I recently started a newsletter called Love Letters During A Nightmare about all the things I adore. Essentially it’s my musings on women, surrealism, Women Surrealists, and pop culture, usually fortnightly. If you missed it, the first post was on Dorothea Tanning, Eve Babitz, Chess, and The Queen’s Gambit. You can read it here:
Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning play chess in a picture frame. Photo: Bob Towers, Sedona, Arizona (1948).
On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone.”
Happy Birthday to the brilliant and tragic Janis Joplin.
Photo by David Gahr, 1968.
I recently made my Crime Reads debut with a piece on the wonderful Hollywoodland. Please read and hope you enjoy!
“People always say, ‘But you always look so happy.’ Well that’s Botox!”
Happy Birthday to the iconic Dolly Parton.
I have started a Substack, which is maybe counterintuitive to having a blog, but I guess we are all more inclined to click a newsletter in out inbox than to read a blog post on here. Or not? Maybe some of you are getting this via your email accounts now — who’s to say?
It’s a ploy to organise all the thoughts I have been having this year, of a variety of subjects, and have them out to readers in short posts faster than I can log on here.
I’ll endeavour to cross post, but should you wish to subscribe, you can find the latest products of my ever sporadic ramblings and workings of my inner cogs over at my Dream Palace — please sign up if you’re so inclined. Or maybe not. No pressure. Maybe you’re not reading this at all?
Joan Crawford by Everett, 1956.
For Magnum On Set I wrote about Dennis Stock’s photographs of Grace Kelly and the filming of High Society:
Dennis Stock Grace Kelly in her dressing room trailer during the making of the film ” High Society” directed by Charles Walters. Hollywood. USA. 1956. © Dennis Stock | Magnum Photos
I had the great pleasure of interviewing the iconic photographer Elliott Landy for Magnum Photos: (click to read!)
Elliott Landy Janis Joplin, Big Brother and The Holding Company. Joshua Light Show, Anderson Theater. New York City. USA. 1968. © Elliott Landy | Magnum Photos
August was hot. Work was slow. I took a week mid-month and devoured book after book. Six in two weeks, sometimes one per day, which is a record for me. Here is what I read, mostly music-oriented books; if you know me and my interests, you’ll understand.
Three years ago, we lost a screaming angel.
He had that voice, a voice that could tear you apart while comforting you at the same time.
Seeing Linkin Park for the first time, on MTV in 2000, it was impossible not to be floored by the gentle-looking blonde boy infusing his lyrics with all the pain he had endured, and would continue to endure throughout his life. A talented, young, brilliant musician. A tragic, heart-wrenching death.
RIP Chester, you are so very missed.
