An eclectic artist, talented in a plethora of mediums. spoken word, poetry, music... He inspired so many people, the authors of Trainspotting and The Crow are just two examples, which are trendy. "The Basketball Diaries" is a autobiographical novel, turned film shows what formed the artist today.
Friend of Andy Warhol, Allen Ginsberg, and many many others of that genre. Called "a born writer" by William S. Burrough, and Jack Kerouac considered him one of the best writers at age 13.