Below you’ll find personal reflections and rememberances from Ira’s / Needles’ friends, fans and colleauges.
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Penny arcade
Performance artist, writer & Cultural critic
Fare thee well, Needles Jones!
Self proclaimed Drag Pariah
Ira Abamawitz was the closest thing to an American David Hoyle
Albeit a druggier , nuttier, punker, lazier, loucher version Transgressive as fuck. As Ira Abramawitz he was the East Village’s CLUB 57 longest manager in the early 80’s ….Then left NY for Philly with a suitcase of ratty wigs but left his Basquiat painting behind. Yes he was friends with everyone in that scene. He was a true icon of Artistic Resistance -still super smart after years of alcohol and drug abuse – by turns inspiring and infuriating.I passed many evenings with Needles hosting Earl Dax’s club night PUSSY FAGGOT! (Needles was Earl’s Drag Mother ) Louche as Needles was he never lost his taste for political resistance or class struggle.He left NY before I met him and consequently like many of those younger generations who became his adoring fans for 35 years in the Punk anarchist and DIY Philly scene mentoring several generations or like his raving NY fans in the first decade and a half in the 2000’s EAST VILLAGE Queer Performance scene – none of us EVER knew Needles young!
Susan Hannaford posted a gorgeous photo of Ira/Needles at Club 57 with a big Basquiat behind him. I take the liberty of posting it here for people who never knew Needles young – I think Needles would like that – we both rested on the laurels of squandering our youth!
I actually remember this face!
VALE NEEDLES! You never backed down!!
No Retreat! No Surrender!
adam weiner
lead singer of Low-Cut connie
Born Ira Abramovitz, Needles was an absolutely fearless and captivating drag / trans performance artist who entertained the underground performance art scene in Philadelphia for over 40 years.
Needles starred in the “Private Lives” video – his presence steals the show and embodies the resolute misfit spirit of Low Cut Connie. He was SO proud to be in this wonderful video (directed by the great @gabonghi and shot by @alyspengler ) and felt that it was a great piece of work.
Needles was hysterically funny. Even after a debilitating stroke, Needles continued to perform and find outrageous ways to entertain people.
I was very proud to sit with Needles recently for a joint interview on our friendship with our writer pal AD Amorosi
Thanx for being you, Needles.
Philly will miss you
adam