"Twenty-five years in the making, and completed shortly before John Giorno's death in 2019, 'Great Demon Kings' is the memoir of a cultural pioneer: an openly gay man at a time when many artists remained closeted and shunned gay subject matter, and a devout Buddhist whose faith acted as a rudder during a life of tremendous animation, one full of fantastic highs and frightening lows. Studded with appearances by Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, and numerous other luminaries (including a moving portrait of a decades-long friendship with Burroughs), this book offers a joyous, life-affirming, and sensational look at New York City during its creative peak, narrated in the unforgettable voice of one of its most singular characters." -- publisher's statement.