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Showing posts with label bukowski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bukowski. Show all posts

Friday, August 16, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLES BUKOWSKI


Happy birthday to novelist and poet of skid row - Charles Bukowski - who was born on this day in 1920 ... To celebrate,once again, let's take another look at the incredible Bukowski documentary "Born into This," streaming in its entirety.

~Thanks, Hank, for all the inspiration you've given us...


As a bonus, check out this heartfelt short film based on Bukowski's poem "Nirvana." The melancholy postcard film is directed by Patrick Biesemans.


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANK...

Charles Bukowski -- The namesake of this blog -- would have turned 91 today... Enjoy these two audio readings of his poems and pour yourself a stiff one in his honor.

Here's to you, Hank...

BUKOWSKI READS 'THE SECRET OF MY ENDURANCE'



TOM WAITS READS NIRVANA (stupendous, eerie and gorgeous)



Sunday, August 15, 2010

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY, BUK!!


Henry Charles Bukowski would have been 90 today.

Born in Andernach, Germany, Buk was raised in Los Angeles, where he lived for 50 years. He published his first story in 1944, when he was twenty-four, and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five.

During his lifetime, he published more than forty-five books of poetry and prose, including the novels Post Office, Factotum, Women, Ham on Rye, and Hollywood.

The Poet Laureate of Skid Row, died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994, at the age of seventy-three, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp.

So to celebrate Hank's birthday, check out this quirky, if not desperate-sounding poem Bukowski wrote to some dame who lifted his papers. Poetry, in fact. It mat not be his best, but I love the brutal honesty of the piece.

It's funny, sad and true all at once. But try not to chuckle... You're reading primal creative frustration. The dude was passionate about his art in an age before floppies and flash drives.

To The Whore Who Took My Poems
some say we should keep personal remorse from the
poem,
stay abstract, and there is some reason in this,
but jezus;
twelve poems gone and I don't keep carbons and you have
my
paintings too, my best ones; its stifling:
are you trying to crush me out like the rest of them?
why didn't you take my money? they usually do
from the sleeping drunken pants sick in the corner.
next time take my left arm or a fifty
but not my poems:
I'm not Shakespeare
but sometime simply
there won't be any more, abstract or otherwise;
there'll always be money and whores and drunkards
down to the last bomb,
but as God said,
crossing his legs,
I see where I have made plenty of poets
but not so very much
poetry.

-- Charles Bukowski

Now, enjoy the audio reading...



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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

'THE ORDINARY MADNESS OF CHARLES BUKOWSKI' DOCUMENTARY


Discovered a little bit of gold tonight... While most Bukowski enthusiasts either own or have seen the excellent 2003 documentary "Bukowski: Born into This," I just stumbled across what I believe to be a BBC documentary "The Ordinary Madness of Charles Bukowski."

I don't know much about it, nor can I find information on it. In any case, I've embedded them here for everyone to peruse -- after the jump.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

THE BUKOWSKI-FANTE CONNECTION

Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the novel "Ask the Dust," by John Fante.

While today it's recognized as a pre-Beats classic of American literature, it may not have been so if it had not been for Bukowski.

As a struggling young writer trolling the streets of Los Angeles, (just like 'Dust' protagonist Arturo Bandini), Bukowski had stumbled upon a copy of the book in the public library. Fante immediately became a huge influence on the younger man's writing, to the point where Bukowski would later declare that "Fante was my god."

Buk went on to introduce the novel to his publisher, John Martin. Martin recognized the novel as a classic and Fante as a major writer, and soon republished it from his Black Sparrow Press where, over the next three-plus decades it would slowly gather a large, adoring audience, while reaping seemingly endless critical praise.

To read all about it, click HERE.

Without Buk's endorsement it probably wouldn't have been made in a feature film with Colin Farrel and Salma Hayek, available on DVD. Check out this trailer to the pretty damn good film.


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WHAT IF BUKOWSKI WROTE 'PEANUTS' ?


Blogger Buddy Bish over at Bish's Beat gave my the skinny on this a while back. It seems that some industrious sorts have composed a plethora of stories of poems in the Bukowski vein and titled them "What if Bukowski wrote PEANUTS." It's simply hilarious and I'll post an excerpt. Somewhere we think Charles Schultz is rolling over in his grave.

"Lucy"

It began as a mistake.

The first time that Charles Branaski met Lucy Van Pelt, she was holding a football. He didn’t care for the game, baseball was his thing. Still, she held out that old football.

“Just kick the fucking thing,” she said.

“Listen, babe. You just hold that thing steady and I’ll kick the shit out of it.”

She threw her head back and laughed. She laughed long and hard and propped up the football. Charlie took a running start and he reared back his leg and kicked as hard as he could. Lucy was laughing too hard to hold the ball steady and it slipped out of her hand. Charlie missed the ball and flew straight up in the air and landed flat on his back.

“AUUUGGGGHHH,” he said.

“You should have seen your face, Charlie Branaski,” she said. Then she laughed twice as hard.

“Listen, you crazy bitch. I think I broke my ass. Jesus Christ!”

She helped him up. “Look, I’m sorry about that. You try it again and I’ll hold it real steady this time.”

“O.K., Lucy. I’ll do it on more time, but that’s it. You hold it this time, got it?”

“I promise,” she said.

He dusted himself off. God o mighty, his ass ached! He walked a little ways away and Lucy set up the old football again. He took a deep breath and a running start. He could see she was holding it tight. He was really going to kick the shit out of that old football! He threw his leg forward with all his might and Lucy yanked the football away just as he kicked at it. He landed on his ass again.

“AUUUGGGGHHH,” he said again.

Lucy laughed and laughed and left with the football. Charlie laid there and groaned. Good grief, he thought. What a cunt.

Monday, May 3, 2010

BUKOWSKI EXHIBIT 'POET ON THE EDGE' TO OPEN OCT. 9


I don't live in San Marino, California but dammit, this just may be worth a trip to the Left Coast. It's been a while...

The Huntington Library exhibit "Charles Bukowski: Poet on the Edge," will feature corrected typescripts of Bukowski’s poems and such novels as his autobiographical work, "Ham on Rye" (1982), and his screenplay "Barfly," made into a film in 1987, starring Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke. There also will be early periodicals containing his poetry and rare special editions of his writings published by John Martin, proprietor of the Black Sparrow Press, as well as memorabilia and photographs of Hank...

The exhibit is organized in cooperation with his widow Linda Lee Bukowski and will run Oct. 9 to Feb. 14, 2011. Linda loaned the library many of Buk's personal items to complement the already-extensive literary collection she donated to the library.

Another gem of the exhibit? Hardcore Bukowski enthusiasts will be able to view his annotated racing forms at the exhibit.

As it stands, it owns more than 2,700 Bukowski items, including more than 500 books, drafts of poems. Fewer than 100 of those items will be on display in the exhibit. That said, all of the items have all been available to scholars since last summer.

Ok, so for those living under a rock... Charles Bukowski, who died in 1994, was a pre-eminent voice in 20th-century American literature. In his poetry and prose, Buki used experience, emotion, and imagination, along with violent and sexual imagery, to capture life at its most raw and elemental -- and all with unflinching honesty. His voice was for the social outcasts, drunks, hookers, addicts, bums and petty criminals.

The library is located on the former estate of railroad mogul Henry Huntington in San Marino and is renowned for its rare books collection -- which also includes a Gutenberg Bible.

The Huntington Library is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California.

Check out a couple special Buk videos where he reads his poetry after the jump.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

MICKEY MOUSE is 82 TODAY...

Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie (1928)Image via Wikipedia

Funny enough, Bukowski hated Mickey Mouse with a passion and often referred to him as "A three-fingered son-of-a-bitch who has no soul, for Christ's sake..."

For those who care, Mickey Mouse made his debut on November 18, 1928, in a black and white cartoon called "Steamboat Willie." The cartoon was written and directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The title is a parody of the Buster Keaton film "Steamboat Bill Jr."

"Steamboat Willie" premiered at New York's 79th Street Theatre, and played ahead of the independent film "Gang War." Steamboat Willie was an immediate hit while Gang War is all but forgotten today.

Now check out Bukowski's dissing the beloved cartoon character...



Thursday, November 5, 2009

DOESN'T THIS LOOK FAMILIAR?


I love this piece... Here's the skinny on it:

ARTIST: Joseph Ferris
TITLE: Charles Bukowski with his Girlfriend Cupcake, Panel 2
MEDIUM: Acrylic on canvas, 24" x 48"
DATE: 1999

Friday, October 30, 2009

IF BUKOWSKI WERE A HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN...

... This is what he'd look like. Happy Halloween to all of my peeps...


Seriously... How hilarious is this?


Thursday, September 24, 2009

LIFE IMITATING BUKOWSKI: WOULD HANK EAT HERE?


Just saying... Came across this pic online today and it was so wonderfully Bukowskified, that I had to post. How do you think 'ol Hank would've enjoyed this joint?

Thursday, September 10, 2009

'TO THE WHORE WHO STOLE MY POEMS' (with BUKOWSKI READING)

I was speaking with someone the other day about one of my favorite Bukowski poems, "To the Whore Who Stole My Poems." Is that a great fuckin' title or what?? In any case, here is the link for the text in case you haven't read it.

If you don't feel like reading, sit back and enjoy this fan made tribute with good 'ol Hank reading it.



Sunday, August 16, 2009

BUKOWSKI: A VETERINARIAN??

Check out this video that explores the notion of Bukowski in different professions. While the idea of the vid is pretty humorous, the guy playing Chuck Buk has to be the worst fucking Bukowski ever. I mean, did he even try???



Check out the REAL thing here:



Saturday, August 15, 2009

BOWLING FOR BREWSKIS (and BACON)


The Four B's ... Bukowski, bacon, beer and bourban, Man does this nugget ever have Bukowski's name written all over it. What happens when a bowling alley opens next to a brewery? While it may not be entirely clear, bacon is probably involved. Bourban, too. Lots of it. Read all about it.

Monday, January 26, 2009

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN

If good 'ol Chuck Buk ever went the screenplay route ala Fitzgerald, no doubt he woulda churned out this sort of 'Grindhouse' fare - "Hobo with a Shotgun." It actually went on to win the SXSW/Robert Rodriguez Grindhouse Trailer contest. Fun, schlocky stuff. Bukowski would approve.




Sunday, January 25, 2009

JUST IN CASE...


...You missed it back in early December. A definitive collection of Chuck Buk's poems are a must for any Bukowski enthusiast.

``THE PLEASURES OF THE DAMNED: Poems, 1951-1993,'' by Charles Bukowski, edited by John Martin (Ecco/HarperCollins, $16.99). "I am not inclined to make elaborate claims for Bukowski, because there is no one to compare him to, plus or minus," The Times' reviewer, Jim Harrison, said. This long and well-edited collection is likely to stand as the definitive volume of Bukowski's poems with their "hard-found music of the streets."


Monday, January 12, 2009

CIGARETTE SESSIONS: BUKOWSKI (TRIBUTE VIDEO)

Check out this tribute video - a short film directed by and starring Joel Vetsch, with actual narration from Bukowski himself reading his poem 'Something For The Touts, The Nuns, The Grocery Clerks, And You...'




Tuesday, November 25, 2008

TOM WAITS READS BUKOWSKI'S 'THE LAUGHING HEART'



It's easy to see how the sensibilities of musician Tom Waits and author Charles Bukowski easily coincide with one another. Here, Waits reads Bukowski's "The Laughing Heart" (posted below)

THE LAUGHING HEART
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

Monday, November 17, 2008

BUKOWSKI POETRY FOR KIDS

OK, so now that I have a kid and all I think it may be time to introduce him to the Chuck Buk world of kiddie poetry. Enjoy this hilarious video



Tuesday, July 8, 2008

CHUCK BUK INTERVIEW

Enjoy this candid Bukowski interview (via Belgium) where Hank waxes on about his strained relationship with his father and how he felt after his death.