“Equal parts insightful, funny, romantic and poetic, this is a book that’s not just about Gaga but about the magic of the city.” —Captain” Kirk Douglas, guitarist for The Roots
Brendan Jay Sullivan was an up-and-coming DJ in New York City when he met Stefani Germanotta, then a struggling artist, in 2006. She was a go-go dancer who sewed her own outfits but had bigger ambitions—she wanted nothing less than to take over the music world.
In this intimate portrait of the budding star, the author describes afternoons sitting with Gaga on the floor of her bare Lower East Side apartment, drinking wine from pint glasses and plotting out the pop stardom that awaited her.
Filled with stories of love and heartbreak among Gaga and Sullivan and their circle of aspiring musicians and performers, and set against the vibrant backdrop of the downtown bars and parties of the mid-aughts, Rivington Was Ours is both a love letter to New York and a glimpse behind the veil of one of the biggest musical icons of her generation.
“Entertaining . . . An intimate portrait of a specific time—before stardom struck—and a particular place. Fans of Gaga and the downtown New York music scene will find this fascinating.” —Booklist
“A fascinating and vivid insight into the cauldron that formed a great musician.” —Andy Rourke, bass guitarist for The Smiths
“Brendan Jay Sullivan is a writer’s writer. Yes, he’s that good.” —Gary Shteyngart, New York Times–beststelling author of Super Sad True Love Story
“A touching memoir.” —New York Post
