Paul Krassner RIP

[Peter Lemkin]

Very sad news to hear of the loss of a friend! I met Paul about 33 years ago when I was one of the 'regulars' along the Venice, CA boardwalk, and he was living in the area then too. I had heard of and read his Realist long before I met him. Almost daily he would come to my political table against war, Reagan, Iran-Contra, covert operations, and many other related matters and talk with me and others who dropped by about those and other issues of the day. He was as funny in person as he was on paper in his publications. He was a very kind and intelligent man. He used his political humor to DO something, to CHANGE things for the better and was not the 'clown' so many chose to see him as - if they knew of him at all. That period was his low financial point and he was always musing about how to make some money with his political humor. Some would recognize him at my table and ask for autographs or take a photo. I never found a historical or political topic he was not fully 'up' on, and he always expounded on it with both intelligence and humor. I know he suffered several health problems in his last years. He was a fixture among anti-establishment cognoscenti of my era. I'm very sad to hear he has died, but he lived a rich life of rebellion and I think he made a difference - more than most can say. He had the strangest group of friends anyone could - Lenny Bruce, Wavy Gravy and a very long list of both mainstream and off-off-off mainstream types. Rest in Peace my good man! Your brand of Mad Realism was most welcome in my life and that of many others - it [and you!] will be missed. From a friend and a fan; and thanks for the many cogent intelligent conversations and the laughs. Another bright light from the '60's' [as well as after] has gone out. Alas.