---
12C = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FACES OF KU
---
MONDAY, AUG. 20, 2001
Grauerholz: Preserving Lawrence culture important to artist
PHOTO BY THAD ALLENDEI
James Grauerholz is one of the last links between Lawrence and the Beat Generation. Friendships with William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg lead Grauerholz to teach and American Studies course highlighting the works of Burroughs.
Lawrence, Part I
CONTINUED FROM 11C
Grauerholz came to Lawrence in the Fall of 1969 as a 16-year-old freshman honors student. He had tested out of Field Kinley High School and planned to become a philosopher.
Grauerholz spent four years at the University but didn't graduate. He primarily studied Eastern Philosophy
"I wasn't just coming to the University of Kansas, but I was coming to Lawrence," he said. "I knew it was kind of a bohemian place. There was kind of a poet, beatnik, hippie-biker scene, and I fully wanted to encounter all that and join the psychedelic revolution and everything else—all of which I did."
Grauerholz initially visited New York in the spring of 1973, where he met Andreas Brown, of the Gotham Book Mart, who offered him a job if he came back. He accepted.
"And I just never went back to finish my BA; maybe I will," he said.
New York Years
Grauerholz had been writing poetry and songs before going to New York and wanted to carve a niche as a poet and musician.
"I really wanted to go to the great big city and meet the great people of my time, and I wanted to be a musician," he said. "At some point I realized I didn't have the nerve to stake it all. Then I was more comfortable working in the background. I lack the consistent egoism and gregariousness of the public performer."
So Grauerholz worked behind the scenes.
"I felt it was destiny and I belonged there. I said, 'Yeah, I'm here and I've got to make a point of earning my continued stay.'" he said.
Grauerholz said many famous artists had infamous personal lives.
"In many ways Burroughs' record as a human being, his moral record was checkeder and subject to criticism. But, his dedication to his work is above reproach," Grauerholz said. Trapping the Piltrimane
Grauerholz is writing Pilgrim On the Earth, which will be the third biography on Burroughs.
Last spring, Grauerholz taught "The Life and Work of William Burroughs," American Studies 494 / English 479.
Norm Yetman, American Studies professor, said "We were absolutely delighted with the reception of his course. He had 38 students, and 35 of them filled out evaluations with overwhelming enthusiasm."
Grauerholz said he taught the course to help develop his biography outline and to receive student insights.
Grauerholz offered feedback and research assistance to his students. But the biography has stalled.
"Frankly the biggest competition this summer is swimming and socializing and practicing with my band a lot and kind of having fun, because it's summer." he said.
The biography was scheduled for delivery by Grove Press next February, but Grauerholz said he needs more time.
When published, it will be brimming with Grauerholz's experience and research on Burroughs. He tracked down information to corroborate what Burroughs said and didn't say in interviews.
One search led to south Texas, where Burroughs lived on a farm. There, he found a saga of binge drinking, drug use and murder.
In 1987, Grauerholz co-coordinated the River City Reunion in Lawrence, a tribute to the counter culture of the 1960s and 1970s.
"I did the River City Reunion, deliberately to fan the flames of the sixties that were still smoldering here." Grauerholz said, "and it worked. But, nothing's forever."
Grauerholz said he intended to stay in Lawrence, and that the energy that drew him to the hill is still here, but that it is more rare.
Several years ago, for example, the Crossing crowd drove out the last of the Bohemian hippies, he said. "I used to go and see Paw at the Crossing. They would rock that place, and other bands played there. I played there. But that's all over now."
Overall, Grauerholz linked the end of Bohemian influence in Lawrence to politics.
"It's really a hangover from the Reagan years," he said.
"There's this entrenched attitude of growth at all costs, growth at any cost,
Grauerholz is also skeptical about the benefits of Lawrence's growth.
growth in any direction, growth of any kind, more people, more business, more roads. By all means more roads," he said. "Too much traffic? Obviously we need more roads—did anyone stop to think that the more roads you have, the more traffic you're going to have."
Grauerholz's primary craft was music when he was an undergraduate and when he stepped onto New York pavement.
In early 1995, Grauerholz formed the first version of the band, Tank Farm. He plays guitar and sings lead.
"But I was helping William, so I put the music aside. It wasn't until 1992 that I seriously started playing again," he said.
A tank farm is a group of large holding tanks of petroleum or petroleum byproducts in a geometric formation. Grauerholz passed a road sign on Highway 169, "Tank Farm Road," and was struck with the name for the band.
He recently wrote the song, "What the Hell do I do on Tuesday." It goes, "I do pretty well on Monday / I can still put up a fight / I can get out of bed and go to work / I can even make it through the night / But what the hell do I do on Tuesday / If you could tell me it would be so nice." Next
Grauerholz, who is approaching 50, says that his life after Burroughs is steeped in playing and writing music.
The duty to advance Burroughs' work also burns on.
"I see Burroughs as part of a vector of left-handed tradition in civilization, as a direct transmission of thought from centuries before," Grauerholz said.
Grauerholz and biographer Barry Miles have edited a restored text of Naked Lunch, which will be released this fall.
Grauerholz will teach "The History of Sexual Subcultures in 20th Century North America" this fall semester in the American Studies department.
Life after Burroughs has Grauerholz busy rehashing his adventures, making music and teaching courses in Lawrence, even on Tuesdays.
Hansen can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kansan.com
Don't Forget your
The new semester is starting. So don't be caught without your KANSAN!
The first paper is Coming out on August 23rd.
Also kansan.com
- Parents can stay up with campus events.
Why so many smart students buy textbooks from the KU Bookstores
FIND ALL YOUR BOOKS
The KU Bookstores offer the largest selection of used textbooks in Lawrence...always priced at least 25% less than new books
The KU Bookstores stock all the books for all the classes. The only source for all your books.
EASY
REFUNDS
MORE USED BOOKS
No need to find a box, seal it; take it to UPS and pay to return your books. Just bring your books into either KU Bookstore location.
Want to know which books you need, or Just want to order them? We've got all the Info for all the classes at WWW.JAYHAWKS.COM
ON-CAMPUS LOCATIONS
ONLINE
INFO/ORDER
Three Campus locations to serve you best:
Kansas Union, level two
Burge Union, level two
Regents Center, Edwards Campus
One aspect you should know about the KU Bookstores is revenue from sales go towards student services, programs and facilities.
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
Kansas Union 864-5328
Burge Union 864-5697
www.jayhawks.com
TEXTBOOKS