Ian Schrager opened the legendary “Studio 54” in New York in 1977. On the occasion of his 75th birthday, he will talk about freedom, a good night’s sleep – and why the Hudson metropolis does not have a lively club scene.
“Studio 54” was like his “first love”, says Ian Schrager. He opened the nightclub in the middle of Manhattan in 1977 together with Steve Rubell – and soon the big stars of the time were celebrating there. Only about three years later, however, the founders ended up in prison for embezzling taxes. In the interview, Schrager remembers the old days with a Brooklyn accent and a deep, scratchy voice – and complains about the current club scene in New York.
Mister Schrager, how do you assess the state of your hometown New York, which was hit hard by the corona pandemic?
Good things always come out of such terrible situations, and you always have to look to the good side of things. People have understood how precious life is and are now so excited to finally be able to enjoy it again – and somehow there is a more loving mood about everything and everyone. People are happy to have their lives again, to see other people and to talk to other people – good karma everywhere.
How do you rate the club scene in New York these days?
In the past, when I was only away from New York for a short time, I totally missed the city and couldn’t wait to come back – because I thought I was missing something. But now the world has caught up. New York no longer has this exclusivity. There are now other world-class cities that are just as developed and lead the cultural zeitgeist as New York – and that have a great club scene. There is no good club scene in New York these days – not like in Germany or in other cities.
Why is that?
By regulating the industry and trying to protect everyone, it has been emasculated. That can no longer work. There are people in New York now who – if they can still hear noise after eleven o’clock in the evening – call the police. Nightlife is important here – it is the incubator for so many cultural ideas. That’s why there is such a fascination, so much comes from it. If you choke that, that’s not a good idea. I know there are problems and they have to be dealt with – but in New York they are not dealt with correctly.
What made “Studio 54” so extraordinary?
There was of course the stars and the lighting and all that, but for me it was just that freedom. Once you stepped through that door you were free – free to do what you wanted and free to be whoever or whatever you wanted.
Do you miss the club?
I am ambivalent about it. In life you tend to forget the bad and only remember the good, but I don’t forget the bad. It was the first company I ever had and it was incredibly exciting and so much fun. It was like my first love. In this respect, I already miss it in this regard – but I always look forward.
Is there a moment that you particularly remember?
Yeah, it’s like remembering the first kiss. We were so busy on our opening night. My business partner Steve Rubell and I just pulled out for a soup. After that I kept working until maybe one or two at night, Steve stayed. He called me at five in the morning – and we were both on the cover of the “New York Post” with Cher with a huge photo. We felt as if we had made it, as if we were the kings of the world.
Would you have allowed your children to go to “Studio 54”?
Now that I’m a father, it’s very difficult to deal with all of these things that young people have to deal with these days. But yes – it would have been very difficult for me to tell them that they are not allowed to go there.
What would you consider to be the best club in the world right now – and have you ever been to the “Berghain” in Berlin?
Yes. There are a couple of these nightclubs in Berlin, and also in Ibiza, where that particular kind of electricity is in the air.
Could “Studio 54” be revived – and would today’s technology make it more difficult?
Yes – and yes, it would be more difficult. You have to protect people’s privacy, otherwise they cannot feel free. Some clubs have already found ways to do this. People need to feel free – as if they can do what they want as long as they don’t hurt anyone and it’s not illegal. And these new technologies don’t promote that, you have to restrict that. But yes – I’ve been waiting for 40 years for someone to come around the corner with an idea for a new “Studio 54”.
Would you be there again?
No, I’m done with the business. It eats up the people who work in it – usually. For some reason I made it. Going to work at ten in the evening after working all day – no, I’m no longer interested.
So you are no longer a night owl?
I have a ten year old son – so no. I love my job and i love my family. I used to go out all the time – but that’s over. Now I’m in bed well before midnight, before ten, and get up early.
You’re 75 – how does it feel?
I can’t believe it, can’t even pronounce it. But I’m still just as energetic, intense, focused, incurably curious about everything and motivated as always. I still have this hunger and this passion. My wife says I still have more energy than anyone else and that’s probably true. But there won’t be a big party. I’ve always been shy and introverted – and that’s exactly how I married someone. We’re just happy at home together – but on the outside, I work on all these extravagant and provocative projects. I love my work, I love my family and I am happy with everything I have. I don’t care what other people have. I am the richest person in the world.
Christina Horsten, dpa
Ian Schrager was born on July 19, 1946 in the New York borough of Brooklyn and together with Steve Rubell (1943–1989) founded the nightclub “Studio 54” in the late 1970s. The stars of the time danced through the nights there for three years. Then Schrager and Rubell were arrested, among other things, for tax evasion and ended up in jail. Today Schrager, who is married for the second time and has three children, owns several hotels. dpa
