This week back in 1992, Madonna unleashed one of the biggest controversies of her whole career – the SEX book.
Bound with an aluminium cover and sealed in Mylar plastic on the shelves to hide it’s sensitive content, the coffee table book featured 128 pages of explicit photographs by Steven Meisel, as well as poems, stories and essays on sex from the provocative singer.
The content included in the book at the time was revolutionary – bondage, cunnilingus. fetishes and same-sex intercourse are all depicted throughout.
It was released as a companion to her fifth studio album, Erotica, which saw an equal amount of controversy for its sexual lyrics and adult videos.
The book was an instant success, selling 1.5 million copies in just three days, and topping the New York Times bestseller list. Now it’s out of print, and remains one of the most sought after books ever.
This news report and interview from NBC News demonstrates the sheer level of hype that surrounded the release, in which Madonna says “in order to like or dislike something, I believe you truly have to understand something.”
You can see Grace Jones, Billy Idol, Rosie...
The book featured photographs of Madonna alongside a number of high-profile names, including model Naomi Campbell, actress Isabella Rossellini, rapper Vanilla Ice, and gay **** star Joey Stefano.
While the book was met with almost universal hostility from critics at the time of it’s release, modern day critics are more favourable.
I love Madonna but therrs nothing iconic or timeless about this book. The newer generation is unaware of ot, it was try hard and only hurt her afterwards. When people think of 1992 in music they think of Nirvana Nevermind, The Bodyguard with whitney etc. But Not the SEX book.
I love Madonna but therrs nothing iconic or timeless about this book. The newer generation is unaware of ot, it was try hard and only hurt her afterwards. When people think of 1992 in music they think of Nirvana Nevermind, The Bodyguard with whitney etc. But Not the SEX book.
Madonna’s Sex remains the most wanted out of print book
iconic