Thursday 22 November 2007

xoxo EDWIGE xoxo

(1978)

Edwige Belmore got a mention in a previous post about the uniquely brilliant GLU magazine and after stumbling upon her blog it seemed as good a time as any to take a close look at this punk legend. Any attempt to describe her seemed weak in comparison to her self-penned bio so I'll let the lady speak for (albeit in the third person) herself....

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1977.PARIS IS PUNK... The scene explodes, the bands go wild. Edwige throws herself into the fray, briefly joining LUV, the legendary girl group. That same year, she marries Jean Louis Jorge, Dominican filmmaker, She is crowned "Queen of Punks" after appearing on the cover of Façade with Andy Warhol, "The Pope of Pop," with whom she makes her first trip to New York. He mentions her in his Diaries, photographs her, takes her to Studio 54 and the Mudd Club where she meets the elite of the NY underground: Maripol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, the punk and No Wave groups.

Edwige & Maripol (NYC 1978)
On Edwige’s return to Paris, Fabrice Aymer offered her the door at the Palace for its opening in '78. Edwige was photographed by Helmut Newton, Mondino, Pierre and Gilles, among others; she walked the runway for Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. In 1979, Claude Arto approached her and together they formed "Mathématiques Modernes." Their single "Disco Rough," produced by Jacno, came out in 1980 and was NME's "single of the week." Album art was by Pierre & Gilles. The album "Visiteurs du Soir" followed in 1982
She appeared in various movies, most fun she says was Phillipe Gautier's "La marque du destin" with pascal Gregory. Throughout the 80s Edwige was back-and forth from New York to Paris. In NY she sang with Robert Arron and promoted several nights at Area, Danceteria, and the Palladium. She had her own nights, "the beat cocktail lounge," and "the Lazy Lounge." In Paris she continued to record and sing at the Bains with yet another group "Jungle Geisha" (she sang and played sax.) She played in Eric Mitchell's "the way it is" with Vince Gallo, and starred in "Because the Dawn" a short film by Amy Goldstein, which received a prize at the SF Film Fest.

In 1987 the night darkened... Edwige left for a Hindu ashram for several years. Back in force in the 90s she began to sing again She returned to nightlife with parties at Tunnel and Life, and she sang at Bard'O with the legendary Joey Arias. With Erich Conrad she started the famous party Beige, which is still going strong. Edwige Belmore doesn't work in nightclubs anymore, sings occasionally, works on set decors (TV, music videos, commercials and special events) and lives happily in Brooklyn.

All Images & Text:
http://www.discorough.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/edwigebelmore

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