For the promotion of my book, “John Lennon, The New York Years” and my new DVD of the New York Dolls “All Dolled Up” I went to Berlin and Tokyo in the Fall and then I was in Utah, Sao Paulo and London during the winter. See below for an update of recents events.
Nov 18 - Berlin - The central branch of the Berlin Public Library put up a large exhibition of my John Lennon photos and I gave a talk there in early November.
Nov 17 - Berlin - I was in Berlin to meet and talk to the press to promote the German language edition of my book. I did non-stop interviews in person and on the phone and on TV. I like this photo by Hanna Toresson.
Nov 19 - Berlin - Oliver Schwartzkopf introduced me at the opening of my exhibition at his new "Berlin Rock Photo Gallery".
Dec 1 - Tokyo - My first stop in Tokyo was at the Armed Forces Network radio station for an interview with Vargas and the Gunny on the Rock of Ages.
Dec 2 - Tokyo - Bruce Palmer is the director of the Morrison Hotel Gallery branch in Tokyo and organized an exhibition of my photos there.
Dec 6 - Tokyo - At the opening of the exhibition my old friend Yuki Taira came to say hi, and helped me get to the Tokyo hotspots again.
Dec 6 - Shinjuku, Japan - Rockers Sheena and Makoto of Sheena and the Rokkets relax with the good music played by DJ Sushi at the Creation bar in Shinjuku.
I met the the "Silver Beats" at the Cavern Club in Tokyo when their friend Takae invited me. They were really fun.
Dec 8 - Tokyo - Japanese Rock film and Rock Star Yuya Uchida spoke at a memorial for John Lennon on Dec. 8th. Yuya's band opened for the Beatles when they played at the Budokan in Tokyo in the '60s and he became a good friend of John's.
I spoke at the memorial for John Lennnon in Tokyo and backstage I was greeted by old friends. Above in the front row are film producer Kaz Kuzui, his wife (and my high school buddy) film director Fran Kuzui and Yuya Uchida, in the second row I'm standing with actor/rock star Diamond Yuki, Beatles fan club head Tetsuo Hamada, model/DJ Yoko Ayukwa with her parents Sheena and Makoto.
Dec 14 - NYC - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame DJ Meg Griffin interviewed me on her show on Sirius Satellite Radio. You can hear her every day on Sirius Disorder Channel 24.
Dec 17 - NYC - When the DVD of my vintage New York Dolls videotapes "All Dolled Up" was released in December we had a party at Manitoba's bar on Ave B in NY. At the party with me are New York Doll Sylvain Sylvain, Little Steven and Lenny Kaye.
At the "All Dolled Up" release party I thanked DVD's producers Ed Seaman and Rick Fuller for doing such a good job. Check out the disc to see for yourself.
Dec 18 - NYC - It's not Christmas in New York until you see Ronnie Spector sing "White Christmas". This year she was at BB Kings Club and she was, well, Spectacular!
Dec 31 - NYC - We rang in the New Year at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square with the New York Dolls.
The New Year's Eve show was a live broadcast of Little Steven's Underground Garage. He sure knows how to have fun!
Jan 19 - NYC - Lou Reed exhibited some of his recent photographs with a party at the Hermes store on Madison Ave. in New York and David Bowie came to congratulate him.
Jan 25 - Park City, UT - At the Sundance Film festival my friend Fran Kuzui moderated a panel discussion that included left, actresses Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Memoirs of a Geisha) and middle is Yunjin Kim (Lost TV series).
Feb 9 - Sao Paulo - Brazilian Rocker Supla is helping to organize an exhibition of my photos in Sao Paulo at the FAAP university. I went to talk to them about the exhibit scheduled for Spring 2007, and while I was there took photos of Supla for his new CD.
Feb 17 - NYC - My son Kris Gruen played a show at Joe's pub in New York to call attention to his new CD "Lullaby School". I highly recommend giving it a listen.
March 8 - London - Selfridges Dept. store in London held a celebration for the 30th year of Punk Rock. Michael, owner of the major artist hangout Colony Bar set up a small version for the event.
Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols and I join Alannah Weston, the force behind the Selfridges exhibition. I was there to show my photos of the early days of Punk and to give a talk. They also had screenings of my DVD "All Dolled Up", Don Letts' film "Punk Attitude" and Julien Temple's "The Filth and the Fury"
March 11 - London - Malcolm McLaren was a featured speaker at the Selfridges event. He told of his early days and how he came to the music business.
March 13 - NYC - Blondie was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Some original members were miffed as Debbie did a set with the new linup. The Sex Pistols were also inducted but didn't show up.
March 15 - NYC - Caroline Taucher, known around New York as "the Finn" played in March at CBGB. It was a great showcase of the songs she has been recording recently.
March 16 - NYC - The Pogues played a reunion with their original lineup and a standing Shane MacGowan at the Nokia Theater on Saint Patrick's Day.
March 18 - NYC - Julien Temple came to New York working on a documentary film about Joe Strummer. He filmed many of Joe's friends (me included) talking around a campfire under the Brooklyn Bridge.
In the trailer warming up between interviews are Jim Jarmusch, Josh Cheuse and Julien Temple. Julien will be filming in London and Los Angeles as well. Look for the film to be out next year.
March 23 - NYC - The New York Dolls were visited by Blues legend Hubert Sumlin at the John Varvatos party for his new sneaker line.