Inside story of Lady Gaga’s early years and the road to music success and influence

Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an influential musician, songwriter, and actress who has taken the music industry by storm. She was born on March 28, 1986, in New York City and began playing the piano at the age of four. Her parents supported her musical aspirations, and at the age of 15, she began performing in clubs in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Gaga’s first experience performing in front of a live audience was at the Bitter End, a New York City bar. She performed her own songs, which were inspired by her love for classic rock and pop music.

In 2007, Lady Gaga was booked to perform on a side stage at Lollapalooza. During her set, her DJ experienced massive feedback and the crowd spent much of Gaga’s set screaming at the stage. They had been given shaky folding tables for their turntables, so every time Gaga moved, the record skipped. The indignities continued off-stage as well. A bicycle cop wrote her a ticket for “wearing hot pants.” Finally, Gaga experienced a fan who mistook her for Amy Winehouse. Taking it in stride, Gaga responded with a “fierce glare” and in “her foggiest East London accent,” yelled “Oi! Feck off!” Despite this, Gaga still found a thrill in having a fan.

Stardom and riches had yet to replace a run-down apartment on Stanton Street and the excitement of getting to play Pianos on Ludlow for the first time. Her longtime friend and former DJ, Brendan Jay Sullivan, has penned a touching memoir, “Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, the Lower East Side, and the Prime of Our Lives” (It Books), which recalls Gaga’s mid-aughts on the LES.

When Sullivan first met Stefani Germanotta, she was 20, had a record deal with Island Records and was dating a heavy-metal drummer and bar manager named Luc Carl. Sullivan depicts him as inattentive and possessive, often dictating whom she could talk to and where she could work and regularly ignoring her in order to flirt with any young cutie who crossed his path. Gaga and Sullivan became fast friends, and the night she learned that she would be recording an album, she excitedly shared the news with her new friend while Carl “became distracted by a small coterie of drunk girls.”

But as they helped each other through troublesome relationships, Sullivan learned that there was more to this talented spitfire than met the eye. Gaga was also single-minded in her ambitions. When Sullivan’s girlfriend broke up with him, Gaga implored him to read the book “The Secret,” trying to persuade him to visualize getting his ex back the same way, he writes, that Gaga had visualized one day playing Madison Square Garden. “Roll your eyes all you want,” she said. “But you have to have a vision for what you want. You have to picture it in your mind.”

Gaga was preparing for a performance, in honor of a friend’s birthday, unlike any before for her, as it would have her popping out of a fake cake — really a barrel — at Beauty Bar on 14th Street. The barrel was too small for her, but Gaga, ever the trouper, would make it work, despite the “tremble of intimidation” in her voice when she asked, “Are we really doing this?” Sullivan, who was DJ’ing, cut the music at midnight on the appointed night, brought up the birthday boy, and said, “Mr. President . . .” Gaga’s hand popped out of the massive “cake” they had constructed, and he yelled, “Marilyn Monroe!” Stepping out onto a platform, Gaga sang “Happy Birthday” over a recording of Monroe doing the same and crushed the actress’ voice to a “thunderous cheer.”

Sullivan then switched the song to “Birthday,” by The Beatles, and Gaga “go-go-danced her ass off” as the crowd “crammed huge tips into her garter belts and she put on a big show, bending over and having them stuff her opalescent sequined bra.” She finished the night dancing on the bar in white leather heels to Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69,” “wearing nothing but fishnets,

Despite the many setbacks and difficulties she faced, she never gave up on her dream of becoming a successful musician. And, as we now know, she succeeded beyond her wildest dreams.

Lady Gaga is an inspiration to millions of people around the world, not just because of her incredible talent and success, but also because of her resilience and determination in the face of adversity. She has shown us that no matter how hard things may seem, we can always find a way to overcome them and achieve our goals.

As we look back on Gaga’s early years in New York City, it’s clear that her time on the Lower East Side was a defining moment in her life and career. It was here that she honed her skills as a performer, made lifelong friends, and learned the value of hard work and perseverance.

Her performances at the Bitter End led to a devoted fanbase and caught the attention of music industry executives.

After high school, Gaga attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts but eventually dropped out to focus on her music career. In 2007, she was signed to Interscope Records, and in 2008 she released her debut album, “The Fame,” which included hit songs like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.”

“The Fame” was a commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in multiple countries and earning Gaga numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. She followed up with several more albums, including “Born This Way,” “Artpop,” and “Joanne.”

Gaga’s music is known for its catchy hooks, provocative lyrics, and eclectic style. She has been compared to other iconic pop artists like Madonna and David Bowie and has become a trailblazer in the industry for her unique sound and artistic vision.

In addition to her music career, Gaga has also made a name for herself as an actress. She has appeared in films like “A Star is Born” and “American Horror Story” and has earned critical acclaim for her performances.

Despite her success, Gaga has remained humble and dedicated to her craft. She has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness and has been praised for her philanthropic efforts.

If Lady Gaga had not become famous for her music, she could have pursued a career in fashion. She has been known to design her own stage costumes and has collaborated with major fashion brands like Versace and Tiffany & Co.

Today, Lady Gaga is a global icon who has touched the lives of millions of people with her music and message of hope and empowerment. And while she may no longer be playing small bars and clubs in New York City, she remains committed to using her platform to make a positive impact on the world.

In conclusion, Lady Gaga’s journey to becoming a successful musician is a testament to her talent, hard work, and perseverance. From performing in small clubs in New York City to headlining major music festivals around the world, she has cemented her place in music history and continues to inspire fans and aspiring artists alike.