Ian Stephens (poet)
Encyclopedia
Ian Stephens was a Canadian
poet, journalist and musician from Montreal
, best known as one of the major Canadian voices in the spoken word
movement of the 1990s. Most of his work focused on his experiences living with AIDS
.
In the late 1980s, Stephens released an album with the short-lived band Disappointed a Few People.
In 1992, Stephens released a spoken word CD, Wining Dining and Drilling, which featured his poetry with a punk rock
-influenced musical backing. The album included tracks such as "Coroner Wants a Kiss," "Loser w/ a Hard-On," "Sex is Dog," "Queer in Amerika", "I Started to Get Sick in New York" and "The AIDS Guy". He published a book of poetry, Diary of a Trademark, in 1994; the following year, he released an album of the same title, featuring his recitations of many of the pieces in the book. The title track was later included on Word Up, a compilation of spoken word poetry.
Stephens was also a regular writer for the Montreal Mirror
, contributing book reviews and a 1994 cover story, "A Weary State of Grace", on living with AIDS.
He died in 1996 of AIDS-related lymphoma
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
poet, journalist and musician from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, best known as one of the major Canadian voices in the spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
movement of the 1990s. Most of his work focused on his experiences living with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
.
In the late 1980s, Stephens released an album with the short-lived band Disappointed a Few People.
In 1992, Stephens released a spoken word CD, Wining Dining and Drilling, which featured his poetry with a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
-influenced musical backing. The album included tracks such as "Coroner Wants a Kiss," "Loser w/ a Hard-On," "Sex is Dog," "Queer in Amerika", "I Started to Get Sick in New York" and "The AIDS Guy". He published a book of poetry, Diary of a Trademark, in 1994; the following year, he released an album of the same title, featuring his recitations of many of the pieces in the book. The title track was later included on Word Up, a compilation of spoken word poetry.
Stephens was also a regular writer for the Montreal Mirror
Montreal Mirror
Montreal Mirror is a free English language alternative newsweekly based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with a circulation of 70,000, and reaches a quarter of a million readers per week. It is published by Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée....
, contributing book reviews and a 1994 cover story, "A Weary State of Grace", on living with AIDS.
He died in 1996 of AIDS-related lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
.
External links
- Lejtenyi, Patrick. "In Memoriam: Five Mirror cover subjects who have since passed on. Montreal MirrorMontreal MirrorMontreal Mirror is a free English language alternative newsweekly based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with a circulation of 70,000, and reaches a quarter of a million readers per week. It is published by Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée....
, October 20, 2005.