Glenn O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Glenn O'Brien is primarily a writer, largely on the subjects of art, music and fashion. He's featured as "The Style Guy" at GQ magazine
, and has published a book with that title.
He has worked as an editor at a number of publications, and published the arts and literature magazine Bald Ego from 2003-2005.
In his early years he was a member of Andy Warhol's Factory
.
He was a music critic for the Andy Warhol
publication Interview
in the punk
era, with the column "Glenn O'Brien's Beat".
In 1980-1981, he wrote the screenplay (which he also co-produced with Patrick Montgomery) for a film to be called New York Beat, starring Jean Michel Basquiat (The film was only released in 2000, as "Downtown 81
"), with post-production managed by O'Brien and Maripol
.
In the late 70's, O'Brien coined the now popular title "Editor-at-Large" after briefly being made Editor-In-Chief of High Times Magazine. Not wanting to work at the magazine office full time, the title was an inside joke, apparently a reference to the FBI's Most Wanted posters, as many criminals were tagged Status: at-large.
From 1978 to 1982, Glenn O'Brien hosted a New York city Public-access television
cable TV show called "TV Party
," which featured such then underground figures as David Byrne
, Klaus Nomi
, August Darnell, Fab 5 Freddy, Jean-Michel Basquiat
, Cookie Mueller
, John Fekner
, Amos Poe
, and bands like Blondie
, The Clash
, DNA
, and The Fleshtones
.
After leaving "TV Party
" in addition to continuing his writing career, he attempted a stint as a stand up comedian, and was a contributing editor of Allure
, Harper's Bazaar, and Creative Director of advertising at Barneys New York
. For 10 years, he wrote a monthly column for ArtForum Magazine. He edited Madonna's Sex
.
In January 2008 he was named Editorial Director of Brant Publications, which includes Interview Magazine as well as Art in America
and Antiques
. In June 2009 it was announced that he had left his position with Brant Publications.
He has lent his collection of early Jean-Michel Basquiat
works to various exhibitions, including Deitch Projects
, and is a co-author of a major work on the artist.
On February 17, 2009, Glenn was named one of Top 10 Most Stylish Men in America by GQ Magazine.
GQ (magazine)
GQ is a monthly men's magazine focusing on fashion, style, and culture for men, through articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, travel, sports, technology, and books...
, and has published a book with that title.
He has worked as an editor at a number of publications, and published the arts and literature magazine Bald Ego from 2003-2005.
In his early years he was a member of Andy Warhol's Factory
The Factory
The Factory was Andy Warhol's original New York City studio from 1962 to 1968, although his later studios were known as The Factory as well. The Factory was located on the fifth floor at 231 East 47th Street, in Midtown Manhattan. The rent was "only about one hundred dollars a year"...
.
He was a music critic for the Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
publication Interview
Interview (magazine)
Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...
in the punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
era, with the column "Glenn O'Brien's Beat".
In 1980-1981, he wrote the screenplay (which he also co-produced with Patrick Montgomery) for a film to be called New York Beat, starring Jean Michel Basquiat (The film was only released in 2000, as "Downtown 81
Downtown 81
Downtown 81 is a film that was shot in 1980-1981.This film, directed by Edo Bertoglio, written and produced by Glenn O'Brien with post-production in 1999-2000 by Maripol, is a rare real-life snapshot of ultra-hip subculture of post-punk era Manhattan...
"), with post-production managed by O'Brien and Maripol
Maripol
Maripol was brought up in France before moving to New York, USA in 1976. She is an artist, film producer, fashion designer and stylist who has had an influence on the looks of many influential artists, including Grace Jones, Deborah Harry, and Madonna. Maripol is also a Polaroid artist...
.
In the late 70's, O'Brien coined the now popular title "Editor-at-Large" after briefly being made Editor-In-Chief of High Times Magazine. Not wanting to work at the magazine office full time, the title was an inside joke, apparently a reference to the FBI's Most Wanted posters, as many criminals were tagged Status: at-large.
From 1978 to 1982, Glenn O'Brien hosted a New York city Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV show called "TV Party
TV Party
TV Party was a Public-access television cable TV show in New York City that ran from 1978 to 1982. Glenn O'Brien was the host. Chris Stein, co-founder of the pop band Blondie, was the co-host and Walter "Doc" Steding was the leader of the TV Party orchestra. Amos Poe was the director...
," which featured such then underground figures as David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
, Klaus Nomi
Klaus Nomi
Klaus Sperber , better known as Klaus Nomi, was a German countertenor noted for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona....
, August Darnell, Fab 5 Freddy, Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist. His career in art began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, and in the 1980s produced Neo-expressionist painting.-Early life:...
, Cookie Mueller
Cookie Mueller
Dorothy Karen "Cookie" Mueller was an underground American actress, writer and Dreamlander, who starred in many of filmmaker John Waters' early films, including Multiple Maniacs,...
, John Fekner
John Fekner
John Fekner is an innovative artist who created hundreds of environmental and conceptual outdoor works consisting of stenciled words, symbols, dates and icons spray painted in New York, Sweden, Canada, England and Germany in the 70s and 80s...
, Amos Poe
Amos Poe
Amos Poe is a New York City director and screenwriter, described by The New York Times as a "pioneering indie filmmaker."-Career:Amos Poe is one of the first punk filmmakers and his film The Blank Generation —co-directed with Ivan Kral— is one of the earliest punk films...
, and bands like Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, DNA
DNA (band)
DNA was a No Wave band formed in 1978 by guitarist Arto Lindsay and keyboardist Robin Crutchfield. Rather than playing their instruments in a traditional manner, they instead focused on making unique and unusual sounds...
, and The Fleshtones
The Fleshtones
The Fleshtones are an American garage rock band from Queens, New York formed in 1976.- 1976-1979 :The Fleshtones were formed in 1976 in Whitestone, New York by Keith Streng and Marek Pakulski The Fleshtones are an American garage rock band from Queens, New York formed in 1976.- 1976-1979 :The...
.
After leaving "TV Party
TV Party
TV Party was a Public-access television cable TV show in New York City that ran from 1978 to 1982. Glenn O'Brien was the host. Chris Stein, co-founder of the pop band Blondie, was the co-host and Walter "Doc" Steding was the leader of the TV Party orchestra. Amos Poe was the director...
" in addition to continuing his writing career, he attempted a stint as a stand up comedian, and was a contributing editor of Allure
Allure (magazine)
Allure is the leading U.S. women’s beauty magazine, published monthly by Condé Nast in New York City. It was founded in 1991 by editor in chief Linda Wells, who has been at the helm of the magazine ever since. From its inception, the magazine has been widely recognized for its intelligent,...
, Harper's Bazaar, and Creative Director of advertising at Barneys New York
Barneys New York
Barneys New York is a chain of luxury department stores headquartered in New York City. The chain owns large stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale, and smaller stores in other locations across the United States.Brands sold include...
. For 10 years, he wrote a monthly column for ArtForum Magazine. He edited Madonna's Sex
Sex (book)
Sex is a coffee table book written by Madonna with photographs by Steven Meisel Studio and film frames taken from film shot by Fabien Baron. The book was edited by Glenn O'Brien. Sex was released on October 21, 1992 by Warner Books...
.
In January 2008 he was named Editorial Director of Brant Publications, which includes Interview Magazine as well as Art in America
Art in America
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It is designed for collectors, artists, dealers, art professionals and other...
and Antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
. In June 2009 it was announced that he had left his position with Brant Publications.
He has lent his collection of early Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist. His career in art began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, and in the 1980s produced Neo-expressionist painting.-Early life:...
works to various exhibitions, including Deitch Projects
Deitch Projects
Deitch Projects was a contemporary art gallery in New York City founded by Jeffrey Deitch.-History:Since opening with a performance by Vanessa Beecroft in February 1996, the gallery has presented nearly one hundred and eighteen solo exhibitions and projects, ten thematic exhibitions, and a few...
, and is a co-author of a major work on the artist.
On February 17, 2009, Glenn was named one of Top 10 Most Stylish Men in America by GQ Magazine.