FREEWHEELIN FRANK, 1966
McClure's place, San Francisco
Michael McClure introduced me to Freewheelin. They were doing a book together for Grove Press and needed a cover shot. Frank was the secretary of the San Francisco branch of the Hell's Angels. He would dictate the book to McClure who would type the words. I like Frank very much; he was always good to me. He gave me a Hell's Angels protection card, just in case. He would invite me to parties, drive-in movies, etc., but I was too afraid to go.
FREEWHEELIN FRANK, 1966
McClure's place, San Francisco (see description above).
FRANK, MICHAEL & GEORGE
San Francisco 1966
Hell's Angel Freewheelin Frank, Michael McClure, and George Montana are rehearsing at Michael's place for a local performance. They would put music to McClure's poetry and play and sing their hearts out. It was in sessions like this that McClure's "Oh lord, please buy me a Mercedes Benz" was developed as a political song, which Janis Joplin then turned into a pop song.
BOTH FRANKS SURVIVE
Oakland 2000
McClure called me up and said, "Do you want to see Freewheelin, come on over." Freewheelin Frank and I had not seen each other in almost 35 years. The last time I saw him, I photographed him for his book cover in 1966. I brought the cover photograph over to McClure's, as a gift for Frank. At one point I said, "Hey, let's do a survivor photo," and handed Frank the photo. I shot it digitally.
FREEWHEELIN FINDS A ZEN MASTER
Oakland 2000
When Hell's Angel Freewheelin Frank left the Angels, they made him tattoo over his Hell's Angels tattoo, as shown in this photograph. Frank spent five years in Soledad Prison for arson before this photograph was made. While he was in prison, McClure sent him a book by Zen master Shunryu Suzuki Roshi to help him clear his head. Frank told me the book by the Zen master saved his life. He said that he has been living in the mountains by a waterfall for over 10 years. With this knowledge, I set up this photograph and shot it with my digital camera.
MICHAEL McCLURE AND FREEWHEELIN FRANK
Oakland 2000
Michael McClure and former Hell's Angel Freewheelin Frank (Frank Reynolds) are posing for me at McClure's house. It has been over 35 years since I have seen them together. Larry Keenan's book of Beat Generation photographs, "Postcards from the Underground" is published by City Lights Books.
At the intersection of art, culture, and history, Larry Keenan's remarkable photographs capture the essence of the Beat Generation. Immersed in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, Keenan's lens captures the spirit of rebel poet Michael McClure and Hell's Angel Freewheelin Frank in their creative collaboration. These photographs offer a glimpse into a transformative period of American history where artistic expression and counter-establishment ideologies converged.
For those fascinated by the Beat Generation and its vibrant legacy, Larry Keenan's book, "Postcards from the Underground," is a must-read. It takes readers on a visual journey through the Beat era, offering a unique perspective on the influential figures who shaped a generation.
Keenan's portfolio of Beat and counterculture photos, housed at Jack Magazine, embodies the rebellious spirit that defined the era. Each image captured by Keenan tells a story, preserving a slice of the past for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
For those seeking to own a piece of Beat history, prints of Larry Keenan's iconic photographs can be purchased at Kerouac.com, allowing enthusiasts to bring a touch of the rebellious energy into their own spaces.
From the smoky depths of smoky poetry sessions to the serenity of a Zen master's teachings, Keenan's lens transports us through time and reminds us of the power of artistic expression to shape culture and inspire change.