Roky Erikson

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

	I got invited to the opening of _Openers II_, a book put out by 
Henry Rollins' co.  It's a collection of liner notes (TRP is in there.)  
The book was celebrated along with the release of Roky's first album in 
who knows how long.  The CD (do we say "album?") is called, I think I'm 
being precise, "All that may do my Rhyme."
	I decided to stay here and study for my comps, which was probably 
a good decision.  My friend, a photographer in L.A. named John Eder, has 
a friend who went and gave this report:
	"Apparently, it took place at a barbeque place in Austin.  Roky 
was there, Henry Rollins, King Coffey from Butthole Surfers.  The place 
was mobbed.  . . . there were tons of people, who not only wanted to get 
their books signed but had also hauled out all their old 13th Floor 
Elevators records and anything else they had that they could get the guy 
[Roky] to sign.  After about ten minutes, Roky started to get 
uncomfortable because there were simply too many people for his liking.  
He finally just took off and went out to the parking lot and got in a 
car.  Henry Rollins . . . didn't seem to know how to react, since he was 
dealing with someone with as much, if not more, street cred than 
himself.  So he "ran" (did he really run?  Yes, says Steve) out to the 
parking lot, closely followed by this huge line of people.  He asked Roky 
to please come back in, but Roky wouldn't.  So Henry Rollins just got him 
to sit in the car and sign a bunch of books.  I'm not sure if the crowd 
of people were still standing there or what.  Anyway, he got Roky to sign 
a bunch of books and the deal was you give Henry your blank, unsigned 
book and you get back a signed one.  But people were pissed off because 
they wanted the personal dedication (at this point, I, Bonnie, interject 
a monumental JEEZ!), which they weren't going to get, and they had all 
shelled $18.00 to attend this event.  Roky told Henry that people COULD 
MAIL HIM THEIR BOOKS AND RECORDS AND HE'D BE HAPPY TO SIGN THEM AND MAIL 
THEM BACK" (my caps.)  John adds that "I guess it's true that he's really 
into the postal system!"

	There it is.  Sad media event gone wrong.  GLad I didn't go.

Bonnie