Put some Grace in your face ...
The London Evening Standard publishes a brilliant fashion editorial and behind-the-scenes interview with Grace Jones. The interview and photo shoot happened after Jones performed her new track "Love You to Life" two weeks ago at Albert Hall.
Watch the performance and fantastic images WHEN YOU JUMP...
You want diva? The photo shoot was scheduled for midnight.
"Her catering requirements are straight from Central Diva Casting, too: fresh sashimi, Château Laroque St Emilion Grand Cru claret and Fine de Claire oysters from Bibendum. There's a momentary worry among her team (PR, dresser and management adviser) that the oysters come from Wright Brothers, the Borough Market fishmonger that supplies Bibendum restaurant, not from Bibendum itself, as specified. Still, I leave the interview at 2.55am, shattered but charmed. Having arranged these night-owl interview conditions, she then sympathises with me, conspiratorially, as if someone else is responsible for the whole farrago. 'Oh, lucky you, you got some sleep earlier, did you, early bird?' she booms, basso profundo, laying flirtatious, camp emphasis on the last two words, like an Amazonian Kenneth Williams. 'I'm so exhausted.'"
Just don't bring up Lady Gaga.
"The only time she gets irritated by these personal questions is when we get on to Lady Gaga, who wants to perform with Jones. 'It keeps coming. I don't collaborate. You're born alone, you die alone, you get on stage alone. I'm better as a loner. You can collaborate in a film but to collaborate musically is something I don't do very often. I collaborated with Pavarotti because I love him and I could stretch myself and do opera. It's going to add another thing to me. Lady Gaga isn't going to do anything for me; it'll do everything for her. I'm not there to validate anyone; validate yourself.' She is getting worked up now. Am I entering Russell Harty territory? No – she drops into her booming laugh again, puncturing her irritation with self-mockery."
Grace's last words: "It ain't my first time at the rodeo, as Joan Crawford would say."
Tim Bret-Day's fashion editorial is 1980s redux. The iconic singer wears vintage and couture Issey Miyake. And as you probably know, not everyone can pull off Miyake.
In related news: An exhibition of holograms and 3D images of Grace closes this weekend at the Vinyl Factory in London. "Stillness at the Speed of Light" was created by light artist Chris Levine and features lasers and lightboxes. Preview the art HERE and make sure to rollover the image. A screen capture of one of the 3D images—which obviously can't do it justice—is below.
Video and brilliant images of Jones' performing "Love You to Life" at Albert Hall—and Ch4 television performance— WHEN YOU JUMP ...
