Embedded Files
This diary entails my first visit to the USA in 1985, a 10 month trip with no direction. I didn't know anyone and I was 19 years old. Highlights include hanging out with punk kids in SF and LA, and later NY, hitch hiking across the USA, losing passport and all money, working illegally in New York and overstaying my tourist visa. Not to mention all the amazing people. Hope you enjoy :)
Saturday - Feb 23, 1985 - PLANE
Got on at Sydney. It really sucked until Auckland. From Auckland to Honolulu I met some guy called Carl from Boulder Colorado who talked to me most of the way. Then at Honolulu airport I met some hippy type called Tom. On the plane to San Fran was this real weird guy called Larry who got into bird collecting. He got his parents* to give me a lift to the youth Hostel.
* Notice back then on the map above, the plane had to stop twice to get from Sydney to San Francisco, Auckland, Honolulu.
* I remember the parents warning me about AIDS on the drive to the hostel. Also driving passed the 49ers stadium and telling me about the super bowl. I didn't know anything about it (still don't haha).
Day 1 - Saturday - Feb 23, 1985 - LAND SAN FRAN
Went to youth hostel, met Tyler and other kids, then met Angelique and Geoff went drivin through streets, saw a taxi blow up*, ate at Chinatown. Yum.
* I remember the taxi at a gas station was on fire, and in a way it was what I expected to see after growing up with American cop shows and movies. I also remember I had to help Angelique and Geoff clutch start the car. It was a 'stick' as they called it and they didn't know the trick when you have a flat battery. I had an immediate crush on Angelique.
Sunday - Feb 24, 1985 - Day 2
Met Mickey and Suzi went to Fisherman's Wharf caught cable car to town. Caught Bart to Oakland. Met someone from Otto's Chemical Lounge, went to their house in Oakland. We all went up to Berkeley. Got real tired from jet lag, caught Bart back to city. Walked up Van Ness St. with skater. Went to hostel fell to sleep.
Monday - Feb 25, 1985 - Day 3
Got up had breaki with Mickey and Suzi then caught bus to look for Europa Youth Hostel. Couldn't find it. I got lost on the way to Fisherman's Wharf. Eventually got there and fell to sleep on a bench. Met some guy had a joint on the beach. Went back to hostel and got the shits with the place. Had a shower and went to the Mabuhay Gardens to meet Mickey and Suzi and saw Otto's Chemical Lounge. Got drunk on vodka before gig, played pinball with Dave also from Minneapolis, friend of Mickey and Suzi. Conned drinks out of gorgeous bar woman, Erica. Watched Ottto's, got bored and left.
Tuesday, Feb 26, 1985 - Day 4 - BROADWAY, MABUHAY
Walked out of the Mab., saw some girl on the street and said 'look I've come halfway across the world and I'm bored'. She thought I was cool. I told her I had no where to stay so we went back to a squat.* I fell madly in love with Pacific and slept with her in the squat. In the morning me and George, a black guy who was at the squat went back to the hostel to get my gear. He was cool. We went back to the squat and the the owners came and kicked us out. I wrote a poem:
There once was a squat,
Where we used to smoke pot,
But then we got chucked,
And that really sucked
So me and Delphie and Pacific cruised around town all day and I had to carry my bags. Eventually I put...
* I remember the squat was the former 'Swiss American Hotel' which was kinda ironic since my father was Swiss and I held Swiss Citizenship. If I remember right, it was across the street from the Mabuhay.
...em in a greyhound locker and worried about where I was gonna stay. I met some friends of Pacific's, and we all went up to Haight St. I wanted to fry so me and Wayne* and Jose got some acid and fried. We went down to Fisherman's Wharf and caused a lot of trouble. Lot's of fun. I was really being a kid in America now. Pacific taught me a lot. We found bus transfers and sold em for a quarter. Anyway Wayne and I went back to the Greyhound lockers and I got my stuff and stayed at his house.
* Wayne was a skinhead and we bought the acid of some other skinheads in the Panhandle Park. Jose was another local kid amongst a group I bagan to hang around with, some of whom were homeless.
Wednesday - Feb 27, 1985 - Day 5
Got up at Wayne's and we got REALLY STONED. They've got good dope here. I walked up the street with Wayne and he showed me some hills. We sat on the top of the hills and we could see the S.F. International airport from there. I was amazed at the amount of planes that take off, one every 30 seconds. Same for landing. Later some guy from Wayne's house drove us into town. He drove SO FAST along the freeways and in town. I thought it was the end*. I cruised around with Wayne and got really sick. My bags were back...
* I remember smoking a joint while sitting in the back seat on the drive back to the city. I got so stoned and totally thought we were gonna crash.
Jose
George?, Hector, and Jose
...in the greyhound lockers. I had to find somewhere to stay, I met a friend of Wayne's called Barry and stayed in his hotel room. I slept really early that night.
Thursday - Feb 28, 1985 - Day 6
Got up, decided to leave my bags in Barry's room. Dave*, friend of Wayne and Barry's who lived downstairs in the hotel came up to see what we were doin. He was with this girl called Kristina. We all decided to go up to one of the free food places to eat. Then we just hung out on Market or Haight st. and talked to all the kids. Later on we got some beer and I fell in love with Kristina. Dave and Jenean and Wayne and Kristina and me all stayed in Dave's room cause Barry had gone out.
* Dave, Barry et al. were S.F. Skins and I had long hair but they were always friendly to me. Dave let me, and sometimes a bunch of his skin friends sleep in the room. They would sit around and make home made tattoos with a gun made from a hairdryer engine, a pen, and a guitar string. One morning I remember they pinned me down on the floor (where I slept) and started to tattoo my arm. They were just kiddin around and I still have the dot on my arm to this day.
One of the members got a tattoo on his forehead of a pic of a metal plate with four screw holes in the corners. Inside the metal plate it meant to say 'Made in U.S.A.' but Barry (or someone) accidentally tattooed 'Made in U.S.S.' and then tried to go over the second S with and A. Poor guy.
Friday - March 1, 1985 - Day 7
Got up and went to Barry's room. We all went up to Market St. and bought burritos. Dave and Wayne and me went to Aquarius records to meet Husker Du but they were snobs and didn't want to say much. When we went back into town, we went into Castro St. and panhandled enough money so we could see Husker Du, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, and Saccharine Trust. I went to the show and got depressed and REALLY tired. Kristina started talking to some dumb guy so I went outside.....
...and hung out on Broadway. Then I saw Pacific and got really depressed. She didn't have much to say to me and told I couldn't go to L.A. with her. It's strange how I felt about her but I'll have to forget it. Later on I met Will Shatter* outside the Mab and said I could do an interview with him on Friday when A3I play. Then I met some guy who thought I was into metal because of my long hair. He thought it was cool to be from Aus as did most people I've met. Anyway, he said I could stay at his place and he'd get me a job but I lost his phone number, but we got really drunk. I ended up goin home with Barry and two girls from somewhere.
* Will Shatter was formerly in Flipper and had a new band called A3I, which was a satire on all of the punk bands that had 'Any Three Initials' as their name, which there were many at the time.
Saturday - Mar 2, 1985 - Day 8
A knock on the door woke me up in Barry's room. It was Kristina with some jerk. I got sad again. Barry and I and these two girls (Anthia, Margaret) went down to Market St. where I bought my walkman**. Later on we all went up to the Haight and hung out. Some guy said he had seen me on Friday night on Broadway and told me I told him I was from Aus. He told me about this amazing acid he had printed on a business card and me some (quite a lot). He said it was originally made in Aus. I rung up Negativland* later and left my address book at the phone on Haight. I went back to get it, but Barry had left the bus stop when I went back. Then I bumped into Bags and Eric, Leon and all the San Fran kids. We went bought some food. Then I caught the bus down to Market St. with them and went back up....
* I had already been in touch with Negativland via mail (maybe through Subterranean Records) when I lived in Australia.
** I would later record an interview with Will Shatter and secretely a conversation with Joe Pie at Subterranean records on this walkman.
...to Dave's room. Dave and Jenean and me went to the Farm to see some bands. I ate this L.S.D. the guy gave me it was really good stuff. I saw a great animated film which was incredible on ACID, I mean amazing. Then I went back to Daves' and slept.
Sunday Mar 3, 1985 - Day 9
Got up and vegged at Daves' all day. Just stayed asleep, then came out to see Negativland at about 7:00pm. I talked to Chris and Mark for a while then fell to sleep at about 11:00pm.
Monday Mar 4, 1985 - Day 10
Don from Negativland woke me up at about 12:30am in the morning to go into KPFA to do a radio show from 2 - 7 am. Yep 5 hours. It's called Over the Edge and is very similar to what Kimmo* and I did on Monday nights. A giant 5 hr sound play. We came back at about 8am and I slept until about 2pm. Then I went down to the bank and did the laundry. Most of the evening I spent talking to Mark about Negativland. I played him the Bats** and Justin's tape and he like it. Went to sleep. Rung dad from laundry, told me about the fire.
Tuesday Mar 5, 1985 - Day 11
Got up. Took Negativland recs and other mail to the post office. Caught Bart back to Dave's. Went down to Burger King and met super weird guy from Florida with heaps of money. He was crazy. Supposedly according to Kristina he shot speed up in the B.K. *Fell to sleep early in Dave's room.
* Kimmo also volunteered at 2XX in Canberra. I think we hosted a music konkret show or we just made noises for a few hours.
** Refers to the Baseball Bats (see bands)
*** I seem to remember him shooting it up right in front of us in the B.K.
Wednesday Mar 6, 1985 - Day 12
Generally hung out, played pinball went to Burger King. Went down to Rough Trade and got tempted to buy heaps of records. Luckily they didn't take credit cards cause I had no money. Talked to a guy called Brian about Artwank*. He pretended to be interested but don't think he was. Went to Oasis to see Scraping Foetus of the Wall. Wouldn't let me in cause I wasn't old (enough).
Thursday Mar 7, 1985 - Day 13
Got up rung up C.D. several times but found it fucking impossible to get hold or 'em. So went to Grant Ave. which turned out to be their mailing address. Went to Subterranean in the arvo talked about Artwank, lashed out on seven LPs, met Joe Pie. He ruled. He gave me a number I could ring to stay somewhere. Rung up Rachel (JPs friend) and she said to come over meet em at 'Mission A,' met Rachel and other people who live here. Met Darren H, drummer out of the Dead Kennedys, met Steve de Pace, got excited. Had dinner at mission went back to Daves. Got stoned heaps. Went to sleep.
Friday Mar 8, 1985 - Day 14
Kristina greeted us in the morning. She said granny had kicked her out and she had to find somewhere to stay. Went to C.D. presents got fucked around and told to come back on Monday. Back to Daves. Back to Mission A. Hung around got drunk. Took $10 worth of speed. Hello Mr/Mrs. C.I.A.** Went to the Mabuhay to see A3I, with Will Shatter in 'em. They were fuckin' great. Got and interview with Will. Stuffed up the interview, but had...
* Artwank was a somewhat fictitious distribution company I had wanted to start in Australia with a friend, Peter, who worked at my dad's business, Stonehenge. Under the Artwank premise I would write to Subterranean Records and other American record companies to obtain promotional records. I also bought many records via mail to support the companies. As a consequence, for e.g., I'm pretty sure I was the first person to own the first Butthole Surfers E.P. in Australia, and the first to play it on the radio, since I had volunteered at Community Radio 2XX in Canberra, from 1983 to 1985.
** I remember while walking along Broadway (I think) what looked like a marked late model car filming me out the window. They were parked on the corner of a cross street. I may have been having paranoid delusions due to all of the substances I had been taking.
...a really good talk to Will. Met Stacey at the Mab, took a line of coke in a friends car. Drove around for ages up to the Haight and down to Market and back to Broadway. Stacey and friend went home so I got let off at Broadway seeing as I couldn't sleep. Went to a taxi who said $6 to Mission. I said no and walked Broadway till I found Delphie and heartbreak Pacific. Heaps of kids (7) got into some ones V.W. and cruised S.F. looking for a party. None of the ones the we'd heard of were on. We all went down to the beach and froze. Went home in some boon chick's Trans Am. Mad driver. Caught the bus along Mission with Jose.
Sat Mar 9, 1985 - Week 3
Got to Mission A* at 6:00am stayed up and joined in the consant party that runs here. Smoked heaps of dope. Tried to sleep, couldn't, felt sick. Went down to get Chinese lunch, only ate a third. Bought shampoo. Rung mum for birthday. She was sad. Came back to M.A. slept got up re-heated rice, ate it, felt better. Got stoned. Wanted to see Jungle Studs, new S.F. ban with Steve de Pace and Darren H and other cool doods. But went to sleep instead.
* Mission A was a three story house on the corner of Mission St and 21st St. (maybe 20th). D.H. mentioned above slept on the couch in the living room of the middle floor, I slept on the floor in the same room. Upstairs was a porn star, Tim, the sax player from Romeo Void, Sweet on the middle floor and Michell Rebel was the queen B of the house. Steve de Pace lived in the front room. Others lived there. Ted Falconi had a Trans Am spray painted matt black, which he supposedly lived in.
Sun Mar 10, 1985
Got up at six and wrote the last weeks worth of this book. Did a piss. Looked out the window and the sky pissed back. Wrote some letters. Went down to do the laundry. It sucked. Came back to Mission. Got stoned with Bruce (Loose?) Walked up Mission St. Caught bus to Market. Met George, Eric, and other doods, Derek. Went up to Haight got depressed till noticed Stacey on the other side of road. Hung out with Stacey. Got a free meal at the One Mind Temple. Excellent vegetarian. Got pretty tired. Came back to Mission. Tried to sleep couldn't. Got up, got drunk with Michelle and stoned. Got energy....
...and decided to go out. Caught bus to Market. Bumped into Eric. Told him I was goin to Haight. While crossing sixth noticed a woman in a parked car on the edge of the road. She wouldn't stop staring at me. Eric left and I crossed the road and was fuckin stupid enough to smile at her. Then I noticed she was writing things down. The next thing I saw some kind of video camera on the corner of Six and Market. Then as I looked across Market noticed a broken down cop car. I don't know what organization it is but someone has interest in me and watches me. Anyways went to Haight. Bumped into Casey who was goin home. I asked her where Stacey was and she appeared. She was with some guy called Stan. Went up to Stan's room on Haight and Masonic. Amazing set up. Stan came from way back and knew a lotta people in the scene. He was a name dropper but so are heaps of people around town. Went to the Double Rainbow with Stacey. Eric was ther and some other doods. Saw Kristina earlier in the day and got pissed off at me because of Stacey. Anyway went back to Market. Noticed several fuckin' C.I.A. agents (or whatever) at the Double Rainbow and various other places. Buses, etc... Caught a taxi down Mission St. To scared to catch bus. Got freaked out by the taxi driver. I was ready to run but I was just bein paro(noid). When I got to Mission A there was 3 really heavy guys hangin outside the enterance. I thought I was gone. I noticed one of em had a radio. Some kinds of C.I.A./cop type fuckers. No one was answering the door and I was scared. Then Bruce let me in. I told him about em and we listened. They were talkin' about some kinda bust they were gonna so. Then Bruce go me stoned. A really scary day. fucken freakout.
Monday Mar 11, 1985
Got up at 1:00. Shower etc. Went downstairs got drunk and stoned with Michelle. Talked...
...to Mike of Pop-O-Pies about goin up to Seatle with them. Rung up C.D. (presents) went over and had a talk. I couldn't tell whether they were cool or not. I think I might've lost a lot of power-energy sought a thing. Went back to Market. Went up to Dave's place. Bunch of doods there, they were doin tats (tattoos) as usual. Fagls hassled me as usual. Got stoned and had a beer at Dave's. Came back to Mission A via various supermarkets. Cooked some Macoroni - ate it. Yum . Fell in love with Stacey.
Tuesday Mar 12, 1985
Got up late as usual. Headed towards Market. Went to buy a bit of pizza from Blondies. Got attacked by the mob at Burger King. Bones and Wayne came down and dragged me up to their place as well as made me buy some beer. Went up to Haight saw Casey and firnd hung out with Jose for a while. Went to Jumbo Jacks and ate.
Wednesday Mar 13, 1985
Nothing particularly
Thursday Mar 14, 1985
Went to Golden Gate bridge. No fuckin' pedestrian access. Got really annoyed. Came back to Mission A. Went to Capp St. Studios with Michelle. It was cool. Didn't do much.
Friday Mar 15, 1985
Got up. Got depressed about being slack lately. Fuck it. I'm on holidays. Took acid at about 3:00. Fried severly until about 2:00. Anyway Tim* and I started off by smokin heaps of bongs in Tim's room. Then Sweet took us drivin. It was great fun. I remember cruisin those freeways man are they unreal. We went up to Coit Tower and looked at all of San Francisco it was amazin. The we went down to the Mab. Sweet left me and Tim in his car and we were fryin...
...heavily. Eventually we got back to Mission. It was the best drive of my life. Went back to Tim's room went to sleep.
Saturday Mar 16, 1985 - Week 4
Got up and went to Berkely with Sweet. Went to this used guitar shop that had really weird stuff in it. I saw a National and some Mosrites and heaps of weird Italian stuff. They had some Dan Electros and even a Mosrite. Except they knew they were worth. then we went up and checked out around Berkely. Its such a hippy area. We went to KLAX but only as far as the front door. Eventually we came back via the bay bridge which is the fukn amazingest bridge out. Had a bit of speed then heaps of the Mission A's went to buy BBQ. Buckwheat (Marc) he was this cool guy with hong hair and it was black and gold and he was into skatin' a lot, Chi Chi, Sweet, and some other doods - that's all who went. Anyhow the place was down of 3rd St. But there was heaps of us. Came back to Mission, ate - yum. Ted Falconi came over and he was cool, talked to him for ages and got drunk with him. Went to the Mab. Hung out for ages. Saw Dune had a joint with her at the backdoor, she told me I was bent, managed to steal her sunglasses by accident as I found out the next day. Met Cathy and Lisa at the Mab from C.D. Alien Sex Fiend or Andi Sex Gang as they are called ow from Eng. were playin, they were shithouse. Community FK supported them, who were pretty good and I talked to them and they said maybe we'd do an interview. Anyway Mab finished and me and Lisa and Cathy and Jose, who we'd picked up from somewhere all went up to Haight St. to look for a party which we never found. I crashed at Cathy's place in Page St.
Sunday Mar 17, 1985
Got up at about 12:00. Me and Cathy went up...
to a small cake shop in Haight St and had an excellent breakfast which included the best poppy seed roll and carrot cake in history. Then we went down to Market St. to watch the end of the St. Patrcks day parade. We met Lisa there. The parade had some of the coolest Packards (cars) out in mint condition. Anyway I managed to con Lisa and Cathy into takin me up Coit Tower because when I went up with Sweet the tower itself was closed (and I was fryin') So we went up there and it was cool. Then we went for some Pizza and a beer. Then we went to Lisa's place and Cathy and I dropped some MDA. It was excellent. We went back to Cathy's place and did nothin. Then we came back to Mission A. via the cake shop in Haight St. to buy more carrot cake. Cathy new Sweet and Michelle and all the M.A.'s as did the whole city. Anyway we got there and just went into Sweet's room and smoked some pot. Cathy left, I went to sleep.
Monday Mar 18, 1985
Got up. Walked down Mission. Rung up C.D. Ray said to come over at about 1:00pm. I walked around all the pawn shops, in 6th street - man there's millions of 'em - and checked out all the 2nd had guitars. Saw an 8 string B.C. Rich for $600. Then went to C.D. hung out. Lisa gave me a lift to Rough Trade as she was heading tha tway up the S.F. P.O., where we dumped off a whole heap of recs. At Rough trade I manged to get wholesale (deal) for Artwank. I met Victoria there and then went up to Systematic. They were cool too but hadn't heard of Artwank. But I got wholesale with them too and talked a lot about recs. Then I came back to M.A. Went and got some spag and came back and ate it. Rung up Cathy and went over the I-Beam via Cathy's and vie the carrot cake shop. We saw Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry who I heard an LP of at Lisa's the day before. They were from England. Anyway....
...Cathy and I arrived there and as I walked passed the Double Rainbow I saw Stacey who gave me a big nice smile and I wanted to be with her. Anyway Cathy and I got in the back door of the I-Beam and told 'em we were with C.D. because the support band was Crawl Away Machine who were on C.D. Pres recs. Anyway I was rood to them (CAM) and Cathy and I drunk all there free beer and played pinball. Then I met Victoria from Rough Trade and List turned up. I also re-met Craig from Alter-Defay who I had previously met somewhere else. Anyway I went home with Victoria and slept with her.
Tuesday Mar 19, 1985
Got up early. Found out that Unsound mag moved across the road from Vic. Went back to M.A. Had a shower etc. Got extremely stoned with Tim. Rung up all the Driveaways and none of em would let me do it cause you had to be 21. Anyway walked around all day. Went to a cool junk shop in Valencia St. and bought Goldilocks and the bears. Came back to M.A. Had diner with Chi Chi in a Mexican restaurant where I got the best $2 burrito - in the world. Anyway I actually went to that restaurant when I was fryin on Friday night. (with Chi Chi and Buckwheat.) Anyway went back to M.A. then we all (Darren, Sweet, Tim, Steve de Pace, Me, 2 other doods) went to the I-Beam party where they played a Bauhaus video - heaps of free food and I played my favourite old pinball machine. I saw Arlene who I had scene and met several times and liked lots. Me and Tim and Steve and another guy Craig for Alter-Defay all smoked some hash. Then I went to play some more pinball. I started talking to some girl nearby who was called Deanne who asked me what I was doin there. I told her how I'd got an invite from C.D. She said really I work there at the recoriding studio next door where A3I had recorded. We fell in love, ha ha ha. I said I'd ring her later but haven't yet. Anyway then I saw Ricky...
...who'd I'd met at Mission A before. He was a friend of Patricks and Annalisas. He said isn't this fukn boring and I said 'yeah'. Then Ricky and I walked back to his place. He told me how he was in The Sleepers and Tuxedomoon and how he started Flipper with Will Shatter and Will decided to call the band Flipper because that's what Rickry call all his animals. At Ricky's house I met Kristine who works at KPFA and the Quake (commercial I think) anyway she had been around the scene in S.F. for ten years and new everybody at M.A. as did Ricky, and new every band and promoter as did everyone. Everyon knows everyone. Went to sleep in Ricky's room as he had crashed.
Wednesday Mar 20, 1985
Woke up by Ricky at some stage of darkness. Went back to sleep in some closet and slept till 4:00 o'clock. Then I came back to M.A. and got dressed in clean clothes. Then started writing what I'm writing now. Then I went out caught the bus to Haight and walked around. Went down to the bowling alleywith Phinoq and watched some guy play pinball. Walked down to Cathy's house and stayed for a while. While waiting for the bus on the way home -(it wasn't a bus stop, I'd gotten confused as where to catch it) anyway I got hassled by cops. 2 Females pulled everything out of my pockets, asked me if I'd been drinking, asked if I'd taken any drugs. Man they really hassle you. They write everything down and chuck in on their fuckn computer. Came back to M.A. Smoked pot with Johnny.
Thursday Mar 21, 1985
Got up late. Went up to the Mab. I saw Wayne up there and I hung around with him and some friends all night. They gave me a hit of acid for $1.50. Went to to Mission A at about 12:00
Friday Mar 22 and Saturday Mar 23, 1985 - Week 5
Tried to sleep and couldn't. Went down to Steve's room (De Pace) where Carrol from Capp St. Studios was hangin out. We all drunk Bloody Mary's. Then we partied severly. We listened to the radio and they played Beasts of Bourbon. It was absolutely the best. Then I rung up the announcer and told him I was an OZI etc. and asked him to play the Scientists he played Blood Red River. Went to bed at about 5:00am. Got up around 11:00 took a line of speed with Ted Falconi wen out and bought a camera and a spoon of S.F. for mum. Rung up Reme' tried to contact Deanne but couldn't, as she had rung earlier in the day. Michelle gave me a lift down to the the G.T. bus stop. The bus was late. Once the bus got on the freeway it was happening. I started to travel and it felt good. Some guy on the bus smoked a joint with me. The was eally empty until Santa Cruz when heaps of people got on the bus. I bought some acid of some hippy types. They me another one (different kind). I fried for the whole trip. It was really hellucinagenic. When the sun rose the bus was traveling aling the coast, the beaches and the hills were different. All the countryside was totally different to anything I'd ever seen before. Even though I was tripping its the strongest memory out. When it got really light all the bus had woken up. It became really obvious I was totally in a different country. This was California. All the people on the bus were hippy types, but I...
couldn't stop looking at the freeway. Then we arrived in Hollywood. It was very hot. I caught a taxi to the YMCA/youth hostel, with Helen, a Swedish girl I met on the Green Tortoise. We got here and checked in. We could lock our bags up, but couldn't sleep till 4:00. I met someone from T. And Helen and he (Saan) and I went walking up Hollywood Boulevard. I was the hill that says Hollywood on it. Man this is it. Unfortunately, I was feeling really tired becuase of all the speed and acid in my body. I hadn't eatin for a day or two and my stomach felt like it had shrunken. We went to Downtown L.A. and checked it out all day. Then we came back to the hostel. I had a meal and fell to sleep.
Sunday Mar 24, 1985
I walked up to Hollywood Blvd and ate a Falafel. Further down the street I met some PUNX and hung around with them. They were like sniffin glue and stuff on the street. Real street kids. We went down to Melrose Ave., the hip St. in L.A. I went crazy in the record shops and let my VISA card get to use. I went to an icecream shop, but it was too expensive. The I walked down to a record shop and decided to spend up big. I spent 2 hours there. When I walked back past the ice crean shop the girl behind the counter started waving at me. I thought it was cool and just waived back. Then I went to Posuer and noticed some Ramones shirts for sale and got really excited. I met a girl that worked there called Carri, who did promotions and promoted The Moodists when they came over. She was real cool and told me about a party. WE back to ice cream shop and talked to waving girl (Mary). She asked me if I wanted to get drunk with her at her house after work. I couldn't resist.
Went back to Poseur and told Carri I couldn't make it to the party with her, but I'd meet her there. WEnt to Mary's. Met Ricky and Howie * (Gelb). Ricky's real cool. He took us to the party via a freeway (just for me). Mary and I were very drunk. I chucked up. Steve's a gay guy who is the manager of this block of flats where Mary lives. Came back from party, slept with Mary.
Monday - Mar 25, 1985
Got up hung around Mary's until 3:30 when we walked down to her work. I went to Koala Blue, the Australian shop on Melrose Ave, run by O.N.J. It sucked, full of Aus T-shirts and vegemite and stuff. So the I went to Vinyl Fetis (record shop) and went wild. Caught a bus back to the hostel. Ate. Got accused of ripping off the kitchen because I was in the area. Rung up Mary at work and told her I was gonna stay at the hostel, so it wouldn't look like I had stolen from the kitchen and ran for it. Went to sleep.
Tuesday - Mar 26, 1985
Got up early, locked at my eye in the mirror. It wouldn't open properly. Rung up Mary, met her on Fairfax and Melrose. Went for food - yummy pizza. Walked around for a bit. She went to work at 3:30. Went to another record store and went wild. Oh ho I love my Visa card. Took all the junk I'd bought back to Mary's Ice Cream shop so I wouldn't have to carry it around. Before Mary went to work we'd gone back to the hostel. When I got there I got hassled about the kitchen. After I had shown 'em my funds - well my false evidence, they didn't think I'd done it. Both the manager of the hostel and the restaurant owner got really embarresed and said sorry, and that they would by me a free meal which I gladly accepted. While eating my free meal, I met someone called Cathy. We talked for a while and I told her I was gonna see Johnny Winter. She told me I should go and see another show with her and I said I'd think about it. She asked me over to her house and I went. She had Ramones sticker on the back window of the '64 push button, red Dalgeso. I knew she was cool. Went to Cathy's and played....
Mary <3
Mary, Ice Cream girl. Took me to Guns n' Roses in 1985 before they were famous.
Black Flag t-shirt
...me some recs, and some songs on her guitar. Then she asked me if I was goin to J.W. or goin to a show with her. I said J.W. She drove me there (as it was nearby) but J.W. played on Monday night. I'd got it wrong. So then I agreed to go to the Lauderea with her. Of course they carded me and wouldn't let me in, which is just as well cause Cathy was after me and I wouldn't cross Mary. So then I went back to Mary's work and went home with her.
Wednesday Mar 27, 1985
Got up. Tried to sought all my recs and other junk out as far as mailing goes. Dick Dong (a friend of Howie's) drove Mary and I to the P.O. where we never even got round to posting the recs. Went to Mary's friends place - Erin. She could only talk about 2 things - Sex and dope (smak, wako). Got drunk on J.D. and coke - yay! Went to a small bar called the Firefolx, it was borin. Went back to Erins, went back to Marys.
Thursday Mar 28, 1985
Got up early. By this stage all of my stuff was at Mary's, thanks to Dick Dong (who had been to Aus) Caught a bus to Disneyland, didn't even end up gettin there until 3:00. Decided to come back. The bus takes 1 1/2 hours. L.A. is so fuckin big. Went to Poseur, saw Carri and bought Ramones T-shirts and badges and other stuff. Yeah. Came back to Marys and wrote all this and did the laundry. Yeah.
Friday Mar 29, 1985
Got up went to Disneyland with Mary. Met Adam and Annalisa. Went to there house and scored M.D.A., mushrooms, and Acid. Went to Marys. Mary came home from work at 11:30. Snorted the M.D.A. Went to sleep.
Saturday Mar 30, 1985 - Week 6
Went down to the Tar Pits with Dick Dong. Dropped mushrooms with Mary and went to the Anti-Club. Saw some amazing guy with videos and synths and sequencers and a giant ego too. Met Javier and Wendy. Went back to Wendys. Saw Mark Rodos room. He does all this amazing artwork including Tex and the Horseheads cover. Went driving with Javier. Went back to Mary's.
Sunday Mar 31, 1985
Got up late. Rung up Zulekha. Tried to get over the her house but didn't get there until about 3:00 after getting lost and not knowing which bus to catch. She wasn't home. I got really pissed off. Caught the bus back to Hollywood. Visited Cathy. Went back to Marys. Dropped Acid.
Monday Apr 1, 1985
Got up at 2:00 after bein up all night on acid. Took all my records and junk to the P.O. Bought some food. Learnt you cant fry ric without boiling it first. Stayed at Mary's.
Tuesday Apr 2, 1985
Went to Venice beach. Wrote letters. Bought pot at beach. Went to Marys smoked it. Got drunk with Mary and played the BB.
Wednesday Apr 3, 1985
Went to Venice beach with Mary. Drunk Kahlua. I spilt coffee on the girl at the pizza shop.
Went back to Marys. Went to Marys band practice.
Thursday Apr 4, 1985
Can't remember
Friday Apr 5, 1985
Saw the Nip Drivers and Haircuts that Kill. They ruled yeah. Meet Dizzy who drove me back to Marys.
Saturday Apr 6, 1985 - Week 7
Went down to Farmer's Market. Visited Cathy who took me to the Screamin Jay Hawkins sound check. Then went to the Cathay de Grande and got really really bored. Went back.
Sunday Apr 7, 1985
Went up to Hollywood Boulevard. Bought a Cramps Gravest Hits poster and the Text tape. Went back to Marys. Left for The Hags headquarters in Venice. Ate food with Sara.
The diary entries seem to get shorter and all the days seem to get mixed up at this point. I will do my best to correct them here. Lot's of drugs at this time. I somehow left Mary's and went to Sara's. Probably the worst decision I could've made. I still miss you Mary. Shame there are no stories about her GTO, which she named Puncho. We used to drive everywhere in that thing.
Monday Apr 8, 1985
Helped Chuck put together his Harley.
Tuesday Apr 9, 1985
Went for a drive over to the valley to sell some motorbike parts. Had lots of fun with Chuck and Sevy.
Wednesday Apr 10, 1985
Went down to to beach with Sara. Went to P.O. Dropped acid. WEnt to Sherrie's house (Ted Falconi's ex) Went to Monsters house. Back to Sherrie's. Had a line. Back to Monsters. Back to Sherries. Lost Cramps poster.
Thursday Apr 11, 1985
Back to Chuck and Sevy's. Slept. Got up. Watched T.V.
Friday Apr 12, 1985
Went to a great party in Long Beach with Monster and Kim. Detox played...
Saturday Apr 13, 1985 - Week 8
Spent morning at Steve's from Detox. Came back to Monster's. Drove around. Went down to Poseur. Saw Wendy, Carri, some friend of Cathy's (can't remember name). Went up to the conserv and looked over L.A. It looked amazing. This was night time. Watched fir works over some hill.
Sunday Apr 14, 1985
Back to Hags H.Q. got my stuff. Went to Monsters. Slept.
Wednesday Apr 17, 1985
Got up real late. Went to party at Lance's. Drove home real early morning, fog was amazing. Slept.
Thursday Apr 18, 1985
Been getting really slack for the past few days. Sleepin in goin out at nights. Went to Tony Alva's. Generally hangin around Monster and Kim, the coolest people I've met.
Friday Apr 19, 1985
Nothin, Cramps on Radio - Talked to Lux Interior.
Saturday Apr 20 to Tuesday May 7, 1985 - Weeks 9, 10, +
Stayed at Kim and Monsters for 2 more weeks. Don't know why. Had a garage sale for 2 days in row. Took heaps of speed. Met lots of people. Mike from Scoundrelz
and Felicia, Dave, Tony Alva. Dave Van Huesen - friend of Kim's , he had an excellent tapeof him and Spot, first song ruled; Excellent party at Marina, pulled over by cops - towed Monster's car away, caught up with Monter's warrants - did she go to jail; Went frying with Dave just after we missed the Nip Drivers at the Acid Test Club where I won tickets on KXLU. They played lot's of Ozi stuff: 10 Wheels for Jesus. Carmel had the best fry we ever had. Jeanie (Nip Drivers) is the best, I fell madly in love with eachother. Went back to visit..
...Jeanie, got hassled by security cars. Monster has this wierd theory about Kim and I and even her as well. I leave a not for Monster hidden in a book. Paul moved into Monster's as did his record collection; so did John (crazy speed head). Dave VH and I cooked and excellent meal. Back to Carmel's fry - what about the party at Todd's (Todd bought a nice blue Triumph bike, him and I went out to the valley with Chuck to buy it of a Viet), it was "one of Carmel's fry parties". Beautiful bodies, driving with Carmel, Jeanie, Dave, Me - backed into a car in from of cop car, went to amazing graffitied tunnel, back to Carmels. The perfect trip. I love Jeannie and the Nip Drivers. Boys Market. Ted Falconi visits Monsters with Sherrie and Sara. Saw Dave VH's band practice. Joey who did videos told me Arizona was cool. Spent that night at Mike and Felicias. Went garbage scabbing.
Wednesday May 8, 1985
Got up taped the ND's recs. Dreamed of Jeanie. Caught a plane to Phoenix. Caught buses to hostel. Bought some beer. Slept.
Thursday May 9, 1985
Got up, caught buses through Phoenix, bought spoon, got confused as to where to go. Slept.
Friday May 10, 1085
Went to P.O. Started hitchin to Wickenburg. Got lift with guy to Glendale. Talked to girl at bus stop told e not to hitch. Got lift with weird young guy with about 20 bottles of Pepsi in small red car. Got lift with little bit - female for few blocks. Got lift with guy in van - gave me a beer. Got lift with 2 guys from Oklahoma in blue Ford P.U. to Wickenburg. Saw a car catch on fire in Wicken. Got a lift with Harold, missed turnoff...
...to Jerome/Prescott. Decided to go to Las Vegas. Saw Hoover Dam, gambled at Casino, payed $10 won $20 ended up with nothin. Stayed at Harold's family.
Saturday May 11, 1985 - Week 11
Went riding bicycles to downtown with Danny. Checked the bus + train. Saw weird guy climb in back of pick up truck. Bought ice cream at Thrifty's on way back to van park. Ate spaghetti that Sonny cooked. Went out. L.V. sucked bad met disco nips. Hated it. Yuk. Went to van, rung up mum + dad - everyone was ringin for mother's day.
Sunday May 12, 1985
Drove Harold's car to Flagstaff/Wickenberg junction. Tried to hitch. Noticed another guy hitchin further on down the road under the overpassing freeway. Another dood hopped out of another car. Said g'day, asked me for a joint, didn't have one. Walked on down the road and talked to the other hitcher, then he just kept walking on. Got a ride with Adam and Mick in Cadallac towing boats. Decided to go to Prescott and stay at Mick's and wife. So do that.
Monday May 13, 1985
Got up. Hung around M+H's. Did the laundry. Went down to Embry Riddle. Got shown around, got application etc... Went back to Daves. Went to some pub, where Sherry was servin' us beer. Got reel drunk + chucked up in the bar. Bought some pot. It's cheap. Slept at M+H.
Tuesday May 14, 1985
Hung around M+H's. Walked around.
Wednesday May 15, 1985
Got a lift to the 89A:89 junction with Mick. Got a lift with strange school teacher in small blue jap car to Cotttonville. Got a lift...
...with guy in p.u to Sedona, where I went tota brick/wood place much the as the Henge. Got left from Sedona with Mar, guy in an Audi 4000GT all the way the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Slept on the rim on the canyon.
Thursday May 16, 1985
Got up at 5:30. Watched the sun rise over the canyon. Went for walks down trails down canyon. Went drivin if forest. Went to the 1-15 junction via Kanab Utah, and Zion National Park with wierd hills made of rock (what else). Got a lift with truckie up to a truck stop. Got a lift with Dave, Frank Wheatley type guy in an old Ford table-top. Stayed at Dave's in Orem, Utah, got stoned.
Friday May 17, 1985
Hung around Dave's, with Don, walked around Orem. Left at about 2:00 o'clock. Walked to 1-15. Got lift with guy to Springville - what an ultra yank. Got a lift with Delaine, a guy who I happened to have met at Dave's the night before to Spanish Fork. Met another hitcher goin to Price (Fred). Went in a Maverick with Heather, a girl I'll never forget. Dropped me and Fred off at small stop in the middle of nowhere on the 6. Got a ride with Fren from strange Mexican guy with a super snooper. He just talked about robbing banks. Got off at Price. Stood on highway outside Price. There were some VERY black clouds above me, and it getting towards night time, and I was in nowhere land - I thought this was the end. Guy pulled over, he had flowers and pink are red glitter dolls in his car. He didn't rape me. Gave me a lift to Wellington. I was repacking my stuff at a gas station, where I asked a guy if I could get a ride. He said yeah. He was in an old Land Rover. After we got movin he told me how he was runnin' from the cops with 3oz's on him and how his wife had rung the cops and dobbe him in for pot and breakin' and enterin' he did 2 years ago. So he wanted to get out of the county fast. The radiator overheated and he quickly made a turn down a dirt road.
...told me down to the river to get water. uh-hu. This really ruled a lot. By the time we got back on the 6, he was out of the county. Carl drove us down to Grand Junction, we smoked a few gnarly numbers on the way. Split a room at ??
Saturday May 18, 1985
Got up, tried hitchin' - no luck. Decided to catch train to Denver. Sick of hithcin'
Sunday May 19, 1985 - Week 12
Walked around downtown (Denver) with Sadie and Gemma from Perth. Went to people's fair, got drunk, me and Joel, Andrea, Shay. Went to a pub where Andread worked, got free drunks and pot. I was mutalated. Went to watch Joel jam with friend. It was raining, first of all we spun out on an exit ramp and did a 180, which we managed to turn in to a Rockford. I was scared but he wouldn't slow down. On the next exit ramp we spun out, the time we crashed into the concrete wall. I thought it was the end. I told him to start the car and just keep drivin' before the cops came. Everywhere we went cops where following us or in front of us. I was really scared, but we never got pulled over. Wathced Joel jan at some church. His dad was a minister. He didn't like me at all. Good. Drove back to Hostel via McDonalds and heaps of hash - did yoga
Monday May 20, 1985
Went walking through town. Record shops, poster, cards, post office. Went up the top of the Capitol building. Rung up Andrew. Rung up mum. Came back to Hostel. Met Cathy. Went walking down town with Cathy had some beers, had a joint. Cane back to Hostel, talked with some Aussie's. Gee they're dumb.
Tuesday May 21, 1985
Got up. Rung up Rene. Did the laundry. Wrote journal. Went down to record.....
... stores. Got the Silver Apples records. Sent some clothes home. Went to a pub. Caught the bus up to Boulder with Cathy. Checked in at Hostel. Walked around, met Todd from Fraternity house. Went up had beers and bongs with all the Uni types. Went driving up the mountains. Met guy with free keg of beer. Back to hostel.
Wednesday May 22, 1985
Walking around C.U. and checked ot applyin for math. Went for some food and drinx with guys who lived at hostel. Bought hamburgers with the lot for .49c and pitchers of beer for $1.50. Got really drunk and stoned. Went back to hostel, got my stuff and moved down to the fraternity house. Ate mushrooms and fell asleep from beer. Woke up in the middle of crazy dreams, had a bad trip, smelt real bad.
I remember I woke up and I was trippin', it was a strange way to come on. All the university kids were having a blast and I got pretty freaked by being in a strange place with strangers. I couldn't pee. It was a very strong but uncomfortable trip.
Thursday May 23, 1985
Got up, went down to Mother's Cafe to meet Cathy. Went for a walk up the mountains. Came back. Hung around. Drove up to mountains at night. Lit a fire, cooked dogs and marshmallows. Went back to Mike's, watched videos. Went back to E.N. ???
Friday May 24, 1985
Hung around E.N., cooked dogs ove BBQ. Went to John's had a smoke. Intense stuff. Went for a walk up to the flat irons with the two John's. Hung around. Got some coke.
Saturday May 25, 1985 - Week 13
Hithed to Estes Park, after seein the Blues Bros. at lunch. Met people with new ice cream shop who looked after bags while I walked around. Ultra tourist place. Went to Chamber of Commerce and got lift up to Hostel. Checked in. Went for a drive with Mark through Rocky Mountain National Park. Saw Deer and Elk. Foung Robot on river. Went to a restaurean and ate. Can back crashed.
Sunday May 26, 1985
Got up, went for run/walk with Patricia, played tennis with Mark, hung around, went downtown, bought Pizza. Came back, went for a three hour walk up to Radio Antenna with Will via a joint. Came back to hostel, ate pizza.
Monday May 27, 1985
Got up at six. Got a lift with Lou in his 1946 Dodge down to R.M.N.P. bought some mushroom book. Got a lift to Vear lake turn off. Got a lift to top of trail ridge road, like 13,000 to 14,000 feet. Surrounded by nothin' but snow, walked for about a mile. Guy in El Camino picked me up and tooke me to 36/40 junction. Got a ride with oil engineer guy in P.U. Gave me heaps of pot. Took me to 40/70 junction. Got a ride to Georgetown with guy in small, red Ford runnin' on 3 cylincers. Got picked up by guy in station wagon, who was lookin for train thing. Smoked pot with him, got realstoned. I was still in Georgetown. Old guy picked me up and took me to Silver Plune. Got stucke in Silver Plume for......
...for about an hour, decided to risk it and walk on to the main highway (70). Got a lift with guy about 30, withi glasses and a moustache in his ne white Datsun 1/2 tonne P.U. truck. He worked for the highway. We smoked a couple of bowls, then drove through the Eisenhower tunnel. It's long. He dropped me offin Frisco, where I stayed at the Woods Inn Hostel. Drunk a few beers with Denis and Marc, had a BBQ, went for a bike ride through town, crashed at 8pm.
Tuesday May 28, 1985
Got out on the road by 8:30pm. Guy in old FX type Chevy took me to Breckenridge. Waited for ages. Got a ride to nowhere land in between Breckenridge and Alma just before Hoosier Pass. Women in small Japanese car picke me up and too me to Fair;oay on the 9/285 junction. She asked me if I wanted t ohelp her driver her car to N.Y. on Tue 3rd May from Houston. I might do it. Guy in a '66 Dogde-stock standard, picked me up and took me too Pancho Springs, 285/50 junction. He reminded me of Uncle Johnny, we smoked some bowls, I ate at Pauncho Spings, yuk, Stood outside P.S. for about an hour, decided to head south instead of west. But got a ride with guy who drive blue V.W. rabbit to Garfield. Got picked up in Garfield by Bookie, in her 4WD, she let me stay at her place in Gunninson, we drunk, ate, and smoked some of the best pot ever ever.
Wednesday May 29, 1985
Got on road. Got picked up by G.M.C p/u. to turn off near visitor info. Got ride with Bill from Alamosa to Montrose. Ate at Taco land. Got a ride down couple miles with old guy. Stayed on road for a long time, got picked up by cool doods who gave me a joint and a ride to another tourist place, whith Indian historic thing. Yes well, got ride with Michael Sheltig, some android from andother planet, to the middle of nowhere. Got picked up by wierd pill head guy with injiuries from war down to Durango. An excellent viewing road. Crashed in Durango at Hostel, after joint.
Thursday May 30, 1985
Got p/u bhy guy in jeep, too me to 160/250 junction. P/U by blue K.W. truck to Pagosa Springs. Stood at junction, got ride down road a bit, got ride bit further down road walked for a few miles. Decided to give in due to lack of luck. Got a ride with Anne back into Pagosa and back again in Chromo. By this stage I realised I no longer owned a passport or visa card. Anne took me back to the Bed & Breakfast Inn and gave me some food and phone calls to cancel visa. Walked back to junction in Chromo. Got p/u by guy who wanted to screw me for money. I was scared, real scared. I told him no and the he left me on the freeway. An old 1 tonne flatbed with a bunch of garbage on back picked me up. Jim drove me to Alberquerque were I got a lift from Gary, who reminded me of Gary Floyd. Next Mike from Alb drove us to Socorro. The land is gettin' a lot like Aus now. Just outside Socorro a strange guy called Will with a 22 under his seat gave us a lift to Las Crusces. Some guy in a jeep took us for a ride was real smart and showed me all these designs for som piece for welding. He tried to call me a ride for El Paso over the C.B. radio, but didn't succeed. I soon got one from Art, the crazy Mexican. Crashed at hostel, after eating som mushrooms that Tom had given me.
Saturday June 1, 1985 - Week 14
Tried to hitch to San At. Got a ride to El Paso truck stop. Gave in, caught a taxi back to the hostel. Walked around El Paso, Mexican land. Sat in park for a whole, went walkin' around.
Sunday June 2, 1985
Got stuck in El Paso, with no money. Several calls to parents, several visits to banks. First Financial was cool, so was Anita. Mer Robert from San Drega, and Michelle from South Africa, went out for drinx at Twins Inn. Played some pool. Met Cathy, Rubin, Jimmy in park. Went for a walk to some broken down houses and smoked joint with Rubin and Michelle. Stayed in Michelle's room on Monday night. Flew to Houston on Wed arvo, thanks to Carol. Ate, crashed.
seems like the diary dates get a bit messed up around this time
Monday June 3, 1985 (dates do not correspond, written incorrectly)
Read, mowed lawn, hung out at Conroe.
Tuesday June 4, 1985
Went down and got firewood with Carol, went into Conroe, went ridin' around River Plantation.
Wednesday June 5, 1985
Fixed bicycles, went for a drive up and around rural Texas, New Waverly, etc... Went swimmin' at Double Lake. Crashed, played Chinese Checkers.
Thursday June 6, 1985
Went to Harvey airport to see Peter off to Turkey. Went over Jimi's shop: Southpaw Guitars, TX. Helped him clean the shop up all day. Met some crazy guys. Jim says he's a crime buster who is the process of bustin' the guys that busted into his shop. He doesn't stop talkin' about it. Went to his house - weird. Went out around town-Cardis. Saw some H.M. band - how yank. Slept on floor of Jimmi's shop as a guard.
Conroe was on the outskirts of Houston and Carol was putting me up. Her husband was some kind of oil tycoon who was in Egypt. He would call and talk to her while I was in the house with her. It was kind of like a real live episode of Dallas. The shenanigans.
I had Jimi's name because my brother Rene, is a left handed guitarist who would buy parts from Jimi via mail order back in the early 80s. He told me to look him up. Carol took me there and Jimi wouldn't stop talkin' about her eyes. I must admit I was lucky. From that point on Jimi was calling me the human kangaroo!
I wondered if Jimi pulled an insurance job and the store wasn't really broken into. He was a speed freak at the time. He used to sell guns and gold behind the counter. At the time it was called Gold n' Guitars. I guess the n' stood for guns and gold. He is still open today, after finding the lord in the early 90s, Jimi was saved, even got a Fender dealership.
I returned to the store circa 1996 and Jimi and slept on the floor of the store again. This time I was told I had to watch Jesus videos first, and I did.
Friday June 7, 1985
Hung out at shop (Gold n' Guitars). Went drivin' with Jimi to all the pawn shops around. Rung up bank, didn't have money, rung up consulate, weren't open. Cleaned up more of the store. Went drivin with Jimi's niece, Leslie ,and with Jimi to Pasadena. Checked out all the music stores - cool on freeways - ultra yank. Went back to Southpaw.
Jimi had a Pinto, I remember breaking down on the belt.
To Australians, anything USA is 'yank', some things more 'yank' than others. It's funny though, cause Jimi used to always say: Micky 'anybody outside of Texas is a yankee'. I wasn't real familiar with the civil war history at the time.
Saturday June 8, 1985 - Week 15
Went to consulate. Went downtown to both cop stations for passport. Couldn't help me out. Went to bank, no money. Got back to Southpaw, cleaned up back room. Got a ride with Leslie to Jimi's flat (apt). Smoked pot with Pat (Jimi's roommate). Excellent stuff. Had some gumbo at Pat's girlfriends Carol. She's black. Weird kid. Got a ride back to Southpaw on bak of Pat's motorbike. Increadible lightning. Outside 7-11 smoked a joint with some guy who hangs out at Southpaw. Went to sleep.
Sunday June 9, 1985
Caught a bus up to Conroe. Got picked up at station by Carol. Mowed her lawn. Drunk some beer, crashed out.
Monday June 10, 1985
Headed for N.Y. at about 11:00. Went through TX. I took over drivin' at Texacana. Drove until Nashville. Ate at the Waffle House. Crashed in back of car.
Carol had an apt. in New York and wanted to move all her stuff back to Texas. That was the purpose of this trip.
Tuesday June 11, 1985
Woke up at about 4:30 am. Saw increadible scenery through northern Tennessee. Purple, red, blue sky. Mist was risin' through the valleys. Took over drivin' at Bristol at Tennessee/Virginia border. Drove through West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania. Carol took over to New York, best city out. Crashed.
Wednesday June 12, 1985
Walked down to East 8th street, tried to find Johnny's house. Didn't exist. Visited Irene Dogmatic, wasn't home, walked back went through Central Park. All a good 5 hours walkin'.
Johnny's house refers to Johnny Ramone. Someone gave me his 'address'. The Ramones were the first band I saw. I was 14 it was 1980 in Canberra, Australia. Johnny was a hero to me. Carol's apartment was on the upper west side in the early 100s. It was a long walk to the East Village, but a wonderful first day in New York. I remember on the way back through Central Park some kids tried to sell me coke but I didn't buy it, I bought Peyote instead.
Irene Dogmatic was a name given to me by Peter Dixon, who was a bloke a bit younger than my mum and dad. I made friends with him at 2XX in Canberra, the community radio station that I volunteered at. They put on all the great shows I saw at the ANU refectory in the early 80s, like The Cure, Elvis Costello, The Gun Club, Dead Kennedy's and many more. Peter had a massive record collection and I was super impressed as a young teen. Once we drove to Syndney together around 1982, and I think we saw some bands, I can't remember but my brother was living in Sydney at the time, and I stayed with him. Peter drove me back to Canberra and on the way stopped in Bargo where he bought all these cassette tapes off some guy. A few weeks later the cops came to my house where I lived with my parents at the time and asked questions about Peter and who he was. Allegedly he was dealing in illegal copyrights or stolen recordings or something of that nature. So, then I thought he was even cooler. I thought it was so cool that the cops came to my house and asked my questions but my mum wasn't impressed. Dad was at work.
Irene Dogmatic was a cab driver and a dog portrait artist (still is) at the time, who lived at 508 East 12th street. On my next visit to NY a few months later, I asked if I could stay in her apartment, completely enamoured by the East Village in 1985, at age 19. She ended up matching me with her neighbor, Catherine Ludwig, who became my girlfriend. She was into the Pyramid and Peppermint Lounge scenes and the no wave scene, as well as metal and punk. She would take me to see the Swans and a bunch of other bands. I got to go to the coolest parties and meet all the chic NY rockers, including David Tritt, who played drums in Rat at Rat R, who became one of my favourite bands at the time. While living with Katherine I was working 2 jobs illegally. Bicycle messenger and shit kicker at Mario's Deli on Ave A. (see separate story on this). I remember coming back from work one day and this kid D. Rock, who's tag could be found everywhere in the neighborhood, offered me to smoke base with him. This was of course free base, which was the predecessor to crack. It was essentially crack. I get very high and started hanging with NY local kids and smoking with them. I also befriended other's in the building, who included Nick, who played with the infamous Peter Missing in Missing Foundation. We often had roof parties with them at 508 East 12th Street.
Thursday June 13, 1985
Took Carol's bike down to West 96th to get air in tires. Rode to the World Trade Center. Went up (to the top). Came back via Nancy from the Hags place. She wasn't home. Rode back to West 102nd St. Hung out.
Monday June 17 and Tuesday June 18, 1985 - Week 16
Got real pissed off at Carol. Helped pack car. Got hold of Irene Dogmatic. Went to dinner with her. Took of door at Carol's and Jim's (guy renting her apt). Moved piano. Got joint of Jim. Rode around New York, hung out. Met guy with skateboard with Suicidal Tendencies written on it. Asked him about shows. Bought Village Voice. Went to the consulate on Monday, got passport on Tuesday.
I had seen Suicidal Tendencies while in LA, at Marina Del Ray, and I was already a fan before that. I only like their first album.
The passport picture above is from the re-issued passport that I picked up at the consulate.
Thursday June 20, 1985
Kept on packin' up Carol's car. Left New York around 12. Stopped at gas station in New Jersey. Drove all day and all night. Did nothing but fight with Carol the whole way.
Friday June 21, 1985
Got into a real bitch with Carol. Asked her to let me out of the car just outside Meridian (MI) where I started hitchin' with no money. It felt so good to leave Carol with 600 miles to drive and it was her time to sleep. I hate her. Immediately got a ride through to Jackson. Rung up Jimi to send some money. Caught a bus down to New Orleans. Hung out with two...
Ashamed that I did this to Carol, I'm not sure why I would be so mean to someone
...guys from Sweden. Went back to YMCA. Rung dad for his birthday.
Saturday June 22, 1985 - - Week 17
Went down to Mississippi River. Met Jimi at the NAMM show. Hung out at NAMM. Went back to YMCA. Went ragin' in the French Quarter until 6:00 in the morning. Dejawe was a fun place. Went back to YMCA. Then went to NAMM. Hung out there all day. It was cool. Went down to the river and slept for a few hours. Went back to the Chateau where Jimi was stayin'. Went to airport and rode a plane back to Houston with Dan the guitar lizard.
Monday June 24, 1985
Caught a bus from Dan's shop to Doonstoon??? Then back to Jimi's. Then went back downtown to get my money. Got it. Sent check to Carol. Paid Jimi's electrical bill. Went to the consulate. Got credit card.
This credit card got taken away from me due to negligence about a year later.
Tuesday June 25, 1985
Went shopping down at Sharpstown Mall. Bought some shoes, mags, soap, shampoo. Came back to Jimi's.
Wednesday June 26, 1985
Smoked dope with Pat. Hung out at Southpaw. Hung out with Gary who hangs out at Southpaw.
Thursday June 27, 1985
Gary and I tried to go to the Johnson Space Center. We drove the Lincoln around everywhere. It was so yank. Oh yeah on Wednesday I drove it down to the P.O. Anyway, got to the space cent too late so went back to Jimi's. Gary dromve Lincoln back to Southpaw. Crashed.
Friday June 28, 1985
Hung out at shop. Didn't get to post Rene's parcel. Rode the bike home. Went out to the Ale House with JimRay, and Jeim. Danced for some reason with gals??? Tried to fins some other place, couldn't find, ate at Pizza Hut. JimRay hit me with the Christian bit.
Saturday June 29, 1985 - Week 18
Hung out at Southpaw. Went to some clubs with Jimi. The Monte Carlo broke down. Some doods gave us a lift down to the Ale House and ... Land Cruiser cruiser type. Met Gena at Ale House. Went home with Gena.
Sunday June 30, 1985
Went down to the beach with Gena. Combed knots out of my hair. Hung out with Gena and Danny.
Monday July 1, 1985
Got dropped off at P.0. by Gena. Posted Rene's stuff. Walked back to Southpaw. Jammed out for a while.
Tuesday July 2, 1985
Got visited by Gena. Had meal with. Went back to her house after her work was finished.
Wednesday July 3, 1985
Hung out at Southpaw. Jammed out. Went over to Kelly's. Rang up Dan. Gena came over when she'd finished her work.
Thursday July 4, 1985
Hung out at Jimi's. Went down to Mike's with Pat. Got food at Hartz Chicken. Wrote. Got real stoned. It rained all day. Crashed out in Jimi's place.
Not sure why we didn't celebrate July 4th, especially in Texas.
Friday July 5, 1985
Caught a taxi down to Southpaw with Jimi. Went through a drive-in bank. Carried all the laundry and two big boxes and four brief cases and guitar. Hung out at Southpaw. Rung up airlines and buses etc... Rung up Gena. Went to Safeway. Ate an apple. Wnet to Gena's. Went back to Southpaw. Drove the Monte up to the 7-11....from.... to see if Shelley was there. Wasn't there. Went back to Southpaw. Went to Jim's house. Checked out this guitar and amps etc... Watched some Hendrix video. Drove the Monte back to Jimi's.
Jim worked at the store. He had a cool old Alamo amp (first time I saw one) and an old Flying V, and he was playin' some tasty blues licks. Sounded awesome.
I was locked out because the keys were left at Southpaw. Gena picked me up. Stayed at Gena's.
Saturday July 6, 1985
Went to the bank. Went to Southpaw. Went to the airport. Caught plane to Memphis. Met old lady on plane. Got a lift to a hotel on highway 51. Gonna hitch up to Martin.
Sunday July 7, 1985 - Week 19
Got a ride with bible basher, he gave me a bible. Got a ride from Milligan to Covington with guy who fixes vending machines. Got a ride to Dyasburg with dude from New Orleans, he was cool. Got a ride to Union City with guy who drove cars all around the state. Got a ride into Martin with the only marine recruiter from Martin. Rung up Stefanie, went to the McClains, stayed the night.
Monday July 8, 1985
Got a guided tour of Martin. Hitched up to Benton Harbor MI with truck driver. Stayed in Benton Harbor.
Tuesday July 9, 1985
Hitched to Grand Rapids. Met Tom. Stayed at Tom's. Walked all around and met some really weird people. Got some dope.
Wednesday July 10, 1985
Tied bags to bike, rode up to Manton and back of Tom's bike. Stayed at the weirdest house there. It was really messy and falling apart and don't ever forget the toliet. Drun some Jack Daniels and went uptown...
...where we hung out.
Thursday July 11, 1985
Rode up as far as McMillan. Tom is getting to be a real pain. Stayed at the Genevee hotel.
Friday July 12, 1985
Made it as far as Christmas. I hate Tom. Stayed in Christmas and got extremely blinded on Yukon Jack at Foggies. Also smoked with Foggie and Paul.
Saturday July 13, 1985 - Week 20
Got up early. Speed shifted Tom's bike to Marquette. Went to bike shop to get parts. Fixed Tom's bike. Got hitchin, got picked up by Leon, a guy trainin' for the olympics, also a Deadhead. Guty in pick up picked me up and took me to Michigamme. Got several rides until junction. Got a ride with business guy down to Green Bay. Went to hotel, met some truckie who took me to Abbotsford. Slept in some lady's car who worked at Mr B's.
Sunday July 14, 1985
Went into Mr. B's, met Pam. She drove me to the hotel room that she bought. Went and saw a film with her, the Goonies. She's a rich, stuck up bitch, and she's far from spunky.
Monday July 15, 1985
Went to visit Teresa. Caught the bus down to Milwalkee. Hung out with Wallace, went...
...to some cool bar. Got driven around by some girl. Went back to Y.
Tuesday July 16, 1985
Rung up folks. Caught a bus to Logansport. Got off the bus and Christie's mum picked me up. Went into Royal Center and met Christie. She got time off work and drove me around to some of her friends' houses. Melody's mum would've been a good fuck. Hung out at Bob-o-lite for a while. Went back to the house. Christie had to go back to the house so I went to visit Teresa. Went back to the house, talked to Christie's mum for a while. She should've been OK, too. Christie would be great.
Wednesday July 17, 1985
Went down to Christie's school. Sung with their choir. I liked being back at school again. The Logansport newspaper did an interview with Christie and I. Went to the bank. Went back to Christie's. Daren and his big brother, Brian, and friend Jay came over. We all went up to the 4H fair in Rochester. Prior to that we all...
...got drunk. Stayed there for a while, got ripped off. Saw the pickup and tractor pull. Weird. Drove back, parked down at Christie's.
Thursday July 18, 1985
Slept in. Went down to Christie's school again. Caught the bus to New York.
Friday July 19, 1985
Got into New York. Went down to the Y. Went and got some food with Steve. Went out with Joe from Melbourne and Steve to catch the ferry across to Staten Island. The ferry ride was amazing. Got talking to guy on the train, Wade, who got took us to the Village, got us some smoke, and some speedy mescaline. Had a loat of fun, cruisin form on pub to the next.
Saturday July 20, 1985 - Week 21
Slept till about 1:00. Hung out . Cruised the streets.
Sunday July 21, 1985
Went to Central Park with Nick.
Monday July 22, 1985
Went to see Ted at the consulate. Went to the P.O. Took some more mescaline and hungout at the Riviera until me and Steve caught the bus to Niagara Falls.
Tuesday July 23, 1985
Checked out Niagara Falls. Generally hung out at Niagara.
Wednesday July 24, 1985
Tried to go to Canada. Wouldn't let me due to passport conditions. Caught a bus down to Pittsburgh. Met Christal at bar where we drunk all nite.
Thursday July 25, 1985
Caught a bus to Boston. Got to Boston went to the Hostel.
Friday July 26, 1985
Hung out all over Boston. Plenty of really fuckable types in Boston.
Saturday July 27, 1985 - Week 22
Ok so I haven't written for a while. While in Boston, I met Tracey and stayed at her house. I heard 96 tears in the famous ice-cream shop, I met Debbie, yum yum. Hung out with Sture', we went to Patrick Brady's but saw Tracey. We met Dan and stayed at Dan's. He was cool and had some great pot. We also bought some great pot of some xxxxxx. Monday, he and Laureen ar fuckin the coolest. Jordan and I went to the Hare Krishna...
... Temple for some excellent, free vegetarian meals. Then we went back and smoked our brains out and listened to some wild tapes. On Tuesday night we went , no bullshit...(hmmm?) On Tuesday after I went to Hari for dinner I went to P.B.'s and chatted to Bob. Bob and I went out and bumped into Tim from Calif. We all went out in Tim's van. First we went to the Rat, then we went and boogied at the Spit for all night. On the way home Bob saw Lauren and yelled out to her. Christine, Jordan's girlfriend and Michelle and I fell in love, we all went out and ate Chinese, they didn't like us at the Ying Yang.
Wednesday July 31, 1985
I slept with Michelle, I love her. Michelle and I cruised around and got soaked byt the rain and some smart arse in a passing van. Maybe that ruined...
...our love. Jordan came over and bought some clean clothes along for me. We all had dinner including some guy that had some real dumb logic questions. They were really extreme. Pshycho Dave came over with Catherine, he's weird. We all went out to see Broken Angels, a band with Cheetah from the Dead Boys playing guitar. I'll never forget the Grammar Boys before them. We walked home in the rain to Michelle's. Michelle and I aren't getting on too well. All of us slept in her bed but nothing happened.
Thursday Aug 1, 1985
I felt depressed and said bye to Michelle. I hung out at Jordan's for a while. In the evening I went to see Michelle, I don't to write about her anymore.
Friday Aug 2 and Sat Aug 3, 1985
Went to the hostel. I met Sture' there. Went down ???????
...and went back to the YMCA. On Saturday I moved up to Harlem. I went to see Frightwig, they were fuckin' excellent, got real stoned with Tim.
Sunday Aug 4, 1985
Had a nice slow day.
Monday Aug 5, 1985
Went to the Swiss Consulate, the bank, generally hung around, went down to the Village with some Swedish people.
Tuesday Aug 6, 1985
Went down to Bleeker Bob's to buy the new Ramones record. Hung around, stayed up late and had trouble sleeping. Rung mum. Saw the amazing cop incident on St. Nicholas Ave. about 20 cop cars, I'll never forget.
Wednesday Aug 28, 1985
Well it happens to be Wednesday but only coincidentally. And it's not the end of August either. Things are real bad as usual. I didn't make it to work today. I probably would have gone to the U.N. and had to....
...go through all the security and get to see Reagan today so I'm probably gonna lose my job, but I was gonna quit on Friday anyway. But it would be better to quit than get fired, but that's just stupid guilt complex shit. So I got this T.V. in my room now and I'm watching these game shows, rather than going to work. Anyhow, they're all made in Hollywook. Gee I wonder if this is just another writing stage I'm gonna go through. Wow Holly and Cancace are the competitors on "Tic Tac Dough", they've both got a lot of make up on, wait on Candaice just won. 'Alright Candice, a nice vertical Tic-Tac-Dough is yours,' says the compare. Well hopefully David and I are gonna go down to the river today and across...
...the ferry. Guess I'll take my camera. I've been takin a lot photos on my bike lately. Saw Nick Cave the other night, saw Rat at Rat Rat at CBGB. Well it seems to be time to write again. I think maybe I'm just gonna start writing when I'm bored, so what happens when you're bored of writing? Anyhow, maybe I shouldn't write unless I can read it back later and learn something from it.
Wednesday Oct 23, 1985
Woke up late. Got the chance to cook my breakfast and generally hang aroung a bit. David ended up conning me into taken the whole day off. I did. David and I went down to South Ferry and caught the Staten Island Ferry across. It was cool. Looking at the buildings in Manhattan was gratifying. cool. I have authority David is my authority. Similat to Jimi in Texas or Carol in New....
York. These people are in positions of advanced states and I must respect, authority. These people seem to take place of mum or dad. Is this because they are someone to cling to or because they like to give you a hard time. If then your parents did not give you a hard tome then perhaps you will either respect or feel insulted by an authority of lower level when told for example that you can't wake them up to use the telephone. Often this person may leave you with a feeling of guilt (probably something you created). Often you may worry of such an incidence for a period of tiem, when the figure of authority may have totally forgooten about the situation for one number of reasons: 1) They don't care. Why don't they care? Well it could be because they are in an authoritive position and don't feel threatened by theire minor. Others will argue that the elder party finds the issue of no value. This is very true...
...in some cases, but they only find it of no value because they are a lesser part of it. The burdon is on the minor. They feel they have hurt no one or are not conscious of the fact. They are just worried about protecting themselves. Is this insecure, is this normal? What is the case with work. This week was going to be last week. Sunday night I got so drunk that I didn't make it to work on Monday. Tuesday I make an above four effort. Wednesday, I get up late planning to still make it in, but somehow decided not to work today or tomorrow. I make up all kinds of excusues, but I'm just lazy.
Friday 25 October, 1985
I can hear the school children next door as I can on all days that I'm home thi time, i.e., not at work. It's cold outside. I just got up. I feel drunk. I feel as though I'm gonna get a big headache. I must've drunk a lot last night. I'm drinking too much lately. Sometimes I...
...smoke a lot of cigarettes. I've become lazy. I'll eat some food and I'll feel better. Some kid next door say "Stevie Wonder Man" at the school.
Sunday October 27, 1985
Well Sunday 2 lates (that's the date late 20's) Anyhow not much happening. Jill doesn't wanna fuck me, Sheri does I don't, I wan't lots o' different women. I gotta got back to Australia. I'm gonna be livin' with my parents, workin' at the Henge and be broke.
Sunday November 3, 1985
I hear my roommate coughing, it's a smoker's cough. I think of my own self smoking and the phlegm I cough up is grey everyday that I rise. I think to myself, how does all this tar got stuck in my lungs if I cough it all up in my phlegm? Anyhow, one must quit this habit to fullfill my happiness. Quit alcohol, quit pot, eat it if neccassary, to martial arts, strengthen and develop ones own body, respect one's own body, do not abuse it. Forget the games of the amer world, going to bars for alcohol and sex, thing that people desire because everyone deserves it. One must feel equivalent who is insecure, for, that one is not happy with one's self.
Thursday November 6, 1985
This moringin Thursay the 6th of Nov. I awoke in an apartment in Berkely California. Last night I took People's Express from Newayrk airport New Jersey, prior to this I got the bus from the Port Authority on 42nd. New Jersey Transit bus got me to Terminal C at Newark,...
... the terminal is devoted to Peoples Express airlines. As I entered the building I was harrassed by a police officer. My bag (one of em) had a throwing star in it. Do you know throwing stars are illegal? he asks. "No". He confiscated it. The plane ended up takin' off and hour late. I met Denis, some wild guy who decided it was okay to stay at his place last night, this apartment in Berkeley. Denis stayed at his girlfriends last night, Peggy. I went down to Shattuck St. this morning to get some food, maybe Denis came ?? then. Anyhow, I have to wait around for Denis as I have the keys to his place and if I leave I won't know what do with 'em or how to get in contact with Denis.
Notes???
Living in the East Village was fun. The first time I arrived in Manhattan was not a terribly thrilling experience. This was due generally to my company, Carol. Carol was a semi-attractive, highly seductive woman who I had met in Colorado, while hitchhiking through Breckenridge. It was an amazing road, very calm and pleasant, surrounded by trees. A river flowed down to the road from a house or hotel that stood on the other side of the road. Melting snow crated the tips of the Rocky Mountains which form the horizon. Behing the hotel, behind me stood a forrest, a fantasy land. I hoped ther were magic mushrooms. I was reading a...
...book, "Mushrooms of North America", I guess I was concentrating on the beautiful pictures rather than the woods. I'd recently had a strong mushroom trip in Boulder, and had a feeling for them. I knew they were around. I remember in Estes Park, a small tourist town at the base of Rocky Mountain Park, I stayed in a cabin situation about 5 miles out of the city. A friend of mine Will went for a long walk with me through the forrested steep gradients that surrounded the cabins. There was a semi-dead tree that had grown to perfect arch amongst the wood. It was just big enough to sit under. I had decided to rest as did Will., the mountain was steep. I sat under the arch and thought about mushrooms, and my recent experience in Boulder. Will was directing us to a Radio transmitter that he said he had climbed last year. We eventually foung this large antenna and decide against climbing it. We stood there and threw rocks below. On our return trip I argued with Will abou what direction we were heading in. I think he was correct all the time. We found....
...the most increadible fantasy lands that immediately made me think again of mushrooms. We found lush green fields, perfect meadows, untouched and privated by surrounding trees and forrest. Suddenly I see a huge large mushroom, sticking out of some cow shit. I get real excited and wonder if it's magic. As we walk back to the cabins I find several different kinds of mushrooms, one of which I'm sure is magic. I decide to take some back to the cabins, but never decided to take them. Within the next day or two, I leave the cabin and start hitchin' just other side of Estes Park. I bought the almighty book, Mushrooms of North America, at the Rocky Park Tourist Bureau just across the road from where I was hitchikin' from. As I read the book I find the mushroom I aws fond of which I found with Will by the cabins. I know it was magic and regretted not taking it.
Saturday 9 November, 1985
Today Saturday the 9th Nov. I caught BART, San Francisco's subway. It was extremely packed on the way out to Berkeley. Apparently, there was a football game being played and....
....as a result I was in a mega multi subo situation. I was on the way out to the North of the University town looking for instruments, and I found them too.
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