DJ From Lady Gaga's Early Days Releases Memoir

In case you missed seashell-bikini-clad Lady Gaga's Video Music Awards performance on Sunday, August 25^th, don't worry: you'll hear her new hit single "Applause" everywhere you go soon enough. Mother Monster's lead-off single from her upcoming ARTPOP album currently sits at #3 on the iTunes Top Songs chart.

Although forced to cancel her Born This Way Ball tour in February 2013 due to a hip injury, Lady Gaga has hardly been out of the limelight leading up to the August 12^th release of the "Applause" single. Was she always destined for stardom?

Yes, says Brendan Jay Sullivan, the author of a book released this week. In Sullivan's memoir Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, the Lower East Side and the Prime of Our Lives, the former DJ, bartender and aspiring novelist, then known as VH1, tells of the chaotic year he spent DJing for Gaga as she evolved from a go-go dancer to a magnetic on-stage presence. Even in 2006, he knew Stefani Germanotta – who already called herself Gaga – would make it as a pop star.

In an interview with Salon.com writer Eric R. Danton, Sullivan confesses he had no hesitation about writing the memoir exposing Gaga's early days. He actually wanted to set the record straight, to let mainstream music fans know the singer's New York City nightlife wasn't as "filthy" and debauched as is sometimes reported.

Club-kid Gaga, however, did learn her flair for outrageous fashion early, as "almost a survival skill" for gaining access, getting into clubs and parties, Sullivan writes.

Rivington Was Ours was published August 27, 2013 by !t Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Find it at major book retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million and the Apple iBookstore.

Lady Gaga's legion of Little Monsters now have something to read while the await the November 11^th release of ARTPOP.

Sources

"iTunes Charts." Apple, Inc. n.d. http://www.apple.com/itunes/charts/ 

"Lady Gaga Cancels Tour Because of Hip Injury." James C. McKinley, Jr. Feb. 14, 2013. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/lady-gaga-cancels-tour-because-of-hip-injury/?_r=0 

"Lady Gaga's Early Days: 'The Sexual Energy Was Palpable. You could smell it." Eric R. Danton, Aug. 27, 2013.

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/27/lady_gagas_early_days_the_sexual_energy_was_palpable_you_could_smell_it/ 

"Lady Gaga Releases 'Applause' Single: Listen." Jason Lipshutz, Aug. 12, 2013. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5646241/lady-gaga-releases-applause-single-listen  

"Lady Gaga's Versace Jumpsuit Is Pretty Versatile." Rebecca Adams, Aug. 27, 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/27/lady-gaga-versace-jumpsuit_n_3821889.html 

Rivington Was Ours (home page). n.d. http://www.rivingtonwasours.com/

Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, the Lower East Side and the Prime of Our Lives (product page). n.d. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062125583?ref=st