Sebastian Horsley: Dandy returns to Underworld

The 47-year-old died of a suspected heroin overdose just days after the Tim Fountain-directed stage adaptation of his memoir Dandy in the Underworld (described as "a masterpiece of filth" by Bryan Ferry) opened at Soho Theatre.

An artist, writer and occasional sex columnist, Horsley was notorious for his love of drugs, prostitutes and publicity. He caused outrage when he participated in a crucifixion ceremony in the Philippines in 2000. Last year, travelling to the US for the launch of his book, he was turned away at New York and banned from America for "moral turpitude."

Hot Press’s Olaf Tyaransen was a good friend of Horsley’s. "I'm shocked but not really surprised at this awful news. I first met Sebastian about eight years ago when I interviewed him for Hot Press, and we'd been in regular touch ever since. We had lunch in Soho just a couple of months ago. He was as witty, charming and lovely as ever. Despite his reputation, Sebastian was a very decent, kind and lovely human being. He was also one of the most interesting individuals I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

"He'd invited me to the premiere of Dandy in the Underworld and when I emailed last week to say I couldn't make that night but would definitely go to see it later, he sent the following reply:
"Oh, I wouldn't bother,' he wrote. 'There are two ways of emptying a theatre; the first is to run in and yell, 'Fire!' - The second is to put me on. I am sure there will be nothing wrong with this production – except its appalling choice of subject. Not that I will see it, of course. A play about myself? There is only one thing I hate more than theatre – and that is myself.'"

"I quoted his email in my Evening Herald column and they used his picture on the page. Actually, I left a message on his answering machine on Wednesday night to let him know. He didn't call back – quite possibly he was already dead. I'll miss his mad phone calls. I'll miss him."

Sebastian Horsley, 1962-2010. RIP.