[1] He is also associated with the "Meat School" of American poetry,[2] known for a direct, tough and masculine style of writing.
Richmond would live in Santa Monica for most of his life, including 40 years in a beach cottage he first rented from his grandmother for $40 a month and then inherited.
One of his proposed prose books was about his relationship with Jim Morrison (Richmond's style influenced the poetry written by the front man of The Doors), but the publisher backed out.
In a 2009 interview with writer Ben Pleasants, Richmond claimed he had written an estimated 8,000-9,000 gagaku poems.
He eventually wound up in Santa Monica's homeless shelter, which combined with a hospital stay, helped him kick his habit.