The Greats

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WHEN BOBBY MET KYLIE - so i walked by starbucks on varick and spring and noticed a familiar face in the window sill. i went in to get coffee because she was there with her boyfriend Andres Velencoso. I worked up my nerve and said… “i hate to interrupt you guys but is it ok if i annoy u with a picture, KYLIE?”

she said yes id have to punch you in the face, jokingly, then said “of course, come here.” i’m still shaking. i said honestly i cannot believe i’m not going crazy cuz i’m a megafan. youre my michael jackson. she laughed and then i told her i just got a depeche mode lyric tattooed on me THIS VERY weekend in her body language font. she was genuinely flattered and said “come on, take off the duffel!” so i showed it to her, she was like how did the guy get the font and i corrected her that my tattooist is a “gal” and that we took it from the bodylanguage live dvd. we took a picture and her assistant said it was coming out dark. kylie said let’s go to the sunlight!

and we took another and she asked my name. i said “bob,” and she said “thank you so much bob.” i said i’m sorry to bother u kylie and she said, “please you are entertaining ME.”

and she said quote of the day. I said what was? she said “you’re my michael jackson. im going to be remembering that all day.”

then she asked, “did we come out beautiful?” i said, you did of course (i’m in gross mode today of all days) and then she pointed to her face and said please have you looked at me today. i said, “yes, but you’re KYLIE.” 

THEY BROKE new ground, brought down barriers and redefined sexual identity. The 13 artists and thinkers named here continue to shape the culture around us. Who will be the next James Baldwin, Francis Bacon, or Yves San Laurent? Who are today’s preeminent cultural masters — legends in their own time — men whose influence will resonate long after they’re gone? This is the first part of our list. And it’s gay.

John Ashbery  

13 | JOHN ASHBERY (Poet) 81

 

12 | DAVID GEFFEN (Mogul) 64

 

11 | PAUL TAYLOR (Choreographer) 78

10 | LARRY KRAMER (Author/Activist) 73

9 | KARL LAGERFELD (Fashion Designer) 74

8| SIR. IAN MCKELLEN (Actor) 69

  

7 | ELTON JOHN (Musician) 61 *Legend

  

6 | DAVID HOCKNEY (Artist) 71

  

5 | STEPHEN SONDHEIM (Composer) 78

  

4 | JOHN WATERS (Filmmaker) 62

  

3 | JASPER JOHNS (Artist) 78

  

2 | EDWARD ALBEE (Playwright) 80

  

1 | GORE VIDAL (Critic) 82

 

John Ashbery

For the next 13 weeks we’ll count down the most important names in culture, 13 men who broke new ground, brought down barriers and redefined sexual identity — artists and thinkers who continue to shape the culture around us. Who will be the next James Baldwin, Francis Bacon, or Yves San Laurent? Who are today’s preeminent cultural masters — legends in their own time — men whose influence will resonate long after they’re gone? Here’s our list. And it’s gay.

#13 - JOHN ASHBERY (Poet) 81

In September of 1963 author Kenneth Koch said: “I believe John Ashbery is one of the best poets now alive.” 45 years later, the same can be said. Certainly one of the most decorated poets of our time he is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and most recently the 2008 International Griffin Poetry Prize. Influenced by other homo-neurotic favorites — W.H. Auden (gay), Jasper Johns (gay), Gertrude Stein (gay) — his work has often been labeled “controversial” or “avant-garde” and “difficult,” while his name is mentioned along side Whitman, Pound, Auden, and Eliot. Not bad for a guy who partied with Andy Warhol. More… »