Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Nancy Spungen 30 years later


New York magazine has this feature this week:

The Day Punk Died
Thirty years ago this month, the death of Nancy (of Sid &) effectively ended New York’s early punk scene. It’s been easy to hate her since — maybe too easy


In the article, Karen Schoemer speaks with Legs McNeil, among others. She interviews him at the Yaffa Cafe. I love how the article ends:

Legs McNeil doesn’t live in New York City anymore. He bought a house in rural Pennsylvania and doesn’t relish his return visits. He’s now a recovered alcoholic wearing a black Hawaiian shirt decorated with pictures of exotic cocktails and pegged black jeans 30 years out of fashion. He wants his old New York. He glances at a girl in slutty Sex and the City clothes that aren’t slutty anymore, talking on her cell phone while her dining companion gazes patiently into space. The sight brings out a little of his old fire. “I don’t know who the fuck they’re talking to,” he sneers. “Are they talking to other people in restaurants eating breakfast?” Where’s Nancy when you need her? She would have hated it here. She wouldn’t have lasted a minute.


Here's the Sid and Nancy heroin interview from the punk documentary D.O.A.

4 comments:

Syd The Squid said...

holy shit!... my block doesn't exist anymore... (Ludlow btw Houston & Stanton)... even your post has gone!!!... Mxxx

Anonymous said...

Yes! Apologies! Technical difficulties...the post will be back...Not so sure about Ludlow Street, though!

boweryboogie said...

His book Please Kill Me is an awesome chronicle of punk. Recommended if you haven't read.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, BB...Agreed!