This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2026
Extremely rare lot of two ''The Village Voice'' newspapers from 13 May 1981 and 20 May 1981, documenting the exact point in time that Madonna transformed from backup singer into solo artist. In the 13 May 1981 ''Village Voice'' issue, the band ''Emmy'' is noted on page 123 as performing on Thurs. May 21 at Max's Kansas City, an important proving ground for punk, pop and rock artists at the time. Emmy was the band that Madonna belonged to as a dancer and sometime backup singer as she was simultaneously shopping her demo tape around town. The following week, in the 20 May 1981 edition of ''The Village Voice'', ''Madonna'' is now noted on page 107 as taking the same time slot of Thurs. May 21 at Max's Kansas City that was previously given to Emmy. That night must have been an important one for Madonna, debuting as a solo artist at one of the most important nightclubs in the city. It would be two years later that ''Madonna'', her eponymous debut album, sent shock waves through the world of music.
''The Village Voice'' is a weekly counterculture newspaper that covers events of the downtown scene in New York City. These two issues are complete and originate from the Voice's own archives, with ''For Xerox Only'' stamped to the front of the 20 May issue. Each edition measures 12'' x 15'', complete with all pages and near fine. Since there was no reason to keep these two newspapers, as Madonna was nearly an unknown, they remain very scarce.