Ivan Martin Jirous

Czech Poet and Underground Rock Scene Icon

Ivan Martin Jirous, also known as "Magor," which means "fool" in Czech, was a significant figure in the Czech underground literary and music scene, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. He was not only a poet but also an art historian and a key ideologue of the Czech underground movement. Jirous was best known for his association with the influential Czech rock band The Plastic People of the Universe as their artistic director, manager, and lyricist. His involvement with the band and the broader underground community played a pivotal role in the cultural resistance against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.