D.V.

I have just started reading Diana Vreeland's autobiograpy 'D.V.' and I am already completely smitten. She was so fabulous in that Nancy Mitford, Tallulah Bankhead, Dorothy Parker ilk (although all are brilliant in their own way). I love their decisiveness, and their wit with it. I just read this part and shamefully perhaps, I have to agree whole heartedly:

"This is a very serious subject with me. I've given this a lot of thought. I adore dressing and I adore making up. I adore the procedure - it's terribly invigorating, both during my getting up in the morning and during my getting ready to go out in the evening. It gives me such pleasure."

hay mas tiempo que vida

My lovely friend Sammi stopped by with a belated birthday present for me -what a sweetie! I love the little details on this Tatty Devine sugar skull pendant, especially the little stilettos. As you may have noticed, I love sugar skulls and am always happy to have a unique one to add to the collection. I have wanted to get one tattooed since 2007 but as I want the design to be just right I haven't quite got there. Since then they have become very fashionable, which is a bit annoying, but doesn't detract from the fact that I love their symbolism, but also the aesthetic of them; they're both morbid and goth, while at the same time being feminine and alive with colour. Also for my birthday, Elle got me an amazing book on Day of the Dead by Antoni Cadafalch and Dr Alderete. It's full of beautiful images that should be good inspiration on designing a tattoo. I need to get a move on this! Leopard print playsuit was in the Monkii sale.

children of the night

"Listen to them, children of the night, what music they make!"

I have been meaning to get my classic horror movie education since I watched the 1920 adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore, so I rather selfishly bought my boyfriend a box set of classic horror films for his birthday this year. We had both really enjoyed Mark Gatiss' series 'A History of Horror' so I thought he would like to see these to. 

We kicked off by watching 'Dracula' starring Bela Lugosi. Obvi its an adaptation of Bram Stoker's book, which by the way, if you haven't read YOU MUST. I know the story has been remade so many ways but I still recommend a read. I also recommend that you read Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jeyll and Mr. Hyde' if you haven't already but hey, I like books. 

It was great, I love 1930s make-up with the long, thin brows. I also love classic movie posters and I will get this one:

I have also decided that it is time to watch Tod Browning's 'Freaks', even though it will scare the crap out of me, and I am particularly fearful of anything starring Lon Chaney as his character transformations are terrifying. I know I am very behind the times with all this but I still thought I'd share. Shinfo.

raising hell

I have just finished reading 'An A-Z of Hellraisers' by Robert Sellers. He has written a few of these books, I wanted to get the 'Hollywood Hellraisers' one to read on hols, but didn't because it was 8 quid and I am a known tight arse, so SCORE when I found this one in a GQ book sale for a quid. Wheter it exists I don't know, butafter reading this I'd like to read a book that further details the female hellraisers, such as Tallulah Bankhead. Another favourite whose antics are reported in Sellers' book is Dorothy Parker, a jouralist who wrote for Vanity Fair. The woman is highly quotable:

"I like to have a Martini. Two at the very most. After three I'm under the table. After four, I'm under my host."

And when she was late to turn in her copy to her editor at The New Yorker becuase she was on her honeymoon she gave this excuse via telegram: 'Too fucking busy, and vice versa'.

And this is perhaps my favourite telegram from Dot. I think I will frame this and keep it on my desk at work:



I also enjoyed reading about the Wild West charcters; Roy Bean, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickock and Poker Alice. When I was reading about them I thought, 'this should be a film', which is how I felt when I read bout Titanic Thompson (then 'Boardwalk Empire' came out and I felt slightly robbed, altohugh hes not actually in the series, many other 'characters' from his life are). It turns out OF COURSE that a film was made about Roy Bean in 1972, and the tv series 'Deadwood' features Calamity Jane and Wild Bill, oh well, great minds....

your pretty face is going to hell

I've just finished reading the Iggy Pop biography 'Open up and bleed' by Paul Trynka, another £1 GQ book sale find. I had been schooling myself in Iggy before reading, but after reading this I feel like I have been to every Stooges show, been at every album recording and been trapped in episodes of sheer mania and terror! This book is very comprehensive, which is both a gift and a curse and its very interesting being a biography rather than an autobiography as I don't think you are as easily persuaded into the idea of Iggy as a loveable rogue as you might be if he had written himself (which he has done in the past with his autobiography ' I Need More', but I think this book proves the Ig's mind and memories are not really to be trusted). For exampe, whether its fair or not, Anthony Keidis and Iggy Pop have always been closely linked in my mind, which is no way an accident on Keidis' part. Keidis was also a heroin addict, but in his brilliant autobiography 'Scar Tissue', you know he is frequently abhorrent, but ultimately completely charming.

As many succesful performers no doubt are, Jim Osterberg's creation 'Iggy Pop' is a self seeking, melodramatic meglomaniac, with a finger firmly set on the self destruct button. But I would love to be able to go back and see him fronting The Stooges in the late 60s and early 70s as their 'raw power' and fuck shit uppery sounds breathtaking. It is easy to think of wrinkly old orange Iggy in his car insurance ads now, and harder to remember that The Stooges, under Iggy's bent, basically went out there made the music they wanted, and weren't commerically succesful in their time. They were so intense and weird that audiences would cower away from them; they were ahead of their time. Testament to this perhaps is the fact that The Stooges' 'Raw Power' was Kurt Cobain's favourite album, and subsequently Cobain's band went on again to wipe the music slate clean and do their own thing. I really like the first self-titled Stooges album, I guess theres a lot of Doors influencene in there. ' I Wanna Be Your Dog' is brilliant (and put to good use in 'The Runaways', which I watched recently - Kim Fowley worked with Iggy too). 'Raw Power' is also good but at times a bit of an onslaught. Also, like most of the world's best people (ie Steven Tyler) he started out as a drummer before taking over the microphone.

Iggy's work and relationship with David Bowie is enduringly fascinating, mainly because it is still shrouded in quite a lot of mystery. I didn't realise that the song 'China Girl' was co-written by Iggy and appeared on his album before Bowie's version, released six years later. It is usually reported that Bowie helped Iggy's career, but this book really highlights the mutual benefits to the both of them. Of course, as a public figure Bowie was more commercial and acceptable, which perhaps explains how history has been written in his favor. And I don't think any bumming did take place, thanks Velvet Goldmine...

Enough of the music. Of course a big appeal of Iggy's has been that he is utterly beautiful; those eyelashes! I suppose hes not conventionally attractive but then most rock stars aren't are they? There's a pic of his famously proportioned schlong in the book too. Don't mind if I do. He's clearly been a massive shit to women and bandmates, and a terrible father, abandoning anyone who had outgrown their use to him, which I really didn't want to learn. I was suprised to read how intelligent and articulate he is, at school he was voted 'Most likely to succeed' but classmates thought he seemed destined to a career in politics. Iggy for Prez?

'I'm a streetwalking cheetah with a heart ful of Napalm'

Iggy in his famous cheetah leather jacket; he was wearing this when he found inspiration for the song 'Search and Destroy'

His spicy wife Nina.*

I haven't come away feeling like I really understand Iggy, and how much the Iggy persona is a front, or whether it is the real Jim. I think this is perhps unanswerable and I would like him to write his own autobiography now that he is seeminlgy more mature and level. I can't tell if he is really arrogant, or really insecure. This book puts forward the idea that Jim Osterberg is bi-polar, but then it doesn't really want to, and in fact can't commit to this idea. So bi-winning? (Sorry!)

I would recommend this book if you are really interested in Iggy/Jim Osterberg's back story as it is so well researched, draws on extensive references and is by a highly respected music journalist. Don't read it if you just want some stories of salacious rock star shagging or to be told that all was fine, all the time and Iggy is a thoroughly decent chap. I feel like I haven't done it enough justice here but its hard to as it is an absolute tome!


The last fm website is a great source for Iggy photos.

Oh and one more thing, watch this for a good run of archive film and photos:



*damn you Amy Cox, giving me a new adjective

Oh Mother, Mother I'm in love with a gamblin' man

I bought Kevin Cook's biography on the great American gambler and proposition man, Titanic Thompson for £1 in a GQ book sale the a few weeks ago. I picked it up because I only really read biographies and autobiographies now; they're a lot easier to dip in and out of on various tube and train journeys, plus I read enough 'real' books during my English Lit degree. And look how appealing the cover is:
What also appealed was that Titanic's life began in frontier times, in rural Arkansas, and he then led an almost nomadic life, travelling around America tricking and conning and gambling his way to notoriety. He was gambling with the gangsters of the prohibition era, who I have become deeply fascinated with. I am so interested in America and its history, which is inextricable from his life story. Titanic was at the high stakes poker game which resulted in the murder of Arnold Rothstein, and subsequently was called to trial, which is where he was thrust into the public eye. It is easy to forget that, in the time before the internet, mobile phones, camera phones etc that a man could travel around the States as an unknown and hustle in every town; nowadays all you would need is someone with a camera phone to record a man like Titanic seemingly throwing a lemon over a five story building and he would be an internet star within hours. Rothstein is mentioned in 'The Godfather' (he was the guy who fixed the 1919 Baseball World Series) and I caught some of 'Boardwalk Empire' the other night (a programme I wish I could watch but a stunning and frequently naked Paz de la Huerta means I can't face it, that show has tits all over the shop, boo) and he was mentioned all the time, but I don't know if he is ever seen. I think I will track down a biography on him to read at some point.

I won't go in to too much detail but despite all of his faults and the fact he was clearly crooked and perhaps somewhere on the autistic spectrum with his obsessive repetitions and lack of emotional connections, I still came away liking him; for all of his fakeness in the way he tricked people, he was very honest when it came to his relationships with his wives - they knew the score and he looked after them financially when it didn't work out. He seems almost superhuman in his varied competences, he was a master of all trades. He inspired the character Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls and I really hope Cook's book is being adapted to a screenplay as we speak as it would make a great movie. This book is so well written and engaging, I read it in less than a week (daily tube journeys and two train journeys). I bet money you would love it.

his dark materials

I have just finished reading rock journalist Nick Kent's book 'The Dark Stuff', a compilation of articles concerned with some of music's most troubled and intriguing characters. Before I read 'The Dark Stuff' I read his autobiography 'Apathy for the Devil' (the title taken from Bob Dylan's sneering summary of a '70s Stones gig), so I was aware of how 'in' Kent was with some of the world's biggest rock stars of the late '60s and '70s; his relationship with Chrissie Hynde, his friendship with Iggy Pop and his beating by the vile Sid Vicious to name a few.

His career as a rock journalist meant that he was often drawn in to the murkiness, in particular the hard drug use which was rife, and yet he also remained under suspicion, on the outside, the enemy (the NME).

I think the widespread drug addiction in music that took over in the 1960s and turned to really heavy shit in the 1970s was what shocked me most because I don't think I really realised how mentally damaging and far reaching it was. Brian Wilson ruined his sanity from taking acid (although his weird family life growing up may have also been a root cause), he went completely insane, which as a child growing up listening to the Beach Boys I had no idea about. Iggy should be dead (and trust me, he tried). The mad mix of unadulterated adulation, drugs and personal neuroses led to the demise of so many; Jerry Lee Lewis' Biblical fear juxtaposed with God-like arrogance made for a very interesting moral code, for example. However, these unique personalities and situations also led to some of the most amazing music, which is something Kent is also great at making you appreciate. I was physically spooked by images of old man Phil Spector in court in recent years, but then to realise what he contributed to music (not as much as he claimed, but still impressive) it sort of redeemed him, artistically speaking at least.

A recommended read, I especially liked the way that some of the artists' stories seem to intertwine; Brian Wilson was heavily inspired, obsessed even with Phil Spector and both were tortured genius' in their own way. Miles Davis inspired everyone, but was frequently chasing re-invention and a new, current sound. Morrissey was himself a fan of Nick Kent's journalistic work, and then went on to be one of the greatest lyricists ever, in my opinion.

Chrissie Hynde and Nick Kent

young lust

So thanks to my friend Elle alerting me to the fact that, ironically, while waiting for Steven Tyler's autobiography to come out this month I actually had a year to wait (I hope the text is big and the sentences simple after that observational balls up...) I gave up and bought a Steven Tyler biography that was only £2; it might be full of lies but I thought it might give me a good grounding in Aerosmith history. As always, I was very interested in reading about the women of Aerosmith because aside from Bebe Buell I didn't have much knowledge. Of course that then leads to a google search and looky what I found, lovingly scanned in on the brilliant (Diet) Coke and Sympathy blog. This is the beautiful Joe Perry with his not quite as beautiful first wife Elyssa. Leith has a treasure trove of old rock legends and their ladies, including the group shot below. Well worth a look. Coming soon, Cyrinda Foxe.

she was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean

eyyoooo so I do like to give a little opinion on books I have read, and as I have finished Brian Johnson's Rockers and Rollers (and indeed am over 100 pages in to the next book) I feel I should give it a little write up. I knew when I bought it that it would not be straightforward rock autobiography, i.e more Rollers, less Rockers. But it had good reviews and was supposed to be so charismatically written - the sort of book equivalent of Top Gear although I wouldn't describe Clarkson as charismatic - plus it was within my 'spend no more than £5 on a book rule', (which I will disregard when Steven Tyler's comes out) so I took it out for a spin (I still can't drive...)

The book is consisted of very short chapters which flit all over the place chronilogically, which actually makes it an ideal commuting book as you can read snippets depending on how long your journey is, and not worry that you've missed parts of his life because it isn't strung together like that; little concentration is needed, basically. Brian's way of expressing himself is often hilarious, and although the content is car-centric I did enjoy reading it (but I think I prefer Bon Scott's vocals...). I would recommend it as a Christmas present to any car nuts, especially if they are of similiar age to Brian (or the same age, like my pops) as they will probs have personal experience with a few of the cars discussed.

I have really gotten in to AC/DC again since seeing them at Download this year. I have had a couple of their albums for a few years (High Voltage and For Those About To Rock) but they've never been one of my main faves. Now I'm really chuffed that some of my fave DC songs are on those two albums and intend to add more to my collection. My second tattoo is in the AC/DC font but as I am not a super fan it is not intended as an AC/DC tattoo, just paying respect to the fact that they have the most awesome rock n' roll font out there (the KISS font looked like it read 'we're nat warthy'; nat caal). No one really likes it because it's a bit stupid, but that makes me love it more (this is a shitty phone pic but you get the idea):

literati

You may or may not know that I temped at Conde Nast March-May this year, working on sussing the rights and getting picture clearance and finding the potential captions for the pictures used in this book:
Can't wait to see it

too fast for love

Finishedddd reading Tommy Lee's autobiography, Tommyland. I still haven't read The Dirt of The Heroin Diaries but Tommyland was only a fiver on play and oh lordy I looove Mr Lee. Full of less tales of debauchery than either of the other Motley books (female ejaculation fetish and interjections from Tommy's willy aside) it is still a good read. I was suprised to read that Tommy is generally a monogamous man, whose desperation to start a family led to the breakdown of his first marriage (the blow job from a porno chick being the final nail in that coffin though, d'oh), and how as hot as Pammy and her mahoosive hooters is he dedicates more page space being entranced by her beautiful feet.

I loved to read about how passionate he is for his art, that primal lust of a drum beat and his pure Nicki Sixx bromance. Whenever I read these books though I feel sad that I can't have grown up in 70s/80s LA around that whole scene. It did worry me a bit in the chapter about tattoos when he said how painful getting your wrist done is. As I was getting my second tattoo done in two days time -on my wrist- and this guy is covered in tattoos, it was a bit disconcerting! Will do a pic of it when I'm back at my flat in London this weekend. Wayne's World fans stay tuned!

I have seen the Crue live twice and have gone for it 80s glam rock fancy dress stylee and I am so happy to have had those experiences cos they just don't make them like they used to. Next up will be Brian Johnson's autobiography, and then in September, in the same week Vince Neil and Steven Tyler's autobiographies come out. If I can't wait until then may see if I can get a deal on Steven Adler's book. I spent three years at uni reading 'real' books, bring on the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.*

Here are quite a few great pics of Tommy with both his wives (Heather and Pammy, not the 30 day married to Penthouse babe, that does not count, and she called his mum a cunt...) I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say come on Tommy and Pammy, happy ever after please. "We've only given it a try 800 times – 801, here we go..."




ahhh Tommy and his wives and his bandmates are all such babes, just get on google images and knock yourself out. One boob job please!


*this post makes me sound like an utter dickhead, well aware

a varied literary diet

so I needed to pick a book to read after finishing Slash's autobiography. The toss up was between Julie Andrews' memoirs, or my actual choice:


I am invisible, but if anyone did see me everyday on the train reading my previous book and then saw me with this, maybe they would be amused.

first week down

I've been obsessed with Jim Morrison after watching the film The Doors at the weekend and have been reading Slash's (G'n'R) autobiography on the commutes so as per all I want to do is wear leatherette skinnys, lace up ankle boots, over sized shirts and messy hair. Did you know that Slash was born in England and his dad is a white British guy? Cos I did not know that. Oh how I wish I was in that Hollywood scene of the late 70s and early 80s, it actually hurts me a bit that I can't ever be.


So to the positives. I managed to paint my nails and it lasted 2 days without major chipping; in the charity shop nail varnish doesn't even last a day.

written on the body

Friday I got my first tattoo. It is a kite. The idea for it came to me two years ago in my last year of doing my English Lit degree; I was reading a book by Jeanette Winterson called 'Written on the Body' and there's a line in it that says 'We can be kites, and hold each others strings', meaning that you and the people you love all go off and do your own thing put you're all holding each other's strings. I totally hooked in to the notion of independance in love, and it was a really nice way of coping with the idea of being away from family, friends and the bf. It's really cheesey but I was instantly sort of blown away by the beautiful expression and for the first time thought 'I would get that tattooed'.

Two years later and I was really mulling it over again, got drunk one night and wound up booking to have it done by one of my boyfriend's friends who recently opened a little shop. His name is Andy Wharton and you can see his stuff here: http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=153052049404&ref=ts

And here it is:Obviously it is still healing and is shiny from the Bepanthen I've been putting on it. Obviously my cat had to be in the background. And just so you know, I asked for 5 bows on the string for my mum, dad, brother and two sisters. Yes it is simple and yes it is bigger than people were expecting but this is how I wanted it, I wanted it really simple as it is in such a visible place.

Friday night I went to another of the bfs gigs. It was brilliant and everyone I had ever met ever was there, I love hometown gigs. I basically wore what I wore to the London gig but instead of jeans I wore my totally sick, what I call 'Alice Cooper' leggings. Will do a pic sometime, feel very behind with my pouty outfit picture posts.

I watched this film the day before my tat. Enjoy this clip.

Baby you can drive my car

This morning at 9:30 I had a driving lesson. I have been learning since March and I am still pretty cack, although in my defence my instructor had an operation recently which left me lesson-less for a month, just as I was making some progress. I am at that really frustrated stage where I know pretty much everything in my mind but I can't seem to get it all working at once and independantly. I am also too scared to practice outside of my lessons. ARRRGGHHHH!

In other, just as important news, today I played a bit of Rock Band- Beatles and your classic Rock Band, maybs 3 izzit? I have just moved up to attempt level 'medium' (on the easier songs and on bass, mostly. Still only easy on drums, FML). I had grown tired of being able to play everything on easy, and although this did afford me time to strut and prance around like a rockstar it just wasn't challenging enough. The point I'm making is, that the driving lessons and the medium level on Rock Band are related; I know it is only me who has to push myself and I'm holding myself back.
Ok, this is quite funny but, I only discovered last week that my brother didn't make up 'Oompa loompa stick it up your jumper' and that it is actually from 'I am the Walrus'. He used to say it as a kid and I always just assumed he'd made it up. Oh the innocence. Also, I don't really like The Beatles that much, is that ok world?

On a tangent from this, I suppose I should try and add a more traditional bloggy element; something a bit more fashiony and photography. A few months back I got this book:




Linda McCartney Sixites. Quite simply a book of photographs Linda McCartney took of musicians in the sixties. Obvious appearances from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Hendrix and maaaaany many others, there are also some beautiful personal shots of Sir Paul. One of my favourites however are the two shots of Tim Buckley, in which the resemblance to his son, Jeff Buckley is chilling. Int the text about these photographs she has written: 'A friend told me that Tim's son, who was born while he was in high school, has a copy of this photo hanging in his bedroom wall, and that it is his favourite image of his father.' This book was first published to years before Buckley's Grace album came out and so McCartney wrote this when he was presumably still widely unknown. All in all, I recommend this book.