Poet and avant-garde figure John Giorno dies at 82, leaving legacy of Dial-A-Poem and AIDS activism

John Giorno, a central figure in New York's avant-garde scene, passed away at 82. He first gained prominence through his relationship with Andy Warhol, appearing in the 1963 film Sleep. Giorno Poetry Systems, the collective and record label he established in 1965, sought innovative methods for poetry distribution. His most famous creation, Dial-A-Poem, launched in 1968, allowed callers to hear works by William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Ron Padgett, and Patti Smith, alongside messages from groups like the Black Panthers. This piece was featured in the Museum of Modern Art's 1970 Information exhibition, and the phone service remains active. In 1984, Giorno Poetry Systems initiated the AIDS Treatment Project to fundraise for those affected by the crisis. His husband, artist Ugo Rondinone, curated the exhibition Ugo Rondinone: I ♥ John Giorno at Paris's Palais de Tokyo in 2016. Giorno's work blended Pop art influences with poetry, employing techniques such as appropriation and collage to reach wider audiences.