Edwige Belmore, one of the most famous nightlife icons, has passed away. Her friends were nearly EVERYONE that went to a nightclub in the past 35 years; Famous faces like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Debbie Harry, Maripol, and the list goes on and on…
Edwige took over the door of the Palacefor its opening in ’78 and her blonde punk-ness was photographed by all the most famous photographers like; Helmut Newton, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Pierre & Gilles. She walked the runway for Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler and was in a pop band, was an actress in movies and then she left Paris for Japan where she worked as a model and started another band. Throughout the 80s, Edwige went back and forth from New York to Paris. In New York she promoted nights at Area, Danceteria, and the Palladium. She had her own nights, “The Beat Cocktail Lounge,” and “The Lazy Lounge” and in Paris she continued to record and sang at Le Bains-Douche with yet another group, formed in New York, Jungle Geisha, singing and playing sax. In 1987 she left for an ashram in India for several years, rediscovered herself, learned yoga and began to teach. Back in NYC in the 90s, she started to sing again, and returned to nightlife with parties at Tunnel and Life, and sang at Bar d’O with pal Joey Arias and with Erich Conrad she made parties at Beige even more fun.
I saw her last a few years ago when she was working at The Standard Hotel a few blocks away. She had recently moved to Miami and like everyone else, I kept track of her via Facebook. All her friends were praying for a miracle and we just found out we lost her this morning. I’m sad, that’s all I can say. She was… well, she was just, Edwidge. She could be THE most fun. The fab look, that incredible voice but as down to earth as they come. And we were lucky to know her.
Honey, I’ll see you in Heaven (the club, that is)… I know you’ll have all the drink tickets.
