Paul Gorman is…

Bizarre semi-naked woodland Mr Freedom shoot, I was a TV, Edward Bell’s ‘The Queen Of Clapham’… Inside the infamous Curious magazine featuring David Bowie + Freddie Burretti on its cover

Dec 4th, 2019

//Cover, Curious issue 19, 1971. Photography: Brian Ward. No reproduction without permission.This copy: Paul Gorman Archive//

//Opening spread The Queen Of Clapham. Photography: Edward Bell. No reproduction without permission//

//From The Cool Kilt vs The Hot Pant. Photographer not credited. No reproduction without permission//

//Opening spread I Was A TV. Photographer not credited. No reproduction without permission//

The British sex magazine Curious was well-named: for the duration of its near-decade long run from the late 1960s it was indeed a curiosity.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A solid testament: David Bowie A Life by Dylan Jones

Oct 3rd, 2017

In contrast to Unmade Up, Edward Bell’s light-touch but nonetheless deeply personal memoir of David Bowie recently reviewed here, Dylan Jones’ A Life is a weighty, text-heavy tome, with hundreds of contributors packed into its unillustrated 560 pages.

And that’s fine; Jones’ choice of the oral history format maintains the pace as his subject transitions from humble ‘Bromley Dave’ into the superstar whose work continues to beguile and bewitch.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , ,

Unmade Up… Enlightening vignettes from Edward Bell’s unusual acquaintance with David Bowie

Sep 26th, 2017

//When they met, Bowie was scrutinising this portrait of Sex, Seditionaries and Jubilee superstar Jordan Mooney at Bell’s exhibition Larger Than Life//

“I, too, had to maintain a certain degree of detachment, and indeed to want and expect nothing of him; the paradox will always remain that, if David Bowie had not been David Bowie, then David Bowie and I could have been friends.”

Edward Bell, 2017

Edward Bell first encountered David Bowie when the rock chameleon turned up unexpectedly at a private view for the British visual artist’s first exhibition in 1980.

They last spoke in 2013, a few years before the musician/performer’s untimely demise. In the intervening period Bell and Bowie hung out in London, Venice and Los Angeles, collaborated on record sleeve projects and maintained sometimes sporadic contact, via a Swiss letter drop address and out-of-the-blue phone calls.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Paul Gorman is a writer. This is his blog:
art, books, conversation, cults, dancing, design, encounters, environments, events, film, galleries, groups, individuals, invitations, magazines, music, opinions, performance, photography, places, press, privacy, spaces, style, thoughts + views.










Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

***
***
***
***
***

© 2009 Paul Gorman is…. All Rights Reserved.

This blog is powered by Wordpress and Magatheme by Bryan Helmig.

Which UK online casinos still take Zimpler in 2026? Our editor-reviewed guide covers real Zimpler casino sites, deposit mechanics, withdrawal speeds, alternatives and safety. read the full Zimpler UK casino guide

A practical 2026 UK guide to non-GamStop casinos: licensing, safety, game selection, payment speed, and a comparison of real brands accepting UK players outside GamStop. read the full non-GamStop UK guide

Chicken Road is a crash-style casino game where a chicken crosses a road and the multiplier climbs until a car hits. This guide covers the best UK-friendly casinos offering Chicken Road in 2026, game mechanics, legal status, bonuses, and safe play advice. read the complete Chicken Road casino guide

Everything UK players need to know about crash casino games in 2026 – top real-money sites, rules, strategy, legality, and responsible gambling. read our crash casino game UK guide

A no-nonsense guide to playing Evolution's Crazy Time in the UK in 2026: top casinos, bonuses, strategy, odds, and where to find the game. read the Crazy Time UK guide