Song of the Day: 'Call Me' by Giorgio Moroder

I definitely had sexual feelings for boys (and then men) dating back to my earliest memories on the playground. But when the ad campaign for "American Gigolo" began airing at the beginning of 1980 -- when I was 12 -- things were taken to another level. Richard Gere's snazzy shirt-and-tie look set my imagination on fire -- undoubtedly why the garb is such a turn-on to me till this day. 

And when I was finally able to sneak and watch the movie late at night on cable a year or so later, the scene where Julian goes to the dark and steamy gay nightclub called Probe -- which I would later frequent myself -- was the one I always found the most titillating. Here's an instrumental version of "Call Me" featuring that and some of my other favorite scenes -- which I'm posting in celebration of the legendary Giorgio Moroder's 79th birthday, which was on Friday.

Mapplethorpe Pop-Up Installation in NYC This Friday and Saturday

To celebrate the upcoming release of HBO's "Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures," a pop-up exhibition of his work will be launched this weekend in New York City that looks like it's going to be really cool. Details HERE. : 

Ronaphobia

It doesn't get much better than finding an old copy of Rona Barrett's GOSSIP -- homophobic cracks and all! See for yourself HERE.

Fifth Gere

I'm not exactly sure what Richard Gere is selling, but I'm definitely buying it.

Keep It in Your Pants, Anderson

From Anderson Cooper's Facebook page:

Richard Gere was a guest on today's show, and Anderson talked about his first meeting Gere in NYC in 1980. Anderson recalled meeting the actor after seeing him in the New Apollo Theater production of "Bent," where he had Gere sign his Playbill.

Wow! I wish my mommy had been able to introduce me to my childhood jerkoff fantasies, too!

When Harry Met Gere ... and Dillon

Wow, what a way to start my morning. While looking on the wire for recent photos of Blondie performing in London, I stumbled across these incredible shots by Ron Galella I had never seen before of Debbie Harry with Richard Gere and Matt Dillon at the Art Against AIDS cocktail party and auction at Sotheby's in New York City from June 4, 1987. All three look fantastic -- Matt was just 23, Debbie was 41 and at the top of the dance charts with her "In Love With Love" remix, and Richard was 36. It's especially fun to see Deb -- completely Sprouse-d out -- with Richard as she had auditioned for "American Gigolo" (Lauren Hutton ultimately won the part) and will forever be associated with the film with the mega hit "Call Me." 

The event was noteworthy because it was the early days of celebrities lending their name to the fight against AIDS, which The New York Times noted in its write-up the following morning: 

Never underestimate the power of a movie star. Especially a superstar like Elizabeth Taylor. Once she attached her name to the American Foundation for AIDS Research, it became not only acceptable but desirable for other celebrities to become involved in the cause. 

Her presence at a benefit party brings in both the crowds and the donations. And so it was last night when an event called Art Against AIDS opened with a cocktail reception for nearly 1,000 people at Sotheby's. Mayor Koch showed up briefly, but the highlight of the evening was the appearance of the actress, sparkling in beaded green silk and diamonds, to accept a check for $400,000 from Leo Castelli, the art dealer. "It's just a modest beginning," he said. 

"I just love men with checks," Taylor said. 

Read on HERE.

GQ Flashback 1980: Richard Gere

Richard Gere in "American Gigolo" -- talk about an awakening. At the tender age of 12, simply watching the commercial for the film made me feel like I was being outed in front of my whole family. (Surely they all could see me hypnotized by the sight of Gere's smooth chest popping out of his khaki dress shirt.) John Travolta and Christopher Reeve famously turned down the role, but 30 years later it's hard to imagine anyone else playing Julian, even if the film bombed and truthfully wasn't nearly as good as it should have been, even though I never fail to watch it when it's on cable.

Speaking of original casting, found it fascinating when I recently learned that producer Giorgio Moroder's first pick to collaborate on the theme from the movie was Stevie Nicks, but she was unable to due to contractual constraints. That's when he turned to turned to Debbie Harry, who was given a rough instrumental track called "Man Machine." Harry quickly turned it into "Call Me," which became the year's biggest single of the year, spending six weeks at No. 6, becoming the second of Blondie's four No. 1 singles.

Morning Wood: Richard Gere

Don't think they come any hotter than this.