The Lost Warhol Tapes
Brigid Berlin was one of the leading figures in the halcyon days of Andy Warhol’s Factory. Aside from being known as Brigid Polk, for her skillful injections of speed, or “pokes,” she also kept up on the latest in ’60s electronic gadgetry. Berlin obsessively taped conversations and was always snapping Polaroids. This intrigued Warhol, who liked the distancing effect machines introduced into social interactions and quickly made them tools of his own artistic process. Before long, it became routine for Warhol and Berlin to speak on the phone in the morning, sometimes for hours, each making a recording. Their on-tape personae evolved as they played them extemporaneously but were always a variation on a single theme: Warhol and Berlin as the married couple.
More recently, long talks with Berlin became part of Guy Pearce’s routine as he prepared for the role of Warhol in the upcoming Edie Sedgwick biopic Factory Girl. Berlin consulted on the film, and the two struck up a friendship. Pearce would lapse into character for stretches of time, then return to himself. Later, as he began to “get” the character more and more, Berlin had to ask him to stop channeling Andy because it was “too much” for her.
Upon hearing the following never-before-published transcript, from a tape dated 1970 (exhibited at John McWhinnie @ Glenn Horowitz Booksellers last fall), Berlin cracks up: “We were doing what we always did—it was all about getting a good tape.”
Brigid Berlin: Hello?
Andy Warhol: Oh, hi.
BB: I’m really nervous.
AW: Why?
BB: Well, I’ve just gone through my calendar and I’ve checked
off every day and I’m eight days late.
AW: For what?
BB: For my period, whaddya think?
AW: Well, you didn’t do it with anybody did you?
BB: Well, just you.
AW: Oh … so did you call your mother and cancel my lunch?
BB: I don’t feel like changing the subject now.
AW: So you’re really…
BB: I can’t go through another abortion, I just can’t, and I’m too scared to have it.
AW: Huh.
BB: I’m just too scared to have it.
AW: What?
BB: I mean, if I’m pregnant I’m too scared to have another abortion. I’m too scared to have it so what do I do?
AW: Well, no one will know that you’re having it. I mean, no one will know if you have it … if you’re not having it, no one will know that you’re not having … they’ll just think you’re putting on a little weight. They would really, probably, be nicer to you because they’ll think you’re really, uh, gone over the hill.
BB: Yeah. But, when it comes out, and it’s pink and white.
AW: So are you.
BB: I can’t afford, my dear, money to dye eyelashes and eyebrows.
AW: No, but at least you’ll be home a little.
BB: What?
AW: You’ll have to stay home a little.
BB: I have to stay home a little, but what am I gonna do with it once I have it? Who’s gonna pay for the hospital bills?
AW: Oh, that, your mother.
BB: And you have to come and do exercises with me for natural childbirth, breathe along with me you know.
AW: Your mother will be so happy with that, with a granddaughter, you won’t even have to watch it, you can just go out and leave it at home.
BB: Yeah, but what will you … will you start giving me some money now?
AW: What?
BB: I mean, I need money for the tests, I mean, I know I am, I get that feeling in my stomach.
AW: Really?
BB: And in two weeks I’m gonna get sick.
AW: Brigid, it’s just gas.
BB: What?
AW: It’s just gas.
Cast a Cold Eye: The Late Works of Andy Warhol opens October 21 at the new Gagosian Gallery, 555 W. 24 St, NYC.
