  For additional background information for the early part of the chapter, I referred to An Anthology of LA Poets (Laugh Literary/Red Hill Press, 1972); Me and Your Sometimes Love Poems; Women; and back issues of Open City and the LA Free Press which are on microfiche at UCLA.

  The Gerald Locklin review of Post Office was published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on 18 Mar, 1971.

  The poem by Linda King, ‘How Long (for C. B.)’, appears with her kind permission.

  9 WOMEN

  Bukowski’s relationship with Liza Williams is based on my interviews with Liza conducted on 22 Feb & 25 June, 1997. Liza made available a photograph album of the Catalina holiday, which provided useful background information. Additional background came from Bukowski’s unpublished letters to Linda King, and letters published in Living on Luck.

  The primary source for the death of Jon Webb were my interviews with Gypsy Lou Webb. Ed Blair supplied useful background information and a copy of the June and Clyde story which appeared in the LA Free Press on 14 April, 1972. The Gypsy Lou quotes about Jon’s ashes are from an article by Liza Williams published in the LA Free Press in 1972, later reprinted in Sure magazine (No. 2, Aug, 1991).

  For details about Liza Williams’ party, I interviewed guests: Spain Rodriguez (19 July, 1997); Robert Williams (3 April, 1997); and corresponded with R. Crumb (19 Jan & 10 Mar, 1997).

  All quotes from Linda King are from my interviews conducted on various dates in 1996 and 1997, and these are the primary sources of all passages relating to Bukowski’s relationship with Linda. She also made available her unpublished correspondence with Bukowski and the extracts from the following letters: the letter beginning ‘I was so happy …’ is dated 21 May, 1972; and the letter beginning ‘Bastard Bukowski’ is dated 30 May, 1972.

  Quotes from Marina Bukowski are from my interview with her on 21 July, 1997.

  The section about the Silver Lake party is based on my interviews with Linda King, and the following guests: John Bennett and Marty Balin (as detailed in the Source Note to the Prologue); Brad Darby (13 Feb & 28 April, 1997); and Tina Darby (7 July, 1997). I also referred to John Bennett’s short story, The Party to End All Parties, which appears in The Moth Eaters (Anglefish Press, 1997).

  John Martin told me the story about Bukowski and the police who turned out to be fans (21 July, 1997). I spoke to Linda King about the fight which preceded the arrest.

  Bukowski’s relationship with Joanna Bull was described by Joanna Bull in interviews and correspondence (7, 15 & 27 Mar, 1997). Joanna also made available her unpublished correspondence with Bukowski.

  Bukowski’s trip to Utah is based on my interviews with Linda King and her sister, Gerry King (5 Jan, 1997). I also referred to Bukowski’s published letters in Living on Luck and his writings in Women.

  The screening of Taylor Hackford’s documentary, Bukowski, was based on my interviews with Neeli Cherkovski; Taylor Hackford (5 Feb, 1997); Linda King; and Jory Sherman. Taylor Hackford was kind enough to screen the film for me at his home in Hollywood. For additional background, I referred to Jory Sherman’s chapbook, Friendship Fame and Bestial Myth; and Steve Richmond’s book, Spinning Off Bukowski.

  Ruth Wantling described Bukowski’s visit to Normal, Illinois, the death of William Wantling and her trip to Los Angeles (interviews on various dates in 1996 and 1997). I also spoke with her friend, Victoria Harris (4 Dec, 1996), and interviewed the following: Brad Darby (13 Feb, 1997); Tina Darby (7 July, 1997); and Steve Richmond (8 Nov, 1996). Additional information is from Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with William and Ruth Wantling, held at UCSB, and Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with John Bennett, held at Brown University, Philadelphia. I also referred to microfiches of the LA Free Press at UCLA; and to A.D. Winans’ book, The Charles Bukowski/Second Coming Years.

  The poem, ‘cooperation’, is from Play The Piano Drunk/Like a Percussion Instrument Until/The Fingers Begin to Bleed a Bit. The poem, ‘trouble with spain’, is from Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame. The poem, ‘the icecream people’, was first published in the New York Quarterly (No. 14/Spring, 1973) and has never previously been published in a book. The extract appears here by permission of Black Sparrow Press.

  10 GETTING FAMOUS

  The Santa Cruz reading is based on my correspondence with the late Allen Ginsberg (23 Sept, 1996), and on an article by Ric Reynolds in the 6 Dec, 1974, issue of the Berkeley Barb.

  The information that Bukowski was invited to the Naropa Institute comes from a 18 Oct, 1978, letter from Ginsberg to Bukowski which is held at UCSB, and Bukowski’s reply declining the invitation. Harold Norse told me about Bukowski’s meeting with William Burroughs (13 Dec, 1996).

  Regarding the Sartre/Genet quotation about Bukowski being the best poet in America, John Martin initially referred me to Esquire magazine where he believed it first appeared. I also referred to the 17 June, 1976, issue of Rolling Stone magazine, where the claim was made. The staff at Esquire searched their archives, but found nothing. I then contacted international Sartre and Genet scholars starting with Professor Malcolm Bowie at Oxford University, England, who consulted his colleagues in Britain and the United States, none of whom knew about the quotation. Dr Jean-Pierre Boulé, secretary of the UK Society for Sartrean Studies, took my enquiry to the 1997 Sartre convention in Paris, France, but no one was aware of a connection between Sartre and Bukowski. Edmund White, author of Genet, knew nothing about an association with Genet. Albert Dichy, director of the Genet archive in Paris, was firmly of the opinion Genet had said no such thing (11 June, 1997). In an interview with John Martin in Santa Rosa on 21 July, 1997, he agreed the quotation was no more than apocryphal.

  The Bukowski quote, ‘I look around …’, and details about Bukowski’s meeting with Raymond Carver are from Donald McRae’s interview with Bukowski published in the Guardian newspaper, London, on 14 Dec, 1991. I also corresponded with Carver’s widow, Tess Gallagher (18 Dec, 1997). Lines from ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ come from Fires: Essays, Poems, Stories by Raymond Carver, first published in Great Britain in 1985 by Collins Harvill, copyright 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 by Tess Gallagher. Reproduced by permission of The Harvill Press.

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nbsp; Bukowski’s Santa Barbara reading was described by John Martin (21 July, 1997) and club owner Claire Rabe (6 & 22 Mar, 1997). I also referred to an article in the Santa Barbara News & Review (24 Oct, 1975).

  Bukowski’s comments about the inspiration for Factotum are from an interview he gave to Robert Wennersten of London magazine, reprinted in Zoot magazine (June, 1996). I also quoted from Richard Elman’s review of Factotum which appeared in the New York Times on 8 Aug, 1976; and referred to the 1989 Penguin edition of George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London.

  The Bukowski quote, ‘My writing has no meaning …’, is from Bukowski’s interview with Hustler magazine (Dec, 1976), as are his comments about The Fiend.

  Details about Bukowski’s payment by Hustler is from a 18 May, 1976, letter from the managing editor of Hustler to Bukowski. It is on file at UCSB. All comments from John Martin are from interviews with the author.

  Tina and Brad Darby described life at Carlton Way in interviews on various dates between Feb and July, 1997. I also corresponded with Bob Lind (1 June, 1997) and interviewed Bob Lind (8 Oct, 1997).

  The section about Bukowski’s friendship with George Di Caprio is from my 28 July, 1997, interview with George Di Caprio.

  Linda King described her break-up with Bukowski in interviews and correspondence on various dates in 1996 and 1997. I referred to her previously unpublished 14 June, 1976, letter to John Martin. I also spoke to Tina Darby; referred to Women; and Bukowski’s letters in Living on Luck.

  The primary source for the section about Pamela Miller (aka Cupcakes) are my interviews with Pamela (6 & 25 July, 1997). I also referred to letters published in Living on Luck.

  The poems, ‘one for the shoeshine man’, ‘how come you’re not unlisted?’, and ‘huge ear rings’ are from Love Is a Dog from Hell. The Fiend is from The Most Beautiful Woman in Town: copyright 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1983 by Charles Bukowski. Reprinted by permission of City Lights Books.

  11 RED DEATH SUNSET BLOOD GLORY GALS

  Pamela Miller (aka Cupcakes) described her meeting with Bukowski and their subsequent affair (25 June & 6 July, 1997). The notes Bukowski left at her apartment are taken from Living on Luck. I referred to Pamela’s original inscribed copy of Scarlet; to Women and Love Is a Dog From Hell.

  The New York reading was described by Pamela Miller. I also consulted my interview with Gerard Malanga (18 Dec, 1996). Additional background came from reviews of the reading that appeared in Dodeca magazine (Aug, 1976) by Tom Jackrell, and The Drummer magazine (6 July, 1976) by Louise Simons; and from Bukowski’s own writings in Love Is a Dog from Hell and Women.

  Background about Bukowski’s other affairs and correspondence with women fans are from the following sources: my interview with Amber O’Neil (23 Mar, 1997); interviews and correspondence with Jane Manhattan (7 & 14 Mar, and 14 Aug, 1997); and interviews and correspondence with Jo Jo Planteen (4–23 Mar, 1997). Amber O’Neil allowed me to quote from her self-published chapbook, Blowing My Hero. I also referred to her unpublished correspondence with Bukowski. Jo Jo Planteen allowed me to read her unpublished correspondence with Bukowski. I consulted Bukowski’s general correspondence on file at the University of Arizona; and letters in Living on Luck.

  Bukowski’s relationship with A.D. Winans’ girlfriend is based on details that appear in Winans’ book, The Charles Bukowski/Second Coming Years; from my 7 July, 1997, interview with Winans; and from Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with Winans, collected at Brown University, Philadelphia.

  All quotes from John Martin, including the story about the two Dutch girls, are from my interviews with Martin.

  The exchange between Bukowski and his mail man is from Barbet Schroeder’s The Charles Bukowski Tapes.

  All quotes from Linda Lee Bukowski (nee Beighle) are from my 25 Oct, 1996, interview with Linda Lee. I also interviewed Joan Smith (26 July, 1997). Background information on Linda Lee’s early relationship with Bukowski is taken from the following sources: Bukowski’s published correspondence in Living on Luck; his correspondence with Amber O’Neil, published in Blowing My Hero; his unpublished correspondence with a confidential source; his unpublished correspondence with Jo Jo Planteen, Linda Lee’s contribution to the documentary The Ordinary Madness of Charles Bukowski; Linda Lee’s 1985 Certificate of Registry of Marriage; pages 253–254 of Hank by Neeli Cherkovski; my interviews with Pamela Miller; the unpublished Beighle–Bukowski correspondence at the University of Arizona; and, at Linda Lee’s suggestion, Bukowski’s fictionalized account of their meeting as published in Women.

  I am grateful to the staff of The Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood, and especially to barman Ruben Rueda whom I interviewed there on 2 Jan, 1997.

  Details of Bukowski’s last meeting with Linda King are based on my interviews with Linda King on various dates between 1996 and 1997.

  I also consulted Thomas Schmitt’s 1976 documentary, Charles Bukowski – East Hollywood.

  The extracts from Bukowski’s letters to Cupcakes and Carl Weissner are from Living on Luck.

  The poems, ‘i made a mistake’, ‘liberty’, ‘a stethoscope case’ and ‘the retreat’ are published in Love is a Dog from Hell. The poem, ‘i am a reasonable man’, appears in Dangling in the Tournefortia. The poem, ‘the shower’, appears in Mockingbird Wish Me Luck.

  12 EUROPEAN SON

  Bukowski’s publishing history in Germany was described by Carl Weissner in interviews (5–6 Mar & 10 Aug, 1997).

  I interviewed Michael Montfort on 23 July, 1997, and referred to his limited edition book, Bukowski (Photographs 1977–1987).

  Montfort and Weissner described the Hamburg reading. For additional background, I referred to Shakespeare Never Did This, and to audio and video recordings of the Hamburg reading.

  I visited Andernach, Germany, in April, 1997, and interviewed Heinrich Fett’s son, Karl Fett, and Heinrich Fett’s daughter-in-law, Josephine Fett, about Bukowski’s return to the town. Matthew Davis translated.

  I interviewed Rolf Degen (23–25 Mar, 1997) and am grateful to the library staff at Mainz University in Germany for finding a contemporaneous article Degen wrote about his meeting with Bukowski in Andernach.

  Additional information came from Shakespeare Never Did This and interviews with Linda Lee Bukowski (25 Oct, 1996), Michael Montfort and Carl Weissner.

  The account of Bukowski’s business affairs, and his relationship with John Martin, is based primarily on Bukowski’s unpublished 1978 correspondence with John Martin. I also referred to my interviews with John Martin; and a 6 June, 1978, letter from Bukowski to Carl Weissner, published in Living on Luck.

  Details of the purchase of the San Pedro house are taken from Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with John Martin; and from Bukowski’s books, Dangling in the Tournefortia and Hollywood.

  Background about Barbet Schroeder is from The Biographical Dictionary of Film by David Thomson. I also consulted Hank by Neeli Cherkovski; and Living on Luck.

  Linda Lee Bukowski described her 1978 trip to France with Bukowski and his appearance on the Apostrophes television program. I also referred to video film of the show and to Shakespeare Never Did This. The quote from Barbet Schroeder is from his contribution to the documentary, The Ordinary Madness of Charles Bukowski.

  The poem, ‘Looking for a Job’, appears in Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame.

  13 CHINASKI IN SUBURBIA

  Reaction to Women by Bukowski’s girlfriends, and female acquaintances, is from interviews as previously listed. I also referred to and quoted from Women.

  Bukowski’s association with John Fante is primarily based on my correspondence and 3 June, 1997, interview with Joyce Fante, and on my interviews with John Martin. Ben Pleasants, who interviewed Bukowski and Fante in the 1970s, told me Bukowski was worried about meeting Fante because he felt he had taken the idea of short chapters from him. For additional background material, I referred to the following sources: an article about John Fante, written by Frank Spo
tnitz, which appeared in American Film magazine in July, 1989; Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with John Martin; an audio tape of a reading Bukowski gave at Redondo Beach, California, in April, 1980, during which he urged the crowd to buy Fante’s books and called him ‘my buddy …’; the Bukowski preface for the 1980 Black Sparrow Press edition of Ask the Dust; and Black Sparrow editions of Fante’s novels, Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1983) and Full of Life (1988). The dialogue between Bukowski and Fante is partly based on an essay by Bukowski about John Fante, which is part of John Martin’s archive in Santa Rosa. I also referred to a 27 Jan, 1990, letter from Bukowski to Kevin Ring, editor of Beat Scene magazine, in which Bukowski relates the dialogue between him and Fante.

  Bukowski’s lifestyle at San Pedro, and the purchase of his BMW, is based on my interview with Linda Lee Bukowski; interviews with John Martin; Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with John Martin; and correspondence in Living On Luck. I also referred to poems published in Dangling in the Tournefortia. Details of the Barfly deal are from letters in Living on Luck; Bukowski’s unpublished correspondence with John Martin; Bukowski’s novel, Hollywood; and an interview with Bukowski by Chris Hodenfield published in Film Comment (Aug 1987).

  Linda Lee Bukowski described the background to the making of The Charles Bukowski Tapes, Bukowski’s return to Longwood Avenue and the circumstances surrounding the occasion when he kicked her off the sofa. I also referred to an essay Barbet Schroeder wrote for the Elms Lesters Celebrates Charles Bukowski exhibition, in London, in 1996. The quoted exchanges between Bukowski, Linda Lee and Schroeder are taken from The Charles Bukowski Tapes.