Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat
Thrift Shop, Armani Style

I had just introduced Madonna, who was not famous yet, to Jean-Michel at New York University’s Bowling Alley, in the Village. The bowling alley was a popular hang out on Monday nights and had a “retro rockabilly” feel to it. Our posse had more of a thrift shop Armani-style, a crossover Mudd Club punk genre with a Studio 54 arrogance. We flirted with danger by often visiting the Teddy-Boy crowd and their clubs. Some of the Teddy-Boys were actually very tough street fighters, which resulted in nightly brawls outside the bowling alley. We all knew most of them were just “posers” trying to hit on the cute women in their retro-bowling attire.

As the evening wore on, Madonna grabbed my hand and led me to a far corner just outside the men's room. She looked straight into my eyes and said how much she liked me and her lips headed towards mine. I was quite shocked by the way she kissed me with such passion. After about two minutes of gratuitous kissing and groping each other, I saw the men's room door open to reveal Kenny Compton, who had been Madonna's steady boyfriend for quite a while, frozen in astonishment at our actions. Kenny and I were always good friends and remain so to this day, but I will never forget the look on his face—probably exactly what Madonna had planned. She was quite the scene maker in those days, always pushing those around her to emotional extremes.


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