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WilliamBurroughsonLedZeppelin!

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RockMagic:JimmyPage,LedZeppelin,AndasearchfortheelusiveStairwaytoHeaven(http://www.geocities.com/thoea2004/)byWilliamBurroughs,CrawdaddyMagazine,June1975.

WhenIwasfirstaskedtowriteanarticleontheLedZeppelingroup,tobebasedonattendingaconcertandtalkingwithJimmyPage,IwasnotsureIcoulddoit,notbeingsufficientlyknowledgeableaboutmusictoattemptanythinginthewayofmusicalcriticismorevenevaluation.IdecidedsimplytoattendtheconcertandtalkwithJimmyPageandletthearticledevelop.Ifyouconsideranysetofdatawithoutapreconceivedviewpoint,thenaviewpointwillemergefromthedata.

Myfirstimpressionwasoftheaudience.Aswestreamedthroughonesecuritylineafteranotherariverofyouthlookingcuriouslylikeasingleorganism:onewellbehavedcleanlookingmiddleclasskid.Thesecurityguardsseemedtobecoolandwelltrained,usheringgatecrashersoutwithaminimumoffuss.Wewerechanneledsmoothlyintoourseatsinthethirteenthrow.Overarelaxeddinnerbeforetheconcert,aCrawdaddycompanionhadsaidhehadafeelingthatsomethingbadcouldhappenatthisconcert.Ipointedoutthatitalwayscanwhenyougetthatmanypeopletogetherlikebullfightswhereyoubuyastrawhatatthedoortoprotectyoufrombottlesandothermissiles.IwasdisplacingpossibledangertoaMexicanbordertownwherethematadorbarelyescapedwithhislifeandseveralspectatorswerekilled.Itsknownasclearingthepath.

Sotherewesat,Ideclineearplugs;IamusedtolouddrumandhornmusicfromMorocco,anditalwayshas,ifskillfullyperformed,anexhilaratingandenergizingeffectonme.AstheperformancegotunderwayIexperiencedthismusicalexhilaration,whichwasallthemorepleasantforbeingeasilycontrolled,andIknewthenthatnothingbadwasgoingtohappen.Thiswasasafeandfriendlyareabutatthesametimehighlycharged.Therewasapalpableinterchangeofenergybetweentheperformersandtheaudiencewhichwasneverfranticorjagged.Thespecialeffectswerehandledwellandnotoverdone.

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Afewspecialeffectsaremuchbetterthantoomany.Icanseethelaserbeamscuttingdryicesmoke,whichdrewanappreciativecheerfromtheaudience.JimmyPagesnumberwiththebrokenguitarstringscameacrosswitharealimpact,asdidJohnBonhamsdrumsoloandthelyricsdeliveredwithunfailingvitalitybyRobertPlant.Theperformersweredoingtheirbest,anditwasverygood.Thelastnumber,StairwaytoHeaven,wheretheaudiencelitmatchesandtherewasascatteringofsparklershereandthere,foundtheaudiencewellbehavedandjoyous,creatingtheatmosphereofahighschoolChristmasplay.Allinallagoodshow;neitherlownorinsipid.Leavingtheconcerthallwaslikegettingoffajetplane.

IsummarizedmyimpressionsaftertheconcertinafewnotestoserveasabasisformytalkwithJimmyPage.Theessentialingredientforanysuccessfulrockgroupisenergytheabilitytogiveoutenergy,toreceiveenergyfromtheaudienceandtogiveitbacktotheaudience.Arockconcertisinfactariteinvolvingtheevocationandtransmutationofenergy.Rockstarsmaybecomparedtopriests,athemethatwastreatedinPeterWatkinsfilmPrivilege.Inthatfilmarockstarwasmanipulatedbyreactionaryforcestosetupastatereligion;thisscenarioseemsunlikely,Ithinkarockgroupsingingpoliticalsloganswouldleaveitsaudienceatthedoor.

TheLedZeppelinshowdependsheavilyonvolume,repetitionanddrums.ItbearssomeresemblancetothetrancemusicfoundinMorocco,whichismagicalinoriginandpurposethatis,concernedwiththeevocationandcontrolofspiritualforces.InMorocco,musiciansarealsomagicians.Gnaouamusicisusedtodriveoutevilspirits.ThemusicofJoujoukaevokestheGodPan,PanGodofPanic,representingtherealmagicalforcesthatsweepawaythespurious.Itistoberememberedthattheoriginofalltheartsmusic,paintingandwritingismagicalandevocative;andthatmagicisalwaysusedtoobtainsomedefiniteresult.IntheLedZeppelinconcert,theresultaimedatwouldseemtobethecreationofenergyintheperformersandintheaudience.Forsuchmagictosucceed,itmusttapthesourcesofmagicalenergy,andthiscanbedangerous.

THEINTERVIEW

IfeltthattheseconsiderationscouldformthebasisofmytalkwithJimmyPage,whichIhopedwouldnottaketheformofaninterview.ThereissomethingjustbasicallyWRONGaboutthewholeinterviewformat.Someonesticksamikeinyourfaceandsays,Mr.Page,wouldyoucaretotalkaboutyourinterestinoccultpractices?Wouldyoudescribeyourselfasabelieverinthissortofthing?Evenanintelligentmikeinthefacequestiontendstoevokeaguardedmikeinthefaceanswer.AssoonasJimmyPagewalkedintomyloftdowntown,Isawthatitwasntgoingtobethatway.

Westartedtalkingoveracupofteaandfoundwehavefriendsincommon:therealestateagentwhonegotiatedJimmyPagespurchaseoftheAleisterCrowleyhouseonLochNess;JohnMichel,theflyingsaucerandpyramidexpert;DonaldCamel,whoworkedonPerformance;KennethAnger,andtheJaggers,MickandChris.ThesubjectofmagiccameupinconnectionwithAleisterCrowleyandKennethAngersfilmLuciferRising,forwhichJimmyPagedidthesoundtrack.

Sincethewordmagictendstocauseconfusedthinking,IwouldliketosayexactlywhatImeanbymagicandthemagicalinterpretationofsocalledreality.Theunderlyingassumptionofmagicistheassertionofwillastheprimarymovingforceinthisuniversethedeepconvictionthatnothinghappensunlesssomebodyorsomebeingwillsittohappen.To

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methishasalwaysseemedselfevident.Achairdoesnotmoveunlesssomeonemovesit.Neitherdoesyourphysicalbody,whichiscomposedofmuchthesamematerials,moveunlessyouwillittomove.Walkingacrosstherooomisamagicaloperation.Fromtheviewpointofmagic,nodeath,noillness,nomisfortune,accident,warorriotisaccidental.Therearenoaccidentsintheworldofmagic.Andwillisanotherwordforanimateenergy.RockstarsarejugglingfissionablematerialthatcouldblowupatanytimeThesoccerscoresarecominginfromtheCapitalonemustpretendaninterest,drawledthedandifiedCommandante,safeinthepagesofmybook;andasanotherrockstarsaidtome,YOUsitonyourasswritingIcouldbetorntopiecesbymyfans,likeOrpheus.

IfoundJimmyPageequallyawareoftherisksinvolvedinhandlingthefissionablematerialofthemassunconcious.ItookonavalenceIlearnedyearsagofromtwoLifeTimereportersonekeepstellingyouthesehorrificstories:NowoldBurnswasdraggedoutofthetruckandskinnedalivebythemob,andwhenwegottherewiththecamerasthebloodythingwasstillsquirmingtherelikeawormwhiletheotherhalfoftheteamissnappingpicturesCLICKCLICKCLICKtorecordyourreactionssooverdinneratMexicanGardensItoldJimmythestoryofthebigsoccerriotinLima,Peruin1964.

WeareusheredintothearenaasVIPs,inthestylemadefamousbyTriumphoftheWill.MartialmusiclongvistasthestatuesquepolicewiththeirdogsonleadsthecrowdsurginginasultrymenacingelectricitypalpableintheairgreycloudsoverLimapeopleglanceupuneasilythelasttimeitrainedinLimawastheyearofthegreatearthquake,whenwholetownswereswallowedbylandslides.Acopisbeatingandkickingsomeoneasheshoveshimbacktowardstheexit.Ohluckyman.Thedogsgrowlominously.Thegameistense.Tieduntiltheendofthelastquarter,andthenthestunningdecision:agoalthatwouldhavewonthegameforPeruisdisqualifiedbytheUruguayanreferee.Ahowlofragefromthecrowd,andthenahugeblackknownasLaBomba,whohasstartedthreeprevioussoccerriotsandalreadyhastwentythreenotchesonhisbomb,vaultsdownintothearena.AwaveoffansfollowsTheBombtheUruguayanrefereescramblesoffwiththeagilityofaratoranevilspiritthepolicereleaseteargasandunleashtheirsnarlingdogs,hystericalwithfearandrageandmaddenedbytheteargas.Andthenasoundlikefallingmountains,asafewdropsofrainbegintofall.

Yes,Ivethoughtaboutthat.Weallhave.Theimportantthingismaintainabalance.Thekidscometogetfaroutwiththemusic.Itsourjobtoseetheyhaveagoodtimeandnotrouble.

AndremembertherockgroupcalledStorm?PlayingadancehallinSwitzerlandfireexitslockedthirtysevenpeopledeadincludingalltheperformers.Nowanyperformerwhohasneverthoughtaboutfireandpanicjustdoesntthink.Thebestwaytokeepsomethingbadfromhappeningistoseeitaheadoftime,andyoucantseeitifyourefusetofacethepossibility.Thebadvibesinthatdancehallmusthavebeenreallyheavy.Iftheperformershadbeensensitiveandalert,theywouldhavecheckedtobesuretheexitswereunlocked.

Previously,overtwofingersofwhiskeyinmyFranklinStreetdigs,IhadtoldPageaboutMajorBruceMacMannaway,ahealerandpsychicwholivesinScotland.TheMajordiscoveredhishealingabilitiesinWorldWarIIwhenhisregimentwascutoffwithoutmedicalsuppliesandtheMajorstartedlayingonhandsWellMajor,IthinkitsaloadofbollocksbutIlltryanything.AnditturnsouttheMajorisawalkinghypo.HispsychicabilitiesweresohighlyregardedbytheAdmiraltythathewascalledintolocatesunkensubmarines,andheneveroncemissed.

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IattendedagroupmeditationseminarwiththeMajor.ItturnedouttobetheIndianropetrick.BeforethesessiontheMajortoldussomethingofthepotentialpoweringroupmeditation.Hehadseenitliftasixhundredpoundchurchorganfivefeetintheair.Ihadnoreasontodoubtthis,sincehewasobviouslyincapableoffalsification.Inthesession,aftersomepreliminaryexcercises,theMajoraskedustoseeacolumnoflightinthecenteroftheroomandthentookusupthroughthelighttoaplateauwherewemetnicefriendlypeople:thestairwaytoheaveninfact.ImeanwewerereallyTHERE.

IturnedtoJimmyPage:Ofcoursewearedealingherewithmeditationthedeliberateinductionofatrancestateinafewpeopleunderthehandsofanoldmaster.Thiswouldseemonthesurfacetohavealittleincommonwitharockconcert,buttheunderlyingforceisthesame:humanenergyanditspotentialconcentration.IpointedoutthatthemomentwhenthestairwaytoheavenbecomessomethingactuallyPOSSIBLEfortheaudience,wouldalsobethemomentofgreatestdanger.Jimmyexpressedhimselfaswellawareofthepowerinmassconcentration,awareofthedangersinvolved,andoftheskillandbalanceneededtoavoidthemratherlikedrivingaloadofnitroglycerine.

ThereISaresponsibilitytotheaudience,hesaid.Wedontwantanythingbadtohappentothesekidswedontwanttoreleaseanythingwecanthandle.WetalkedaboutmagicandAleisterCrowley.JimmysaidthatCrowleyhasbeenmalignedasablackmagician,whereasmagicisneitherwhitenorblack,goodnorbaditissimplyalivewithwhatitis:therealthing,whatpeoplereallyfeelandwantandare.Ipointedoutthatthiseither/orstraitjackethadbeenimposedbyChristianitywhenallmagicbecameblackmagic;thatscientiststookoverfromtheChurch,andWesternmanhasbeenstifledinanonmagicaluniverseknownasthewaythingsare.Rockmusiccanbeseenasoneattempttobreakoutofthisdeadsoullessuniverseandreasserttheuniverseofmagic.

JimmytoldmethatAleisterCrowleyshousehasverygoodvibesforanyonewhoisrelaxedandreceptive.AtonetimethehousehadalsobeenthesceneofavastchickenswindleindirectlyinvolvingGeorgeSanders,themovieactor,whowasabletoclearhimselfofanycriminalcharges,SanderscommittedsuicideinBarcelona,andwebothrememberedhisfarewellnotetotheworld:Ileaveyoutothissweetcesspool.

ItoldJimmyhewasluckytoohavethathousewithamonsterinthefrontyard.WhatabouttheLochNessmonster?JimmyPagethinksitexists.Iwonderedifitcouldfindenoughtoeat,andthoughtthisunlikelyitsnottheimprobabilitybuttheupkeeponmonstersthatworriesme.DidAleisterCrowleyhaveopinionsonthesubject?Heapparentlyhadnotexpressedhimself.

Wetalkedabouttrancemusic.HehadheardtheBrianJonesrecordfromrecordingsmadeatJoujouka.Wediscussedthepossibilityofsynthesizingrockmusicwithsomeoftheolderformsoftrancemusicthathavebeendevelopedovercenturiestoproducepowerful,sometimeshypnoticeffectsontheaudience.Suchasynthesiswouldenabletheolderformstoescapefromthemouldoffolkloreandprovidenewtechniquestorockgroups.

Wetalkedaboutthespecialeffectsusedintheconcert.Sure,hesaid,lights,lasers,dryicearefinebutyouhavetokeepsomebalance.Theshowmustcarryitselfandnotrelytooheavilyonspecialeffects,howeverspectacular,Ibroughtupthesubjectofinfrasound,thatis,soundpitchedbelow16Hertz,thelevelofhumanhearing;asultrasoundisabovethelevel.ProfesserGavreauofFrancedevelopedinfrasoundasamilitaryweapon.Apowerfulinfra

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soundinstallationcan,heclaims,killeveryoneinafivemileradius,knockdownwallsandbreakwindows.Infrasoundkillsbysettingupvibrationswithinthebodysothat,asGavreauputsit,Youcanfeelalltheorgansinyourbodyrubbingtogether.TheplansforthisdevicecanbeobtainedfromtheFrenchPatentOffice,andinfrasoundgeneratorsconstructedfrominexpensivematerials.Needlesstosay,oneisnotconcernedwithmilitaryapplicationshoweverunlimited,butwithmoreinterestingandusefulpossibilities,reachingmuchfurtherthatfivemiles.

Infrasoundsetsupvibrationsinthebodyandnervoussystem.Needthesevibrationsnecessarilybeharmfulorunpleasant?Allmusicplayedatanyvolumesetsupvibrationsinthebodyandnervoussystemofthelistener.Thatswhypeoplelistentoit.Carusoasyouwilremembercouldbreakachampagneglassacrosstheroom.Especiallyinterestingisthepossibilityofrhythmicpulsesofinfrasound;thatis,MUSICININFRASOUND.Youcanthearit,butyoucanfeelit.

Jimmywasinterested,andIgavehimacopyofanewspaperarticleoninfrasound.Itseemsthatthemostdeadlyrangeisaround7Hertz,andwhenthisisturnedonevenatalowvolume,anyonewithinrangeisaffected.Theyfeelanxious,ill,depressed,andfinallyexclaimwithonevoice,IfeelTERRIBLE!lastthingyouwantatarockconcert.However,aroundthebordersofinfrasoundperhapsasaferangecanbefound.Buddhistmantrasactbysettingupvibrationsinthebody.Couldthisbedoneinamuchmorepowerfulyetsafemannerbytheuseofinfrasoundrhythmswhichcouldofcoursecouldbecombinedwithaudiblemusic?Perhapsinfrasoundcouldaddanewdimensiontorockmusic.

Couldsomethingbedevelopedcomparabletothesonarcommunicationofdolphins,conveyinganimmediatesonarexperiencethatrequiresnosymbolictranslation?ImentionedtoJimmythatIhadtalkedwithDr.Truby,whoworkedwithJohnLillyrecordingdolphins.Dr.Trubyisaspecialistininterspeciescommunication,workingonagrantfromthegovernmentsothatwhenallourkidsarebornVenusianswewillunderstandthenwhentheystarttotalk.IsuggestedtohimthatALLcommunication,asweknowit,isactuallyinterspeciescommunication,andthatitiskeptthatwaybythenatureofverbalandsymboliccommunication,whichmustbeindirect.

Dodolphinshavealanguage?Whatisalanguage?IdefinealanguageasacommunicationsysteminwhichdataarerepresentedbyverbalorwrittensymbolssymbolsthatARENOTTHEOBJECTStowhichtheyrefer.Thewordchairisnottheobjectitself,thechair.Soanysuchsystemofcommunicationisalwayssecondhandandsymbolic,whereasweCANconceiveofaformofcommunicationthatwouldbeimmediateanddirect,undercuttingtheneedforsymbols.Andmusiccertainlycomesclosertosuchdirectcommunicationthanlanguage.

Couldmusicalcommunicationberenderedmoreprecisewithinfrasound,thusbringingthewholeofmusicasecondradicalstepforward?Thefirststepwasmadewhenmusiccameoutofthedancehalls,roadhouses,andnightclubs,intoMadisonSquareGardenandSheaStadium.Rockmusicappealstoamassaudience,insteadofbeingtheprovinceofarelativelyfewaficionados.Canrockmusicmakeanotherstepforward,orisitaselflimitingform,confirmedbythedemandsofamassaudience?Howmuchthatisradicallynewcanamassaudiencesafelyabsorb?Wecamebacktothequestionofbalance.Howmuchnewmaterialwillbeacceptedbyamassaudience?Canrockmusicgoforwardwithoutleavingitsfansbehind?

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WetalkedaboutWilhelmReichsorgoneaccumulator,andIshowedhimplansformakingthisdevice,whichwerepassedalongtomebyReichsdaughter.Basicallythedeviceisverysimple,consistingofironorsteelwoolontheinsideandorganicmaterialontheoutside.Ithinkthiswashighlyimportantdiscovery.RecentlyascientistwiththeNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministrationannouncedanelectricalcelltheoryofcancerthatisalmostidenticaltoReichscancertheoryputforth25yearsago.HedoesnotacknowledgeanyindebtednesstoReich.IshowedJimmytheorgoneboxIhavehere,andweagreedthatorgoneaccumulatorsinpyramidformand/orusingmagnetizedironcouldbemuchmorepowerful.

WetalkedaboutthefilmPerformanceandtheuseofcutuptechniquesinthisfilm.NowthecutupmethodwasappliedtowritingbyBrionGysinin1959;hesaidthatwritingwasfiftyyearsbehindpainting,andappliedthemontagemethodtowriting.Actually,montageismuchclosertothefactsofperceptionthatnrepresentationalpainting.IfforexampleyouwalkedthroughTimesSquare,andthenputoncanvaswhatyouhadseen,theresultwouldbeamontagehalfapersoncutintwobyacar,reflectionsfromshopwindows,fragmentsofstreetsigns.AntonyBalchandIcollaboratedonafilmcalledCutUps,inwhichthefilmwascutintosegmentsandrearrangedatrandom.NicholasRoegandDonaldCamelsawascreeningofthefilmnotlongbeforetheymadePerformance.

MusicalcutupshavebeenusedbyEarlBrowneandothermoderncomposers.Whatdistinguishesacutupfrom,say,aneditedmedley,isthatthecutupisatsomepointrandom.Forexample,ifyoumadeamedleybytakingthirtysecondsfromanumberofscoresandassemblingthesearbitraryunitsthatwouldbeacutup.Cutupsoftenresultinmoresuccinctmeanings,ratherthannonsense.Hereforexampleisaphrasetakenfromacutupofthisarticle:Icanseethelasergatecrasherswithanappreciativecheerfromthe13throw.(Actuallyagatecrasherwasextricatedbysecurityfromtherowinfrontofus;anincidentIhadforgotenuntilIsawthiscutup.)

OverdinnerattheMexicanGardens,IwassuprisedtohearthatJimmyPagehadneverheardofPetrillo,whostartedthefirstmusiciansunionandperhapsdidmorethananyotheronemantoimprovethefinancialpositioinofmusiciansbyprotectingcopyrights.OnewonderswhetherrockmusiccouldhavegottenoffthegroundwithoutPetrilloandtheUnion,whichputmusiciansinthebigmoneybracket,therebyattractingmanagers,publicity,andthemassaudience.

Music,likeallthearts,ismagicalandceremonialinorigin.Canrockmusicreturntotheseceremonialrootsandtakeitsfanswithit?CanrockmusicuseolderformslikeMoroccantrancemusic?Thereisatpresentawideinterestamongyoungpeopleintheoccultandallmeansofexpandingconsciousness.Canrockmusicappealdirectlytothisinterest?Inshort,thereareanumberofdisparatetendencieswaitingtobesynthesized.Canrockmusicserveasavehicleforthissynthesis?

Thebrokenguitarstrings,JohnBonhamsdrumsolo,vitalitybyRobertPlantwhenyougetthatmanypeopletogetit,verygood.Buyastrawhatatthedoortheaudiencealllightmatches.Coolwelltrainedlaserbeamschannelledtheaudiencesmoothly.Ascatteringofsparklers.DangertoaMexicanbordertown.WestarttalkingoveracupofthemassunconsciouscuttoasoccerriotphotoinLima.TheUruguayanrefereeasanotherrockstar.Soundlikefallingmountainsoftherisksinvolved.Itsourjobtoseetroubleandplateauthe

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centeroftheroomrememberthestairwaytoSwitzerland?Firereallythere.Youcantseeitifyourefuseunderlyingforcethesame.Imeanwewereplayingadancehallinheavenatthemomentwhenthestairwayactuallypossiblefortheaudiencewasunlocked.

WORDFORWORD

WILLIAMBURROUGHS:Ireally,reallyenjoyedtheconcert.Ithinkithasquitealot,really,incommonwithMoroccantrancemusic.

JIMMYPAGE:Yes,yes.

WB:Iwonderedifyouconsciouslywereusinganyofthat.

JP:Well,yes,thereisalittleonthatperticulartrack,KashmiraleadbassonthateventhoughnoneofushavebeentoKashmir.Itsjustthatweveallbeenveryinvolvedinthatsortofmusic.Imveryinvolvedinethnicmusicfromallovertheworld.

WB:HaveyoubeentoMorocco?

JP:No.Ihavent,anditsaverysadadmissiontomake.Iveonlybeento,youknow,IndiaandBangkokandplaceslikethatthroughtheSoutheast.

WB:Well,IveneverbeeneastofAthens.

JP:Becauseduringtheperiodwheneverybodywasgoingthroughtripsoverto,youknow,Morocco,goingdown,waydown,makingtheirownjourneystooIstanbul,IwasatartcollegeduringthatperiodandthenIeventuallywentstraightintomusic.SoIreallymissedoutonallthatsortoftraveling.ButIknowmusiciansthathavegonethereandactuallysatinwiththeArabsandplayedwiththem.

WB:Yeah,welltheythinkofmusicentirelyinmagicalterms.

JP:Yes.

WB:Andtheirmusicisdefinitelyusedformagicalpurposes.Forexample,theGnaouamusicistodriveoutevilspiritsandJoujoukamusicisinvokingtheGodPan.Musiciansthereareallmagicians,quiteconsciously.

WB:Iwasthinkingoftheconcentrationofmassenergythatyougetinapopconcert,andifthatwere,say,channeledinsomemagicalwayastairwaytooheavenitcouldbecomequiteactual.

JP:Yes,Iknow.Oneissoawareoftheenergiesthatyouaregoingfor,andyoucouldsoeasily.Imean,forinstance,theothernightweplayedinthePhiladelphiaSpectrum,whichreallyisablackholeasaconcerthall.ThesecuritythereisthemostuglyofanywhereintheStates.IsawthisincidenthappenandIwasalmostphysicallysick.Infact,ifIhadntbeenplayingtheguitarIwasplayingitwouldvebeenoversomebodyshead.Itwasadoubleneck,whichisirreplaceable,really,unlessyouwaitanotherninemonthsforthemtomakeanotheroneatGibsons.

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Whathadhappened,somebodycametothefrontofthestagetotakeapictureorsomethingandobviouslysomebodysaid,Beoffwithyou.Andhewouldntgo.Andthenonechapwentoverthebarrier,andthenanother,andthenanotherandthenanother,andtheyallpiledontopofyoucouldseethefistscomingoutonthisonesolitaryperson.Andtheydraggedhimbyhishairandtheywerekickinghim.Itwasjustsickening.Now,whatImsayingisthis.Ourcrowds,thepeoplethatcometoseeusareveryorderly.ItsnotthesortofAliceCooperstyle,whereyouactuallyTRYtogetthemintoastatewheretheyvegottogolikethat,sothatyoucangetreportsofthis,thatandtheother.Andthewrongwordsaidatthattimecouldvejustsparkedoffthewholething.

WB:Yes,theressortofabalancetobemaintainedthere.

JP:Yeah,thatsright.

WB:Theaudiencetheothernightwasverywellbehaved.

WB:Haveyouusedthelasersinalloftheconcerts?

JP:Overhere,yes.

WB:Veryeffective.

JP:Ithinkweshouldhavemoreofthem,dontyou?Aboutthirtyofthem!Doyouknowtheybouncedthatoneoffthemoon.Butitsbeencondensed.itstheveryonethattheyusedforthemoon.Iwasquiteimpressedbythat.

WB:Thatisntthekindofmachinethatwouldcauseanydamage.

JP:Uh,ifyoulookstraightintoit,yes.

WB:Yes,butImeanitdoesntburnaholein

JP:No.itsbeentakenrightdown.Imjustwaitingforthedaywhenyoucangetthehologramsgetthreedimensional.TheotherthingIwantedtodowastheVandeGraaffGenerator.Youusedtoseethemintheoldhorrorfilms.

WB:OhyesFrankenstein,andallthat.

JP:Whenwefirstcameoverherewhenthedraftwasreallyhotandeverythingifyoustayedinthecountryformorethansixmonths,youwereeligibleforit,theyddragyoustraightintothedraft.

WB:Ididntrealizethat.

JP:Yeah.

WB:Oh,IthoughtyouhadtobeanAmericancitizen.

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JP:Noo.Nono.Wealmostoverstayedourwelcome.Iwasproducingandhavingtoworkinstudioshere,andthedayscominguptothesixmonthperiodwerejustaboutitwasjustaboutneckandneck.AndIstillhadacouplemoredaysleftandacouplemoredaystoworkonthislp.

WB:Weretheyrighttherewiththepapers?

JP:Well,notquite,Imeanobviouslyitwouldhavetakensometime,butsomebodywouldvebeenthereYouknow,theydokeepaneyeonpeople.

WB:Didyoueverhearaboutsomethingcalledinfrasound?

JP:Uh,carryon.

WB:Well,infrasoundissoundbelowthelevelofhearing.AnditwasdevelopedbysomeonenamedProfessorGavreauinFranceasamilitaryweapon.Hehadaninfrasoundinstallationthathecouldturnonandkilleverythingwithinfivemiles.Itcanalsoknockdownwallsandbreakwindows.Butitkillsbysettingupvibrationswithinthebody.Well,whatIwaswonderingwas,whetherrhythmicalmusicatsortoftheborderlineofinfrasoundcouldbeusedtoproducerhythmsintheaudiencebecause,ofcourse,anymusicwithvolumewillsetupthesevibrations.Thatispartofthewaytheeffectisachieved.

JP:Hmm.

WB:Itsapparentlyitsnotcomplicatedtobuildtheseinfrasoundthings.

JP:Iveheardofthis,actuallybutnotinsuchadetailedexplanation.Iveheardthatcertainfrequenciescanmakeyouphysicallyill.

WB:Yes.Well,thiscanbefatal.Thatsnotwhatyourelookingfor.Butitcouldbeusedjusttosetupvibrations.

JP:AhhahAdeathraymachine!Ofcourse,whenradiofirstcameouttheywerepicketingalltheradiostations,werentthey,sayingWedontwantthesepoisonousrays[laughter].Yes,wellcertainnotescanbreakglasses.Imean,operasingerscanbreakglasseswithsound,thisistrue?

WB:ThatwasoneofCarusostricks.

JP:Butitistrue?

WB:Ofcourse.

JP:Iveneverseenitdone.

WB:Iveneverseenitdone,butIknowthatyoucandoit.

JP:IwantlaserNOTES,thatswhatImafter!Cutrightthrough.

WB:Apparentlyyoucanmakeoneofthesethingsoutofpartsyoucanbuyinajunkyard.Its

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WB:Apparentlyyoucanmakeoneofthesethingsoutofpartsyoucanbuyinajunkyard.Itsnotacomplicatedmachinetomake.AndactuallythepatentitspatentedinFrance,andaccordingtoFrenchlaw,youcanobtainacopyofthepatent.Foraverysmallfee.

JP:Well,youseethethingis,itshardtoknowjustexactlywhatisgoingon,fromthestagetotheaudienceYoucanonlyImeanIveneverseenthegroupplay,obviously.BecauseImpartofit.Icanonlyseeitoncelluloid,orhearit.ButIknowwhatIsee.Andthisthingaboutrhythmswithintheaudience.Iwouldsayyes.Yes,definitely.AnditisMusicwhichinvolvesriffs,anyway,willhaveatrancelikeeffect,anditsreallylikeamantra.Andwevebeenattackedforthat.

WB:Whatamantradoesissetupcertainvibrationswithinthebody,andthis,obviouslydoesthesamething.Ofcourse,itgoes.itcomesouttoofar.ButIwaswonderingifontheborderlineofinfrasoundthatpossiblysomeinterestingthingscouldbedone.

JP:Ah.

JP:Lastyearwewereplaying[sets]forthreehourssolid,andphysicallythatwasarealImean,whenIcamebackfromthelasttourIdidntknowwhereIwas.IdidntevenknowwhereIwasgoing.WeendedupinNewYorkandtheonlythingthatIcouldrelatetowastheinstrumentonstage.Ijustcouldnt.Iwasjusttotallyandcompletelyspacedout.

WB:Howlongwasthatyouplayedrecently?Thatwastwohoursandahalf.

JP:Thatwastwoandahalfhours,yes.Itusedtogoforthreehours.

WB:Idhatetogiveathreehourreading.

December5,2007byjaybabcockCategories:magick,Uncategorized|Tags:Crawdaddy,LedZeppelin,PeterWatkins,WilliamBurroughs|17Comments

17thoughtsonWilliamBurroughsonLedZeppelin!

BIGKITTYsays:December5,2007at9:29pmWetalkedabouttrancemusic.HehadheardtheBrianJonesrecordfromrecordingsmadeatJoujouka.Wediscussedthepossibilityofsynthesizingrockmusicwithsomeoftheolderformsoftrancemusicthathavebeendevelopedovercenturiestoproducepowerful,sometimeshypnoticeffectsontheaudience.Suchasynthesiswouldenabletheolderformstoescapefromthemouldoffolkloreandprovidenewtechniquestorockgroups.

ThisiswhatHenryFlyntdidwithhillbillyandbluesmusicinthe60s.

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DavidS.Willssays:September15,2010at5:51amThanksforthat.IlovereadingoldBurroughsarticles.

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Angelasays:October12,2010at8:33pmThankyou!xo!

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Marksays:August19,2011at5:36pmWonderful!Ihaventreadthatinyears.IwishJimmyhadfleshedoutmoreofthosemysticalideas,ratherthansinkingintothebogofaddiction.Thankyousomuchforthis.

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Davesays:September23,2012at12:06pmLovedthis.Thanks.ThelinkforthisarticleisdeadontheCrowleysocietyswebsite.ItisinterestingthatBurroughscouldwritesomuchaboutwhatisnotLedZeporJimmyPageandstillgetagreatarticleaboutthem.Musichaschanged.SolittleofitisnowaboutdirectingtheaudiencesenergyliketheDoorsorZeppelin.Inawayitsgood,peoplehavegottenoverthemystification,somethingthepunksemancipatedthemselvesfrom.Ontheother,itsbad,wewantourshamansandwhenwelookfortheminpoliticians,itgetsuglyfast,whichseemstobehappeningtoacertainextentnow.IdontknowalotaboutLadyGaga,butsheseemstobetryingforthisandmaybeasakindofderivativeDavidBowie.

Evenifwritingwas(stillis?)aheadofmusicasBurroughsinsists,musicandmusicalperformanceismoreimmediateandevenwhenlisteningtorecordedmusic,morevisceral.Thisispartofthewholeliterarymovementbehindgraphicnovels,togetsomethingmoremusicalandmorecinematic.Andthisinlargeparthascomefromemancipatingthenarrativefromtheword.Ithinkthatispartofwhatcutupswasabout,aswellaslookingforhiddenmeaningintext.

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ImissthephysicalAuthur!IusedtoenjoyfindingitsomuchwhenIlivedinChicago.Ifitstillexists,itdoesntreachSoutheastIdahowhereInowlive.Thanksforthewebsite.

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