Remembering

I found an old friend on FB, his info page is public. He has found the Lord and the Lord has taken his sexual desires away. He was gay when I knew him. He was an artist. He sang. He created a glam rock persona and did his own makeup and costumes. His act was outrageous, fantastic and impressive. When he did make up, his face or whoever’s looked airbrushed; perfect, and seamless. He marketed himself and performed in gay clubs. I went out with him many nights, he as his alter ego, me, as me but styled by him, he had  fine beautiful taste.

 We both worked at a high end furniture and design store in Tampa, I was the prez’s assistant and office manager. He was a stylist and floral arranger. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but in that world, it’s huge. He created silk floral arrangements of all shapes and sizes that sold for big bucks He set the store and was on call for customers to arrange their rooms just so. He made the owner tons of money, the mark up was enormous. My mom cherishes the small arrangement he made as a favor to me, for her. It’s gorgeous.

 He used to go into the bathroom at work and come out with his hair wetly slicked back, go back in 20 minutes later and emerge with a newly colored plume of hair, red, purple, blue, or mixed. He had the professional self confidence of a talented artist, but he was very emotionally troubled, no self confidence as a man when he wasn’t doing his art.

He was not a big drinker or partier; if he wasn’t performing or going out as his creation, he was at home watching network TV and in bed by 9. He was on antidepressants.

Our biggest adventure together was when I went with him to Atlanta, he had been asked to perform/audition at a big glam night.  We drove through the night, spent the next day shopping the punk, goth, hipster stores and then I remember sitting on the floor of our hotel room for hours, doing lots and lots of work on our outfits, with glue guns.  I honestly have no memory of what he came up with for me, he did my makeup and it was artful and striking, but it wasn’t a feminine face, which disappointed me, I wanted to look pretty. Much later that night, I was upset when someone at the club said I looked like Trent Reznor’s little sister. Now, I'm not sure what that means, I think they were complimenting the look.

 The club was surreal, very underground world.  Part fetish, part goth, and glammed out for the night. The performances were tight, spectacular, entertaining. I remember hearing something about Carrie Hamilton being there, she was with the main guy (Carol Burnett’s daughter, who died a few years later) and of course there were other luminaries of that world. He met all the people he had dreamed of meeting, they had heard of him and were happy to meet him. He felt like a real star. I felt like I was with a star. Later that night, I remember him crashing emotionally, feeling like he hadn’t been good enough, he was completely deflated. But they got everything lined up for him to go on tour with them.  I think he made one or two appearances with them, but the idea never really gelled and eventually fell through.

I’m not sure when he surrendered the character and lifestyle, I'm sure other opportunties arose for him, we lost touch about a year after I moved to California.

I’m glad he’s found peace of mind, but I’m sad too. He wasn’t violent, he didn’t do drugs, he was gay.  I wonder what type of art he does now. Two of his favorite FB pages are: Kirk Cameron and Let’s find 1,000,000 people against abortion.
 
Remembering and writing about him and that time, startled me as I remembered myself at that time.  Who was that person?

 

Grammys Style or How much do Stylists make?

I’m not a fan of the Grammy’s and not a fan of pop music in general.  But I do like clothes. The whole idea of the Grammy’s seems strained, its sequined seams bursting.  Seeing the musicians in costumes that are frothy or clingy or glittery; in dresses for proms,  bridesmaids, debutante gowns and sweet 16 dresses, completely destroys  the  after hours, cool, hip, performer’s vibe.  The way we saw them first, whether in a club, or at a concert, or on tv. Why are they pretending they’re actors getting Oscars? What would the 60’s say?

 There are exceptions, I guess. Beyonce started in rhinestone studded gowns and there she’ll stay.  Miley Cyrus had a little edge in her look. (Miley Cyrus?)

Lady Gaga is doing her thing with no competition, Bjork is gone, the stage is hers and she’s taking it. It’s falling in her lap. She’s got some ideas behind the act.

Have most of them really forgotten that everyone dreams of being a rock star?  With the effortless after hours style that goes with it? Street, pieced together, alternative, funky, casual rocker chic, leather and denim.   It can be designer, but it’s gotta be cool.  Not Lawrence Welk. The MTV awards look closer to the mark, although maybe they should start a new one, the You Tube awards, because MTV isn’t MTV anymore. But then I guess, unknown uncorporate-ized people that looked like rock or pop stars would start winning.

 I’ve looked at the pictures over and over (couldn’t stand to watch the show). The men looked better than the women, (except for Elton John), Taylor Swift’s white peasant tunic blew her blue sequined gown away and Ringo and Barbara won my rock fashion Grammy.



Green Day-rock stars, playwrights



Akon.  Don't know him, but he looks cool.



Taylor Swift's tunic, she looks like a cool country pop star



Barbara & Ringo, cool.