Whores

TOM FORD | STILL A TOOL

As all you hot asses out there know, August is typically a slow month for fashion. It's the calm before the storm of all the fall runway madness. Another constant in the fashion world - Tom Ford is still a sleazy, arrogant ass. I hate spending the few minutes to type out this tirade, but seriously, get a load of Ford's upcoming ad campaign (right) for his new fragrance, Tom Ford for Men. I know I'm just falling victim to his gimmicky, "oh-so-controversial," misogynistic schtick, but I couldn't let this one slide by. Will someone please finally tell this tasteless fucker to get over himself and get a new marketing strategy?

Yes, Tom, sex does sell, but not when it's so blatantly crass, anti-female, and attention-starved as this. There is nothing sexy nor sensual about this ad (shot by never-not-nude photog, Terry Richardson). It's just another one of Ford's pathetic attempts to try to shock. An even tackier photo from the campaign shows "the Tom Ford for Men bottle wedged between a woman's glistening thighs, with the bottle barely covering her bare genitalia." Ugh! When Ford claimed to be seeking a film career out in Hollywood after mercifully leaving YSL a few years back, he really should have considered porn. He would have become the king (or queen) of San Fernando Valley! But in terms of fashion and advertising, his flesh peddling is just so stupid and boring. Not to mention, what man who buys Tom Ford for Men is even going to look at the naked chick??? Read more at WWD.com.

TONY WILSON | MR MANCHESTER DIES

I was very saddened to learn that Anthony H. Wilson, television presenter, founder of Factory Records and the Hacienda club, proud Mancunian, and music visionary passed away Friday at the age of 57. The cause of his death is not clear as some have reported that he lost his battle with kidney cancer while others claim he had a heart attack. Regardless, the music world has lost a very important and under-appreciated figure.

A true music fan, Wilson introduced the world to various indie acts, most famously Joy Division/New Order and the Happy Mondays. He founded the notoriously unprofitable Factory Records along with the legendary Hacienda club. Michael Winterbottom's film, 24 Hour Party People, was loosely based on his life. The great Steve Coogan played Wilson. Wilson, in turn, appeared as himself interviewing Steve Coogan's character in Winterbottom's hilarious Tristam Shandy, A Cock and Bull Story in 2005.

I've always admired Wilson because he was a character - a passionate music fan, who made a major impact on the industry. He put Manchester on the map, created a lasting scene, and got exposure for the bands that he believed in and loved. He paved the way for so much in music today from the way bands sound to the way they are marketed. The music world has sadly lost one of its most influential icons. Read obituaries at Telegraph UK and BBC News.

DAFT PUNK | HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER!

Wowee-zowee! I've gotta jump on the bandwagon and declare the Daft Punk show last night at Keyspan Park was the BEST SHOW EVA! With an amazing, thudding soundsystem and lightshow undoubtedly visible from space, the faux-robo French duo blew everybody on Coney Island away! Every single last person at the sold out show smiled and bounced around throughout the entire set. I thought I was going to have an epileptic fit from all the bright, flashing lights - and it would have been totally worth it! Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo know how to put on a show like nobody's business! See ProductShop and BrooklynVegan for setlist and pics.

Speaking of which, the Daft Punkers directed an art film called Electroma that debuted at Cannes last year. In it, two Dior Homme-clad robots travel across America on a quest to become real, live humans. The Landmark Sunshine Theater in the LES is showing it at two midnight screenings next weekend. Check it out! Read more here.

DEATH AT ONE'S ELBOW

It's been a cruel summer! So many legendary artists are passing away one after another. I've always heard that great people die in groups of three - but within the past few weeks, we've lost four. Three veteran, established, non-mainstream artists and one younger, up-and-comer. Very sad. Read about these true originals below.

-The youngest was the first to go - 35-year-old digital/video artist, Jeremy Blake went missing on July 17th, one week after discovering the body of his long-time girlfriend, Theresa Duncan, in their East Village apartment after an apparent suicide. Blake's body was found on July 22nd by fishermen in waters off of New Jersey. He was last seen walking into the ocean on a beach on the Rockaways in Queens. Blake's work was displayed in three Whitney Biennials and perhaps received the most exposure in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2002 film Punch Drunk Love. He was scheduled to show his latest work, a collaboration with Malcolm McLaren, in Washington DC in October. NYT

-On July 30th, the film world lost two masters. First, Swedish director Ingmar Bergman died at the age of 89. Writing and directing films about family, relationships, religion and death, Bergman is perhaps best know for The Seventh Seal, Persona, and Fanny and Alexander - all great films. NYT

-Also on July 30th, Italian director, Michelangelo Antonioni passed away in Rome at the age of 94. Known for being a subversive rule-breaker, Antonioni's most famous film is the gorgeous and oh-so-cool Blow Up. Though his trilogy of L'Avventura, La Notte, and L'Ecclisse are also classics. IHT

-And on August 4th the music world lost the 78-year-old, cool, velvet-voiced crooner/songwriter, Lee Hazelwood (pictured above). Best known for his slightly naughty collaborations with Nancy Sinatra, These Boots are Made for Walking and Some Velvet Morning (recently covered by Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie and Kate Moss), Hazelwood had an incredible influence over some of today's best indie performers, including Jarvis Cocker, Nick Cave, Sonic Youth and Tindersticks. Hazelwood's last album Cake or Death was released in December 2006 and is part farewell and part celebration. It is an appropriate swansong for the bad-ass cult star. Also worth picking up is 2002's Total Lee! The Songs of Lee Hazelwood performed by various indie artists. Guardian

TOP OF THE POP(S) CULTURE

-Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld and Alber Elbaz (right) were at Colette recently posing beside their Simpsons likenesses created by Julius Preite for Bazaar. While Alber seems to be having a jolly time, Marc and Karl do not look amused. Does the kaiser sort of remind anyone else of an haute couture version of Mr. Burns? See here.

-Poor Pete Doherty! Crack sure does make him do some stupid ass things! NME reports that Kate Moss' ex is missing the supermodel. "It was love at first meet," he reportedly told a tabloid. "She said she'd get a 'P' tattoo, and I'd get a 'K'... Soon afterwards she said, 'I'll marry you'. I fucked that up, didn't I!" No shit, Einstein! The article also claims that Doherty admits to committing a "rather a rash gesture" by proposing to some random French chick on the same day that Moss dumped him! He's reportedly said about the situation, "She's gone back to Paris and I don't know what to do." Well, that sure as hell won't win you back Kate, you dumb fuck!

The piece also reveals that Moss co-wrote a number of songs on the new Babyshambles album. Even sadder, in another story, NME claims that Pete has bleached his hair blond. Eek! Read more here.

-So Kate fancies herself a rockstar, eh? She is supposedly planning to record an album with Pete's producer. A catty source has reportedly said of the project, "It'll be great revenge if she sells more [records] than him." Erm...I don't think Pete needs to worry about that happening. Read here.

-Ready, Art Brut?! Check out Eddie Argos and crew performing Direct Hit on Conan O'Brien here.

-Product Shop NYC has a link to Yeah Yeah Yeahs performing on Letterman here. Karen O looks f-f-fierce from the waist up, though the fringy skirt and boots and busy tights don't seem to bother Dave. Be sure to check out the end of the video when he greets the band. He won't let go of gorgeous, giggly Karen's hand! Stop slobbering, dirty, old Dave! I guess his crushing on Connie Chung days are way over...