Musicians Pay Tribute to Allen Ginsberg's The Fall of America

01 Feb 2021

The Fall of America: Poems of These States 1965-1971 by Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, is having a 50th anniversary revival, with musicians offering their interpretations to Ginsberg's poems. Collected together in a tribute album, The Fall of America - A 50th Anniversary Tribute will be available to download on 5th February, with proceeds from the sale of the album going to HeadCount.org, an organisation which promotes voter registration and engagement through music. The album will later be released as a CD and vinyl record.

Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and is considered to be one of the most acclaimed Beat writers of his time. The Fall of America is a collection of poems that Ginsberg wrote during his time travelling around America, often commenting on the political situation at the time and condemning America's involvement in Vietnam.

His political activism is also revealed in Blinds & Shutters through the photographs of Michael Cooper who was there to capture Ginsberg, his contemporaries and the protests they attended. A few copies signed by Ginsberg remain.