Raegan Butcher
Encyclopedia
Raegan Butcher is an American poet
and singer. He is known for his association with the anarchist collective CrimethInc.
, who published his first two books of poetry, Stone Hotel
and Rusty String Quartet
. According to a CrimethInc. biography, Butcher was born in Seattle, Washington
and moved to Snohomish, Washington
in his youth. In 1991, he published his first written work: a chapbook
of poetry titled "End Of The World Graffiti". Three years later, in 1995, he appeared in a Seattle independent film
titled The Year Of My Japanese Cousin.
In 1996, Butcher was arrested and convicted for first degree robbery
and sentenced to eight years in prison. During his sentence, he wrote the poems that would make up Stone Hotel
, along with numerous screenplay
s and other currently unpublished works. He was released on March 17, 2003. Clamor
identified Stone Hotel as among CrimethInc.'s best work, calling it a "great start" for Butcher and "commendable in many ways". Butcher has named, among others, Leonard Cohen
, Billy Childish
, Charles Bukowski
, and Edward Bunker
as influences. In the early summer of 2005 Raegan Butcher lived in Cuernavaca
.
In January 2008, Scissor Press
released an album titled Pale & Skinny: 1986–1992, consisting of ten songs Butcher sang with his punk rock group Pale & Skinny (which he formed when he was a teenager). Aside from writing and music, Butcher is also interested in film directing. Raegan Butcher has two companies, PNS Productions and Butcher Films, which is currently producing a film titled Gone Shooting.
He currently resides in Seattle, Washington.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and singer. He is known for his association with the anarchist collective CrimethInc.
CrimethInc.
CrimethInc., also known as CWC , is a decentralized anarchist collective of autonomous cells. CrimethInc. emerged in the mid-1990s, initially as the hardcore zine Inside Front, and began operating as a collective in 1996...
, who published his first two books of poetry, Stone Hotel
Stone Hotel
Stone Hotel: Poems From Prison by Raegan Butcher is a collection of poetry by Raegan Butcher published by the CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective. The poems record the author's seven years in prison and are influenced by Charles Bukowski and Edward Bunker...
and Rusty String Quartet
Rusty String Quartet
Rusty String Quartet is a collection of poetry by Raegan Butcher published by the CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective, who describe it as "urgent, quick and brutal"....
. According to a CrimethInc. biography, Butcher was born in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and moved to Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
in his youth. In 1991, he published his first written work: a chapbook
Chapbook
A chapbook is a pocket-sized booklet. The term chap-book was formalized by bibliophiles of the 19th century, as a variety of ephemera , popular or folk literature. It includes many kinds of printed material such as pamphlets, political and religious tracts, nursery rhymes, poetry, folk tales,...
of poetry titled "End Of The World Graffiti". Three years later, in 1995, he appeared in a Seattle independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
titled The Year Of My Japanese Cousin.
In 1996, Butcher was arrested and convicted for first degree robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and sentenced to eight years in prison. During his sentence, he wrote the poems that would make up Stone Hotel
Stone Hotel
Stone Hotel: Poems From Prison by Raegan Butcher is a collection of poetry by Raegan Butcher published by the CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective. The poems record the author's seven years in prison and are influenced by Charles Bukowski and Edward Bunker...
, along with numerous screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
s and other currently unpublished works. He was released on March 17, 2003. Clamor
Clamor (magazine)
Clamor was a bi-monthly magazine published in Toledo, Ohio. The focus of the magazine was alternative culture , often from a politically left-wing perspective....
identified Stone Hotel as among CrimethInc.'s best work, calling it a "great start" for Butcher and "commendable in many ways". Butcher has named, among others, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, Billy Childish
Billy Childish
Billy Childish is an English artist, painter, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist...
, Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
, and Edward Bunker
Edward Bunker
Edward Heward Bunker was an American author of crime fiction, a screenwriter, and an actor. He wrote numerous books, some of which have been adapted into films....
as influences. In the early summer of 2005 Raegan Butcher lived in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
.
In January 2008, Scissor Press
Verbicide Magazine
Verbicide is an independent entertainment website based jointly out of Las Vegas, Nevada and Brooklyn, New York. It is co-published via Scissor Press by founding editor Jackson Ellis and creative director Nathaniel Pollard....
released an album titled Pale & Skinny: 1986–1992, consisting of ten songs Butcher sang with his punk rock group Pale & Skinny (which he formed when he was a teenager). Aside from writing and music, Butcher is also interested in film directing. Raegan Butcher has two companies, PNS Productions and Butcher Films, which is currently producing a film titled Gone Shooting.
He currently resides in Seattle, Washington.