Miss Jones, Miss Grace Jones

Grace Jones is about to release a new album called Hurricane. This reminds me of the time I saw her perform in Dallas at the Starck Club (The Starck Club was an old warehouse that was turned into a nightclub. It was designed by Phillippe Starck and featured unisex bathrooms that were very controversial for Dallas at the time). It must have been around 1985 when Miss Jones released Slave to the Rhythm. I was hanging out with a crowd that liked to party at The Starck Club. I went to the show with my partner, Dale, and my friends Charles, Tom and my friends and coworkers Beth and Nancy. Charles worked for Todd Oldham at the time so most of us were dressed in Todd’s clothes (this was before Todd moved to New York and attainted success). Charles knew Edwidge, who worked the door, so we didn’t have to wait in line and were ushered in while others were lined up down the street. I can remember waiting and waiting and waiting for the show to start. It was a weekday night so all of us had to work the next day. The club was very hot and it was rumored that Miss Jones would not perform if the air conditioning were running. Grace finally took to the stage around 2 a.m. She started the show in a gorilla suit and then stripped down to an outrageously fashion forward outfit with black stilettos. Being a Grace Jones fan I thought the show was incredible and worth the wait. I think she only sang five songs. Unfortunately, I didn’t get home until 4 a.m. and had to be at work at 8. Beth, Nancy and I were all dead tired at work the next day but all agreed the show was worth the punishment the next day.