Chelsea Hotel Manhattan

by Joe Ambrose

Joe Ambrose stayed at the Chelsea Hotel, home to many famous authors, artists, and outlaws down the years. Andy Warhol shot Chelsea Girls there, and welsh poet Dylan Thomas died there, having reputedly inspired the young Zimmerman to change his name to Bob Dylan. Every room at the Chelsea tells its own story-not unlike The Overlook in Stephen King's The Shining. Sid Vicious met his death in one room, an episode recounted in detail by Rockets Redglare.
This is the first factual book on the building and features conversations with William S. Burroughs, Paul Bowles, Gerard Malanga, Victor Bockris, and others.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Joe Ambrose works as a writer, filmmaker, and DJ. As a member of experimental hip hop group Islamic Diggers, he as performed live with Lydia Lunch, Anita Pallenberg, Richard Hell, and Howard Marks. He is the author of seven previous books including two novels - Too Much Too Soon and Serious Time - praised by The Guardian as being "unputdownable." His non-fiction includes Gimme Danger: The Iggy Pop Story, Moshpit Culture, and, with Frank Rynne, Hashishin. He co-produced with Rynne the 2CD 10% File Under Burroughs featuring tracks from William Burroughs, Brion Gysin, John Cale, Marianne Faithful

Reviews

[Heide · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the life of the Chelsea Hotel. Unconventional, gripping and satisfyingly tricky to process. Not for the faint of heart.

[Diego Luis Sanromán · Rating 1 out of 5]

He leído el libro en su edición española. La traducción -por llamarlo de alguna manera- hace que sea ilegible.

[amy tamola · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly intriguing and informative, not just a history of the chelsea. the dregs of the 60s and 70s and the oft-forgotten punks and geniuses (gysin to rockets redglare) are represented beautifully.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is completely, completely eff-ed up. I loved it! Thin volume, but takes a while to read and process. I think it reflects the spirit of the Chelsea well.