Rufus at home

Also in the Times magazine is an interview with Rufus Wainwright, who just bought a Gramercy Park one-bedroom apartment.

Morning routine: When I’m not touring or working a lot I usually get up at 11. I sleep in the nude and I walk around nude in my apartment, so I’ll make coffee and then sit at the piano. I usually play piano for a good two hours in the buff. There is no view from any of my windows, just a view of building walls, which most people might feel closed in, but the fact that I’m such a “naturalist” and a musician, the privacy is just great. Then I watch C-SPAN for like an hour and a half, get dressed up and go for a long walk around the city. And that’s usually when I write a lot of lyrics.

C-SPAN? Who’d have guessed?

What he takes with him on tour: On tour, the less you have with you, the better. At the end of the tour you always end up with crateloads of junk. People give you a lot of stuff on the road. If you ask for something onstage, it usually shows up at your hotel the next day.

The last thing he asked for: Underwear. And a lot of underwear would be thrown at me when I was onstage. Right now I’m trying for a flat-screen TV, a fireplace, and a chandelier.

So, kids, next time you see him, be sure to bring a housewarming gift for his new place. And take care throwing that chandelier onstage.