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Clown Prince?

There's an article about Dean in the new Radar Magazine. I can't link to the article online (www.radarmagazine.com) but the print copy is on the stands. Beth, do you want me to grab you one?


Private Lives
The Last Days of Big Red
Dean Johnson survived HIV, heroin, and two decades as the clown prince of New York's downtown demimonde. Then one day he turned up dead in D.C.

By Frank Owen

Can't wait to read the article - old issues still on some stands, heard there's a big pile at Gem Spa.

Just letting musicboy212003 and other "Jeremy people" know that I have moved memorial posts and pictures of Jeremy to his own topic here in The Endless Night. I have left topics that discuss both deaths here, to preserve the discussion of the investigation, etc.

Though these two deaths were connected, they are two separate people and I think deserve to be discussed this way.

Jeremy's Topic

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chi Chi,

Frank did a great job on the article. I caught that "clown prince" too, Alice. Genius.

LOVED the Radar article and pics - you go, Frank!

The "sidebar" was a bit puzzling, but I know those are for the clueless or those who can read more than ten words in a row, so no worries...

Thanks Chi Chi. I'm glad you guys liked the article. I know the sidebar is kind of odd. I didn't write it. That was Radar's decision. The one thing that still puzzles me about this whole saga is how Dean's body remained unidentified for so long. Did Steven Saleh not tell the police who the dead body in his apartment was? And if not, why not? Or did he tell the police, and they simply neglected to inform Dean's nearest and dearest. Saleh's not talking, of course.

Thanks to everybody on the board who helped with the story?

Frank Owen

the police knew who dean was....they claim that the fact that he was visiting alone from out of town caused the delay in notification. i think it is clear that his death was being treated as just another dead hooker until his fame and vast army of loved ones became apparent.

...and frank...i thought the article was well written....although i didn't know why you had to use that line about my mom " running off with the baritone from her husband's choir" ....since my mom had nothing to do with what happened with dean. i understand that it reads funny and you were quoting dean's journal....but i found it hurtful and unneccessary. she' sdead and i wish the press would leave her out of this.
beth johnson

Sorry Beth. I didn't mean to cause you any distress. I thought that because Dean had written about it on his blog, it was OK. I guess not.

My apologies,

Frank Owen

thanks for acknowledging that frank. i understand why you would use it. if she wasn't my dead mother, i'd think it was funny too. it's just been difficult to deal with two such huges losses, while also dealing with dc, the police, the press, planning his celebration....so forth. i'm just very protective of the people i love.
peace.
beth

Beth,

Thanks for accepting my apology. And thanks for all your help on the story. I know it must have been difficult.

Frank Owen

Good article Frank!
Dean would have LOVED it I think.

The side bar was sort of stupid but I know that wasn't you. It's a miracle that your piece was left alone.

I remember one time years ago the New York Times did an article about Jackie 60. They interviewed us for hours. I explained that the "party" was every Tuesday night and each week we did a different theme. The reporter asked what the next theme would be and I told him that it was a take off on the (then new) Andy Warhol Diaries. It was called "Jackie's Diaries".
When the article came out, all it said (after hours of bla bla bla) was, "Jackie 60 is a nightclub based on Andy Warhol".
They had a huge side bar (bigger than the article) explaining who Andy Warhol was. Concentrating mostly on his "15 minutes of fame" quote of course.
When I asked about the stupid side bar they said that it was necessary to explain to the New York Times reader who Andy Warhol was.
After that experience I've learned that any article that "gets it right" is a miracle.
It's interesting to note that in all the years of Jackie 60 press, the best, most intelligent, insightful writing was hands down in the "Sex Rags". Screw Magazine, Playboy, Penthouse, Skin Two...
They were always hands down the most intelligent.

I should also say that Frank Owen always "got it right" as well. I guess it was all those late night hours at Jackie chasing the go go girls around.
Doing "interviews".
At least I think they were "girls".

So true about the sex mags. I've been writing a lot for Playboy in the last few years and it's amazing how much freedom they give you to just write. They printed a 10,000 word piece about the murder of my brother-in-law in Detroit that no other mainstream magazine would have touched with a barge pole. The more "respectable" the magazine or newspaper, the less likely it is that you will be allowed to develop your own voice.

Could someone please save a copy or photocopy of Frank Owen's article for me? I'll be speaking (very briefly) at the Celebration of Dean's 18th Annual 29th Birthday, in NYC on May 30th. But I'm up in Montreal and can't get the magazine it appeared in. Thanks! love, Brendan

Anybody notice the similarities between Dean's death and Heath Ledger's death. Both were taking anti-anxiety medications. Both were on anti-depressants. And both used sleep aides. Just because these drugs are prescribed by doctors, doesn't mean they're safe, especially in combination.

i've never felt doctors to be at all safe...

and besides meds are a cop out... one should learn to take notes instead of just zoning out and extinguishing their fires

i gave up communicating with a once good friend of mine due to prescriptions... she lost all her enthusiasm... her anger... her bite... just became a boring lump instead of that vital wild force that was so brilliant about her

people need to corral those flames... not douse them out

fuck drugs

Jeepers! My flames almost killed me (several times) until I found the right drugs to corral them. I might be less manic, but at 40, that's fine by me. At least I'm alive and happier than I was at anytime during my younger years. Like Dean said, they were colorful times, but deeply and wrenchingly unhappy.
fuck the church of scientology.

yeah i agree... fuck that church (and whatever it is they do)

It looks like Heath Ledger died of the same combo as Dean... painkillers, anti-anxiety and sleeping pills.

and the imperious pharmaceutical ghouls continue their reign... squelching those of splendid fire (yet weak of will)

bastards!!