Left: Andy Warhol under My Hustler marquee at the Hudson Cinema, 1967, Photo by Billy Name. Right: Nico, Chelsea Girl, 1967, Photo by Billy Name. Images Courtesy of Reel Art Press (RAP)
In the 1960s Andy Warhol’s silver spray-painted studio loft, otherwise known as the Factory, was the epicentre of a revolution in the arts. It was the site where Warhol created his iconic films and redefined painting as well as home to the wildest NYC parties – soirees that became so infamous they were often shut down by the police. And in the midst of all the drugs, avant-garde art and Edie Sedgwick’s radiance there was Billy Name, the man who captured many of those history-changing moments. Billy Name passed away this month, leaving behind his life-long oeuvre and contribution to the world.
William Linich Jr. was born in 22 February 1940 in the small conservative city of Poughkeepsie, New York. As he grew older and independent, William decided to move to New York City in search for downtown’s thriving avant-garde art scene. After settling down in the city, Linich worked with big names like La Monte Young and the Fluxus group, which back then included young artist Yoko Ono. During this period, Linich worked various jobs as a lighting designer, hairdresser and a waiter in order to support his creative career.
Left: Andy Warhol with Brillo Box and Ruby the cat, 1964, by Billy Name. Right: Silver Coke Bottles drying on the Factory floor, 1964, byBilly Name. Images Courtesy of Reel Art Press (RAP)
While working at Serendipity 3 — a fancy dessert restaurant in East Manhattan — William Linich Jr. served celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol, a regular diner at the swanky establishment. It was inside this restaurant where Warhol and William Linich Jr. met, and it was after this first encounter that they became lovers. Billy Name was the pseudonym Warhol gave Linich Jr. and from that point on his artistic and professional careers were attached to the newly acquired nickname. Immediately after, Name became Warhol’s right-hand man at The Factory.
Upon joining the Factory, Name became the chief photographer inside the artistic hub. The budding artist had never considered a career in photography, that is, until Warhol handed him a camera and requested that he record the many happenings inside the Factory. Despite its revolving door of eclectic and photogenic personalities, something was missing. Eager to add a few finishing touches, Name decorated Warhol’s base with aluminium foil and silver paint to create a space age atmosphere. During his time at the Factory, Billy Name became wildly successful, with a portfolio of photographs documenting Bob Dylan, the Velvet Underground, Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick and even Joe Dallesandro — the last living member of the Factory’s quirky repertoire.
Photo by Billy Name, 1967. From left: Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison, Nico, Maureen and John Cale pose for The Banana album cover. Image Courtesy of Reel Art Press (RAP)
On 18 July 2016, Dallesandro logged on Facebook to post a few sentences commemorating his recently deceased friend. The caption read: “I met Billy Name when I first started coming around the Factory on Union Square. He took the first photos of me when I had really short hair and was 17 or so. Later, when he took up residence in the closet my job was to check on him every morning and make sure he was still alive. Billy was the one who made The Silver Factory silver, working with Gerard Malanga. He was every bit an artist as anyone else at the Factory. Soon all of us will be gone, but because of Billy most of the history is recorded on film. May his journey home be peaceful.” The silver legacy of Billy Name lives on.
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“Billy Name: The Silver Age” is available for purchase from Reel Art Press