Madonna (38 page)

Madonna with New York DJ John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez, whom she met in 1982. Benitez wrote and produced her first Top 40 hit ‘Holiday.’ While Madonna was deeply in love with him and talked of marriage, their mutual ambition outweighed their love for each other.

Madonna posing in her provocative ‘bridal’ outfit, which she wore when she performed ‘Like A Virgin,’ the song that was a US number 1 hit for six weeks. Note the famous ‘Boy Toy’ belt, now the name of her company.

Madonna and husband Sean Penn, whom she married on her birthday in 1985. It was not long before they were being referred to as the ‘Poison Penns.’

Penn once admitted that he preferred ‘the bar to the gym any day.’ As Madonna’s career went from strength to strength, Penn’s drinking, wild behavior and hatred of the press became out of control.

Madonna and bisexual comedienne Sandra Bernhard struck up a bizarre friendship during her troubled marriage to Sean Penn. Sean was outraged by the very public show the pair put on, while fans were left guessing about the relationship.

The success of Madonna’s tours in the early 1990s depended upon her power to shock. The overt sexuality increased her popularity for a time, but with the release of her film
Truth or Dare,
followed swiftly by her book
Sex,
fans grew tired of this persona.

Madonna’s hugely successful Blonde Ambition tour, 1990; she was on the road for four months and played in twenty-seven cities worldwide.

Madonna began an on-off affair with Warren Beatty in 1989 after he cast her as Breathless Mahoney in the film
Dick Tracy.

Madonna escorted Michael Jackson to the 1991 Oscars – a mutual publicity stunt – and she quickly abandoned him at the post-Oscars party the pair attended.

Sexually alluring, provocative and surrounded by men; this is Madonna’s abiding public image. Here she poses for the camera for
Truth or Dare,
1991.

With boyfriend Tony Ward, who appeared in several of Madonna’s videos including
Truth or Dare.
He also features in her book
Sex.

Madonna attends ex-lover Prince’s concert with her secret lover and one-time bodyguard Jimmy Albright (
left
). Albright, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Carlos Leon, the father of Madonna’s daughter, enjoyed a stormy three-year relationship with the star. They planned to marry, and had even chosen names for their children.