Chapter 58
Then went to Hunter College where there was a party for the Rodney Dangerfield movie Back to School Back to School. Got there and saw Sam and PH in the thick of it, and my G.o.d, what groupies. They were packed in around him with cameras and PH asked him to take a picture with me, and he was really nice, he said, "Andy, I gotta give it to anybody who's hung in there as long as you." Paige walked me home and everybody else went down to the Harley-Davidson Biker Night at Area.
Sunday, June 15, 1986 Fred said at that the Thurn und Taxis party the birthday cake was one of those old-fas.h.i.+oned c.o.c.k cakes from the seventies-you know, with hundreds of c.o.c.ks on the cake and everybody got their own!
Monday, June 16, 1986 A crew that was filming me for English TV was at the office and I told them that they should just follow me around the city and do it without sound, so they said okay, and so I took Brigid's dog Fame and we went around the block. Fame s.h.i.+t and I cleaned it up so that was a good scene, and then we walked to 27th Street looking for stores and there were two guys standing there and one said, "I took pictures of you and Brooke s.h.i.+elds," and the other one said under his breath (laughs) (laughs), "c.o.c.ksucker." It was really good. I don't know if he really knew me or what, but there's a lot of color out there on the street.
Keith had a limo and I decided to go with him to the Carlyle for a party for the Ellis kid who wrote Less Than Zero Less Than Zero. He graduated from Bennington. And as we were going in a bald girl with a fas.h.i.+onable ugly dress was going in. I wonder if regular nonfas.h.i.+on clothes are out forever, if these kids will ever dress normally like, you know, Phil Donahue again. It was such a cute party. I never read his book, but someone sent it to me. All the kids had the right fas.h.i.+onable hair and the fas.h.i.+onable right clothes. And I always think California kids are tall, but these kids were all three feet.
Nick Rhodes called from London and said to call him when I got there, and Julie Anne is expecting the baby in August. He said, "We're expecting a piece of sculpture."
Tuesday, June 17, 1986 Fas.h.i.+on show at the Pierre of Bernard Perris clothes. Paige picked me up. And these clothes, they're like costume clothes. Like somebody just drew this stuff and then somehow it got made. Hookers from Harry's Bar wear this kind of stuff, it's expensive and you look at it and you know it cost money, but you can't figure out who would have designed it. Well, now you know- Bernard Perris, they're all wearing Bernard Perris. It's sort of like Nolan Miller's stuff, like TV clothes. And next to me was Hebe Dorsey, she writes for the International Herald Tribune International Herald Tribune and she raved about Peter Marino. I just love her name. Hee-bee. If I ever have a child I'm naming it Hebe. and she raved about Peter Marino. I just love her name. Hee-bee. If I ever have a child I'm naming it Hebe.
Thursday, June 19, 1986 Got to the office and the lady from Florida, Dorothy Blau's friend, was there, and she didn't like her portrait, she wants me to make her hair fluffier which I know is not going to work. And Dorothy sent some of that really good candy. Finally I left and went up with the crew to 42nd Street. Why do these crews and everybody always want to go there? go there? I mean, there's nothing there. Went home and saw there was a party Mark Goodson was having for Norman Lear, so I went over there, to One Beekman Place (cab $4). Bianca was there with Carl Bernstein. Cindy and Joey Adams were there and I brought up Roy Cohn and she said he was on his last legs, that she'd seen him when he came into the city for a small c.o.c.ktail party someone gave for him. And a lady was there and she said she's so bored since she stopped working and her kids grew up and I said, "Why don't you adopt a Harlem baby?" I told her how they're so cute and that if you go up there and plunk your money down it's cash and carry. I mean, there's nothing there. Went home and saw there was a party Mark Goodson was having for Norman Lear, so I went over there, to One Beekman Place (cab $4). Bianca was there with Carl Bernstein. Cindy and Joey Adams were there and I brought up Roy Cohn and she said he was on his last legs, that she'd seen him when he came into the city for a small c.o.c.ktail party someone gave for him. And a lady was there and she said she's so bored since she stopped working and her kids grew up and I said, "Why don't you adopt a Harlem baby?" I told her how they're so cute and that if you go up there and plunk your money down it's cash and carry.
Monday, June 23, 1986 Fred went to Doc c.o.x for a blood test, he believes you should know everything, I don't know why. But Rosemary wasn't there to give it.
And Iolas called from the airport and said he'd be at the office in twenty minutes and he was! How could he get there that fast? And Brooks Jackson was with him, and he looked really bad. I didn't want to ask about his wife Adriana, I hear she's dying now. The cancer.
Jay gave his ticket to the premiere of American Anthem American Anthem to Len, the new receptionist, who's seventeen and about to go to Brown, so then Sam asked Len if he wanted to go with us, which surprised me, because he usually doesn't do that, and Sam was shocked to find out that Len was only seventeen and that he wasn't the youngest kid at the office anymore. But Len is really smart for a seventeen-year-old. to Len, the new receptionist, who's seventeen and about to go to Brown, so then Sam asked Len if he wanted to go with us, which surprised me, because he usually doesn't do that, and Sam was shocked to find out that Len was only seventeen and that he wasn't the youngest kid at the office anymore. But Len is really smart for a seventeen-year-old.
Wednesday, June 25, 1986 There was a screening of Ruthless People Ruthless People and that Danny DeVito is so cute, we should all marry him, really. He's just adorable. and that Danny DeVito is so cute, we should all marry him, really. He's just adorable.
Sunday, June 29, 1986 It was Gay Day so the parade was on. Went down to the flea market and ran into Corky Kessler, who I haven't seen in thirty years. Maybe forty. She's the one who once gave me modern dance lessons. She's fifty-five or maybe even fifty-eight. She had a nose job and everything so she has that out-of-town look but she has a great young body. But then I don't know if her body is pulled together by bras and things. You never know. She asked me about the rest of the old gang.
There were millions of girls in the Gay Day parade.
Stuart called and said Mario Amaya died of AIDS, and he was so upset about it and I tried to make it light and he was just so upset saying Mario was the most important person in his life and that he'd taught him everything about art. And I said, "But Stuart, you're not gay, why are you so upset?" And for some reason I always forget that it was Mario who got shot by Valerie Solanis, too, the day she shot me-he just happened to be at the Factory visiting. Just sort of a skin wound, though.
Monday, June 30, 1986 PH got back from her weekend in Miami interviewing Don Johnson, and the most fascinating thing was it turned out that in his down-and-out days Don used to do scams in L.A. with the disappeared-and-probably-murdered Ronnie Levin!
Tuesday, July 1, 1986 Arnold Schwarzenegger was having a party for the Statue of Liberty at Cafe Seiyoken and I wasn't even invited. And I wasn't invited to Caroline Kennedy's wedding, either.
Friday, July 4, 1986 Sam picked me up at 2:00 in an All-City cab and we rode down to Tenth Avenue and 23rd Street. Bought some souvenirs ($20). Didn't seem like the Fourth of July, there were millions of people all over town. The MTV boat left at 3:15. Everyone got drunk. There were no really big stars. Vitas Gerulaitis was there and Janet Jones, the actress from Flamingo Kid Flamingo Kid and and American Anthem American Anthem. No rock people except a Bananarama girl. Annie Leibovitz took pictures but only of the boats. Vincent and Sh.e.l.ly were there.
I had to hit a gong and I was terrible. The food was horrible, Dorito chips and undercooked hamburgers from the Hard Rock and pork and beans.
The MTV boat was the only ugly one-balloons all over it. The other boats were all plain and elegant. We watched the president's speech on two TVs. At 7:30 Don Johnson came. A little boat brought him out to the MTV boat and he had fifteen bodyguards and he was in a big fat hat and he wouldn't come on board unless they put steps down. He was with a girl who looked like Patti D'Arbanville-but it wasn't-holding his baby, and then they came on board and went into a room and never came out to talk to anybody.
And at 9:45 the fireworks started, and we were pretty far away from it. Finally the boat docked and they whisked Don Johnson into a limousine and we looked around and found a couple of gypsy cabs.
Oh, and the best thing was that when we were getting off, the Z Z Tops saw us and took us into the Z Z Top room and that was fun, they want to visit us when they come back in August (cab $30). Dropped Sam.
Sunday, July 6, 1986-New York-London Chris picked me up so early (limo $70, magazines $30, porter $10). Got the Concorde. Was met by Anthony d'Offay, went to the Ritz Hotel (porters $20). I had a really big double room, like three rooms. The phone ran and it was Billy Boy. Then Tina Chow called and said that dinner was on. I told her not to have a party for me but she did it anyway.
Cabbed to Mr. Chow's ($7.50). It was fun, and she had all these great people. Mick and Jerry Hall, Nick Rhodes, Billy Boy, and all the English swells. Everybody was really sweet to us. Tessa Kennedy, Jennifer D'Abo, Ramon, Robert Tracy, Rifat Ozbek, Manolo Blahnik, Jerry Zipkin.
Monday, July 7, 1986-London Billy Boy was around constantly. Went to the gallery and it was great, looked at the pictures, it was kind of exciting (cab $5). Before dinner I ordered tea sandwiches. Cabbed to Mark Birley's club, Mark's, for dinner (cab $7).
Tuesday, July 8, 1986-London Went to lunch at the gallery because it was my opening that night. And then went back to the hotel (tip $5). Had more tea sandwiches. Got some jewelry from Billy Boy to wear to the opening. Then went to the gallery and it was really crowded, so I autographed for two hours. Those cute kids were there who want us to do their music video-"Curiosity Killed the Cat." Chris followed up on them, kept calling. Lots of photographers. Then there was a big dinner after that at some old arts club called Cafe Royale where artists would have big openings, like Augustus Johns. D'Offay had about a hundred people, it must've been expensive. Then Fred took me home. Ordered up tea sandwiches.
Wednesday, July 9, 1986-London This is the week in between Wimbledon and Fergie's marriage, so it was exciting. The week Boy George was being in the papers for his heroin problem and they were trying to find him, big headline news.
Chris and Billy Boy came to my room for breakfast (tip $10). Then did the same old thing-wandered around London (cab $8).
Thursday, July 10, 1986-London Took pictures of Big Ben and things. All the funny English spots. Bought some magazines ($20). Went to dinner and then had to go to Heaven and met Gloria Thurn und Taxis and her husband Johannes. She was sort of cruising for him. Billy Boy and Chris were there.
Fred and I snuck out. Billy Boy had a fight with the paparazzi (laughs) because he wanted to be in in the pictures (cab $10). I asked him to come to the room to chit-chat and he said no, that he just wanted to "go home and go to bed." the pictures (cab $10). I asked him to come to the room to chit-chat and he said no, that he just wanted to "go home and go to bed."
Friday, July 11, 1986-London I found out Billy Boy ran right back to the disco and was up all night social climbing.
A society lunch at Marguerite Littman's on Chester Square (waiter $5, cab $8). It was really fun. She's so together. Her husband's the lawyer for the queen. Dagny Corcoran was there and some other glamorous ladies. So after that we went off to the King's Road with Chris. We didn't invite Billy Boy.
Sat.u.r.day, July 12, 1986-London Our outing to Catherine's. Had breakfast, got in a car and drove for two and a half hours to Gloucesters.h.i.+re. Catherine was fun. She's now Lady Neidpath. She took us around and gave us a tour. She dropped a whole bowl of spaghetti at lunch and just picked it up and put it back in another bowl with the gla.s.s in it and everything, and then served it to the people who came later like Kenny Lane. They barbecued beef but it started raining. They dropped a bowl of raspberries and picked them up, too. Pretty table setting and grand. So dirty in the kitchen with children and dogs and maids. People with babies serving. Catherine really did a lot of the work herself.
Sunday, July 13, 1986-London-New York Got up at 7:30, I don't know how I did it. I'd been reading the biography of Cecil Beaton. I'm in it a lot when I knew him. And Sam Green was in everybody's everybody's life, such a big part-he's had Yoko Ono and John Lennon and Cecil Beaton and Greta Garbo and me. life, such a big part-he's had Yoko Ono and John Lennon and Cecil Beaton and Greta Garbo and me.
We got lots of work, sold a lot of paintings in London-one to Carnegie-Mellon-and Anthony d'Offay even said he'd pay for Chris's hotel bill, which he'll die over when he sees that Chris made eighteen phone calls a day to New York. And Chris got five jobs five jobs over there-one from Polaroid-and he actually over there-one from Polaroid-and he actually thanked thanked me for the trip. I only wish I could think of a more deserving person to give these opportunities to. But in his own way Chris does take care of me. me for the trip. I only wish I could think of a more deserving person to give these opportunities to. But in his own way Chris does take care of me.
The show. The show. I mean, walking into a room full of the worst pictures you've ever seen of yourself, what can you say, what can you do? But they're not the ones I picked. D'Offay "art-directed" the whole show-he'd tell me he wanted a certain picture, and then I'd think he'd never remember, so I'd do the one I liked instead, and when he'd come back to New York he'd say that that wasn't the one he'd he'd picked. And he didn't want the big camouflage, he wanted the little ones. But he had cla.s.s, he arrived at the hotel with his wife at 7:30 in the morning to say goodbye. I thought they were going to ride with us to the airport, but they didn't, so that was good. His hotel bill for us will be about $10,000, I think. Yeah, he was nice. picked. And he didn't want the big camouflage, he wanted the little ones. But he had cla.s.s, he arrived at the hotel with his wife at 7:30 in the morning to say goodbye. I thought they were going to ride with us to the airport, but they didn't, so that was good. His hotel bill for us will be about $10,000, I think. Yeah, he was nice.
Oh, and G.o.d, Billy Boy turned out to be a nightmare! By the end of the trip everybody hated him. It was worse social climbing than anything Suzie Frankfurt ever did and as Fred said, at least Suzie was always an old friend. Everyone we'd introduce him to he'd have their phone number in a minute and be inviting them to lunch and giving them his earrings and everything! I mean, he was on my TV show for hours! hours! One they did on me. And he was popping into every picture and one photographer told him to get out of it and Billy actually hit the guy One they did on me. And he was popping into every picture and one photographer told him to get out of it and Billy actually hit the guy (laughs) (laughs) with his own camera. And I'd be up so late reading, like to 5 with his own camera. And I'd be up so late reading, like to 5 A.M A.M., and
Tried to make phone calls but my hands could hardly move. Fred said that all the chic people were in Europe, that they'd skipped the Statue of Liberty thing. Like Jerry Zipkin and Ahmet. How would that happen? Do they call up Nancy Reagan and ask her, "Will the Statue thing be any good?" and she says, "No"?
Monday, July 14, 1986 It was good to see the good old New York papers again (newspapers $4). I read in "Suzy's" column about the party Tina Chow had for us in London and it sounded so great.
Paige still seems to be mad at me. I guess she's just living her own life now. It's better that way.
Gael said that Albert Watson got the job as the queen's photographer. And after I just am reading Cecil Beaton and how much that meant to him.
Tuesday, July 15, 1986 Wilfredo styled Milton Berle for Interview Interview and got his autograph for me, which I hadn't gotten when I did and got his autograph for me, which I hadn't gotten when I did Love Boat Love Boat. He was just on one of the morning shows and he walks on TV like he owns it, it's so great to be that confident. He asked Wilfredo, "Should I sign it with my d.i.c.k?" He looks like an old tailor.
Victor came by and he said that Halston wants to meet with me without Paul about Montauk. But we're not making any money off renting it to Halston, it just pays the mortgage.
Wednesday, July 16, 1986 Cabbed to the Palladium ($6). John Sykes was up on stage. And they were showing the TV show that this MTV kid had gotten together in five hours and it was great. It was everybody saying things, putting down John, like a roast.
And Steve Rubell was there, he bought the Diamond Horseshoe that used to belong to Billy Rose. Which is I guess in the West 40s near Eighth Avenue. I took Dolly Fox to this and got gossip out of her. She's still living with Charlie Sheen, he gave her some pearls which were beautiful-I think they're dyed black, though, but they're beautiful-and he gave her a diamond ring.
Oh and yesterday Gael told me to check into whether Ron and Doria Reagan were breaking up. I told her that if she had a scoop she should call People People magazine and make $150. magazine and make $150. (laughs) (laughs) Brigid was just on the other line, and she said that her mother doesn't have much more time. She doesn't seem sad at all, just like she wasn't really when her father died. She seems sort of thrilled.(laughs) I don't know why I say that, but I do. She's going to be getting millions. I don't know why I say that, but I do. She's going to be getting millions.
How do these doctors really feel about sick people? Do they care about you and really want you to get better or is it just a business? I mean, I think about doing portraits and do I really care if they look good or is it just a job? And that's just a superficial thing-it's not life and death.
In the morning I'd gotten Stuart to go to the crystal doctor with me. He said how could I be going to these people when I'm supposed to be smart. So we went to Bernsohn's and there was a visiting doctor there, American, but he lives in j.a.pan. And he has a new crystal that's for rolfing, a big round one. It does what rolfing does when they knead every muscle, but without doing that. And the doctor tried it on me and told me to think of white light and white arrows, and Bernsohn and the doctor were in a circle holding their hands up around me and Stuart's eyes were just rolling up, he couldn't believe it.
I always wear two crystals-a ' vitalizer" and another one. They look like diaphragms. Dr. Reese's son manufactures the crystals. They're called Harmonics.
Thursday, July 17, 1986 Worked till 7:00. And then Ric Ocasek was picking us up to take us over to Madison Square Garden. Ric has a girlfriend, Paulina, who's a big model and Czechoslovakian and her mother was with them, and she looks even younger than the daughter. And I guess maybe I'm not really Czech, because I didn't understand it when they were talking.
And we went to the Garden and I didn't know this could be done but the limo drove right into the Garden. You drive right (laughs) (laughs) onto the stage. onto the stage. Yes Yes, you really do. Ric and Dylan have the same manager. And he kept saying to me, "You have total freedom, total freedom. Go anywhere, take pictures anywhere-in the bathrooms, on the stage, anyplace." And they took us into the room and Dylan was there and Tom Petty and Ron Wood. And Tom Petty's daughter was around, or maybe it was his wife. She looked just like him.
And Dylan looks good, he had silver-tipped cowboy boots on and he was drinking Jim Beam. And even though they'd told me I had "total freedom," I'm glad I asked asked before I took a picture of the three of them there, because Dylan said no. And then later Ric found out that Dylan was in a bad mood because he had just had a big fight with his girlfriend who's forty or fifty who I think works for the record company and at the end of the fight she'd said something to him like, "Oh go out and play your 'Mr. Tambourine Man' or whatever." And that would kill your mood-when your lover calls all your work you've done in your life before I took a picture of the three of them there, because Dylan said no. And then later Ric found out that Dylan was in a bad mood because he had just had a big fight with his girlfriend who's forty or fifty who I think works for the record company and at the end of the fight she'd said something to him like, "Oh go out and play your 'Mr. Tambourine Man' or whatever." And that would kill your mood-when your lover calls all your work you've done in your life (laughs) (laughs) "whatever." So I guess he was left without an ego with a show to do. "whatever." So I guess he was left without an ego with a show to do.
And the Pressman kid who owns Barneys was there, he'd been at the MTV party the night before, he goes to all these music things, I don't know why. I lied and told him that I'd seen the Statue of Liberty windows at Barneys.
I didn't get any good pictures, really, so I just took four rolls of atmosphere. And Ron Delsener was running, he went crazy at the end because if you go past 11:00 then it costs $1,000 extra a minute for the unions.
Afterwards, at that new restaurant on 81st and Columbus, Metropolis, Dylan came in with his whole family-all his kids and his mother, who was nice-looking with white hair. She didn't look Jewish, but everybody else did. I asked Dylan's manager if Dylan was Christian now or Jewish again, and he said Dylan's Orthodox and that's why he wasn't doing a show the next night-that he didn't work Friday nights unless the money was really really good. good.
Keith Richards was supposed to come to the concert, but Patti Hansen was having their baby. Oh, also, the road manager liked Ric Ocasek's girlfriend Paulina's mother and so she was giving him her address. He was Indian. Paulina said, "We've got to get my mother laid before she has to leave New York."
Friday, July 18, 1986 Grace was so good on the Today Show Today Show that I should call and tell her. that I should call and tell her.
This is the day I lost my camera somewhere. And the roll that was in the camera was the magic roll-the one of Dylan with his whole family, the kids and the mother. All the other rolls were just at the concert and things.
Vincent had set up dinner with Ric Ocasek and his girlfriend Paulina, and his manager who's Dylan's manager, Elliot Roberts, and his wife or girlfriend, Sylvia, a blonde who represents a j.a.panese designer. After work Rupert drove me uptown.
Called PH, picked her up at 8:30, went over to Caffe Roma. And Paulina's mother didn't come because she went out with the Indian road manager. Ric won't be in the same picture with Paulina because he's still married.
Ric asked if we wanted to go down to Electric Lady, the recording studio on 8th Street. And we walked down Fifth Avenue, and it started to rain and everybody was first recognizing Ric- he's 6'4"-and then me, so their minds were blown, and we did autographs and this is when I realized that my camera was gone. Listened to Ric's alb.u.m and now I finally understand how they just make your voice up. It's twenty-four tracks.
He played the alb.u.m and you could hear every little thing, and you really hear what lots of studio time and work can do for a record although I don't know what it all means-you're not making it a better song, just more commercial, I guess, or... But every little thing is so clear clear. Ric said he's been renting the bas.e.m.e.nt there for two years two years and you know how much it costs to rent studio time! He said he's spent millions. Called the Caffe Roma to see if my camera was there, I was in that lost-something mood (phone $.50). and you know how much it costs to rent studio time! He said he's spent millions. Called the Caffe Roma to see if my camera was there, I was in that lost-something mood (phone $.50).
Sat.u.r.day, July 19, 1986 Went to Dr. Burke's (cab $5) and the chubby little girl, Diana Balton, who used to work at Interview Interview was there having a facial, and she now works for was there having a facial, and she now works for Elle Elle, she had on pink shoes and a tight-fitting dress and she's turning attractive. She said that after she gave Interview Interview her notice her notice Time Time cancelled the job they'd offered her and she was too embarra.s.sed to tell us, so she just left anyway and then she got a job at cancelled the job they'd offered her and she was too embarra.s.sed to tell us, so she just left anyway and then she got a job at Elle Elle. So had those collagen treatments and then my face was bleeding and red.
Sunday, July 20, 1986 I had to take the dogs out and they p.o.o.ped on the sidewalk at the corner, and then I picked it up but on my way back a few minutes later, the people inside the store had already washed down the sidewalk, I guess they saw from inside. So I was embarra.s.sed. Ran into the doctor and his family who live next door. And they had a wheelchair with a cake in it and they said that the daughter was getting married at 4:00. And the cake looked beautiful. It'd been made three days before out of marzipan so it was turning yellow, but it was great. I got a picture for the Party Party book. book.
Tuesday, July 22, 1986 I've been watching this stuff on Fergie and I wonder why doesn't the Queen Mother get married again. This English journalist was so mean to Fred. We read her article and she used four words I'd never seen before in my life to describe him and Sam had to get a dictionary and they all came out to mean "slave." One was "a beautiful amanuensis." But she was nice to me, she didn't put any of the dumb things I said in.
Paige came in and talked to me, so I guess she's finally not mad at me. You know all these Wall Street businessmen types are always crazy about Paige because they think she can make their lives more glamorous, which they're right about-she could. But she's never interested in them -she only likes the young artist types. The drug addicts.
And I want to put (laughs) (laughs) Ann Lambton on the cover of Ann Lambton on the cover of Interview Interview. Everyone just screams at me when I say so, but I really do. I think she's going to be a big star and she's really interesting, so we'd have the first big interview with her.
Went to the premiere of Heartburn Heartburn and when we got there the lady said, "Will you step over to the right for photos?" And I did and not one person and when we got there the lady said, "Will you step over to the right for photos?" And I did and not one person (laughs) (laughs) took a picture. Except Ron Galella, because it was too odd not to so he was being nice. took a picture. Except Ron Galella, because it was too odd not to so he was being nice.
The good scene in the movie was Jack singing "My Boy Bill." He's just magic, you really want to fall in love with him, even though he's old. He's just got it. And the other night when I saw Carl Bernstein I asked him about the movie and he said, "I made them change it all." But he still comes out a stinker.
Then we went to Metropolis to the party. Mike Nichols introduced me to Nora Ephron and she did the early article on Edie for-what would it have been for? The Herald Tribune The Herald Tribune, maybe? She was looking off into the clouds, she didn't want to talk. She looks the same, I was surprised at how good she looks. I had three desserts. Wilfredo dropped me (cab $6).
Wednesday, July 23, 1986 Oh, and it seems like Paige is her same old self because she just got the new Polaroid camera with all the different lenses and she's excited again. I never did really know what was wrong.
Our phone lights were broken so I picked up a line by mistake and Brigid was talking to her mother on it and it was so sad. I just had to listen. Her mother was talking about pulling her wig off her head and the b.u.mps on her head. Here she took care of this man all her life and the second he dies, she gets cancer. She never had a chance to then go out and have fun.
Then Rupert drove us over to 14th and Eighth where the Odeon guy, Keith McNally, is opening Nell's with Nell Campbell from The Rocky Horror Picture Show The Rocky Horror Picture Show as the hostess. And he wanted our opinions on the food, and if he should charge $15 or $5 to get in. It's a disco downstairs and upstairs quiet and no noise. I said the downtown people would resent the charge and that it'd just turn into a disco, not anything higher, it wouldn't be a private club or anything. The downstairs looked like a real firetrap. as the hostess. And he wanted our opinions on the food, and if he should charge $15 or $5 to get in. It's a disco downstairs and upstairs quiet and no noise. I said the downtown people would resent the charge and that it'd just turn into a disco, not anything higher, it wouldn't be a private club or anything. The downstairs looked like a real firetrap.
Thursday, July 24, 1986 The Robert Miller Gallery and the Pace-MacGill both want to do a show of my st.i.tched-together photographs in October. I think Fred wants Miller. But I'm having a p.i.s.s painting show in October at Larry Gagosian's great new gallery in the Sandro Chia building on 23rd Street, and there's also a Dia show in October and I think having so much going on at once is too put-downable, so maybe the photography show should be later.
Anthony d'Offay came by with his wife and if they're so rich, I don't know why she's missing a tooth. Their seventeen-year-old son sent me a letter that was simple and so adoring and it shows what you can say with a letter, it was so effective. He mentions Billy Boy, though, so I don't know if he has a problem.
I was supposed to be picked up by limo for Elliott Erwitt's photo for Travel and Leisure Travel and Leisure. They decided they wanted Grace, too, so then it became Waiting for Grace.
The kids got me a cab and we went up to Erwitt's apartment on Central Park West because he had called and said the light was going, not to wait for Grace. Grace lives down by the Anvil. She arrived and even if she is is the latest person in the world, she's sweet, and she was fun. She thinks we should become a couple and that she could make me happy. Can you imagine her cocaine friends running through my house? She still can't get over Dolph dumping her and she said he's not going to make it without her, and I think she's right, he should've gotten more out of her before dumping her. She says he goes around the swimming pools in his little shorts and the girls go crazy. And she was complaining because Jean-Paul Goude doesn't even see their kid who's five or six now. Grace felt he needed a father figure, though, so she the latest person in the world, she's sweet, and she was fun. She thinks we should become a couple and that she could make me happy. Can you imagine her cocaine friends running through my house? She still can't get over Dolph dumping her and she said he's not going to make it without her, and I think she's right, he should've gotten more out of her before dumping her. She says he goes around the swimming pools in his little shorts and the girls go crazy. And she was complaining because Jean-Paul Goude doesn't even see their kid who's five or six now. Grace felt he needed a father figure, though, so she (laughs) (laughs) found a fairy to live in. found a fairy to live in.
Monday, July 28, 1986 I cabbed up to Peter Marino's birthday party for his dog which was unreal ($5). And a Daily News Daily News guy was there covering it, so we'll see the angle he takes. There were two dishes that said "Archie" and "Amos" but I hadn't brought them, I just wanted to take photos for the Party book. Peter's wife, Jane Trapnell, does the costumes on guy was there covering it, so we'll see the angle he takes. There were two dishes that said "Archie" and "Amos" but I hadn't brought them, I just wanted to take photos for the Party book. Peter's wife, Jane Trapnell, does the costumes on Kate & Allie Kate & Allie, the TV show, so Jane Curtin had her dog there. Walked around Peter's office which is really big, he has building models and fabric samples all over the place and he must have about forty people working for him. And Jed's decorating business is doing good, too-he's billing millions.
Tuesday, July 29, 1986 Joan Quinn called. She said, "When are you going to do my drawing and portrait?" and I said, "What do you mean?" And she said, "Well, you promised me and I've been the West Coast editor of Interview Interview for seven years now." And I said, "Aren't you the West Coast editor because you're social climbing? And aren't you getting for seven years now." And I said, "Aren't you the West Coast editor because you're social climbing? And aren't you getting paid?" paid?" And she said that I told her in the Polo Lounge at the beginning when she first started that I would do her portrait. And I just would never mean that. Maybe I made some And she said that I told her in the Polo Lounge at the beginning when she first started that I would do her portrait. And I just would never mean that. Maybe I made some joke joke about it when she was w.a.n.gling all these free portraits out of other artists, but I never said anything serious. So then I just told her point-blank that I wasn't going to. I mean, with art especially I always keep my word and I about it when she was w.a.n.gling all these free portraits out of other artists, but I never said anything serious. So then I just told her point-blank that I wasn't going to. I mean, with art especially I always keep my word and I remember remember when I say things. And then I called Gael and Gael said, "Listen, I don't want to get involved." So that really upset me. And I don't know whether I get sick because I get mad, or get mad because I get sick. when I say things. And then I called Gael and Gael said, "Listen, I don't want to get involved." So that really upset me. And I don't know whether I get sick because I get mad, or get mad because I get sick.
And then this kid drops off fifty invitations to this soap opera party at Area that say "Andy Warhol invites you..." and I just got furious. I mean, he'd called once once and asked if he could use my name along with a whole bunch of and asked if he could use my name along with a whole bunch of other other names, so I said yes just to help Area out, and here I'm the names, so I said yes just to help Area out, and here I'm the only name! only name! And I don't do that for anybody, so why should I do it for this kid I don't even And I don't do that for anybody, so why should I do it for this kid I don't even know? know?
Then I had to go to Sue Etkin's loft for the Curiosity Killed the Cat video that Vincent and Don Munroe were shooting, and they had rented a half-block van. The group is staying at the Chelsea and loving it. They were such cute, fresh-looking kids.
Then cabbed to Mr. Chow's (cab $8) for a dinner with Gael and Paige and Steven Greenberg-he'd invited us. And he had this big bruiser Irish guy, Bob Mulane, there from Bally Casino in Las Vegas and he said he collected autographs, like Mini Ha-Ha's and then he said he had Patrick Henry's, and he said the quotation, "I regret I have but one life to give for my country," and after he finished, Stuart said, "I have to tell you, that was Nathan Hale." So I (laughs) (laughs) knew right then it was going badly. I could have it backwards, maybe it was the other guy and it was "Give me liberty or give me death," but anyway it was Nathan Hale when it should've been Patrick Henry or vice versa. I don't know. Stuart knew. And we were downstairs instead of upstairs and the noise was so loud, and I started to feel sick. And I really knew it had gone down wrong when I offered to pay and Steven Greenberg didn't stop me (dinner $300). knew right then it was going badly. I could have it backwards, maybe it was the other guy and it was "Give me liberty or give me death," but anyway it was Nathan Hale when it should've been Patrick Henry or vice versa. I don't know. Stuart knew. And we were downstairs instead of upstairs and the noise was so loud, and I started to feel sick. And I really knew it had gone down wrong when I offered to pay and Steven Greenberg didn't stop me (dinner $300).
Thursday, July 31, 1986 Was picked up by Stuart Pivar. We went to the Robert Miller Gallery which is where the old Andrew Crispo Gallery used to be. They said if I let them have the show of my sewn photos there they'd give me extra s.p.a.ce. Steve Aronson was there doing a story for Vanity Fair Vanity Fair on the gallery, and he'd also just finished an article on Stuart for on the gallery, and he'd also just finished an article on Stuart for Architectural Digest Architectural Digest. And Stuart for weeks had been playing it so cool, telling me how he didn't really want the publicity, how he wanted to stay "low profile," how he just wanted to be a "private person," but then when he was talking to Steve you could see he wanted it desperately desperately.
Anyway, the photography show they had there was so interesting and I'd forgotten (laughs) (laughs) you can steal ideas. I liked the ones where Bruce Weber had the dyed colors-blue, pink... I guess it's like they used to do with sepia. And superimpositions are coming back. Paige is using that new Polaroid like crazy, the flashes are starting to bother my eyes. you can steal ideas. I liked the ones where Bruce Weber had the dyed colors-blue, pink... I guess it's like they used to do with sepia. And superimpositions are coming back. Paige is using that new Polaroid like crazy, the flashes are starting to bother my eyes.
I didn't send Liza a note or anything when her father died on Friday. I thought it'd fade away and I could say I didn't know about it, but they're making a big thing, so I'll have to write something, but what? Maybe do another picture of him. But I've already done so many.
And then I noticed the weird thing Stuart does with his hands-he exercises each finger like the piano players do. Like the tendon in the middle fingers he says goes all the way to the back. And he had me feel his fingers, he's been doing it about four months, and they feel like claws. I couldn't even move them.
The Pace-MacGill guy came by, and it's so weird being wanted by two galleries at once, that's never happened like this before, and they're both offering the same things, and it's like having two boyfriends or girlfriends after you. What do you do?
Sat.u.r.day, August 2, 1986 Wilfredo had gotten tickets for Prince, and so cabbed over to Madison Square Garden ($3). We pa.s.sed Debbie Harry and Stephen Sprouse who were there, and we sat down just as Prince jumped out naked, or almost, and it's the greatest concert I've ever seen there, just so much energy and excitement. I saw Ron Delsener and he invited us to the party for Prince at the Palladium. Prince left in a limo the second the show was over.
We went into the Mike Todd Room and it was just almost empty, tables set up, reserved, and there, in a white coat and pink bellbottoms, like a Puerto Rican at a prom, all by himself all by himself, was Prince. He was just great, that image of him being weird and always with the bodyguards and everything was just dispelled, and he came over to each and every person and shook their hand and said he was so happy they came, and he danced with each and every girl-all these weird girls in sixties dresses. Literally with every girl every girl, and he wasn't even a good dancer. And he remembered names names, like he said, "So glad you came, Wilfredo." What manners! And Wilfredo was in heaven. We asked Prince if he would be our December cover and he said we'd have to talk to his manager and we said that we'd asked the manager and the manager said to ask him, and so they said they'd work it out. We were just shaking, it was so exciting. And Billy Idol was there and you know, seeing these two glamour boys, it's like boys are the new Hollywood glamour girls, like Harlow and Marilyn. So weird.
Sunday, August 3, 1986 Turned on TV and saw Jimmy Swaggart preaching and he had a huge auditorium of people, bigger than Prince.
Went to church and it was just organ music, and then went to 26th Street to the flea market and while I was there I verified a fake-that a fake was a fake. It was a portrait of me, actually a good copy. They did a good job, they just didn't frame it right and some of the cotton canvas with the white was showing.
Monday, August 4, 1986 Went to the office. The Hare Krishna kid from Max's in the sixties stopped by-the one who was just in Hannah and Her Sisters Hannah and Her Sisters. He'd been to Gimbel's which is going out of business and he said it's such a shame to see a store that's such a tradition go out of business, that this great name was going down. But it's just a name. So what. And here's this Hare Krishna saying it, it was funny. I guess Macy's will be the only thing happening over on Herald Square.
I read Cindy Adams's obituary of Roy Cohn. She said she knew he was dying at that party at the Palladium when they had to help him up to the podium and that when she shook his hand his weight fell on her. Fred's mad because my name is linked with Roy's in all his obituaries as one of his good friends. And Roy's stuff is going to look just like Rock Hudson's at auction. All weird things that you don't know why they'd be in a house, like things people gave him. His house in town was always just on the verge of being a slum, but the one in Greenwich was more decorated, more chintzed-up.
Wednesday, August 6, 1986 All day people just whispered Happy Birthday, they didn't say it out loud. Paige was getting together an advertising dinner for that night, which I was afraid was just going to be a birthday dinner disguised, so I told her she'd better have at least four advertisers there or there'd be trouble.
The day got strange when Kenny Scharf called and said that Martin Burgoyne was with his family in Florida, sick. That what they thought was the measles wasn't. And I said that the people we knew who had "it" had had the best care money can buy, and they were the first to go, so I didn't know what to say. And Florida seems like a healthy place to be. Madonna was in the papers buying books on Columbus Avenue for "a sick friend" so I guess that was Martin.
Got to Caffe Roma at 8:00 and it was Stephen Sprouse and Debbie Harry and Chris Stein who looked handsome, and Debbie had to leave early to go work on her new record. And there was a Polaroid guy there, and I finally told him that if Polaroid didn't advertise at this point, I was never going to use their name again in my life, and he said, "Oh don't say that, don't let it mean we can't be friends." And he gave me something he said was very meaningful to him (laughs) (laughs)-it was a Polaroid. Of a sunset.
Tama's going to be rooming with Paige when she comes up from Princeton University on weekends, she's going to be "in residence" down there. We bought the rights to all of Tama's stories in Slaves of New York Slaves of New York about living with Ronnie-I mean, with "Stash," and Vincent is looking for financing to make it into a feature movie. about living with Ronnie-I mean, with "Stash," and Vincent is looking for financing to make it into a feature movie.
Friday, August 8, 1986 Just like old times because Benjamin picked me up. We stopped in at E.A.T. and saw our favorite girl that gives us free stuff. Isa. She used to work in a commune in the sixties, so (laughs) (laughs) I think I think that's that's why she gives us so much extra food, really dishes it out. Tipped her (food $35). Benjamin and I talked about the jewelry business and it was fun. why she gives us so much extra food, really dishes it out. Tipped her (food $35). Benjamin and I talked about the jewelry business and it was fun.
Sunday, August 10, 1986 At the flea market I ran into Dolly Fox's mother, who's a Miss America from the fifties. And I also ran into Little Nell buying stuff to furnish her new club with.
Tuesday, August 12, 1986 Kent Klineman was around. He brought a forty-page contract for me to sign about the John Wayne thing. He's there saying, "I don't like the color. What color will the lips be?" And I mean, it's a blue face! blue face! What difference does the color of the lips make when it's a What difference does the color of the lips make when it's a blue face? blue face? I mean, he's ridiculous. I mean, he's ridiculous.
Wednesday, August 13, 1986 Went out and the construction workers whistled so I gave them Interviews Interviews. And I saw myself in a store window and I do stand out like a sore thumb on the street.