The Gramercy Park Hotel: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Legacy

It all began with David Bowie in February 1973.

Too ostentatious for some of the more esteemed hotels, Bowie landed at the Gramercy Park Hotel, decked out in a kimono and sporting his fiery red mullet. He was in New York to perform at Radio City and promote “Aladdin Sane,” which followed the iconic “Ziggy Stardust.”

During his two-week stay, Bowie turned the 18-story hotel into a haven of rock ‘n’ roll. The third floor buzzed with his entourage, groupies, and some of his famously flamboyant friends, although he had a strange aversion to elevators. Notable figures like Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, and Salvador Dali were among the crowd attending his performance on February 14.

Bowie’s presence created a stir, blending glamour with chaos, and as a result, the once-respectable hotel morphed into an epicenter of drugs, sex, and electrifying music.

Over the years, the hotel would welcome a host of legends including The Clash, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, and Bob Marley. It seemed to attract those with a free spirit, each leaving their mark.

Max Weisberg, in his recent book, highlights that the Gramercy offered larger, budget-friendly rooms with thicker walls than other Manhattan options. It even had room service for guitar picks and strings. But more than anything, it was the welcoming atmosphere that set it apart.

Weisberg notes that the hotel had a reputation, coining a second nickname: “Gram.” Guests could “order Gram at the Gram,” and they’d receive cocaine delivered discreetly, much like a pizza. It’s intriguing—bellhops, clerks, and even maids were caught up in the vibrant drug culture of the time.

Of course, you didn’t always need to order. Simply walking through the hallways could give you a contact high. Hunter S. Thompson’s outrageous antics and Bob Marley’s entourage floating beneath a cloud of smoke are just a couple of the wild anecdotes from the era. Tales of spontaneous drug parties were commonplace, with Debbie Harry mentioning, “There’s so much at the hotel. It’s nothing…”

However, it wasn’t all fun. Sid Vicious earned a legendary ban by tossing a TV out a window, leading to his move to the Chelsea Hotel, where he became infamous for other tragic events. Despite the wild atmosphere, some, like photographer Lee Black Childers, recalled a time when things were “handled more carefully.” In context, both hotels had their own chaos but in different flavors.

Bono relayed his experience from 1980, recalling feeling out of place amongst the cool crowd, clad in a fur coat and, he mused, “a shitty haircut.”

Tragically, the party atmosphere wasn’t bereft of sorrow. Weisberg recounted witnessing an overdose in the lobby as a child, a bitter reminder of the darker side of that lifestyle. Within a year, he lost a cousin and later, his uncle, both deeply entwined with the hotel’s chaotic history.

The Gramercy Park Hotel wasn’t solely a den for artists and outlaws; it had a colorful history dating back to its opening in 1925, functioning for a time as a social hub. High-profile events included Humphrey Bogart’s first wedding and John F. Kennedy’s stay in 1927.

Over the years, it remained a backdrop for notable figures—from Babe Ruth’s legendary tips to mob dealings orchestrated by its early owner, Herbert Weisberg.

Weisberg describes the hotel as a microcosm of New York’s shifting cultural landscape, capturing moments from Prohibition to rock ‘n’ roll, showcasing the constant changes the city experienced.

After years of ownership, the hotel was eventually bought by Ian Schrager, who modernized it but later sold it as challenges mounted, especially during the pandemic.

Now, in 2023, the hotel has been acquired again, with plans to reopen under MCR. Weisberg reflects on the Gramercy’s potential, suggesting it still holds stories and surprises for those who step through its doors again. “You might die. You might make money dealing drugs. You might find inspiration,” he observes, recognizing its unique intersection of experiences.

Ultimately, one could always return to the hotel bar, where the echoes of its storied past linger.