Religion is a lot of things, but most obviously we can distinguish one sect, order, school or institution from another through their trappings: robes, candles, books, paintings, statues, gestures, poses and music. Music is central to faiths all over the world – songs are emissaries of religious stories, time capsules of historical events and they teach lessons about morals and dogma. No matter how weird or way out your cult may be, chances are it’s got music.

Here’s a great short video on the music that’s been inspired by Scientology. Some of it is surprisingly funky. All of it is bizarre…

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This week: We’re a man down, but hunkier than ever, America goes gaga for molly, Art bell: we hardly knew thee … on satellite, Ikea CATastrophe, Mars barred, Did you father a child at a Megadeth concert?, and William Burroughs: Scientologist.

Personnel – Joe Nolan and Ken Eakins

[powerpress]

Links:

America finally notices MDMA – Link

Art Bell Cancelled – Link

IKEA let 100 cats loose in a store – Link

The Trouble with Mars (Space News) – Link

Chick gets knocked up at a Megadeth show, tries to find father on Craigslist – Link

William S. Burroughs – Scientologist! – Link – Link

Interludes:

Secret Chiefs 3, Lipps Inc

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As always, I’ve been reading a bunch of books lately. One of the most interesting is a William Burroughs biography that specifically focuses in on the author’s involvement with the Church of Scientology.

Most fans of The Beats know that Burroughs joined the church for a short time during which he became enamored of their scientific approach to the treatment of neurosis, while simultaneously getting turned-off by the cult of personality that surrounded L. Ron Hubbard. I’m still in the middle of Scientologist! by David S. Wills. I’ll post more about it later.

In the midst of Wills’ Burroughs/Scientology break-down, I came across a small article archive that gathers together samples of Burroughs’ writings on Scientology. These words by the man himself are a great primer for on the subject in the form of a collection of articles and letters published by Rolling Stone, LA Free Press and the East Village Other. This trove also includes the short story “Ali’s Smile.”

Get it here.

Here is Burroughs reading “Ali’s Smile.”

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