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John Sinclair, Detroit poet, cannabis and counterculture icon, dead at 82
- rmason 3y agoI am not certain most people under 45 have ever heard of John Sinclair. But for me from the age of 12 until 45 he was constantly in the news in Michigan. 1. He beat the Nixon Justice Department who charged him with blowing up a CIA recruiting office 2. John Lennon wrote a song about him 3. He received nine years in prison for giving an undercover female narc two joints 4. He got the legendary Detroit band MC5 a recording contract and after their career took off his antics caused them to lose said recording contract 5. Founded the White Panther Party 6. Launched Iggy Pop's career 7. Created and ran the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival I recently rediscovered recordings of the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz festival. He got some of the greatest artists of all time to perform in Michigan. Blues guys at the end of their careers who had never been outside the South. You would know some of their hits which were appropriated (stolen) by some famous rock acts but you never get a chance to hear the original creators of this music perform it.