Jonathan and Damien

The smell of the air
and the wind on my face
makes me remember
other places
and other times
when I wasn't
in hell

-- Damien Echols

Another Fine Man Behind Bars
Jonathan Richman interviews Damien Echols of the West Memphis Three

Jonathan hasn't been touring lately but he has some public appearances in California lined up for May and June.

12 May: Reading poetry by Damien Echols at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco. Jonathan will be auctioning off one of his own artworks to help pay expenses for The West Memphis Three defense fund
16 May: Paradise Lost 2: Revelations Film Screening at The Attic in Santa Cruz. Jonathan will be speaking about his visit with Damien Echols on Death Row. Greg 'Curly' Keranen will be performing as João Dilberto (heads-up: Curly has Vincent Van Gogh mp3 on his website).
3 June: Benefit for The West Memphis Three at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on June 3 (see show info) with Mark Kozelek, Chuck Prophet, and Tommy Guerrero. June 3 is also The West Memphis Three Worldwide Awareness Day.

Henry Rollins, Jello Biafra and Jonathan Richman to Speak at "Skeleton Key" Art Auction Benefit for WM3

On May 12th at 6:00 PM, 111 Minna Gallery (111 Minna Street between New Montgomery & 2nd St.) hosts a reception for "Skeleton Key," an art exhibit featuring pieces by death row inmate Damien Echols and several other artists to benefit the WM3 Defense Fund. This one-night-only event includes music, speaking, and poetry readings by punk legends Henry Rollins and [tentatively] Jello Biafra, veteran rocker Jonathan Richman, Penelope Houston of the Avengers, Michale Graves (former singer of the Misfits), Jacob Pitts of Strangers With Candy, and former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez. Richman will auction one of his own creations to help the defense fund prove Echols' innocence. The gallery showing opens at 12 PM, and includes works by Winston Smith, Shepard Fairey, and Jonathan Richman. Visit 111minnagallery.com or call 415.974.1719 for more info. Donations will be accepted at the door.

The Premiere of Damien Echols' art (6:00 PM - 2:00 AM)
ONE NIGHT ONLY

May 12th @ 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco

Gallery opens for showing 12noon
Reception: 6PM to 2AM
Address: 111 Minna Street (@ New Montgomery & 2nd Streets)
Phone: 415-974-1719

Henry Rollins\, Jonathan Richman\, Matt Gonzalez \, Penelope Houston and Jacob Pitts will be speaking and reading Damien Echols' poetry. (Tentative: Jello Biafra)

Michale Graves and Jacob Pitts will be providing acoustic sets.

Artists include:
Damien Echols

Anne Regan (collaborating with Damien Echols)
Bob Gruen
Carol Queen
Floria Sigsmondi
Grove Pashley
Jayne County
Jonathan Richman
Lorri Davis (collaborating with Damien Echols)
Mick Rock
Norman Reedus
Shepard Fairey
Winston Smith
DJs: Justin McNeal and Marco Vega

Also of interest:

Almost Home: My Life Story Vol 1(book)
by Damien Echols
The Last Pentacle of the Sun(book)
Writings in Support of the West Memphis Three
Devil's Knot by Mara Leveritt (book)
The story of The West Memphis Three is chronicled online in the CourtTV Crime Library

Margaret Cho also visited Damien Echols on Death Row.
You can read it about it here

Thanks to Allan Hough for his help.