ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Hi Mom, I love you and I miss you every single day. You live in my heart and continue to watch over me, so I know everything will always be A-OK.

Dad, you left us way too early and I wish we could have had a closer relationship. All my love. RIP.

Cheryl Ann Alago—you are the best sister ever and I love our relationship. You mean the world to me.

Vince Aletti—Your brilliance always inspires me. Let’s continue exchanging naughty photos!

Philip Anselmo—Hi PA . . . you beast! I love everything about you. You are an amazing soul. Love, MA

Jerry Brandt—Thank you for being a wonderful mentor and friend. I learned so much from you. Much love.

Dennis Bremser—Hello there, superstar in heaven. You will forever hold a special place in my heart. I love you and miss our conversations. God bless you.

Phil Caivano—My Rock ’n’ Roll brother from another mother. Marry me already! Love you, my friend. God bless you.

Mina Caputo—You are love, light, and the truth. Love you forever.

John Cerullo—Thank you for your expertise in helping to put together this book.

Loren Chodosh—You are kind and loving and certainly know how to take care of business. I am grateful to have you in my life.

Peter Crowley—We go way back! Thank you for getting my first photographs published. I have always been very fond of you.

Doyle—You great big, beautiful man. You are my angel!

Chris Duffy—You big hunka love. You entered my life in the most unusual and fun-loving way. Thank you for being there.

George Dureau—I am filled with so much love for our thirty-year friendship. You were one of a kind. RIP.

Tim Ebneth—Our longtime friendship means the world to me. We have been through so much together. I love you.

Bob Feiden—You would be so proud of me. RIP.

Danny Fields—Thank you so much for a lifetime of love and laughter and all the gorgeous Polaroids of the tricks and the trade.

Carol Friedman—You are brilliant and gorgeous. I cherish our longtime friendship. You have been by my side through it all. I love you!

Keith Guldalian—Thank you for being in my life at the right time.

Ian Jopson—Darling Ian, I am grateful for our friendship from the day we met. I am sure it will last a lifetime. Much love.

John Joseph—Stay healthy, stay brilliant . . . I love you!

Bob Krasnow—You were a genius. Thank you for taking me under your wing as well as over to Madison Avenue for a great shoe shine! You were definitely a unique human being and I feel honored to have known you. RIP.

Mitchell Krasnow—Thank you for telling Bob about me. You helped change the course of my life. You will always be very special to me.

Liz Lamere and Dante Vega Lamere—Love you both! Your husband and dad, Alan Vega, lives in our hearts and still inspires us in all that we do.

Cyndi Lauper—Love you! Memphis was quite the experience. I hope to work with you again.

John Lydon—What can I say? You are a true original. I cherish our thirty-eight years of friendship, looking forward to many more.

Diana Mahiques—You are truth and beauty and your spiritual energy is infectious. Thank you.

Robert Mapplethorpe—I loved knowing you. Your exquisite photographs continue to inspire and stimulate me. RIP.

Jimmy Marino—Everybody loves you but not more than me.

Gillian McCain—You have a wonderful heart and radiate true generosity of spirit. Thank you for always showing up for me and being a great friend.

Dito Montiel—I completely adore you. We will forever be in each other’s lives.

Toni Quirk—Your charm, wit, and intelligence bring out the best in everyone who meets you. You were a treasure for me when we worked together, and you are a beautiful individual.

Brian Regnaert—I have always been grateful that you came in to my life. You are an angel and I love you.

Daniel Rey—Wow! Almost forty years of friendship. Thank you, my friend and dear confidant.

Kane Roberts—You are totally fabuleen! You have the biggest rock n’ roll heart of anybody that I know. You ain’t gettin’ rid of me anytime soon!

Ira Silverberg—Our friendship has covered the waterfront—books, gossip, and rock n roll—you’re brilliant, you’re crazy. I love you.

Nina Simone—I love you and miss you. We had the best times together. RIP.

Patti Smith—You have been an inspiration to me my entire life. Thank you for all the telephone calls through my darkest hours. The wit and wisdom of those calls kept me alive.

Lee Sobel—Thank you for encouraging me to write this book.

Debbie Southwood-Smith—We have had so many years together. Through all the ups and downs, we are still here! Much love!

Barbara Starrett, MD—Always love and respect. Thank you for literally saving my life.

Drew Stone—Thank you, my friend, for making a documentary about my life—it created the interest in getting this book made.

Arturo Vega—Your friendship will always live in my heart. RIP, brother.

Sean Yseult—You are completely fabulous and an awesome friend. I am blessed to have you in my life!

Love and Gratitude:

Eric AK, Matthew Alago, Gloria Alago, Michael Alex, Carole Ann Avramides, Bill Avramides, Sunny Bak, Joseph Baldassare, Lisa Barbaris, Stiv Bators, Barbara Bermudez, Chris Blackwell, Johnny Blitz, Eric Bogosian, Scott Bomar, Mike Bone, Steven Ames Brown, Bill Brusca; Cliff Burton, Nick Calderazzo, Tim Cameron, Clare Cerullo, Melissa Corrales Campagna, Lionel Casseroux, Frank Caston, Cheetah Chrome, Barbara Claire, Joshua Coburn, Aida Colon, Marlon Connolly, Demetrius Constantinus, Jayne County, Ether Coven, Patrick Dalton, Tim Dax, James DeMaria, Joseph D’Emic, Ivan de Prume, Antone DeSantis, Donna Destri, Sandy Dillon, Sherman Ewing, Tom Eubanks, Diane Farris, Gigi Faz, Andre Fischer, Michael Fisher, Roxanne Fontana, Foxy, Jack Fritscher, Mike Gallagher, James Gavin, Michael Gilbert, Michael Gira, Alex Gildzen, David Godlis, Luis Gonzalez, Marty Grabill, Lisa Greco, Jonathan Greenfield, Thaddeus Jones, Kirk Hammett, Harden Harrison, Harry, Hazelden, Diane Hensley, James Hetfield, Jeff Hirshberg, Hilary Hodgson, Gary Holt, Emily Hughes, Chris Jericho, Constance Jones, David Kahauolopua, Jessica Kastner, Joe Katz, Al Kavadlo, Danny Kavadlo, Lenny Kaye, Pat Kepic, Laura Keyes, Jacque Kochevar, Hilly Krystal, Helena Van Leirsberghe, Scott Lucas, George Lynch, Ray Majors, Bernadette Malavarca, Manny the Greek from Astoria, Jeff Marshall, Linda McKenna, Carol McKenna, Rod McKuen, Frank Micari, Charlie Mills, Bob Morris, Richard Munguia, Nina Murano, Katie Nachod, Mary Navarro, Jason Newsted, Nicole Newsted, Jerry Only, Danny Papa, Maria Papa, Corrin Papa-Alicea, Jennifer Papa-Micari, Louise Parnassa Staley, Kevin Patrick, Jessica Pimentel, Jack Ponti, Genesis P-Orridge, Ursula Quiñones, Jennie Ramos, John Ramos, Lori Reese, Bubba Richards, Kate Richardson, Jody Robello-Katz, Jamie Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Julie Rodriguez, Arthur Roger, Joe Russo, Saint Jude, Saint Therese of the Roses, Patrick Sarfati, Beth Schiffer, Michael Schmidt, Eric Alan Schmidt, Anthony Sellari, Bernie Shanahan, Gary Simmons, Lisa Simone, Kris Sims, Rodney Skleton, Kelly Smith, Ronnie Spector, Linda Stein, Stanley Stellar, Rambo Stevens, Leslie Swiman, Joe Sztabnik, Sandra Torres, Sylvia Torres, Suki-Marie Treiber, Mat Treiber, Arthur Tress, Susan Henderson Tyler, Lars Ulrich, Kurdt Vanderhoof, Cherry Vanilla, Rich Varecha, Tom Viola, Diane Vocaturo, Rich Ward, Keith Webb, Rob Youells, Jay Yuenger, Jon and Marsha Zazula, Jimmy Zero, Rob Zombie, Paul Zone

*If my scatterbrain forgot anyone, I promise that the next time I see you—you will be in for a great big hug and a smooch!*

Laura—Thank you for all the hard work you put in helping to tell my story. Despite all the kerfuffle . . . I could not have done it without you. Love, Michael