I don't think I ever told this to @MrChuckD:
— Harry Allen (@harryallen) January 2, 2020
In 1990, while I was Director of Enemy Relations, I got a call from @SPIN magazine. They were planning their annual Swimsuit Issue, below.
They wanted Public Enemy to be in it. If they did it, they might even get the cover. pic.twitter.com/DX7wzFMJX0
Magazines always dangle covers, to get artists. Still, it was a great opportunity, publicity-wise. So, I was interested. But I was also starting to sweat.
— Harry Allen (@harryallen) January 2, 2020
See, when @SPIN did the Swimsuit Issue, what you'd typically see were your favorite, pale, hairy-legged rock stars … pic.twitter.com/L3xqgwJgYo
… like the ones on these covers, doing "fun," "summery" activities, half-naked.
— Harry Allen (@harryallen) January 2, 2020
That wasn't how I wanted Public Enemy depicted: In swim trunks, tossing a beach ball over a net. (I knew that one of the forces we were up against was demystification; attempts to unravel our myth.)
But how should I respond to @SPIN?
— Harry Allen (@harryallen) January 2, 2020
It turned out I didn't have to: They called a few days later to withdraw the offer. As I recall, They'd decided not to do the issue, at all.
Too Bad. Because, in the interim, I'd figured out *exactly* in what swimsuits P.E. would appear. pic.twitter.com/GrPYgFq8TN
In these. pic.twitter.com/HHrGXfyV4o
— Harry Allen (@harryallen) January 2, 2020