There was one place though that caught the fumes of cool as they flew overhead and safeguarded it in a small little salon called Madness.
Madness was my little get away where I could hang with like-minded artists. I owe a lot of my success to the passion and encouragement of those friends.
Madness was a daily party with a come-as-you-are attitude. People would show up just to chat and hang out. The owner, Ronnie Thompson was a larger than life, super talented and had a real love for life and people. He was well connected with all the clubgoers, gay community and artists that Phoenix had to offer.
If Ronnie came to your event, you were guaranteed at least 30 of the hippest, coolest trend-setters in the entire state. His presence not only brought a small party, joy and love, but major cachet! He and his crew would show up and the event immediately became their personal nightclub. Ronnie always came with the hottest girls and guys, dressed to the nines. And if his people liked your event, you were set.
Ronnie was also a very generous friend. I found out years later that he was one of the first people to get our fliers, but rather than have them sit at the salon in the hopes that some one picked it up, Ronnie would personally hand them out. And as soon as Ronnie knew about an event, his entire cabal of cool did too.