A Preview of ''Granny Takes A Trip''

When Gram Parsons is mentioned, his Nudie Cohn outfits often come to mind. The singer also loved the western-style outfits at a London shop, even going so far as sleeping there. 

While based on Cohn's ideas, these versions boasted a Savile Row flavor and velvet collars. 

Another patron was Keith Moon, who refused to be rushed while selecting clothes to wear that evening. Besides spending five hours here, he tried to pay with half of a credit card! Keith had used the credit card to unlock the door to his apartment, but half of it got stuck.

The store visited by Gram and Keith was Granny-Takes-A-Trip, also the title of Paul Gorman's upcoming book  (available on the 25th of September).

Although some complained of snobbery, non-showbiz folks were welcome at Granny's. One man brought in curtains and had no trouble getting a suit made out of them.

Such tales--and most of the photographs--are the best parts of the book, as with Joe Cocker wearing star-spangled boots at Woodstock. Other clients seen with their 'Granny' purchases include Lou Reed, Marc Bolan, Todd Rundgren, and members of Cream.

Elton John was photographed outside the Los Angeles branch (another was in New York), but his face is out of focus. It is much better than a shot of Pink Floyd. If it weren't for the caption, the reader wouldn't know who was onstage. 

A number of Granny's customers and designers--as well as owners of the business--developed drug habits. The latter included Freddie Hornik. 

But Gorman is grateful to the late entrepreneur. Much of Granny Takes A Trip: High Fashion And High Times at the Wildest Rock 'n' Roll Boutique is based on Freddie's scrapbooks and notes for an unpublished memoir. 

Even today, there's a Granny Takes A Trip store. It's in Torrance, California, and often referred to as GTAT. An employee told the Art and Music Guide that they are not connected to the original outlets from the sixties and seventies, but are inspired by its aesthetics.