I'll read anything by the late and great Glenn O'Brien. He wasn't the easiest writer to follow, since he moved around a lot from one publication to another, and had various positions in the commercial world for the fashion and magazine industry. I discovered him when he wrote his music column in Interview Magazine sometime in the 1970s. His wit and style came out when he wrote brief pieces on the bands that were performing in NYC during the height of the punk era. "How To Be a Man: A Guide To Style and Behavior for The Modern Gentleman" is his masterpiece.
On the surface, this is a guidebook for the guy who is trying to improve himself, but there is something textural in this book that goes very deep into one's consciousness. O'Brien wrote a column for GQ, and I suspect that this book is a collection of his writings from that publication. The interesting thing is that it starts off with the subject matter of what it is like to a male in the 21st century, but then goes off on different tangents regarding class, politics, and how one carries himself in a world that seems pointless at times. O'Brien makes sense of the chaos and gives advice in how one can handle themselves in this world of uncertainty.
O'Brien quotes Oscar Wilde (duh), Boris Vian, and various European and American authors, as well as dipping into the contemporary arts and music. His range of interest is endless, and his love for culture is like a bottomless well. It never ends. The book's format is tight chapters on specific subject matters. "Socks," "Underwear," Shirts, and so forth. It eventually springs to the topic of aging and death. Since O'Brien passed away recently, it is quite moving (and hysterical) to read these later chapters in this book. If one likes the essay writings of John Waters, then for sure, you will love Glenn O'Brien, and especially this book. Lots of good advice, but it is also a great way of spending time with a unique character.
Its not easy to find men of great taste, but as a teenager I was a huge fan of "Interview" magazine, not really because of Andy Warhol (who's pretty good), but the monthly writings of Glenn O'Brien and his column "Glenn O'Brien's Beat." I enjoyed his work because his take on music was super interesting to me at the time, and also he was a man who seemed to be well-read and knew culture from the bottom to the top.
Just recently I discovered his cable show from the 1970's "TV Party" which is an incredible snapshot of Manhattan being truly Manhattan.
First episode of Glenn O'Brien's "TV Party" (December 18, 1978)
TV Party "Halloween Show" (October 1979)
Survey of music guests on Glenn O'Brien's "TV Party" (with Blondie, Klaus, etc)
Jean-Michel Basquiat (SAMO) on Glenn O'Brien's "TV Party
O'Brien also wrote about the visual arts, and very recently on fashion. Again, it is his character that makes his work so appealing to me - and the fact that he's very good on the page.
Glenn O'Brien's interview regarding fashion and his book "How To Be A Man"
Glenn O'Brien on how to wear a pocket square
Interview with Glenn O'Brien
Here's a book review i did on his collection of essays: "Soapbox."
Whenever I see the name "Glenn O'Brien" in a magazine I usually buy that issue. I first discovered him during the highlight years of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. He always struck me at that time as the perfect Manhattan journalist. He had good music taste, loved the visual arts, and was super urban witty in that classic Algonquin Round Table mode. One would think he would know Dorothy Parker, but alas, different generation and perhaps taste.So what we have here are a collection of essays originally published in Interview and Artforum and other locations. They deal with big issues like gender, art, music, sports, and culture among other subject matters. But the genius of O'Brien is that he makes these subjects personal and he is also peppered the writing with his good nature. Christopher Hitchens without the emotional up and down, just straight forward clear thinking yet a touch odd point of the view look at the world. Also buying this book in the used section at the Strand made it kind of an essential type of purchase in New York City.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Whenever I see the name "Glenn O'Brien" in a magazine I usually buy that issue. I first discovered him during the highlight years of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. He always struck me at that time as the perfect Manhattan journalist. He had good music taste, loved the visual arts, and was super urban witty in that classic Algonquin Round Table mode. One would think he would know Dorothy Parker, but alas, different generation and perhaps taste.So what we have here are a collection of essays originally published in Interview and Artforum and other locations. They deal with big issues like gender, art, music, sports, and culture among other subject matters. But the genius of O'Brien is that he makes these subjects personal and he is also peppered the writing with his good nature. Christopher Hitchens without the emotional up and down, just straight forward clear thinking yet a touch odd point of the view look at the world. Also buying this book in the used section at the Strand made it kind of an essential type of purchase in New York City.
Spotlight on … Edouard Levé Suicide (2008) *
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*(restored) ‘It would be an interesting experiment to sit someone down in
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Happy Birthday Elliott Gould
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Happy Birthday to one of the all-time greats and one of the coolest of the
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