In the 1980s, Maripol caused a trend sensation with her rubber bangles and crucifix earrings, worn by Madonna on the cover of her breakthrough 1984 album Like a Virgin. Like Madonna, Maripol was a luminary of New York’s underground scene, with friends including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Debbie Harry, among other Mudd Club regulars.
Nowness.com rang her up in Paris for a special interview in which Madonna was, of course, mentioned…

Who do you still see from the old New York scene?
Maripol: I still see Debbie Harry, because she’s such a wonderful person who has not one bit of snob in her. I see my old friend Adrianna who was married to Kid Creole. She created the band with him, she was a coconut. I still see Madonna at events sometimes and I saw her in Cannes. I know she’s always there if I want to pick up the phone or go online, but I think it’s not the same as when you’re in your twenties.

Do you think we can have another celebrity like Madonna in this decade?
Maripol: We have Lady Gaga. She’s pretty close to the concept: somebody building up the career and the music and the look. I’m sure Madonna appreciates her, but she’s like a clone. At the beginning whenever I heard her music I thought it was Madonna singing.

Read the full article.