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In Memoriam: Lee Harris, British Underground Comix Pioneer

By John Freeman on December 12, 2023

We’re sorry to report the passing of British underground comix publishing legend Lee Harris, who passed away peacefully late last month, after a two-year illness. He was at least 86 – sources differ on that. Comics archivist, author expert and publisher Paul Gravett wrote about to him earlier this week, and kindly gave us permission to publish his tribute.

His family have also published a public tribute to a groundbreaking talent, reproduced below, and announced a celebration of his life at some point soon.

*Underground comix publisher Lee Harris. Photo via Paul Gravett*

Lee Harris, Remembered, by Paul Gravett

Harris was vital to British comix and their creators, as the publisher of Bryan Talbot‘s breakthrough ‘Chester P. Hackenbush’ in the first issue of Brainstorm Comix in 1975, edited by Mal Burns, a landmark in underground comix in the UK. Lee’s Alchemy Publishing went on to release six issues in all, which later introduced Bryan’s Luther Arkwright, and also featured the debut of John Higgins, among others.

In 2016, aged 79, Harris ran for Mayor of London representing the Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol party. In a feature for The New Statesman, he said ‘Once I told my children I’ve done about 40 jobs’, he laughs. That list includes: actor, washing machine salesman, freelance journalist, playwright, house father for delinquent boys, market researcher, mortuary attendant, youth theatre group leader, dishwasher and supply teacher at a secondary modern girls’ school. To denizens of London’s counter-culture, Harris is best known as a spoken word performer, the publisher of Europe’s first cannabis magazine, and the owner of Alchemy, Britain’s oldest head shop’ in Portobello Road.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wikipedia notes he was one of the few white members of the African National Congress, where he helped with the Congress of the People and met Nelson Mandela. After moving to England at the age of 20, he acted with Orson Welles and Dame Flora Robson.

He wrote for the British underground press, including International Times, and he helped found the Arts Lab. Harris has been an instrumental figure in the British counterculture movement since the 1970s. He published Brainstorm Comix and Home Grown magazines in the 1970s.

Over the years, including while at pssst! magazine and launching the collected Brainstorm Comix volume, I got to meet Lee, always brimming with enthusiasm for yet more projects.

Paul Gravett

Lee Harris, Remembered by his family

A tribute from Amira, Deben and Edana

*Lee Harris, British Underground Comix Pioneer*

Lee walked on to the next great adventure on Sunday morning, 26th November 2023. He will be sadly missed by all those he touched on his magnificent journey through life.

Needless to say, Lee lived a live less ordinary. He was born and grew up in the City of Gold, Johannesburg, South Africa. Born to Jewish parents who migrated from Lithuania. He later joined the Anti-Apartheid Movement and met Nelson Mandela.

He arrived by ship on 4th January 1956 in London aged just 19 years old to pursue a career in acting. He trained at the Webber Douglas School of Drama. In 1960, he performed various roles with Orson Welles in Chimes at Midnight, Orson’s adaptation of two of Shakespeare’s plays, at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

"Jesu! Jesu, the mad times we have spent together." from Shakespeare, adapted by Orson Welles in "Chimes at Midnight", at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin in February 1960. Seated centre, Orson Welles as Sir John Falstaff at the Inns of Court in the city of London with Justice Shallow, Aubrey Morris and Geoffrey Marsh as the other Justice of the Peace. Standing the motley crew of recruits enlisting for the ragged army, (right centre) Lee Harris as Shadow, Leonard Fenton (who years later played the doctor in East-Enders) and Henry Woolf, who later played Tony Hancock in Heathcote Williams' play Hancock's Last Half-hour). — “Jesu! Jesu, the mad times we have spent together.” from Shakespeare, adapted by Orson Welles in “Chimes at Midnight”, at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin in February 1960. Seated centre, Orson Welles as Sir John Falstaff at the Inns of Court in the city of London with Justice Shallow, Aubrey Morris and Geoffrey Marsh as the other Justice of the Peace. Standing the motley crew of recruits enlisting for the ragged army, (right centre) Lee Harris as Shadow, Leonard Fenton (who years later played the doctor in East-Enders) and Henry Woolf, who later played Tony Hancock in Heathcote Williams’ play Hancock’s Last Half-hour).

Lee lived the Swinging Sixties as an actor, playwright and social activist. He participated in a movement that swept through, with the coming of LSD and psychedelics. During the Summer of Love 1967, he was photographed by press along side other notable counter-culture figures including beat poet Allen Ginsberg at the 1st Legalise Pot Rally, Hyde Park London.

In 1966, he was awarded an Arts Council bursary for playwriting, his ground breaking Love Play was performed at the Arts Lab in Drury Lane London, 1969.

Lee was one of a group at the Arts Lab who put on the The Alchemical Wedding at The Royal Albert Hall in 1968, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared on stage. This inspired the name of his legendary head shop, Alchemy, in Portobello Road London, which opened in 1972.

Lee Harris and Bryan Talbot in the 1970s — *Lee Harris and Bryan Talbot in younger days*

In the 1970s, he published Brainstorm Comix series through Alchemy Press, the early work of Bryan Talbot; an emerging artist in British underground comics, who is now an influential graphic novelist.

From 1977 until 1982, Lee founded and edited Europe’s first counter culture and cannabis magazine HomeGrown. It was a breakthrough magazine that represented a defining moment in British underground culture.

Through Alchemy shop, Lee brought beat generation poet, Allen Ginsberg to Megatripolis Club in London for Allen’s last UK performance in 1995.

Lee invited Howard Marks to launch his international best-selling book, Mr Nice, at Alchemy shop in 1996. Together they performed a track on Alchemy 30 Years of Counter Culture, “Three Men in a Boat”.

Lee stood for CISTA (Cannabis is Safer Than Alcohol) as their mayoral candidate in 2016. He received over 88,000 votes, including 1st and 2nd preferences.

On a Saturday in 1975 on the Portobello Road, Lee met Brigitte, a German tourist at his Alchemy shop. Lee and Brigitte married in a Buddhist temple on 26th November 1975. Exactly 48 years to the day, that he passed away.

Above everything else, Lee was a family man. He always said his greatest achievement was having his three children. He loved us unconditionally, supported us, and encouraged us to pursue what we love.

We shall have a ceremony to celebrate Lee’s colourful and extraordinary life. Details to follow soon.

ONE LOVE! SHINE ON!!!

• Lee Harris, 1936 – 26th November 2023

• Underground Comix Joint: Brainstorm Comix Guide

• All five Brainstorm Comix are archived online here on the Internet Archive

• Lee Harris Facebook Page – watch out for details of a celebration of his life

• Bandcamp: 30 Years of Counter Culture by Alchemy

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.