Nudie's of Hollywood

Gonzo Rhinestone Cowboy

By: Charles Giuliano - Jun 24, 2015

Nudie

Elton John invited me to LA
Hanging in Hollywood
Under wing of
Elton’s PR guy
Legendary Norm Winter
Wouldn’t let me
Open my wallet
Wined and dined
Had expense money
From Herald Traveler
Bash at historic
Saint Francis Hotel
In Frisco
Orgy in the rooms
Norm leaned over
To nude multi tasking
Lady of leisure
I have a VIP
Can he get in there
Thanks but no thanks
Grabbed tequila
From the open bar
Wandered off
Into the night
Best to forget
Flying back to LA
By way of Burbank
Norm said
Let’s visit my friend
Nudie of Hollywood
He was napping
Sized me up
Try this on
Bright orange
Nashville suit of lights
Steaks on grills
Campfires
Up rhinestone legs
Norm flipped
It’s you baby
Offer I could not refuse
Made for one hit wonder
Never picked it up
Just my size
That night
Norm insisted I wear it
To the Troubadour
The Pointer Sisters
Nobody noticed the bling
Different story back in
Beantown
Years later
Peter Wolf asked
Hey Man
Yah still got the suit
Now a museum piece
In plastic wrap
Hanging in the closet
With my
Rock and roll shoes

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Reader Comments

"I have many memories of that barbeque ensemble...glad to hear it’s kept under glass for the ages...."

Posted By: Roger Lifeset on 06-25-2015, 02:19 pm
"I LOVE this! What a great suit and great photo!!!!"

Posted By: Pennie Brantley on 06-25-2015, 09:41 am
"Nice and great story."

Posted By: Karl Baden on 06-25-2015, 09:38 am
"Hilarious!"

Posted By: Bragan Thomas on 06-25-2015, 09:37 am
"Rhinestone Charlie! Wow!"

Posted By: Celia on 06-25-2015, 01:14 am
"What a fun life, Charles, and what fun recalling it, pictures and all!"

Posted By: Wilma Rifkin on 06-24-2015, 11:52 pm
"As I said: Gonzo lifestyle beats the zombie by far"

Posted By: martin mugar on 06-24-2015, 03:37 pm
"FAAAAAABulous!"

Posted By: LLB on 06-24-2015, 03:33 pm
"blast from the past peter wolf. my daughters used to call him uncle peter when we got together."

Posted By: Arthur Yanoff on 06-24-2015, 02:41 pm
"Love this bit of arcana about Nudie's of Hollywood. How about a tell all biography?"

Posted By: Fast Eddy on 06-24-2015, 02:39 pm
"I fucking love this."

Posted By: Geoffrey Movius on 06-24-2015, 02:32 pm
"What a poem! What times! We lived through the glam - rock era. A thrill looking back. Wear that suit for your next interview, superstar!!!!! Applause from your little old farmerette/glamorette friend,"

Posted By: Randy Stevens on 06-24-2015, 02:23 pm
"never wrested that from you…jealous but doubt if anything from then fits me. Happy to keep up with your emails and you look like you are thriving. best G"

Posted By: Greg Amenoff on 06-24-2015, 01:02 pm
"Would love a part II, looking now, at now. What's left, besides rock n' roll shoes? Otherwise, you've done this. Because you more than a museum piece carry that energy, still! So much vividness, recall, seeming fondness for it all--what was all that about-- your whole generation? A bit of reflection. Campfire shadows."

Posted By: Stephen Rifkin on 06-24-2015, 12:56 pm
"You truly are GONZO"

Posted By: Staid Citizen on 06-24-2015, 12:44 pm
"Hey... There's is that gorgeous suit that you looked fantastic in. I remember meeting Nudie, a sweet chap. We chin wagged for ages as I tried on his beautifully made costumes. When I was twenty-five. It was a very good year. In his gold dollar studded Cadillac . Excuse me if I burst into song."

Posted By: Elizabeth Pratt on 06-24-2015, 12:33 pm