In 1977 native New Yorkers Tish & Snooky Bellomo opened America's first Punk Rock boutique on St. Mark's Place. Singers in the original Blondie line up, the sisters have been bringing the punk look and lifestyle to the masses for over 25 years. Their brand Manic Panic has survived NYC's skyrocketing commercial rent increases, dramatic economic turns, and constant attempts at knock-offs by the Goliaths of the beauty industry. The resilient sisters refuse to give up their market share to corporate copycats. Manic Panic (still privately owned and managed by the two sisters,) has grown into a multi-million dollar international hair color and cosmetics company. Although their little store in the East village is gone, the original spirit in which it was founded lives on. "We don't just sell it, we LIVE it!" say the sisters.
Manic Panic was the world's first alternative cosmetic brand, with colors and products that reflect Tish & Snooky's rock 'n roll roots. They were the first to give their products outrageous color names. Now everyone is doing it. But how many other CEO's sing in Rock 'n Roll bands and actually WEAR the products they produce? Their loyal customers (including everyone from celebrities to kids from Topeka to Tokyo,) know the difference. Despite the demands of running their business, Tish & Snooky still find the time to perform.
They have been animal lovers and have done animal rescue work all their lives. In celebration of 25 years of counter-culture cosmetics and hair color, they organized a benefit concert and auction honoring the Rescue dogs of 911, and benefiting the Suffolk County SPCA (the group that organized the Canine Search and Rescue operation at Ground Zero). The incredibly successful event was made possible with the help of friends and customers such as Debbie Harry, Alice Cooper, The B-52's, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Steven Tyler, Talking Heads, The Heart sisters, Cindy Adams, Wynonna Judd, Ace Frehley (Kiss), Iggy Pop, Bernadette Peters, Denis Leary, members of Danzig, The Dictators, The Go-Gos, Joan Jett, Matt Dillon, Nicole Miller, Rue McClanahan, Todd Oldham, Valerie Harper, members of Blue Oyster Cult, members of the Bongos, Annie Golden, members of Patti Smith Band, and the Star Spangles. On 7/7/07 MANIC PANIC celebrated its 30 year "manniversary" beginning with an egg-cream toast at 35 St Marks Place, the site of the original 1977 MANIC PANIC shop. Stars like Dennis Dunaway from the Alice Cooper Band, members of New York Dolls, Dictators and more were on hand at the soiree where we read NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's persoanal letter of congratulations to Tish & Snooky.
Tish and Snooky hope to spend the next 30 years continuing to do what they love best: creating cool 'alternative' beauty products, rescuing animals, and rock 'n rolling.
ADD THIS MANIC PANIC BANNER BELOW TO YOUR MYSPACE PAGE! (courtesy of the rockin' ladies from KLIK)
You may be better known for your hair color, but I've been using Manic Panic cosmetics for years. A close-up: I use the following products to perfect my Frank 'N Furter: FACE: -Moonlight Vampyre Veil powder (foundation) -Candelight Vaympre Veil blended with red lipstick for my blush -some Virgin Pressed Powder as highlight under my eyes EYES: -Raven Eye Pencil (brow and eyelining) -Raven Eyeshadow with some Starchild Eye Shadow blended in -Raven Mascara LIPS: -Kiss of Death lipstick (lined with Raven Pencil) I would like to offer a sincere thank you for the incredible products... keep it sexy. -Jared f/Milwaukee (more photos available at http://www. sensualdaydreams. com)
I SAW THIS ON YOUR PAGE AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.....MARILYN MANSON IS HOT...YEP, THANX FOR PUTTING THAT ON THERE....I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND LOVE MANIC PANIC SO MUCH THAT I HAVE IT ON MY MYSPACE....I HOPE TO GET ONE OF WEDNESDAY 13 USING VIRGIN WHITE POWDER CAUSE THAT IS WHAT I USE AND I AM SURE IT WOULD BE DEAD SEXY...JUST A THOUGHT....MAYBE YA SHOULD SEE IF HE'LL DO IT.....THANX BUNCHES AGAIN... TTYL, XOXXXOX, JENN MARIE
SHOCKING BLUE and I MIXED IN SOME GLITTER WITH MY GEL ! LAS VEGAS, NV ON 4-20-08. THEY MADE FUN OF ME CUZ I WAS EATING COTTON CANDY IN THE MIDDLE OF VEGAS ! LOL
