MassivePeaness

I know her personally, from my Act Up days. I've got lots of fun stories.

One time we met for lunch at Dojo's (the one that used to be at St. Mark's Place in Manhattan). We had our lunch, and as we stepped outside the Mud Truck was rolling up. The Mud Truck had the best coffee and the best ice cream. She happily shrieked "There's the Mud Truck!! Let's have some ice cream!! My treat!!" So we got our ice creams and were walking back to my studio, when we noticed all these goth babies that recognised her. They were following us and we could hear them saying things like "She's wearing colourful clothes! And she's with a man! And she's eating ice cream!" As if she couldn't possibly do these things. She smiled that wicked smile of hers, turned around and said "Dominus vobiscum, yes my children, I only eat catholic priests on Saturday nights!!" All the goth babies shrieked and ran away.

Another time she had just performed one of her more vocally taxing shows and needed to do her routine of repairing her voice from all the fry. This entailed going to an old folks' home and taking requests for 40's and 50's tunes, singing them quietly. She asked me if I would drive her since I was going to pass it. I said sure. So we got into my van, and when I turned the key the music started up. It was Cecil Taylor "Spring of Two Blue J's." She heard the first note and said "Cecil, BAM!!" And then proceeded to sing the head of the tune as he played it, which is no small feat.