Published posthumously, “Great Demon Kings: A Memoir of Poetry, Art, Sex, Death and Enlightenment” (2020) is a thoroughly captivating and entertaining account of gay culture in the Lower Manhattan literary and art scene that spanned from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. The author, John Giorno (1936-2019) was not famous man during his lifetime; though for decades worked on this book, and kept meticulous records of his famous friends and lovers, poetry, art, and spirituality—his work will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.

As a teen, Giorno was enthralled and greatly influenced by the talent of Dylan Thomas (1914- 53) after attending two of his live poetry readings in NYC (1951), and resolved to become a writer/poet. During his formal education at Colombia University, he rebelled against the status quo to become a doctor, lawyer, businessman, or academic professional, and also learned more about his place in the (underground) Gay culture. During this time, Giorno was brutalized by an incident of violence and left unconscious on the steps of the University campus. After college he was awarded a fellowship in in the Iowa Writers Workshop after “Portrait of A Boy” appeared in the Arizona Quarterly (1957).

Giorno was introduced to Andy Warhol (1928-87) on October 31, 1962, though didn’t become a part of his inner circle until 1963. The details of Warhol’s commercial art, celebrity appeal, friends, associates, happenings and other highlights of Giorno’s intimate relationships with Warhol and other famous lovers (Bob Rauschenberg, William Burroughs, Jasper Johns) were extensively detailed in the book. Giorno was featured in Warhol’s avant-garde production “Sleep” (1964), he would later sell a valuable gift from Warhol to finance a trip to India to study Buddhism.
The sexual revolution began in the 1960’s-- as traditional American social and cultural norms and attitudes noticeably began to change. Giorno was a handsome desirable man with a “voracious sexual appetite” who relished anonymous sex with “abandon” between consenting adults. On occasion, these encounters occurred in sex clubs, men’s restrooms and other public places. Giorno was totally shocked when he didn’t become infected with AIDS/HIV as he mourned this tragedy and loss of many friends and countless others that died from the epidemic. In conjunction with his non-profit Giorno Poetry Systems he began the AID’S Treatment Project (1984) that served many in need.

As a very generous man, Giorno freely gave his poetry away, handing mimeographed copies in streets of NYC, or with Dial-A- Poem (1968) to inspire callers, he refused to profit on the 1-900 prefix as the chat and dating lines increased in popularity. Eventually Giorno would sponsor selected holy men that traveled from abroad to educate and enlighten other Americans; his philosophical studies of Buddhism may have saved him from the ravages of alcohol and drug use that affected many people in his community and generation.
John Giorno was married to Swiss born multi- media and land artist Ugo Rondinone (1964-). “I Love John Giorno” was Rondinone’s celebratory multi-room exhibit that debuted in 2015 at multiple locations throughout NYC. **With thanks and appreciation to Farrar, Straus, Giroux Publishing via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.

This description of the scene during the 1960s and 1970s creative period was such an interesting read. The author interacted with so many well known names and became a poet in his own right. The relationships of these individuals during such a defined period was a great read.

It was a fascinating read that opened a windows on the creative world of New York in '60s and ''70s.
I read a lot about John Giorno but I this is his first book I read and loved it.
I loved the tenderness and how well he describes the persons he got in touch and the experiences he lived.
It was an excellent read and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

An interesting and over the top memoir that takes the reader deep into the gay scene of the 1960’s. Interesting and entertaining.