Nicholas Taylor (Nick Taylor / DJ High Priest) 

Born December 8, 1953 in Belleville, Illinois USA

Moved to New York in 1977. 1n January 1979 he photographs an early series of headshots with his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat. In1979 Nick joined Basquiat’s band “Gray” (guitar). Gray was a very unique sound oriented band associated with the “No Wave” scene in New York City at that time. Gray opened for bands like The Lounge Lizards and DNA  in New York City clubs such as CBGB’s, Tier 3. Hurrahs and the Mudd Club., Squat Theater. Nick had the good fortune of being a close confidant to Mr. Basquiat, and from 1981-’84, Nick watched Jean-Michel paint and draw hundreds of works in Basquait’s Crosby Street loft.  In 1982 Basquiat named him “DJ High Priest” for a collaboration they did at the Squat Theater in New York City. Also in ’82, with ‘tape loop-dj’ing’, he opened in Michael Holman’s weekly Hip Hop event with Africa Bambatta, Cool Herc and Jazzy J at Club Negril  in the East Village. High Priest was the dj for the New York City Breakers opening for acts Soul Sonic Force and Grand Master Flash. At The Kitchen in Soho 1983, Fab Five Freddy selected him for his dj-ing skills in the band ‘Estate Fresh’ which included Max Roach on drums. Nick co-produced “Sounds of…” Gray’s first lp released in 2010 with Michael Holman  on their label “Plush Safe Records”

Photo Exhibits

Tokyo August 2014;"Dubbed High Priest"DIGINNER Gallery Jiyuugaoka  Tokyo solo exhibition

Tokyo July 2014;"Dubbed High Priest"Il Solito,Ebisu Tokyo solo exhibition

Tokyo December 2013: “Break Night Portraits” Wish-Less Galery, Tabata, Tokyo, solo exhibition

London, October 2009 “Jean-Michel Basquiat Through Nicholas Taylor” 

By The Inoue Brothers, St. Martins Lane Hotel Gallery 

T Shirt collaboration with The Inoue Brothers sold at the Dover Street Market in London

DJ High Priest /Photos/T shirts/Book Signing/Com des Garcon’s Dover Street Market 

Copenhagen May 2007 Jean-Michel Basquiat Through Nicholas Taylor　

DJ High Priest /opening party

T Shirt collaboration with The Inoue Brothers at Studio Hz

Wax Poetics Magazine, Japan January 2014, cover photo {Basquiat}, total 18 photos in magazine.

Recent Gray concerts:

Beethoven Festival Love 2013 in Chicago. Illinois September 12, 2013 

At the New Museum in New York, Gray performs 2 shows July 21, 2011. 

Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC, March 25, 2012.

Gray performs with drummer Questlove at Brooklyn Academy of Music/BAM April 20, 2012

Parrish Art Museum, East Hampton, November 10, 2012

Soundtrack credits: 

Film Credits:

2001 “Downtown  81” track: ‘So Far So Real‘ film, Gray: opening track with Debbie Harry plus 2 more tracks. CD 

July 2010  ’Radiant Child’ Interview/Photos of Basquiat/Gray: 2 tracks/soundtrack. 

1998 film “Basquiat”  track: ‘Suicide Hotline Mode’ / soundtrack track vocals: with William Burroughs/Jeffery Wright. CD Island Records

2005 Nick released self produced clear vinyl lp: Passion And Danger/Original High Priest 

Solo photo USA traveling college tour exhibitions currated by Michael Beam (of the Castellani Art Museum), “Jean-Michel Basquiat, An Intimate Portrait”: This show has seen over 20 Universities across th USA including: 2013 Fullerton Museum of Art, Fullerton, California. Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University, New York. Susquehanna Art Museum, 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Sordoni Art Gallery and many more universities.

Nicholas Taylor website >> LINK