Barry Miles (born 21 February 1943)[1] is an English author known for his participation in and writing on the subjects of the 1960s
Londonunderground and
counterculture. He is the author of numerous books and his work has also regularly appeared in
leftist newspapers such as The Guardian. In the 1960s, he was co-owner of the
Indica Gallery and helped start the independent newspaper International Times.
Following the International Poetry Incarnation, Miles established the
Indica Gallery and Bookshop, allowing him to meet many of the stars of the
Swinging London social scene.[4] Miles brought McCartney into contact with people who wanted to start International Times, which McCartney helped to fund.[5]
Miles became the de facto manager of the Apple's short-lived
Zapple Records label in 1969. While temporarily living in
California, Miles produced an album of poetry readings by
Richard Brautigan entitled Listening to Richard Brautigan for Zapple. Miles's friendship with Brautigan ended when Miles became involved in an affair with Brautigan's girlfriend Valerie Estes. By the time, the album was completed Miles and Brautigan communicated to each other only through their respective lawyers.[6] Zapple was closed before it could release the Brautigan album, but it was eventually released in 1970 by the U.S. division of
Harvest Records.
Miles also produced Ginsberg's Songs of Innocence and Experience LP, recorded in 1969 and released the following year.[7] In 1970, Miles moved with his wife to rural
New York state, where he lived with Ginsberg on his farm. However, Miles's marriage soon ended and he returned to England.[2] Miles currently lives in London and is married to travel writer
Rosemary Bailey.[8]
Miles's book Hippie (2004) is a reminiscence of the
Hippie sub-culture of the 1960s and early 1970s, with interviews, quotes, and images. He co-wrote I Want to Take You Higher (documenting the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit by the same name) with Charles Perry and James Henke.
In March 1978, Miles wrote an article critical of the band
Rush and its drummer
Neil Peart, which contentiously labeled the band as
right-wing;[12] Peart described himself as a "
left-libertarian".[13] The article, published in UK's New Musical Express, took exception to Peart's advocacy of the
Objectivist philosophy of
Ayn Rand.[14] Peart had also described the
Sex Pistols as products of a "socialist" state.[12][15] Miles also described Rand (a Russian
anti-communist who had become an American citizen) as an "ultra right-wing American." Miles focused on Peart's politics and criticized the band's perceived aloofness and
libertarian rhetoric.
In a 2005 biography of Frank Zappa, Miles criticized Zappa regarding his business-oriented approach to art and complaints about inefficient labor union regulations.[16] Zappa regularly described himself as "a devout capitalist" and attempted to broker joint commercial ventures with business interests in the former
Soviet Union following the end of the
Cold War in 1991.[17]
Works
Miles and Pearce Marchbank, The Illustrated Rock Almanac (1977), Paddington Press
Bob Dylan (1978), Big O Publishing
Bob Dylan in His Own Words (1978), edited by Pearce Marchbank,
Omnibus Press
Beatles in Their Own Words (1978, compiler), edited by Pearce Marchbank, Omnibus Press
Bowie in His Own Words (1980, compiler), Omnibus Press
John Lennon in His Own Words (1980, compiler), Omnibus Press