#horizontal drummer

[nyx-010]

"When I last photographed them together in London George desperately wanted a picture of the two of them kissing. At first Jon flatly refused, but after an argument and a sulk, he gave in and eventually agreed to pose for an astonishing picture of him kissing George on the cheek." The "astonishing" picture, taken by Levine, was printed center spread with the piece. If Levine thought that picture was astonishing he should've seen what Jon and I used to get up to with a Polaroid camera.

[nyx-010]

Jon split with Caroline and moved back into his parents' place in Hampstead and we got on with the business of falling in love and finding a new guitarist. It was such a perfect moment in my life - everything was coming together.

With Jon there was more affection than I'd ever known. Sex was tender and adventurous. My other boyfriends were all planks of wood who were happy to get blown off and roll over. It was like learning to love from scratch. I couldn't believe Jon had never been with another man, though he swore blind. Eventually he admitted to once kissing his friend, but I always suspected he was hiding something.

[nyx-010]

That evening he turned up on the doorstep with cat scratches all over his face. Caroline had attacked him. He said she was screaming at him, in front of all of their friends, "You fancy George, don't you? You spend enough time with him." I asked him what he said. He looked at me dead straight. "I told her it was true."

[nyx-010]

"Blimey," said Jon. "You look great." I loved turning up at clubs with him. I let people think what they liked - they always did anyway. When Jon dropped me at home he kissed my cheek and said, "I won't be able to sleep." I ran inside and sat down on the stairs in the dark, I could have strangled myself for not grabbing hold of him.

We spoke the next morning. Jon had to go to a party with Caroline, but he said he'd see me Sunday and joked, "How will we live without each other for one day?"

[nyx-010]

Jon invited me round to his flat while Caroline was away skiing. He drank too much red wine and started pouring out his heart. He'd been fighting with Caroline, she said he was selfish because he wanted to stay in London and work with the band. He said I could stay the night. I could see there was only one bed and panicked. "Er, er, no. I'll go home." I didn't know if he was coming on to me or just being thoughtful.

[nyx-010]

Jon returned from America and came straight to Goodge Street from the airport, suntanned and smiling. We went for a meal and talked about his adventures. He was more enthusiastic than ever. I was pleased. His holiday had left a void in my life. Over dinner he looked at me and said, "You're really pretty, you know." Cupid could have scraped me off the floor. It was the first time any boy had told me I was pretty without my makeup on.

[nyx-010]

When Jon went on holiday to California to visit his cousins he took our demo tapes and said he'd visit a few record companies. I received a postcard. "Dear George, I don't think America's ready for the Sex Gang Children. Missing you, Jon."

I innocently went to see Jon's girlfriend, Caroline. I mentioned Jon's card. She was furious. "That's bloody nice. He hasn't sent me one."

[nyx-010]

I assumed he was straight, though he was very flirtatious. He talked a lot about his girlfriend, Caroline. I talked about Kirk, who I was still madly in love with. Jon called him an Aryan and asked why I liked meatheads.