Bill Burroughs was born on Thursday February 5, 1914 -- in a varied journey he fetched up in London in 1966, partly to explore Dr. Dent’s painless heroin withdrawal treatment. Burroughs also joined and left the Church of Scientology at that time and began exploration of non-fictional approaches. He mainly lived in a posh part of town (st James’s) in a flat adjoining the London Library.
He never lived in Brighton but he did frequent the Unicorn Bookshop, Gloucester Road near Brighton Station run by Bill Butler (American Poet) who published “Ali’s Smile” with accompanying record.
His work influenced many people in Brighton including local film makers (Jeff Keen) artists (John Upton) and writers (Lee Harwood.)
He visited the rock festival Phun City in Worthing over 24-26th July 1970 but he never made it on stage - wandered around with a tape recorder with Bill Butler and collapsed in the medical tent -- no problem - possibly dreaming of Blake --
He did live in Dane Hill when studying to “get clear” with Scientology and the terrain of the Weald figures in many of his short stories at the time.
Whether he visited the Royal Pavilion or Dukes Mound is not known.
He left for New York in 1974.
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