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#Authors Note – I am not sure if this piece really qualifies as a piece of poetry or as a written article – Maybe it’s a Poetic Article or a Poetic Essay or maybe it is just Art … No drugs were used in the production of this piece but they ought to have been.

It came out of a fairly intense and extreme period of written experimentation, in part fuelled by a likeminded soulmate and as with the previous piece, I would probably like to categorise it as ‘Jazz Poetry’ but certainly it falls within my own classification as ‘Prog Prose’.

Most obviously it seems to have been inspired by the musicians and recording artists of its title but in an offbeat way it wasn’t. In fact it wasn’t written as any kind of tribute to either party or any art movement or persuasion that either may have aligned to as when the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol collaborated. The Title is delivered as an emotionless, short list and that in some way is the point of the whole piece. You might choose any one of a dozen lesser known but influential singers or bands of that era as for me this piece is about as close as you can get to that isolated feeling we all had in the sixties/seventies. 

Despite the view that the ‘commune’ spirit or herd mentality was strong at that time, the actual truth is far from that. There was little closeness, ‘community’ or even ‘following principle’ prevalent and those who did have any real individual or intellectual freedom could be frustratingly obtuse and competitive while living out their own personal life-mantras or spiritual journeys. It was as indulgent and selfish a time as much as any other except that there were more individuals who were more tolerant of other individuals. 

Zappa apparently hated the Underground and considered them junkies. He hated all drug use. The fact remains however that both his band – The Mothers Of Invention and The Velvet Underground both remain respected cultural examples of that unique era of social change and their differences actually affirm and authenticate the value of that period which is precisely the only point of the title. Enjoy and if you do – please leave me a ‘like’ or maybe a comment – eb! 

Previous Comments : –

Comment by Jessica Phiri at the time it was 1st published : – I’m in love with this one! It’s focus on the unreality of our reality is gorgeously corporeal! It feels like a long dream from which you wake up changed.

Thanks a lot for using some time in order to post “FRANK ZAPPA and VELVET UNDERGROUND Edenbray – Many thanks fora second time – Lacey

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If you listen to Jefferson Airplanes – White Rabbit and read the words again you will see what I mean