Can't answer the clown question directly, but JPB connects a lot of different parts.
He ran a dude ranch that JFK Jr. went to, and both of them became very close. JPB was called JFK Jr's mentor. Later in life as well.in NYC.
I found an interview on a German website back when Q was on the JPB thing. He travelled around Europe in the mid 90's with Lynn Forrester, now LdR. Had something to do with new internet media. IIRC. Forrester was in on the ground floor and good at it. Can't fond that article anymore, but that should be in the QR archives, maybe mid 2018. Was in the notables.
Knowing on a close, personal level both JFK jr. and LdR, if we go by the 6 degrees of separation theory, we're talking probably 2 degrees to connect to all the movers and shakers. Guy seemed to be in the middle of everything.
Can't forget the Grateful Dead lyricist gig, either. Always been the scuttlebutt connecting clowns with the rocker scene.