Pop quiz: What do Burning Man, Fight Club, flash mobs, urban exploring, art cars and the Billboard Liberation Front have in common? All of them were born of the pranksters known as the Cacophony Society. They started in San Francisco, 1986 and expanded to have chapters in Detroit, Portland, Los Angeles, and dozens of other cities. With April Fool’s Day approaching I knew I’d want to share some stories from this incredible group.
Read MoreJohn Law on the death of Michael Furey, near Burning Man in 1966.
Read MoreChicken John Rinaldi, a showman who helped influence the early years of Burning Man. He, along with Jim Mason, created Borg2, which challenged the approach of the Burning Man Organization in the mid-80s.
Read MoreJohn Bogard and Planet X.
Back in the 1960s, potter John Bogard would come to Gerlach to go to the hot springs. He said at the time, he was living in Santa Cruz, Calif., but as his rent increased to $45, he said it was too steep a price for a potter. He decided to move out to the house west of Gerlach for $30 a month. That was 40 years ago.
Read MoreJerry James, In the Beginning. An essay about the start of Burning Man, and the eventually falling out between its founders.
Read MoreWhy I Joined the SF Suicide Club by David T Warren.
Read MoreSebastian Hyde was a Cacophony Society member and attended the first Burning Man at Black Rock Desert (among others). He created many of the early graphics associated with the event, including the original Zone Trip t-shirt.
Read MoreHow Chuck Palahniuk joined the Cacophony Society. The story of how a Tiki party in a North Portland bar began the road that ultimately lead to the book (and by extension the movie) Fight Clubb
Read MoreBurning Man 2012
Read MoreBurning Man: Hot Mess. Originally published August 2012
Read MoreA Way Too Short Biography of David T. Warren. Written by John Law & Steve Mobia
A farewell to Flamo LaGrande, R. J. Mololopozy
Read MoreInterviews with Jack Napier of the Billboard Liberation Front
Read MoreThe origin of the Zone Trip by Carrie Galbraith. The “zone trip” were excursions held by the SF Cacophony Society. The fourth zone trip was to Black Rock desert, which became a tradition known as Burning Man
Read MoreKevin Evans first proposed taking the Cacophony Society to Black Rock Desert, and was among the first people to promote bring the Man to Black Rock Desert. He continued to influence the early course of Burning Man on the playa, continuing to attend Burning Man through the 1995 burn.
Read MoreThe Missing Clown by Steve Mobia. Steve talks about the Suicide Club and “My Dinner with Gary”, featuring the mock burial of participants.
Read MoreTime and Tinnitus by D.S. Black. Recollections of the Suicide Club and Gary Warne
Read MoreThe Billboard Liberation Front. Pranksters pre-dating the Cacophony Society
Read MoreLaughing Squid: Zone Trip #4 https://laughingsquid.com/p-segal-zone-trip-4/
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