Publisher's Synopsis
When he graduated from Columbia in 1958, John Giorno was handsome, charismatic, ambitious, and eager to soak up as much of Manhattan's art and culture as possible. Poetry didn't pay the bills, so he worked on Wall Street, spending his nights at the happenings, underground movie premieres, art shows, and poetry readings that brought the city to life. He began an intense romantic relationship with Andy Warhol, starring in his first movie, 'Sleep.' Giorno then found himself involved with Robert Rauschenberg and later Jasper Johns, both relationships fuelling his creativity. He quickly became a renowned poet in his own right, working at the intersection of literature and technology, freely crossing genres and mediums alongside the likes of William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin. 23 years in the making and completed just before his death in 2019, 'Great Demon Kings' is the memoir of a singular cultural pioneer.
