Thursday night: Bowery Mission Women's Program Benefit / Mudd Club Rummage Sale

MUDD CLUB RUMMAGE SALE - BENEFITING THE WOMEN’S PROGRAM of THE BOWERY MISSION

Steve Mass by Kate Simon

Featuring famed treasures and priceless trash collected from an elite of couturiers, rock stars, artists, luminaries, bigwigs and significant somebodies

Thursday, November 19th

7:30 pm – 10:30pm

Roxy Hotel

2 Avenue of the Americas, New York City

Honorary Chair:

Steve Mass, a.k.a. Dr. Mudd

Co-Hosts:

Glenn O'Brien, Maripol & Paul Sevigny

Host Committee:

Victoria Bartlett, Richard Boch, Jeffrey Deitch, Phoebe Fitch, Eric Goode,

Kim Gordon, Deborah Harry, Kim Hastreiter, David Hershkovits, Pat Irwin

Daryl Kerrigan, Humberto Leon, Debi Mazar,

Patrick McMullan, Robert Molnar, Kate Pierson, Lisa Rosen, Lola Schnabel,

Kate Simon, Anna Sui, threeASFOUR & Linda Yablonsky

Tickets

Platinum Circle $200: 7:30 – 10:30

Entitles holder to 10% discount on all sale items. Live Music, Kate Pierson & Pat Irwin of B-52’s, Lenny Kaye of Patti Smith Group, special guests, Dance Music, Open Bar & Curated Hors D’oeuvres. Complimentary Entry to Backstage Hawaiian Love Shack Party on White Street, 10:30-2:00.

Gold Circle $100: 7:30 – 10:30

Live Music, Kate Pierson & Pat Irwin of B-52’s, Lenny Kaye, of Patti Smith Group, special guests, Dance Music, Open Bar & Curated Hors D’oeuvres.

Gold Circle ticket sales end 3pm November 18th.

CLICK EVENTBRITE LINK FOR TICKET OPTIONS

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/mudd-club-rummage-sale-event-benefitting-the-bowery-mission-womens-centers-tickets-19262318112

*$50 is the non-tax deductible portion of each ticket. Sale items are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Art Work & Items Donated from the Ateliers, and Attics of,

Agnes B

Allan Tannenbaum

Anna Sui

Brett De Palma

Bill Komoski

Bob Gruen

Bobby Grossman

Chris Stein

David Godlis

Deborah Harry

Dike Blair

Duncan Hannah

Eric Goode

Ericka Beckman

Pat Place

Maripol

Fred Schneider

George Dubose

Glenn O’Brien

Humberto Leon

Hunt Slonem

James Nares

Jeffrey Deitch

Izhar Patkin

Jim Jarmush

John Miller

Kate Pierson

Kate Simon

Keith Sonnier

Kim Gordon

Lisa Rosen

Lola Schnabel

Marc Jacobs

Jo Shane

Richard Boch

Patrick McMullan

Paul Sevigny

Phoebe Fitch

Ralph Pucci

Robert Molnar

Sally Gall

Steve Mass

Sting

Timothy Greenfield Sanders

Tom Otterness

Walter Robinson

William Coupon

Billy Sullivan

More names, more art, more rummage added everyday!

News from the desk of Richard Boch: artist, writer and former Mudd Club doorman

As I continue work on my Mudd Club chronicles, an enduring labor of love, I find that history occasionally does repeat itself. November 2015, leaves are falling, and another chapter is writing itself; I'm once again working with Steve Mass! That's the short of it. From the offices of the Mudd Club Rummage Sale Host Committee, to benefit the Bowery Mission Women's Program, here's the rest:

Steve Mass, aka Dr. Mudd, the genius behind the legendary Mudd Club (1978-1983) where nightlife was truly an art form, quietly slipped out of New York at the turn of the millennium, when downtown was still in the shadow of the twin towers. He moved to Berlin. There things were, perhaps, more like the New York he loved than what New York has now become. And now, as suddenly as he vanished, he has reappeared to the joy of all Mudd graduates turning up in lower Manhattan on White Street just a few blocks from the legendary 77 White Street site of the Mudd Club. Steve is now back in town to have a huge birthday party/Bowery Mission Charity event.

It’s funny to see Steve, in many ways the ultimate New Yorker, visiting the city today. He’s like a tourist from another dimension, full of wonder and bemusement. His presence stands out as a magnificently preserved specimen from another time: a perfect prankster idealist hoping to make the world a better place and have fun doing it. During the late 70’s, early 80’s, the heyday of the Mudd Club, Steve was such a very generous host to the young creatives pouring into a then desolate Tribeca helping to facilitate a magical design laboratory where you could work and get by on very little money. The Mudd Club was THE creative epicenter. This contributed in no small way to today's boom in art, music and film. It is all part of the Mudd's legend and lore. At that time talented people didn’t need to have a full time day job to get by. Still it was difficult for many talented young people, especially women, who were changing the world against the odds. Steve recalls the greatness of the late Gia Carangi, Edwige Belmore, Tina L’Hotsky, Anya Phillips, Sara Charlesworth, Abbijane Schifrin, Anita Sarko and the difficulties they faced. And they were the successful ones.... although ultimately suffering tragically.

Today it is so much harder to eat, to keep a roof over one’s head in this city. It is not surprising that there are many college educated and once employed homeless in New York City. Now fortunately there is a program which sponsors vulnerable women at The Bowery Mission. Their Women’s Center provides residential private accommodation for women suffering from homelessness due to the many pitfalls of the city including domestic violence, addiction, financial exploitation, job loss, and health crises.Therefore we are asking for your help in reaching out to friends, Mudd Club members and habitues as well as their descendents and heirs and to ask them to participate in the MUDD CLUB RUMMAGE SALE.

As a friend of the Mudd Club we ask that you and your friends lovingly donate an historic work of art, photographs, couture treasures, accessories, memorabilia, designer sample and/or cultural curios (hopefully from the Mudd Club days but any period is acceptable) in memory of our youth, friends lost and the special lives we now live. In addition we are asking you to purchase tickets to the event and if possible make a donation to The Bowery Mission. 

Ticket sales:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mudd-club-rummage-sale-event-benefitting-the-bowery-mission-womens-centers-tickets-19262318112

Anita Sarko: A remembrance by Richard Boch

Richard Boch & Anita Sarko, 2010

Remembering Anita Sarko:

1979 and 1980, Mudd Club, 77 White. Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane” (live version, Rock ’n Roll Animal), “Public Image” PiL, “The Lost Sheep” Adrian Munsey—baaaa baaaaaaa baaaaaaaa—clearing the dance floor at 4AM. Anita Sarko’s spinning records and I’m working the door; that’s when and where we became friends. Early mornings, her place on Jones Street, more music and whatever else was lying around. A sharp wit, Anita’s sweet and not too scary, still beautiful at 9AM. The daybreak hours gone, I walk out into the sunshine morning: dark glasses, a cigarette, brain cells still burning. I’m heading home, having a laugh, knowing we’d both be back for another round, another night on White Street. 

Anita left her job at Mudd before I did. Thirty-six years came and went fast. I missed her then. I miss her now.

Richard Boch

Below, Anita discusses the early days of her career with videographer Merrill Aldighieri in 2013 - they worked together at Hurrah.

On The Scene: Patti Smith at Webster Hall, 12.30.14

Thanks to Richard Boch.

Events of Note: This weekend in Hudson NY - A reading and a record fair

Friday evening my friend, Richard Boch, will be joining several other emerging writers, and reading  his upcoming memoir of his days at the Mudd Club in the late 70's. All of the info you need is on the flyer. We hope to see you there.

 

Also, on Saturday in Hudson, from 8:00AM until 4:00PM, community radio station WGXC will be hosting their first record fair in order to benefit the station. Details are available on the Facebook event page, but just in case you don't swing that way here you go:

71 N. 3rd Street Hudson, NY 

8:00AM - 4:00PM

WGXC is thrilled to announce its first annual fundraising Record Fair. Regional and local vendors will gather with an unbelievable selection of vinyl, CDs and DVDs for perusal and sale. Early bird special starting at 8:00 a.m is $10!

Big thanks to our sponsors!
Second Ward Foundation
Spotty Dog Books & Ale
John Doe Records Hudson

On the Scene: The Leee Black Childers Memorial (NYC, 7.29.14) by Richard Boch

“Hello darling,” as only Leee could say it—so sad to see you go. Photographer Leee Black Childers passed away on April 6, 2014. On Tuesday July 29, his friends gathered at El Quijote, the restaurant adjacent to the Hotel Chelsea, sharing stories, memories, rumors and Paella. The crowd on hand, not to mention Leee himself, was part of a community and scene largely responsible for the radical shift in seventies sound and vision.

People began arriving at 3 P.M. and by 4:30 everyone settled into a seat. Tony Zanetta, Danny Fields and Pat Wadsley, stood up and spoke, remembering Leee from his days at Sixteen magazine and then Mainman, Bowie’s freewheeling management company. Roberta Bayley, a fellow photographer and the former door ‘minder’ at CBGB spoke of her friendship with Leee and his outpouring of love in return. Along with Linda Jean Meier, the afternoon’s organizer and host, both women were recognized as heroes of the day. Debbie Harry, Heartbreaker Walter Lure, Richard Hell, artist Duncan Hannah, Tom Wynbrandt, and photographer Bob Gruen all shared memories of Leee’s sweet, crazy and oddly innocent spirit. He was selfless but always searching, prone to both great excess and generosity. Roberta mentioned that Leee told her he loved her more than anyone. She was sure he said the same thing to every person in the room at one time or another—and each time he said it, he meant it.

From Max’s backroom to Middle America, London’s mid seventies heyday and New York City’s mayhem, Leee was there. All the beautiful faces he ever fell in love with—from the drag queens and rough trade to the Warhol stars like Holly Woodlawn and Jackie Curtis—from superstars like David Bowie and Iggy Pop to Jayne County, The Heartbreakers and Levi and The Rockats — they became his life, his legacy and the subject of his photographs. That was and is Leee Black Childers. ‘Good-bye darling’ was never part of the story.

Richard Boch 2014

On the Scene: Maggie Estep Memorial, Club Helsinki, Hudson NY

 

In case you couldn't make it, but were interested, here is a nice summary of yesterday's fantastic memorial put together quickly for Maggie Estep. As I've mention, I didn't know her well, but enjoyed every second I spent hanging out with her. She is/was an excellent example of the type of kindred spirit I've met while spending a lot of time in upstate New York. Quality over quantity please. Maggie, you are missed.

Article & images (except the final one) below courtesy of The Register Star, by Arthur Cusano:

HUDSON — Hudson resident Maggie Estep was known for her fearless stage presence, so it was only fitting that her memorial would take place on stage.

Richard Boch

Friends and family gathered Saturday morning at Helsinki Hudson to remember Estep, who died Wednesday at age 50 of a heart attack.

“Maggie Estep was beautiful, standing at the microphone in the early days of slam. She could spit and coo in the same breath,” recalled friend and fellow spoken word artist Richard Boch. “Sometimes it scared me. Other times it made me laugh, along with everyone else. Wit, wisdom and words — she was a Marshall-amped Dorothy Parker, without the gin martini.”

Estep was a well-known spoken word poet who had performed on MTV and HBO and at Lollapalooza and Woodstock 94 festivals. She later found success with such novels as Diary of an Emotional Idiot: A Novel (1997), and the trilogy of Ruby Murphy mysteries, Hex (2003), Gargantuan (2004), and Flamethrower (2006). She moved to Hudson two years ago from Ulster County.

Singer-songwriter Mike Doughty recalled dating Estep briefly before he broke up with her due to his substance abuse issues. He credited her with helping him get sober.

“Maggie saved my life, and she did it by being interesting,” he said before performing the song “Day By Day By”. “I was famous-ish, and yet she had a much better life than I did. Every time I’d bump into her she’d say ‘yeah, I’m corresponding with famous writers and hanging out with the federation of black cowboys.’ I’d say, ‘You don’t have a right to have fun, I’m the one doing drugs.’”

One guest who hadn’t been announced before the event was actor Steve Buscemi, who had worked with Estep directing her music videos for her cover of the Lou Reed song “Vicious.”

Buscemi said he met Estep through his brother, Michael. The actor has worked on movie adaptions of Estep’s Ruby Murphy novels that never came to fruition, but said he hoped to one day get the projects done.

“She was scary looking sometimes, she could be really intense,” Buscemi said. “But underneath, she was just a real sweetheart.”

Buscemi read a post Estep had written about Lou Reed’s death last year in which she fondly recalled Reed swatting her backside, as well as a letter she had recently emailed him in which she talked of working as a realtor in Columbia County in order to pay the bills while she finished working on a novel.

“I mention this in the event that you have any friends looking for county places or to relocate or sell their upstate place,” Estep wrote. “A lot of realtors are kind of creepy, so I guess my angle is that I’m the non-creepy realtor. So keep that in mind and I hope to see you sometime soon.”

Friend Laura Shea of East Chatham recalled her relationship with Estep as she blogged about her farming. Estep was simultaneously friendly and rude, often laughing at Shea or others, but that was okay because Estep was comfortable having people laugh at herself as well, she said.

“She was exquisitely dramatic, she fell deeply and immediately in love and just as quickly could change her mind,” Shea said. “She adored her friends. She was fiercely loyal, and she should not be in the past tense.”

Shea said Estep loved one being better than any other – her pet pit bull Micky. The dog was brought on stage briefly to applause.

Author Rick Moody was unable to attend Saturday’s event but wrote a letter from his residence in Florida entitled “The Word Enthusiasm” that was read by friend Karen Keats.

“The word enthusiasm, they say, comes from Greek [for] possessed by a god, and no better word suggests the unmistakable energy of Maggie,” Moody wrote.

Moody recalled Estep’s humor and love for many things, especially horses. Estep’s parents were traveling horse trainers and fair performers.

“Once I wrote a story with a horse in it, and Maggie, who was always very supportive, wrote to tell me that no horse person would ever use the word snout for a horse,” Moody recalled. “The word was nose.”

John S. Hall

 John S. Hall, a New York poet, author and vocalist for the now defunct band King Missile, read two of Estep’s pieces, “F-ck Me,” and the follow-up, “Stalk Me,” which Hall said came from Estep’s jealousy of Hall having a stalker.

“Don’t stalk Jodie Foster, David Letterman or John S. Hall, don’t go through their trash, their trash is boring — play with MY trash,” Hall recited to laughter.

Stephen Merritt

The final event concluded with a performance by Stephin Merritt, a singer-songwriter best known for his work in the band The Magnetic Fields. He performed one of Estep’s favorite songs, the Magnetic Fields’ “The Book of Love.”

Stephanie Monseu by Judy Sipowicz

Attendees were treated to a fire-breathing show by circus performance artist Stephanie Monseu in the venue’s courtyard as the snow fell outside. Helsinki Hudson owner Mark Schafler said Estep was a familiar face at the venue, and said the space was offered to Estep’s friends at no cost.

“Maggie’s friends are our friends, and one of our mission statements is that we’re a part of the community,” Schafler said. “This is a community event, of both joy and sorrow.”

Maggie Estep: The Beat Goes On, 2.12.14 by Richard Boch

Maggie Estep in her favorite shirt by Kate Simon, 2013

Maggie Estep was beautiful. Standing at a microphone in the early days of slam, she could spit fire and coo in the same breath. Sometimes it scared me—other times it made me laugh—along with everybody else. Wit, wisdom and words, she was a Marshall-amped Dorothy Parker—without the gin Martini.

Maggie Estep, 1963-2014

Fame came along and Maggie took it on the road. I’d see her around every now and then—we’d smile, stop for a few minutes, and keep walking. Paths crossed but headed in opposite directions. Years went by, I put on a bit of age and Maggie just seemed to get younger. When I spotted her across a room she flashed that million-dollar smile. She said, “Hey” and I gave her one back. We knew all along we’d become friends.

Maggie and I read together on several occasions. She was the pro—well respected, well published and well spoken. She could take pause, riff on a thought and dive back in. I was the hack, still trying to figure out what I was doing. We were a great double-bill and for me it was both a comfort and an honor. She told me I was a good writer. It meant a lot to me and always will. Then the phone rang and she was gone.

Looking back there’s so much to think about. The smile and the encouragement, the sharp, funny and often loving words of a gifted writer and friend—all the great work that was still to come.

When I spot Maggie across the room again I’ll say, “Hey.” She’ll laugh and send it back at me. I’ll be smiling. The beat goes on.

Richard Boch 2.13.14

Richard Boch remembers the No Wave era

"The End" by Pat Place

Richard Boch, 1979

Friend Richard Boch, who currently is working on a memoir of his time as the door man of the Mudd Club, wrote a nice article for the Poughkeepsie Journal about the late 70's in downtown NYC. Some of his art, along with pieces by Bob Bert, Pat Place, and photos by Godlis & Marcia Resnick, are currently on display at Ai Earthling Gallery in Woodstock, NY, entitled No Wave Heroes through January 12.

New York City, 1978 — the streets were dark but the noise was deafening. I was out every night, far from the sidelines where I once stood, and moving toward the heart of what was happening.

When CBGB, the birthplace of punk, ushered in the sea change a few years earlier, I cheered as Patti Smith and the Ramones — radical and on fire — came out swinging. Boundaries undefined, they opened the door for no wave’s primal scream. Lydia Lunch grabbed a microphone and her band, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, let loose a disjointed urban mashup of sound; James Chance and the Contortions — saxophone and vocals wailing away, Pat Place’s guitar tearing right through the middle. Arto Lindsay’s band DNA was a pounding, frenzied scream and cry. Boris Policeband followed up with a sonic assault on violin and transistor radio, taking pride in his ability to clear the room.

In the spring of 1978 musician and superman Brian Eno stepped in and tried to produce and define the no wave sound before the next fire started. A few months later, Steve Mass opened the Mudd Club on White Street and gave everyone a place to call home. Continued here.

"Cookie Mueller" by Bob Bert, 1985

Five by Five: Year End Favorites, Part 1

I put out the call to some friends for a simple list of five favorites from the year...anything: events, concerts, recordings, personal moments, whatever. The title is in honor of the first responder, Andrew Loog Oldham, being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A big congratulations to him! This is the first of three installments.

ALO by Ambrea Dean

Andrew Loog Oldham -

1. Shambhala Mountain Center. "Chi-Gung, meditation, 12-step seminar," December 5th-8th MM13 with Kevin Griffin & Greg Pergament.

2. Re-watching Lou Reed's BERLIN directed by Julian Schnabel

3. Catching the hype as opposed to the content of David Bowie's THE NEXT DAY

4. Catching, finally, Wayne Wang's SMOKE with Harvey Keitel & William Hurt

5. HOUSE OF CARDS w/Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright...

RB, Mudd, 1979

Richard Boch - Top 5 Meals at Dave's Luncheonette, Canal Street NYC 1979-80:

5. Eggs Over, Potatoes, White Toast, Extra Grease

4. Eggs Over, Potatoes, White Toast, Extra Grease, Coffee

3. Hot Dog with Mustard To Go

2. Hot Dog with Mustard, Onions, Sauerkraut To Go

1. Two Hot Dogs with Mustard, Onions, Sauerkraut and a Vanilla Egg-cream ~ the second Dog eaten on the front steps of the Mudd Club

Delphine Blue - Top 5 Non-Brooklyn events:

Delphine at by Janette Beckman

Mark & Cetera, Santo's Party House, 4/17/13 - Mark Kamins' sudden passing in February knocked the club music world on its ass. The party to celebrate him was an ecstatic night featuring 19 DJs and the first performance by Konk since 1986, not to mention Coati Mundi, Johnny Dynell, Lady Miss Kier and many others. Everyone swore they saw Mark in the crowd, more than once....

The Clocktower closing party 11/23/13 - Our out-going Mayor sells the municipal building known as The Clocktower (designed by Stanford White), home to the Clocktower Gallery since 1973 and Art on Air Internet Radio. Before its conversion to condos the farewell party was an orgy of art and music and an amazingly cool looking crowd. Alanna Heiss who ran this little arts mecca made her farewell toast on the spiral staircase to the clock. The party featured a sunset dance on the roof by legendary Butoh dancer Min Tanaka.

Lou Reed Memorial, Apollo Theater 12/16/13 - A beautiful touching, intimate, and at times very funny memorial designed by Laurie Anderson featuring Lou's tai chi master Ren Guangyi as well as Hal Willner, Jenni Muldaur, Philip Glass, Emily Haines, Patti Smith etc. plus amazing film clips. Everyone floated out the door when it ended, entirely uplifted.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Beacon Theater 3/29-3/30 - So intensely amazing that I only went one night. To see it a second night might have lead to a sensory overdose.

Peter Hook and The Light Webster Hall, 9/13/13 - The infamous feud between the original members of New Order prevented fans from seeing all the players together. New Order played outdoors in Brooklyn on 7/24/13 bringing fans a lot of joy. But Peter Hook has been touring Joy Division's albums with his own band since 2010. This show featured the entire New Order albums Movement and Power Corruption and Lies. There was a lot of 'fuck you, here's how we do it' making for a blisteringly hot performance.

Kate With Bob Marley

Kate Simon - Here are 5 showbiz biographies that filled me with joy:

Under a Hoodoo Moon: The Life of the Night Tripper

by Mac Rebennack & Jack Rummel

Rage To Survive: The Etta James Story

by David Ritz & Etta James

Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra

by George Jacobs & William Stadiem

The Peter Lawford Story: Life With the Kennedys, Monroe and the Rat Pack

by Patricia Seaton Lawford

Lucky Me: My Life With and Without My Mom, Shirley MacLaine

by Sachi Parker & Frederick Stroppel

Laura self-portrait

Laura Levine

May 1

September 26

February 20

March 14

August 2

Now on in Woodstock NY, opening party Saturday with Bob Bert, Pat Place, Richard Boch & Tommy Turner

Cookie Mueller by Bob Bert

Now on at the Ai Earthling Gallery in Woodstock, NY, there will be an opening party at the gallery on Saturday, 10/5, for the show No Wave Heroes. The show features the pop art of Bob Bert, conceptual photography of Pat Place, mixed media collage on manuscript paper edited from Richard Boch's forthcoming book about life downtown circa late 70's/early 80's with the Mudd Club at the heart of the scene, and films by Tommy Turner.

Do some Nightclubbing: Friday night in Williamsburg

A Throwback Thrown Forward: Art by Richard Boch exhibit opening Sept. 7 in Hudson NY

The Mudd Club: Under Construction this Thursday evening

A long nights' journey into day: Richard Boch, circa 1980

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Works In Progress (and other adventures)

Readings by Richard Boch & Maggie Estep

 

Our good friend, Richard Boch, will be reading from his in-progress manuscript: 

If You've Been Standing Here For More Than Ten Minutes: A Mudd Club Memoir 1979-1980

The program starts at 8PM sharp

 

The Gershwin Hotel

7 East 27th Street NYC

Thursday November 8 at 8PM