The Day Kurt Cobain Met William S. Burroughs (The "Priest" They Called Him)

Рет қаралды 25,654

Жыл бұрын

Subscribe to my Substack for free weekly updates on the behind-the-scenes of The Selador!
selador.substack.com/?r=g86pk...
---------------------------------------------------------------
Today I talk about the story of how Kurt Cobain and William S. Burroughs formed a friendship following a creative collaboration (The "Priest They Called Him), which led to an infamous meet-up in October of 1993.
---------------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC USED:
Music: Doll Dancing - Puddle of Infinity • Doll Dancing - Puddle ...
Music: Wind Marching For Rain - Puddle of Infinity • Wind Marching For Rain...
Music: Dream Yourself Smooth - Puddle of Infinity • Dream Yourself Smooth ...
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTAGE USED:
Bill and Tony (1972) www.ubu.com/film/burroughs_bi...
Ghost at No9 Paris, 1963 - 1972 www.ubu.com/film/burroughs_gh...
Towers Open Fire (1963) www.ubu.com/film/burroughs_to...
------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCES:
faroutmagazine.co.uk/kurt-cob...
dangerousminds.net/comments/w...
realitystudio.org/biography/w...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
All criticism and comments are welcome. Thanks for watching.

Пікірлер: 87

@TheSelador Жыл бұрын

Subscribe to my Substack for free weekly updates on the behind-the-scenes of The Selador! selador.substack.com/?r=g86pk&

@olivercarlton1310 Жыл бұрын

Burroughs said of Kurt " that boy frowns for no good reason "

@Johnnysabboy Жыл бұрын

That last line is so chillingly accurate in so many ways.

@Microtonal_Cats Ай бұрын

When my band Bomb (fave of Kurt's) played Lawrence KS at "The Outhouse" all ages club (one-story windowless concrete bunker in the middle of a corn field) in early 90s, the promoter gave us a tour around town the next day. It included ".....and that's the pharmacy where William S. Burroughs gets his methadone."

@stella-vu8vh 13 күн бұрын

Did kurt ever mention your band as one hes a fan of? Im just curious why you took it upon yourself to specifically mention that, all that said, id wanna see the pharmacy too, its a valid stop

@mikelightner3945 5 күн бұрын

From 15 to about 19 I went to the OutHouse every weekend if they had a show I missed that place it was insane

@denverrandy7143 10 ай бұрын

It was always put to the press that burroughs read the lyrics to "In utero" after kurts passing and thats when he was have supposed to have the comment "He was already dead"

@qjames0077 Жыл бұрын

I wouldve loved to be a fly on the wall at that meeting

@oliverhart7013 Жыл бұрын

You would of just watched them nod out most of the time

@Lee.Carlson Жыл бұрын

@@oliverhart7013 If it were me I'd be gouching (nodding) along with them

@Lee.Carlson Жыл бұрын

But you're not always on the nod.

@oliverhart7013 Жыл бұрын

@@Lee.Carlson wow. How cool are you bro? Wow a real live junky I've never met one! Can I be just like you?? Bro I struggled with heroin and meth for a decade. I'm on methadone and I struggle to stay awake everyday just so I can do my normal tasks. It's not cool. Change before you end up in jails, institutions or DEAD

@zorantaylor3190 Жыл бұрын

So would I, but I have a hard time believing I'd have the restraint to stay on the wall...

@dogman8442 Жыл бұрын

These videos on literature history are awesome. Especially when other famous artists are mixed in with the story told, artists that don’t seem generalized with literature. And especially when the videos are about someone or something you don’t expect, like Cobain and Burroughs.

@Lee.Carlson 11 ай бұрын

I enjoyed the art of both men immensely

@fattymcfatso1083 9 ай бұрын

I'm guessing that Burroughs saw his son reflected in Kurt . . .

@syncue5411 4 ай бұрын

Burroughs “Spare Ass Annie” has a brilliant version called junky’s Christmas, I think it came out in 94,

@brucestratford5838 2 ай бұрын

Different ending on both versions.

@ernestrobles2995 5 ай бұрын

Back in the 90s I read that Burroughs told his wife, "There's something wrong with that boy. He doesn't smile."

@cloudtowerphotography815 Жыл бұрын

That was a really interesting video. Thanks! I have the original 10" picture disc in my collection. Glad that I bought it back then, although I haven't listened to it for many years.

@zenbear4149 Ай бұрын

I went to art school in nearby Kansas City and met Burroughs, and knew people who knew him better. Several of them despised Burroughs and considered him a vampire. He preyed on young boys, they said. I was born within days of Cobain, and consider him a scrounge for our generation. An awful pair of

@Stgpop Жыл бұрын

Some how I missed these little stories so thank you for putting them together in a neat lil package!

@underworld-USA 3 ай бұрын

this track is incredible! im a huge fan of both Burroughs and Nirvana, and this really is one of the best artistic collaborations ever.

@aarondoodles3380 Жыл бұрын

Meeting Burroughs was the equivalent of me or Nirvana fans to meet Kurt. Everybody's influenced by someone 😁

@keiranbradley3238 7 ай бұрын

Oh how we miss "the blonde one"!. ,,,,,and Mr.Bill too of course.

@tabletbooks4967 3 ай бұрын

Very good and informative video. Interesting footnote is that a month after this meeting, Nirvana would cover the Leadbelly song "In the Pines" / "Where did you sleep last night?" for their MTV special, so this might be direct result of the influence of Burroughs. 9:38 photo of Burroughs with Timothy Leary, I believe

@lemonicity4834 Жыл бұрын

really well done video

@moizzzproductions Жыл бұрын

loved this video!

@trudawg2965 Жыл бұрын

Well researched video on an interesting niche topic

@SuperPsychoSheep Жыл бұрын

Great video!

@backwoodmonky6492 Жыл бұрын

Great video

@politiciansthrowstones Жыл бұрын

So that's why he played a priest in drug store cowboy. Makes sense now.

@billwhite9703 10 күн бұрын

Excellent. Touching.

@tears3194 10 ай бұрын

this is interesting. thanks for making the vid

@mikeborgmann 6 ай бұрын

I have heard this story on KZfaq, but they called it a junky christmas

@johnryan3913 15 күн бұрын

With Burroughs reading? In claymation I think?

@ohelno Жыл бұрын

Conpletely fascinating. 👍👍

@465marko 6 ай бұрын

YOU'RE completely fascinating.

@vednev6931 Жыл бұрын

Stellar video !

@joshhout7143 2 ай бұрын

the priest doesn't die he receives the "immaculate fix" which is a junk high with no junk and there was no need to call a priest to confirm the fact it was a miracle not to give last rites also he later refined the story into my favorite xmas movie Junkies Christmas

@80VAIN08 Жыл бұрын

I find the sentiment that by committing suicide he let down his family and set a bad example for his friends really insulting. As if someone would be like "man you're right, it would be a dick move to kill myself, i never really thought about the effect my death would have on others, but yeah man you're totally right, I won't do it, what was I thinking" When somebody is pushed so far, that just existing is so unbearable, that it enables people to go against the urge to survive, which is so incredibly fundamental, it's what all life is based on. some serious shit needs to happen for someone to end up at that point, and being like "man what an inconsiderate dick" just adds insult to injury. Especially when the person has already killed themselves.

@handsomerube 11 ай бұрын

Totally agree. People who are severely depressed have a very myopic view of the world and circumstances around them. They don’t see a way out, and it’s not uncommon for people to feel that disappearing would be beneficial to the people close to them…to relieve their friends and family of the burden of dealing with them. One of my favorite quotes about the unfair criticism of those who die by suicide of being “selfish” is the following: "When we criticize the suicidal for being selfish, we are actually criticizing them for not enduring their pain with grace and good manners. These are nice qualities; we may be correct to reproach average citizens for not having them. But to expect everyone in pain to have them is unrealistic. Bearing pain quietly is what moralists call a supererogatory act-an act that is above the call of duty. Expecting everyone who is suicidal to behave in a way that is morally above average is simply abusive." -David L. Conroy, Ph.D.

@robertordonez9242 5 ай бұрын

The last line in this video literally spoke for it self… Bill thought he had no reason to kill himself, he has a child, a career, and talent that can take him places. Kobain’s downfall was his stomach issues, Courtney Love, his mind and obviously heroin. Sure it would have been tough to kick his bad habits but he sure had enough resources to do so.

@slyppery7923 Ай бұрын

Im glad someone else feels this way too. Thanks for saying that.

@bongofury333 Ай бұрын

The Gift is not a noisy instrumental. I can hear that guitar in my head 40 years gone.

@undergroundgroweruk446 Жыл бұрын

So is the Francis Ford Coppola/Burroughs MTV production of a junky's Christmas just a different version of The "priest" they called him? The story sounds almost identical.

@Lee.Carlson Жыл бұрын

Yes

@alexnagy2044 4 ай бұрын

And I think the junkie Priest idea came from Burroughs head because he's acting on a movie called 'Drugstore Cowboy' On the film ending William act an old junkie Priest who's everyone knows. If I'm not mistaken that was in 1989 or something. RIP both of them LEGEND!

@Teekay617 6 ай бұрын

Chilling, something happened to Kurt we will never know, i had a friend like Kurt, and he killed himself....and it just happened out of the blue ... nobody knew why..He was troubled sometimes, but a shock non the less..

@jacobishii6121 Ай бұрын

Truly one of the greatest minds of our times

@scottboyd3838 Ай бұрын

Dr.Benway is the most insane character in all WSB lore.

@alexnagy2044 4 ай бұрын

Plus I think the junkie Priest idea came from Burroughs head because he's acting on a movie called 'Drugstore Cowboy' On the film ending scenes William act an old junkie Priest who's everyone knows. If I'm not mistaken that was in 1988 or something. RIP both of them🕊 LEGEND! Thx so much for share!!!✌&💜

@sitluxetluxfuit4481 8 ай бұрын

This has been made into a cartoon. Except the younger man in pain in the next room had appendicitis or maybe he was "pretending to" have the condition,

@mikeborgmann 9 ай бұрын

You got the story of the priest slightly mixed up, but no big deal I guess

@fattymcfatso1083 9 ай бұрын

It was expanded into The Junky's Christmas which may have caused some confusion.

@465marko 6 ай бұрын

@@fattymcfatso1083 What was the confusion? I'm not sure what he got wrong.

@anadraham2995 Жыл бұрын

⭐⭐⭐⭐

@darnes12 Ай бұрын

if no one knows what they talked about, how can you say they never talked about drugs?

@xxxxxxxxx727 9 ай бұрын

where is francis bacon ✌️🍀🌞

@aarondoodles3380 Жыл бұрын

Cobain borrows.

@Johnconno Жыл бұрын

Bet that was a laugh...

@braudhadoch3432 Ай бұрын

What boroughs did to his own son was criminal

@xXxeuthanasiaxXx Ай бұрын

What happened

@johnryan3913 15 күн бұрын

@@xXxeuthanasiaxXx Let's say he was a great writer, not a great father. Mostly he was absent, living in London, Paris, Tangier, etc. And his addictions led Billy Jr to try to outdo Dad. He did write two books, and an unfinished third, of his own, before dying at 33, from liver failure. He'd had a transplant but continued to drink, miserable from the grueling recovery process.

@insurgentecucaracha 12 күн бұрын

No that was Not a criminal act,but what he did to his wife was criminal😂

@aarondoodles3380 Жыл бұрын

"There's something wrong with that boy...He frowns for no good reason." W.S.B "Grey complexion...He was dead already." W.S.B Kinda hints the fact his suicide was in fact a suicide, rather than a homicide. I personally think he was killed..its very suspicious that case. 😵 Courtney wouldn't let a rich man divorce her, never. She's a loof. Guess what Kurt was the last man married to her...that says a lot.

@duppyconqueror6210 Жыл бұрын

I know I’m adding late, but I just found this vid. I agree that he was killed in the fact that people around him, mainly Courtney, did nothing with the signs. You could go as far as saying someone was hoping for either an overdose or suicide. All speculation, of course. But, I don’t think she is smart enough to pull off a straight up murder.

@Lee.Carlson Жыл бұрын

@@duppyconqueror6210 I don't get why he wouldn't just shoot up a ridiculously large dose of the strongest smack his money would buy. I'd have gone out that way if I couldn't have carried on. I only overdosed once and it wasn't even that large a hit. But I preferred smoking my gear anyway

@aw2584 5 ай бұрын

Yeah and thats why she saved him from an OD in Italy like what, few weeks earlier? Lmao

@tsg_frank5829 5 ай бұрын

The hate for Courtney is hilariously over the top, you might as well start describing her as witch that put a curse on Kurt or some shit