Accidental death of an anarcho-dandyist
Opus Diaboli is saddened by reports of the death of Sebastian Horsley.
Horsley, who combined dandyism with post-punk sensibilities is said to have died of a heroin overdose following celebrations for a play based on his autobiography Dandy in the Underworld.
Horsley’s dandyism had more in common with Baudelaire than Brummel, and his pink gaberdine suits and other fopperies were a method of affronting society rather than easing his way into it.
Dandy in the Underworld – a gift to unimaginative sub editors and obit writers – is a painfully honest, frequently revolting account of his struggle with ennui to find some meaning in his life, his almost inevitable drug problems, his relationships with men, women and his passion for fine tailoring, prostitutes and narcissism. His ultimate act of art-narcissism was being crucified in the Phillipines.
Without doubt he was one of the people who added spice to this blandest of all decades by simply being himself. More recently he wrote for the anarcho-dandyist magazine, The Chap.
His last column, as luck would have it, was about Satan:
“It is the Devil who understands and ministers to man’s carnal and intellectual self, and art is carnal and intellectual.”
His written work was often no more than pithy quotes lifted from Quentin Crisp and others stitched together to great effect. The final paragraph of his final column contained a prophetic aphorism, which I think on this occasion, was one of his own:
“You know that the religious promise of immortality is an illusion, fit for children. What can you do? Decide that the only power you have in this life is over your own body, so why not drink and drug it to death?”
Hail Horsley, you have left the world a poorer place for your leaving it, your wit, wisdom and wardrobe will be missed. We all hope this is just a publicity stunt for your new play.
