Joe Dallesandro: Warhol Superstar, Underground Film Icon, Actor by Michael Ferguson; Kindle edition
Just as a bisexual relative and I were lamenting the lack of bisexual representation in the LGBTQ spectrum, EarlyBirdBooks.com releases the e-book that celebrates the life and career of the world's first openly bisexual male nude film star, Joe Dallesandro: Warhol Superstar, Underground Film Icon, Actor. It reveals the life and career of one of the most enduring men in LGBTQ culture. Joseph Angelo Dallesandro displays his physicality, sensuality, and laconic acting technique as examples of the revolutions in cinema, art, music, and fashion. His work as the stud in the Warhol-produced, Paul Morrissey-directed trinity of underground films Flesh, Trash, and Heat pushed the boundaries of gender norms and sexual orientation. "Little Joe" gave us a new representation of what it meant to be a man during the hippie movement, woman's lib, and the sexual revolution.
His stunning face and naked body were immortalized by the iconographers of fame Avedon, Kenn, Duncan, Greg Gorman, Annie Liebovitz, Steven Miesel, Jack Mitchell and Victor Skrebneski. They created images that went beyond sex-symbol status into a new definition of what it means to be young. Little Joe gives us plenty of never-before-published images in the book, along with writing a very loving and amusing foreword. His film work was admired by actor icon Sir Laurence Olivier and writer/cultural critic Norman Mailer. Film critics were not immune to his charms, he drew rave reviews from such notables as Pauline Kael and Vincent Canby. His image appeared throughout all forms of media, including album covers, television, music videos, and commercials, as well as European and American films. The fashion world acknowledged his contribution to style in major ad campaigns for Calvin Klein posed with supermodel icon Kate Moss, for Yves Saint Laurent photographed by creative director/provocateur Hedi Slimane, and as the inspiration for Tom Ford's sensual new denim line for men.
Recently seen in Jody Watley's music video "Nightlife" and saluted sartorially in Out magazine, Little Joe keeps bringing the big presence for people who have what it takes to appeal to both genders and all orientations, from the atelier to the street. The book reveals Joe as a self-effacing, down-to-earth, strong, self-made man whose dignity, talent, humanity, and instinct for taking advantage of opportunities led to an astonishing amount of work. Who else's resume boasts John Waters, Frances Ford Coppola, Holly Woodlawn, Whoopi Goldberg, Candy Darling and Don Johnson? Also the covers of Rolling Stone, After Dark, and Physique Pictorial magazines.
He's probably proudest of the movie about his life directed by his talented and beautiful daughter Vedra (which he co-produced). It was featured at the 2010 San Francisco International LGTBQ Film Festival at the Castro Theatre. I had the pleasure of asking him a few questions during a Q&A, and snatched the best images of him during the paparazzi frenzy that ensued when he, Vedra and Mr. 2010 San Francisco Leather Brandon Clark got together off-stage in a moment of admiration, glamour, and leather gear.
It's refreshing to see someone like Joe, so shy and polite about the accolades given to him from people all over the world, for his life, career, and contributions to the understanding of LGBTQ culture. His e-book is a must-read. We applaud him and author Michael Ferguson, webmaster of JoeDallesandro.com. Get this book and learn what courage, star quality, and style are all about, from someone who took it beyond 15 minutes of fame into legendary status.