Jack Kerouac died a drinker's death Oct. 21, 1969, many years after reaching fame with his novels "On the Road" and "Dharma Bums," which inspired generations to follow. To mark his death and to celebrate his life, The Doors in Tokyo's Shinjuku district is hosting Bohemian Cafe, a night of music, theater and "dancing angels and poets" Oct. 20.
Kerouac's mantra for poetics -- "Mind is shapely, Art is shapely" -- was an echo of the aphorism Ginsberg popularized, "First thought, best thought." While his prose influenced numerous Beat writers, Kerouac's poetry is less well-known -- although Bob Dylan once said that "Mexico City Blues" blew his mind and was the first poetry that spoke his own language.
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