Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Siwsan

(27,322 posts)
Tue Apr 2, 2024, 02:33 PM Apr 2024

John Sinclair, Detroit poet, cannabis activist and counterculture icon, dead at 82

Gleefully proclaiming the joys of rock ‘n’ roll, drugs and sex in the streets, John Sinclair reigned as a nationally celebrated troubadour of youth rebellion during the psychedelic era, playing a lead role in making Detroit and Ann Arbor counterculture hot spots with the MC5 band, the White Panther Party, cutting-edge concerts and flamboyant rhetoric.

Sinclair, who lived in Detroit, died Tuesday after years of declining health. Sinclair had been hospitalized at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital for two weeks before his death at 7:58 a.m., his longtime publicist told the Detroit Free Press. He was 82.

Sinclair’s utopian dream of a post-industrial society based on leisure and marijuana never went beyond a small group of collaborators. But during the 1960s and early 70s, he made headlines as a cultural whirlwind and bold provocateur, infuriating the establishment while attempting to organize a “guitar army” of young revolutionaries to mount a “total assault” on the “death culture” of America.


https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/04/02/john-sinclair-detroit-poet-cannabis-activist-and-counterculture-icon-dead-at-82/73179306007/

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
John Sinclair, Detroit poet, cannabis activist and counterculture icon, dead at 82 (Original Post) Siwsan Apr 2024 OP
boy...this brought back some memories... bahboo Apr 2024 #1
A true Michigan icon Siwsan Apr 2024 #2
He played our spot in NYC IbogaProject Apr 2024 #3
Rest well, John...we'll party later, k? MiHale Apr 2024 #4

bahboo

(16,953 posts)
1. boy...this brought back some memories...
Tue Apr 2, 2024, 04:24 PM
Apr 2024

I hosted White Panther meetings in my garage for a brief while. And the Ann Arbor Jazz and Blues Fest was legendary...dude led quite a life...

IbogaProject

(3,712 posts)
3. He played our spot in NYC
Tue Apr 2, 2024, 06:19 PM
Apr 2024

He performed once at the Yippie Cafe at least once in the 2000s, I don't recall which year. Cool guy.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Cannabis»John Sinclair, Detroit po...