Punk Poet, Performer JIM CARROLL Dead at 60 in NYC

     MUSIC NEWS - Jim Carroll, author, poet and punk rocker who wrote "The Basketball Diaries", died on Friday at 60 from a heart attack at his home in Manhattan.  Carroll's 1978 book, in which the film version (1995) starred Leonardo DiCaprio, was about his formative years as a star player and drug user.  Mr Carroll was a fixture of the growing art scene in downtown New York City in the 1970s.  As part of it,  he befriended with noted artistslike Andy Warhol, Patti Smith , Larry Rivers and Robert Mapplethorpe. Carroll's life was impacted greatly his (and others) drug use, which he wrote about extensively.

Carroll also published several poetry collections and his 1980 album , and his "Catholic Boy" album is widely regarded as a landmark punk record.  The album included one of his best known tunes,  "People Who Died".

Mr Carroll's funeral will be private, and no information yet on any public memorial service.  In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Marks Poetry Project would be appreciated. 

UPDATE 9/16/09 - Rosemary Carroll has informed MNN that the funeral mass for Jim will be at the Our Lady of Pompei Church on Wednesday 9/16 at 9:30am.  The church is located at 25 Carmine Street (between Avenue of the Americas and Bedford St.), New York, NY 10014.

(photo, Eric Thompson)