Wiseguys ~ New York City 1964

It was the second or third time, I was there when he was shooting up, and I said, “What the hell”, c’mon, gimme a taste, he did. I puked my guts out.

(I should have been a better example for him, he was a friend after all, instead I joined in his madness.)

After puking I felt so good, I can’t describe it. Ron said everybody pukes the first time.

I said earlier that Ron idolized Burroughs, Well, Burroughs idolized heroin. So I guess

This mutual fixation made Ron feel he was connected to his hero.

I should have been a better example, I regret that.


We shared the same needle, I didn’t worry, Ron’s father was a Doctor, Ron knew how to sterilize a needle, he rinsed it with alcohol. I’ve had hepatitis “c” ever since but I never knew it till I was diagnosed about fifteen years ago.

 Vince Beck: Vice and the Vipers