RIP Arthur
Remembering Arthur Weinstein, one of the architects of the modern club
August 2008
Original article written in Club World Magazine or view a PDF.
Unpublished: Remembrance from Stephen Lieberman
Arthur Weinstein
Just recently I received a call from an old friend with some very sad news. Arthur Weinstein had lost his fight with cancer and had passed away. It's been a long time since I've cried for anyone or anything, but that day I sat on the bed in my hotel and I wept. It's amazing the memories that rush into your mind at the moment when you realize that someone or something you hold dear is lost.
Arthur was a truly amazing person; one of the most creative minds I've known in my lifetime. A pioneer in the nightclub industry, from Studio 54 to The World, Tunnel, Limelight, Palladium, Club USA and so many more. The man has been involved in nightclubs since the beginning. He's owned them, designed them and has been a friend to the people that make this industry great. That was one of the reasons I always felt close to him. When I would go out with Arthur at night, we could walk up to any club in town and it was like the mayor of the city just walked up to the ropes. Everyone from the security guys, to the door hosts, club owners, dj's, techs, and bus-boys, all knew him and welcomed him inside. This was not about being cool, it was simply about being respected. The respect they showed this great man was reciprocal. That was part of the amazing experience of being his friend.
I've had the pleasure of working with Arthur on several jobs over the years. Every time I learned something from the man. Whether it was lighting design, club design, or politics on how to deal with a club owner, Arthur's opinion, insight and general point of view were always made clear. There was never any pretense when it came to Arthur. He was one of the few people that I always felt I could trust and confide in, no matter what the situation. I loved the man whole heartedly; his friendship was priceless to me. From the moment that phone rang and I knew he was gone I felt that loss on many levels. I felt the loss of losing a friend, I felt the loss of losing a mentor and I felt the loss of losing an industry legend.
The man lived life the way he wanted, long before he was sick. He was an artist in every sense of the word. He had a voracious appetite for art and literature and the nuances that accompany those ideals. This was apparent in his life and his work.
From my days living in New York through all of my moves, Arthur has always been like family to me. A mentor, a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a colleague, a friend, an inspiration; these are just a few words I could use to describe Arthur. I am certain to all of the people that where a part of Arthurs life, he was all of those things and more.
Arthur was the one constant for me whenever I was in New York. No matter what, he was always one of my first calls when I would arrive in town. "Hey Kid, you in the city?" I will miss our visits as I see the New York skyline come into view from wherever my travels are taking me. I will miss walking down 23rd street to the Chelsea hotel to see my old friend. I will miss sitting in his art studio talking with him, looking at pictures, looking at a new piece he is working on. As I write this eulogy it is still hard for me to imagine not seeing Arthur again. My sympathies are with his family and his loved ones.
I will miss my friend. Goodbye Arthur.