Baird Jones

Baird Jones lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a child, where his father, Cranston Jones,[4] was the Time magazine bureau chief and, later, a founding editor of People magazine. He attended the Buckley School, the Groton School, NYU and Columbia University.[4] He earned master's degrees from New York University School of Law (JD, MSW)[5] and Columbia University (undergrad and two masters).[4] Jones was said to be a misunderstood genius.[3] According to Phoebe Legere "This was a man of very, very high intelligence and a very advanced understanding of modern art—the mechanics of it and also the way in which promotion is the blood and bone of modern art."[3] For a period, he dated Sukhreet Gabel.[6]

Jones was one of New York City's first club promoters.[7][8] In the early 1980s until his death, he promoted parties at Studio 54, The Underground, Webster Hall and other clubs. Created the "Permanent Pass" with which over a million people attended his parties for over three decades.[4] He was friendly with artists on the New York scene such as Andy Warhol, Mark Kostabi, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, frequently including them in shows he curated in galleries, museums, and nightclubs.[9] Baird Jones was known to mail out club passes in an effort to ensure that clubs that were on the downside were filled.[10] Baird catered to individuals from the outer boroughs to go to clubs in Manhattan.[10] His parties had a diverse group including the under-21, oldermen, lgbtq, and others.[10] Baird Jones celebrated the release of Dr. Kevorkian from prison at Webster Hall.[11]

Baird Jones had an art collection from a number of celebrities. It ranged from Muhammad Ali to Jimi Hendrix to Princess Grace, from Mel Brooks to Jack Kevorkian, from Buddy Hackett to Marcel Marceau[12] They also included paintings by Adolf Hitler to Charles Manson.[13]

Baird appeared on The Howard Stern Show concerning his love life.[14] Baird at this interview claimed to be a 36 year old virgin in 1991.[14] Baird Jones interviewed playwright Arthur Miller and upset Miller with his pointed questions.[15]

Jones claims to have invented the sport of midget bowling[15] a form of dwarf-tossing which originated in Australia.[16] The sport according to Jones was an attempt to "performance art designed to satirize the values of mainstream America."[17] Jones famously employed Michael J. Anderson as a participant.[16] A bill was signed by former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo to ban the practice.[17]

Baird Jones was the author of two books Mark Kostabi and the East Village Scene 1983-1987 and Sexual Humor.[18] Baird was a contributor to author at the New York Daily News[19] Page Six and Gawker.[20] He had a byline at the East Village Eye.[4] He was a staffer at Rush & Molloy gossip column.[21] He made news with the Village Voice after obtaining an interview with The Limelight Peter Gatien.[22] His articles included those about Donald Trump,[23] Lester Crown,[24] James Crown , Jason Beghe[23] and Neve Campbell.[25]

Baird Jones appeared in a number of films including B.F.D. (1990), Con Artist (2009), and Behind the Music (1997).[2]

Jones died at the age of 53 allegedly from an enlarged heart[26] resulting in a heart attack.[26] Initial reports though were inconclusive.[27] A memorial attended by Lindsay Lohan, was held at the Plumm.[3] Plumm ironically was attempted to be closed by a number of promoters including Jones and Ivy Supersonic[1] over a dispute about money with owner Noel Ashman.[28]