Andy Warhol was the first true multi-media artist: he painted pictures, made movies, produced bands, staged events -- and even started a magazine.
Called Interview, it debuted in 1969, and did for celebrity culture what its contemporary Rolling Stone did for rock'n'roll -- namely, enshrine it with journalistic, literary respectability.
Famous for its of portrait-like covers of celebrities, Interview gave a high-end gloss to pop culture news. If you wanted to know what was going on in pop culture, who and what was "in" or "out" Interview told you.
Warhol died in 1987 but Interview continued -- until today. After months and months of turmoil -- lawsuits, harassment allegations, bankruptcy -- it closed. Yet another part of old NYC gone away.
It's sad because, if the reports are to be believed, this didn't have to happen. It sounds like bad business decisions and a toxic culture led to the magazine's demise. There's nothing sadder than people charged with maintaining a legacy messing it up.
I'm sure Andy is weeping in heaven.
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