Willy DeVille

Cultural Appropriation Gold Tooth Kendall Jenner Vogue Willy DeVille

KENDALL JENNER AND THAT INFAMOUS GOLD TOOTH

Here’s a fad that didn’t catch on – with models, anyway. Back in 2017, Kendall Jenner was photographed sporting a big gold tooth at London Fashion Week. (It brought back the memory of a day, back in the late 80’s, we spent frantically shopping for a gold tooth on 42nd Street because we wanted to look like Willy DeVille) It wasn’t very flattering, but Kendall’s tooth started a ruckus at Vogue when they wrote about it. Some staffers labeled the tooth “cultural appropriation” (which is ridiculous because imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery!) Anyway, Vogue staffers turned on each other and accused editor Anna Wintour of insensitivity. A big fuss over nothing, right? Kendall hasn’t been seen wearing the tooth again…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

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By Janet / October 27, 2020
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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Steampunk Thanks for the Memories Willy DeVille

WILLY DEVILLE SHOULD BE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

It was one year ago today that probably our all-time favorite singer (Sorry, Elvis!) Willy DeVille passed away. We can’t say enough good things about him. We’ll never forget his macho posturing onstage or his ethnic street-wise songs filled with romantic yearning. He was a fierce and foppish dresser – from his elegant velvet collared frock coats to his exaggerated pompadour. He did steampunk before it had a name. This is a very early photo of Willy and his first wife Toots, whom he married at 17. She bears a strong resemblance to Amy Winehouse. We think Willy should be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – please sign this petition.

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By Janet / August 6, 2010
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Mink DeVille Thanks for the Memories Willy DeVille

WILLY DEVILLE: HE HAD SAVOIR FAIRE

willyWilly DeVille, and find this tribute painful to write. (Willy died of pancreatic cancer a few days ago.) We’ll, never forget the first time we saw Willy – his band Mink DeVille performed on Saturday Night Live. He was mesmerizing. It was the height of punk music and Willy took it to another level- he dressed like a cross between a lanky English fop and a Latino pimp. A swirling pompadour, frock coats, purple and black, earrings, ruffles, the first gold front tooth we ever saw, and he managed to smoke and chew gum while he sang. It was love at first sight. He sang passionate ghetto love songs and also songs about Italian shoes and Cadillacs. We saw Willy sing “Save the Last Dance For Me” in the basement of a Sunset Strip club and will never forget his tender, yearning version of a great song. A sensitive, macho, dandy who brought street elegance to punk, he became a huge star in Europe, but America never quite understood him. We saw him perform every chance we got and were delighted to meet him and find out he was friendly and modest and loved his wife and dogs. The last time we saw him he gave us the white wife-beater undershirt off his back, and autographed it with a magic marker “Love, Willy.” We miss him terribly.

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By Janet / August 9, 2009
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