This is the second time we have something in common. I agree w/you warts and all. I last saw 'john' in a no name nite club in hoboken with some gal he released something with. He whined the whole show yet I still felt lucky to see him in person before his fall. Sometimes I think this country grinds up originals like him.
Read The Plague about 10 years ago, found it strangely poetic. One line where a character sees someone in a darkened cafe as a 'shade among shadows' hit me so hard.