'She wasn't mainstream': New book details how Lady Gaga 'sold out' as a bottle blonde and changed her sound to impress rocker boyfriend Luc Carl in her early days in NYC

By Bianca Carneiro

PUBLISHED: 17:44 EST, 21 July 2013 | UPDATED: 17:47 EST, 21 July 2013

She's built a successful career for herself as a chameleon of fashion and music.

But things weren't always so clear cut for Lady Gaga, having been dropped by her first record label and relegated to playing seedy New York City bars until finally finding her inner artist.

Details from the early years of the pop star's career are revealed in a new book by long time friend Brendan Jay Sullivan -- including how she swapped her 'thick, dark, raven-haired Italian mane' for a bad blonde dye job and frequent changed her tunes to impress her 'inattentive and possessive' boyfriend. 

The way we were: Long time friend Brendan Jay Sullivan writes about Lady Gaga's formative first years as an artist in his latest book

The way we were: Long time friend Brendan Jay Sullivan writes about Lady Gaga's formative first years as an artist in his latest book

On Sunday the New York Post offered an inside look into Sullivan's book, titled Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, the Lower East Side, and the Prime of Our Lives, which hits the shelves on 27 August.

Within its pages Sullivan recalls meeting a then fresh faced Stephani Germanotta, a 20-year-old New York University drop-out looking to make her mark in a saturated music market.

The pair began their artistic collaboration in 2006 when the then brunette and her friend Lady Starlight joined his act -- he goes by the stage name DJ VH1 -- as a go-go dancer.

Wild youth: Sullivan's book (pictured here) tells of how the two navigated the wild New York City music scene to find success

Wild youth: Sullivan's book (pictured here) tells of how the two navigated the wild New York City music scene to find success

At the time she was dating heavy-metal drummer and bar manager Luc Carl, a relationship she would maintain through the early years of her commercial career despite their tumultuous rapport.

'The under-age girl looked a little lost,' he wrote of their first chat. 'Even her own boyfriend didn't have time for her.'

Sullivan called Carl a poor influence on Gaga, dictating whom she could talk to and where she could work while himself being 'distracted by a small coterie of drunk girls.'

Front row seat: Sullivan met the singer in 2006 when she was just a college drop-out living in New York City

Front row seat: Sullivan met the singer in 2006 when she was just a college drop-out living in New York City

Finding her identity: Over the years Sullivan detailed how she was inspired to find her own sense of style

Finding her identity: Over the years Sullivan detailed how she was inspired to find her own sense of style

Always trying to keep his attention, Gaga experimented with music styles favoured by her boyfriend, their never ending cat-and-mouse affair serving as inspiration for her hit Paparazzi.

The original tune 'began with a harsh beat, a decaying synth horn, and a backwards-bass effect,' Gaga declaring that she wrote the rock-inspired tune for Carl because he 'doesn't like my sing-songy piano ballads.'

Playing in seedy bars and clubs helped hone her persona and as he continued to work with her Sullivan saw Gaga transform into a superstar.

Just dance: The pair were musical collaborators and Brendan even had a quick cameo in Gaga's first music video

Just dance: The pair were musical collaborators and Brendan even had a quick cameo in Gaga's first music video

During one gig as a go-go dancer, she stole the spotlight from the band: 'She crawled on stage on all fours, the crowd loving this feral creature... crawling around the wires and guitar petals.'

But her stage success didn't translate well for her management, and they constantly struggled with her unconventional looks.

Sullivan recounted one day when his friend 'walked up to me silent, sheepish and biting  her lower lip' -- she had damaged her hair in a dye job gone wrong.

The boyfriend: At the time Gaga was dating bar manager Luc Carl, and their relationship continued through her early years of fame

The boyfriend: At the time Gaga was dating bar manager Luc Carl, and their relationship continued through her early years of fame

Transformed: The singer was first told to turn to blonde by her record label -- who later dropped her

Transformed: The singer was first told to turn to blonde by her record label -- who later dropped her

The look started to alienate her hardcore fans and talk of her 'selling out' rippled along Rivington Street, but so long as it pleased her boyfriend, she was okay.

'He likes f***ing a blonde,' she said, rolling her eyes.

As she continued on her quest to stardom, Gaga was eventually dropped by her label when they couldn't find a good commercial fit for her.

'She wasn't uptown enough for hip-hop, she wasn't LA enough for R&B,' Sullivan writes. 'She wasn’t mainstream enough for pop or pop enough for mainstream.'

Today: Gaga's visionary style has launched her as one of the world's top selling artists

Today: Gaga's visionary style has launched her as one of the world's top selling artists

Chameleon: The 27-year-old is known for her daily changing wigs and (often lack of) clothing choices
Chameleon: The 27-year-old is known for her daily changing wigs and (often lack of) clothing choices

Chameleon: The 27-year-old is known for her daily changing wigs and (often lack of) clothing choices

She still kept her eyes on the prize, telling Sullivan that she had taken inspiration from the popular self-help book The Secret and visualizing that one day she would sing to her screaming fans at Madison Square Garden.

'Roll your eyes all you want, but you have to have a vision for what you want. You have to picture it in your mind,' she said.

'I don't even just want to be a singer forever. I'm going to be a producer. I'm going to bring in young bands and help them develop. I am going to be the grandmother of pop.'

Earlier in the day... The couple were pictured out and about in the city
Earlier in the day... The couple were pictured out and about in the city

In love: Lady Gaga is now dating hunky actor Taylor Kinney

'I'm a very lucky guy': The loved-up pair met on the set of Gaga's music video, Yoü and I, in July 2011

'I'm a very lucky guy': The loved-up pair met on the set of Gaga's music video, Yoü and I, in July 2011

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*** She not edgy or cool... She's just plain stupid. Exp: walking around in meat, being carried in a fake egg to an award show, acting like a weirdo while being interviewed by Anderson Cooper (with the whole huge fake diamond in the teacup thing) or like a weird old lady (could have been a Barbara Walters impersonator) while being interviewed by Barbara Walters! She's just stupid. Did manage to turn out a few catchy tunes but that's it. Sorry, you can't be Madonna because Madonna is already Madonna. (BTW, she ((Madonna)) is looking a bit foolish these last 10 years or so. Time for her to hang up the spurs too!) ***

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Gaga will return from the August 19, when it launches the first single from the album artpop what promises to be breathtaking and crazy at the same time, is the most anticipated album of the year, get ready because the true queen of pop is back! Go Gaga!

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*** She not edgy or cool... She's just plain stupid. Exp: walking around in meat, being carried in a fake egg to an award show, acting like a weirdo while being interviewed by Anderson Cooper (with the whole huge fake diamond in the teacup thing) or like a weird old lady (could have been a Barbara Walters impersonator) while being interviewed by Barbara Walters! She's just stupid. Did manage to turn out a few catchy tunes but that's it. Sorry, you can't be Madonna because Madonna is already Madonna. (BTW, she ((Madonna)) is looking a bit foolish these last 10 years or so. Time for her to hang up the spurs too!) ***

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He himself never actually said she sold out. In fact he didn't really say anything bad at all, just factual. It was her "hardcore fans" (Although I find it hard to believe there were many that he time) who said that

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Pop singer in "changing image to sell records" shocker.

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I gotta say,it's been nice not seeing pictures of Gaga in crazy outfits everyday.May it continue

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So in other words, another one of Gaga's 'friends' using her fame to make money off her.

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Erm pretty sure she's not the one selling out for 15 mins of fame here...

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must be hard up...amazing who comes out of the woodwork.

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Her first album was so good.

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