Bebe Buell Chit-Chats With PAPERMAG at the Prince Peter S/S 2011 Show
By Alex Catarinella
We knew we were in for a night of rock 'n' roll at Prince Peter's
"15 Minutes of Fame" S/S 2011 collection presentation/hot, sweaty mess
of a SoHo loft party last night, but chatting on a couch backstage with the
amazin Bebe Buell wasn't on the invite. Buell, mother d' Liv Tyler and '70s rock royalty, performed at the show, and while many party
monsters in their shredded studded skinnies and oversized,
safety-pinned graphic tees made their best rockstar-friendly efforts,
there was no comparison with the super-cool Buell. PAPERMAG chatted with her about fans who wear their underwear on their head, New York City back in the day and being in the right place at the right time. Incredible show! Have you been playing many lately?
We
just played this show in the Hamptons for Polo. We're on stage and they
were like going bat shit. It was hilarious. It was like a scene in Animal House
-- full-on Belushi. I'm singing away and all of a sudden, across the
dance floor, there was a guy that was like 6'4 with a pair of underwear on
his head. I mean, I'm telling you it was one of the wildest nights of
my life. You should have seen us walking in -- a rock 'n' roll band
walking into Polo. It was hilarious. The Hamptons know how to party!
I prefer the Jersey Shore. I'm not gonna lie.
How long have you lived in New York?
Since '72.
Was '70s nightlife as incredible as everyone claims?
It
was amazing. It was different than today. People got together to have
discussions. People got together to talk about art, to talk about
make-up, to talk about fashion, to talk about poetry, to talk about the
seams on a dress, to talk about art films, to talk about performances.
It was a different time. Discussion was very important. There's no more
discussion.
That's true. I received at least twenty emails while trying to enjoy myself tonight.
Back
in the old days, you had to wait. You had to run into somebody. If you
were in love, you'd sit by the phone and wait and wait. Sometimes not
-- sometimes they'd call too much. There weren't even answering machines in
the '70s so everything was done through osmosis or synchronicity. Or
just being at the right place at the right time. That's how you did it
back then, so you had to be pretty good. (laughs)
Where were your ultimate hang-outs?
Max's
Kansas City. That was my hang-out, my living room, the place I loved.
And CBGBs of course. And a place called Ashley's that was really fun.
We used to have parties like this a lot -- loft parties. I think that's
what Prince Peter tried to recreate tonight. (She looks at herself in
her mirror) Oh, I forgot how much eye makeup I have on. It's like
talking to Eartha Kitt here!
Your Comment
Posted at 2:01 on Sep 10, 2010
Love it! It's like overhearing a party conversation - you want more!
Posted at 12:20 on Sep 10, 2010
I love Bebe Buell. She is a treasure to us New Yorkers. It is so good to see the "kids" know her importance and covet her as their own.
She belongs to Rock & Roll, the New York, the fashion and the underground. Rock on Bebe!
Posted at 3:25 on Sep 10, 2010
Bebe Lit Up The Room Then Burnt It Down ...
Posted at 8:08 on Sep 11, 2010
i live for bebe! a remarkable, kick ass lady!