Comments on: Memories of Burroughs

By: Max Shpak

Max Shpak — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:32:59 +0000

I hadn’t heard Burroughs commenting on the works of William Saroyan (Aram’s father) before. However, I could see why he might like Saroyan’s most famous play, “The Time of Your Life”. One of the characters in the play is a corrupt, bullying but cowardly vice cop who harasses the regulars of a dive bar. Towards the end, a tall-tale spinning old fur trapper nicknamed “Kit Carson” puts a bullet in the vice cop, and then returns to the bar to spin more tall tales. Certainly a very Burroughsian ending.

By: Ron Wray

Ron Wray — Mon, 29 May 2017 11:38:28 +0000

I love it.

Very Burroughs.

I like to think I have some interesting reminiscences of William from a weekend I spent with him, Allen, and Gregory Corso in Chicago in the 80’s. I’ll try to rework it yet again & post a copy toward you in hopes you enjoy ? it. – best, Ron Wray

By: NB

NB — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:50:23 +0000

If you’re looking for more reminiscences there is a great lecture by Iain Sinclair on William Burroughs here: http://vimeo.com/86607454

By: Hayes Brown

Hayes Brown — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:38:49 +0000

Aram, thanks for contributing to the cause. Your reflections are interesting. WSB was an enigma best revealed through his books. You too have produced some amazing books.

By: michel tuomy

michel tuomy — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 22:00:56 +0000

nice to hear William was personable, brion claimed he was a misanphropist, but I belief they liked people just not those in control on planet earth.

By: NB

NB — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 00:10:06 +0000

Neat words. A friend of mine (currently incarcerated in a mental hospital) swears he used to live next door to Burroughs in London. But he said he never heard any strange noises or witnessed any bizarre goings on.

I knew another guy who was into the occult and thought he was a real Wild Boy, astral meetings with the late WSB and weirder stuff. He made an interesting audio montage-cum-cut/up in homage to WSB that can be downloaded here:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/9lc88a7abtww3cm/BARB_What.mp3

By: David Scott Milton

David Scott Milton — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:29:39 +0000

Excellent article, Aram. Ah, those days! I’ve told you of my encounters with Kerouac & Jack Micheline. Never met Burroughs, but was friends with Terry Southern who had done a screenplay with Burroughs on Dutch Schultz. Terry & I worked on a screenplay together.