Nicholas Taylor aka DJ High Priest
Birth: Dec 8, 1953
Belleville, Illinois
Moved to New York in 1977. Studying photography at first, he took a very early
series of photos of his friend from the MUDD CLUB; Jean-Michel Basquiat. In
1979 he joined GRAY a sound oriented/avant-garde “No Wave” band
with Basquiat, Michael Holman, Vince Gallo and Wayne Clifford (Nick Played
guitar). 1981 moved to 39 East 1st Street having had roommates and guests
with the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Suzanne Malhouk, Michael Holman, Danny
Rosen, Rene Ricard, Fab Five Freddy, Vince Gallo, Phase 2, George Condo, David
Bowes, Steve Torton,…). In 1982 he became “DJ HIGH PRIEST”
after experimenting with tape loop DJ’ing and opened for Africa Bambatta,
Cool Herc and Jazzy J at Club Negril in the East Village. He became the unofficial
DJ for the New York City Breakers in 1983. At THE KITCHEN with Fab Five Freddy’s
ESTATE FRESH including Max Roach and the NYC Breakers, he layered sonic textures
over Max’s hypnotic rhythms. He’s DJ’d for MC’s Rammellzee,
Phase 2, Busy B, and is the steady DJ with the experimental band DEATH COMET
CREW, who over the years, toured Japan and Europe many times. In 1998 his
track Suicide Mode was on the BASQUIAT film soundtrack directed by Julian
Schnabel , track vocals: William Burroughs and Jeffery Wright. Soundtrack
credit for film “Downtown 81” (GRAY). Participated in the 2005
Venice Biennale with Rammellzee.
Nick also has a public access television show on MNN/Time Warner/AOL since
1998. Each week his 30 minute show brings to Manhattan viewers his take on
“pop-surrealism”: OUTSIDE MY WINDOW 12AM/channel 56 every Monday.
Since 2004 Nicholas has exhibited photos of Jean-Michel Basquiat/Gray and
other underground NYC scenes.
Recent one man exhibitions:
Jean-Michel Basquiat Through Nicholas Taylor
Studio Hz, Copenhagen May 2007
Breaknight Portraits
Elliot Smith Gallery
West 11 St NYC Feb. 2006
An Intimate Portrait
Susquehanna Museum
Maryland, 2005
An Intimate Portrait
Castellani Museum
Niagara, NY 2004
Collections:
Basquiat Estate, NYC
Serralves Museum of Modern Art, Porto, Portugal
Deutsch Guggenheim, Berlin
Castellani Museum, Niagara University, NY