Performer, producer, and new nightclub owner Andrew W.K. recently waxed poetic to VMAN about some of his most treasured belongings.
Favorite set of wheels
I’ve lived in New York for ten years now, and I’ve only ever owned one car—a 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Limo. My favorite memory is cruising through Central Park’s winding roads on a magical October midnight on one of my first dates with the woman who would become my wife. Some other favorite memories include the car breaking down in front of Madison Square Garden at rush hour, breaking down in front of Radio City Music Hall on a Saturday night, breaking down on the New Jersey Turnpike, and taking the car to every parking garage in midtown, looking for a place that would take a 20-foot-long car.
Favorite skin care product
For many years, I only shaved here and there and simply let my stubble grow, but more recently, I’ve really begun to enjoy shaving. I like the Gillette brand of razors with lots of blades! I started out with a double blade, but that was quickly replaced by a triple, and then the quadruple-blade models arrived. I’m looking forward to the five-, six-, and seven-blade models. I like the idea that someday, with an eleven-blade razor, you’ll be able to shave your entire face in a single stroke, including your eyebrows.
Favorite electronic gadget
My wife got me a Blackberry for my birthday, and I’ve been enjoying its power. However, the absolute favorite marvel of the modern age is my GPS Navigation System by Where2. It’s absolutely changed everything about driving! I used to get all caught up in maps, directions, and frantic highway swerves, desperately trying to make an exit at the last minute. Now, with the GPS, I just drive and cruise, easy-breezy. Even if I miss an exit, it’ll get me there some other way. I can just sit in a daze and enjoy driving in all its glory.
Favorite hair product
I like the Redken hairstyling products, but other than gels and hairspray, I haven’t used many products in my hair. I think I’ve only used shampoo three or four times over the past year. Don’t get me wrong, I love soap, but it usually makese my hair too dry and fluffy. I like to rinse my hair with water, then let the natural human oils keep my hair thick, healthy, and glossy. If you’ve been using shampoo for a long time, when you first stop using it your hair will get very oily—that’s because it’s been overproducing oil due to all the shampoo. Once your head realizes that you won’t be drying it out with shampoo as often, it will calm down and produce the perfect amount of natural oil. Plus, the oil smells nice and attracts ladies (or men).
Favorite men’s fragrance
I bought some white musk imported from China, where they supposedly still get animal-based fragrances. There’s not a brand name on the bottle—it’s a private lady who gets it from who-knows-where, but it’s very potent and very intense. I don’t even put it on—I just hold the open bottle a few inches from my skin, and the fumes are enough for a whole day’s worth of smelling good. I mix the white musk with her brand of ambergris and civet, and those three together are my favorite scent. Other than that, I like the Allen Edmonds fragrances.
Favorite watch or piece of jewelry
I love my Rolex Cellini watches—they have leather bands instead of the traditional Rolex-style metal linking straps, because those metal straps pulled my hair and got me all tangled. I also like my Jaeger-Lecoultre watches. I’ve always loved watches and have worn one everyday for as long as I can remember. When I’m on stage and performing wild-style, I wear a Casio G-Shock—it’s indestructible.
Favorite pair of shoes
Allen Edmonds loafers. A lot of my clothing lessons were taught to me by my dad, and his father—my grandfather—owned a men’s clothing store in Watertown, Wisconsin. My dad is a major inspiration for me, and has influenced my sartorial style. He’s always worn Allen Edmonds shoes. I remember going on family road trips to the Allen Edmonds headquarters store in Wisconsin and my dad going into a trance while buying eighteen pairs of shoes. That was my first mystical experience. I think that shoes are very magical.
Favorite thing not covered above
My Steinway D Concert Grand Piano. This wasn’t just the biggest musical equipment purchase I’ve ever made, it was the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought, period. It cost more than a house, and you know what? It was worth it! I walked into the Steinway Hall showroom on 57th street and said, “I want to buy this piano.” It had to be moved into my apartment in Manhattan with a crane. Playing this piano has changed my life. It’s currently in Cleveland, Ohio, on loan to my friend, Baby Dee, who is blessing it with her music. Nothing is better for a piano than to have beautiful people make music on it—there’s a magical process which occurs between an instrument and its player, and neither instrument nor person are the same afterwards—they’re both enriched!
Look out for more from Andrew W.K. in the winter issue of VMAN
KEYWORDS: cars, clothing, Gadgets, grooming, toys