William Burroughs

William Burroughs was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, painter and spoken word performer. He gained recognition as a prominent figure in the 50s Beat movement alongside Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Known for his experimental writing style, Burroughs pioneered the "cut-up" technique where passages and texts were cut and reassembled to create unconscious writing. His influential works include 'The Naked Lunch', 'The Soft Machine', 'The Ticket That Exploded' and 'Nova Express'. With his avant-garde nature and advocacy of drug use, he became an iconic figure of the 60's counter-culture.

Burroughs' impact extended beyond literature into music. The term "heavy metal" originated from him, while bands like "Soft Machine" and "Steely Dan" took inspiration from his trilogy of works. He released his first album, *Call Me Burroughs*, featuring readings from 'The Naked Lunch' and 'Nova Express'. Throughout the years, his distinctive voice was sampled in various musical projects.

In 1978, Burroughs was honored at the Entermedia Theater with "The Nova Convention", a gathering of publishers, writers, artists, punk personalities and counterculture followers. This event resulted in an album release featuring contributions from notable figures such as Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, John Cage, Allen Ginsberg among others.