The September 1979 issue of Interview remains one of the most coveted and collectible editions ever published by the legendary magazine founded by Andy Warhol. Capturing the glamour, decadence and cultural electricity of late-1970s New York, this iconic issue perfectly embodies the spirit of Studio 54-era celebrity culture that made Interview essential reading for artists, musicians, actors and nightlife obsessives alike.
Its enduring cult status is largely tied to the unforgettable cover featuring Liza Minnelli, one of the greatest gay icons of the twentieth century. At the height of her fame following Cabaret and her close association with the disco scene, Minnelli represented theatrical excess, vulnerability, charisma and liberation all at once. Her presence on the cover transformed the issue into far more than a celebrity magazine: it became a time capsule of queer nightlife, performance culture and downtown New York mythology.
Collectors continue to hunt for this particular issue not only because of Minnelli’s legendary status, but because it captures a moment when Interview was redefining what a magazine could be — raw, glamorous, ironic and deeply connected to the art world orbiting Warhol’s Factory. The layouts, photography and interviews feel effortlessly cool, blurring the boundaries between art publication, gossip magazine and underground document.
Today, the September 1979 issue stands as both a highly desirable collector’s object and a cultural artifact from a vanished New York, when fashion, art, disco and queer culture collided under the flashing lights of Studio 54.