At a moment when New Yorkers are reviving the city's trends of yesteryear, it seems only fitting that one look to revisit the work of Ricky Powell–- who has not only been documenting the city for the past 20 years, but has himself become a veritable New York icon. Growing up in Greenwich Village in the 1970s, Powell's discerning eye and impeccable timing has resulted in snapshots of some of the 1980s' most seminal characters, including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Run DMC, and Madonna. "Rapp'in with The Rickster," his public access show which first aired in 1990, is now accessible on YouTube, with new episodes; and his third book of photographs titled Illy Funksters is due out this summer with a show of the same title at Milk Studios in June. psychoPEDIA sat down with the Rickster to find out more about his history through the decades:

What was it like to be a young photographer on the scene in 1980s New York?
Oh man, good times. New York City was a real cultural pulse-– an epicenter. Shit that was interesting. Now, it's dead. Everything is saturated. It's dull. So many corn balls-– it dilutes it.

You worked as a paparazzo during the 80's. Who did you stalk?
Not stalk. Stake. There's a difference.

Who did you stake?
Once, Oprah Winfrey, on assignment for three hours. You know that restaurant, Sign of The Dove? My agent calls and says Oprah Winfrey is in there. We used the big cameras with the big lens. They let me sit in there and wait for her. When she finishes, she goes outside with her entourage. I got one shot. She's waving to me. She was on my dick. She was giving me googoo eyes, and I was like, "Lady, I'm just here working."

You shot Madonna too?
She hates me. This one time I got her, Sandra Bernhard, and Debi Mazar canoodling. It was at Futura 2000's party in 1988. I ended up sitting next to Madonna on the couch. I said, "Do mind if I take pictures?" She said, "Yeah, as long as you don't do anything with them." But then, I took it to the Daily News. It came out on page two. A few months later, I'm working on this public service announcement about teenagers using condoms. The director says to me "Madonna is supposed to be in this thing, and she won't come in the building until you’re gone." I had to leave the building. I give her props for the early ‘80s shit she did, but now she's just cuckoo.

She spoke recently in a Vanity Fair interview about some of the same things you’re saying about NYC and how it's not the cultural center in used to be.
I read that in The Post. It's not like it was in the '80s. It made me think, “I'm real lucky I got to shoot during that period. I got that second half of the ‘80s. But if I had started in the beginning, I would have gotten the discotheque-– Zenon, which I used to go to every weekend. I had the juice. I would have shot Danceteria . I would have shot the Roxy.

Why don't you think things were as interesting in the ‘90s?
Once Giuliani came in, he killed it culturally.

As a writer, who have been your favorite subjects?
I just did an interview with George Kalinsky. It's a benchmark of my career. He's been the Madison Square Garden photographer since 1966. Glenn O' Brien reached out to me, who just took over Interview. It was an amazing experience. I walked through the office and saw all the photos I grew up with. I thought, “Oh my god, early ‘70s Knicks.” That's the shit that puts me in a zone. I'm locked into that period.

Growing up in the Village in the '70s must have been amazing.
It was a magical time. Everything was cool across the board. Sports, music, movies, TV. I loved it. The Odd Couple, which is back on TV now, Channel 11 at 2 in the morning. It's my favorite show, because you know I emulate Oscar Madison. You know when people tell you to think about something in your life that makes you happy? I put myself back in that time.

~Sara Costello


First photo, courtesy of Eye Spy Films
Seventh photo, courtesy of Greenwood Images
All other photos by Ricky Powell