Living with Legends

Australian writer Robert J. Shaw (aka Cherry Ramone) was taken to see Paul Morrissey’s Flesh at age 14, when even he knew he was too young.  Corrupted so early in life, is it any wonder he’s spent a lifetime studying all things Warhol?  “I spent six hours at MOMA today,” Robert says as soon as he steps into our room.  Three in front of Warhol’s gold Marilyn.  Until they chased me away!”  Robert remembers where he was when he heard the news of Andy’s passing.  Sadly, however, Robert will miss the 20^th Anniversary of Andy’s death—today—as he will be on a plane back to Australia and will cross the international date line.  But it’s no big deal in the grand scheme of things: there are many more anniversaries to come, as Andy will live forever.

What do you do back in Australia? I’m a writer/journalist in the fields of pop culture and Australian history. I specialize in the Australian Federation, the Constitutional Era, and in comparative constitutional studies. [Editor’s note: More importantly, Robert also specializes in Andy Warhol, and he’s contributed much on the subject to our blog. We will try to limit further discussion of the Australian constitution.]

What brought you to NY? The Hotel Chelsea, art, people, pizza. My favorite pizza place is 33 down the street by the movie theatre. What do you love about the Chelsea? It represents a cultural history that I love. And the people are fantastic. The hotel is relaxed and has lots of art. And I like to see good New York friends again. I’m addicted to the Hotel Chelsea.

Do you know of any of the Australian artists associated with the hotel? Yeah, one of my favorite Australian artists with a Chelsea connection is Brett Whiteley. His daughter Arkie grew up here. I met Arkie in a dark corner of a nightclub, and we had a relationship until she died. I still maintain contact with Brett’s widow. My favorite happy story about Arkie is sitting on the lawn and talking at the Lavender Bay House. Brett always painted that house and he loved to paint the view of the harbor. I suppose I should also mention Vali Myers. It’s nice to walk in her footsteps. I recently went to see Brett’s sculpture behind the gallery of New South Wales. It’s the matches: one ready to burn and one burned out. I tried to photograph them but one of the matches had been removed for repairs. The burned one. They had previously been ravaged by cockatoos. I know that sounds very Australian.

Has the Chelsea changed since the last time you were here a few years back? It’s quieter. And one elevator is closer to being renovated. It’s really more the neighborhood that’s changing around it. And I’ve changed a lot too.

Have any of your favorite places closed? HoJos on Times Square. I’m also sad that I have to miss the screening of Chelsea Girls on Wednesday.

How did you develop an interest in the Warhol crowd? I was taken to see Morrissey’s FLESH when I was way too young. Soon after that I saw an exhibition at New South Wales of “Orange Disaster” (which is a silkscreen of an electric chair) and it was a spiritual experience. It moved me like no other art work I’ve ever seen. After that I read From A to B and Back Again: The Philosophy of Andy Warhol. I also found a rare first edition of Jean Stein’s Edie book. This was when I was about 14 in the early 1980s. Too young to be seeing FLESH. The Morrissey movie was a very confronting experience at that age. It was very in your face and I wasn’t ready for it. I ended up growing up with Joe Dellasandro in Hustler as a sexual archetype.

Does Your mother read the blog? Yes, she follows the HC blog so she’ll know what I’m talking about all of the time.

Who’s your Favorite superstar? Brigid Berlin, for her strength of personality and the loyalty she showed to Andy. I adore Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling and Holly Woodlawn as well. Read the Craig Highberger bio of Jackie Curtis. Craig is a really good guy. He set me up to meet Holly on Monday and said to give her a kiss from him. [Editor’s note: Holly was, unfortunately, a no-show. The event was in the Gershwin Hotel, however–that pale imitation of the Chelsea–so who can really blame her?]

What do you think of Nico? Never interested me. Second runner to Edie. Although I applaud the Velvet Underground.

What’s your favorite Chelsea Girls scene? Two of the most notable moments for me are Brigid Berlin shooting up and Nico crying. I saw Nico in Bryon Bay shortly before she died. She was a wasted remnant of herself.

What do you think about Sid and Nancy? I love sex pistols and what McLaren did, but I resent the fact that Sid & Nancy overshadow this Hotel so much. It gets under my skin. This is the first time I’ve had the guts to stop on their floor. Senseless nihilism is contrary to what punk is about.

What does punk mean to you? Willfully standing on the outside of the mainstream and throwing rocks at it. Being true to yourself. And wearing good Vivienne Westwood clothes. I consider my punk identify more central than my gay identity. This is a line that pisses people off. Both gay and punk people. Have you seen the new Vivienne Westwood store on 18th? No, but I’m off right now! Keep my credit card for me. Vivienne is very subversive. She’s one of the absolute heroes of the first wave of punk. Vivienne and Malcolm stayed here at the Chelsea on their first trip to New York and signed up The Dolls. This was well before the Sex Pistols.

Any recommendations for a good gay bar? Easy pickups at Rawhide on 8th. Try to catch Mimi Imfurst, a fabulous up and coming drag queen.

Have you encountered any ghosts during your stay here? The elevator made an unscheduled stop on the first floor for Nancy to hop on and scare this catholic boy. I don’t part with my rosary while I’m in this building. There were no creepy noises at night, but bloody noisy neighbors. And the electric sockets make a sizzling, crackling noise. I’ll probably be electrocuted. When we were in the basement looking for a chair I really felt there was a dark presence down there and I was keen to get out. None of the ghosts up here bother me. I’ve not sensed anything in the lobby at all. It’s too busy, too much of a public space. But I really don’t like the first floor at all.

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you here? I’ve gotten to know myself a lot better and met some wonderful people. I feel validated here. Whereas at home I feel like a real oddball, here I blend in. This is truly the only place in the world I’ve felt a real sense of belonging.

What do you feel about the people who check into the hotel to kill themselves? I can understand how they feel, since I often think I’d like to have my ashes scattered here. Still, I wish people wouldn’t do that.

What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you here? Having to pack up and leave. And chairs collapsing under me! Not getting my favorite room on this visit. Worst of all, I haven’t seen Stanley yet. I want a 10% discount on my bill because I haven’t been able to experience Stanley’s grumpiness. Jerry is much too cheerful.

How do you like the pink cupcake across the street? A disaster. Not even good kitsch. It should be pulled down and posted to Las Vegas. By the way, I’m intimidated by the size of American food. Do you think the Chelsea has a creative spirit? Absolutely, beyond doubt. It’s intangible, but it manifests itself in the way people interact. There’s always a feeling that something exciting is about to happen. All of the art about the place emboldens you to go ahead and do your thing as well.

How was your first experience with snow? I was praying, literally, to see snow in NY. On Tuesday night I saw my first flake on my glove in Times Square and looked at it in absolute wonderment. The next day there was an ice storm and I went out and walked around and got wet jeans and decided I’m glad to live in a Mediterranean climate. But Moma’s sculpture garden in the snow is absolutely beautiful. And to go out and be as miserable as everybody else made me feel like a real New Yorker. How will you celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Andy’s death? I won’t have it. I’ll be on a plane and I’ll cross the dateline and miss that day. It makes me a bit sad now that I think about it. I’ll drink a Coke and think about Andy’s famous quote about Coca Cola. I remember when I was in my shop cleaning up and I heard news of Andy’s death come over the radio. I screamed. I started crying and put a sign in the window saying closed out of respect for Andy Warhol. When my boss found out that I did this, I almost got sacked. I knew I would never meet Andy and because of that my life seemed just a little bit emptier.

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