1. 15:14 24th Mar 2012

    Notes: 1

    Tags: john jeremiah sullvianguns n' rosesaxl roseessaysbookssad confessions

    to j.j.s., with love

    [“When he first came onto the scene, he often looked, in photographs, like a beautiful, slender, redheaded 20-year-old girl.”]

    Dear John Jeremiah Sullivan,

    Stop it. Just, stop. You keep describing these seemingly unappealing men in completely extraordinary ways, and I’m having trouble coming to terms with it. I feel the deepest sympathies for Michael Jackson, am fascinated by Constantine Rafinesque, and have developed a sudden, unwanted crush on the young Axl Rose. Admire the feathery androgyny! And you’ve got me looking up Guns N’ Roses videos on YouTube, and at about 1:15 of each clip, I stop and say, “What the hell am I watching?” [“They were the last great rock band that didn’t think there was something a tiny bit embarrassing or at least funny about being in a rock band.”] I’m two-thirds of the way through Pulphead; I’m sad to see it ending, but it’s a little bit of a relief. I can’t take on any more affection for another one of these awful/amazing men.

    [image source; also, Sullivan writes about writing the piece, at The Paris Review]

     
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