Richard Hell (b.1949,) born Richard Lester Meyers, is an American musician, writer, and punk rock pioneer, instrumental in shaping the 1970s New York punk scene. His influence extends to poetry, literature, and cultural criticism.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, he moved to New York City in the late 1960s to pursue poetry and publishing. He co-founded Television (1973) with Tom Verlaine, later joined The Heartbreakers (1975,) and formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids (1976.) Their début album, Blank Generation (1977,) became a defining punk record, influencing The Sex Pistols and The Clash.
In the 1980s, Hell transitioned to writing, publishing Go Now (1996,) a semi-autobiographical novel, and I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp (2013,) a memoir on punk and literature. His poetry collections include Across the Years (1992) and Hot and Cold (2001.) He also worked as a film critic for BlackBook magazine (2004–06.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Richard Hell
You could imagine you could be smart like Wittgenstein by just thinking hard enough, but Elvis just had it. It was almost spiritual. A kind of grace.
—Richard Hell
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