I started this quest with a few Google searches, certain that the answer would be just a click or two away. I mean, how hard could it be to name someone in the same photograph as so many other stars. Surely someone took names for credits and licensing purposes.

Ha!

As I started to get a little more serious, I worked through various lists of names and created ‘targets’ – people I wanted to contact as they would definitely know. Angie Bowie was top of the list – as she is in the photo, standing next to Bowie’s Mystery Guest.  Second on the list was Cherry Vanilla.

Finding Cherry Vanilla

I’ve been trying to get word to Cherry for nearly twelve months, but I kept hitting walls.  As I mention in the video, I’m more than aware that people don’t want to talk about this party – especially to some unknown person they’ve received a random email from.  However, for some of the names on my list, I’m aware that I just haven’t found the correct avenue to get the request under their noses.

It was thanks to the generosity of Marla Kanevsky that I managed to get word to Ava Cherry and it would seem that fortune has shone upon my search once again, because I stumbled across Madeline Bocaro.  Madeline is a prolific photographer, writer and journalist.  I first came across her work via  the Please Kill Me website.

Madeline’s own website is such a great source of interesting interviews – you will be lost there for days – https://madelinex.com/

Madeline is a friend of Cherry Vanilla, so I cheekily sent an email explaining what I’m trying to do whilst hoping that the website and the every-growing list of people I’ve contacted would go some way to proving how serious I am about the project.

For those that don’t know, Cherry worked for MainMan at the time of the party.  She was PR, she was A&R, she was tie-straightener, chair-stacker, floor-sweeper, ego-soother, motivator and absolutely anything else that needed doing.  Her book, Lick Me, is stunning – shocking, passionate, honest and compelling.  If you’re into Bowie history, there is a big Cherry shaped hole in your knowledge that this can fill.  Even better is listening to Cherry read it herself on Audible.

If you take a free 30-day trial to Audible, and enter the code ‘BowiesMysteryGuest’ at the checkout – absolutely nothing happens – I’m not an affiliate, but it’s worth taking out a trial just to hear Cherry’s book.

Anyway, a few days later I received an email from Madeline. She’d heard from Cherry. Ready?

I asked Cherry. She doesn’t know either!

Good luck with your search.

M

Oh well.  Thank you Cherry for taking the time to have a look at the photo and huge thanks to Madeline Bocaro for facilitating it.

The quest continues….