In the 80's, I frequently crossed paths with Michael Earl, a charismatic street person who roamed Albany, New York for four decades. I had known Michael for years, dating back to the hippie days when many young people roamed the parks and streets. Eventually the hippies faded away but Michael stayed on. In 1986, I asked Michael if he would let me videotape him for a couple of weeks to make a rock video and he agreed to do it.

We had a small premiere party for the rock video. Michael saw it twice and really liked most of it. The scene with Lucifer surprised him, but he enjoyed everything else. He carried the song on his walkman. After two showings on locally produced alternative tv shows, Buzz TV and Downtown Underground News, and an article in Buzz Magazine, the video was shelved.

Michael died on November 15, 2002. I didn't make it to his wake, but the late poet and social activist Tom Nattell called me to say that Michael lay in state with a copy of his issue of Buzz Magazine, (featuring the video) clutched in his hand. Tom said that people were asking about the video, so I decided I would try to find a way to make it available to the many people who befriended Michael over the years. The Internet has finally provided a way to share this video portrait, and I think that Michael would be pleased to know that his fame lives on.