Courtney Love in Taiwan, ca. 1983

Courtney Love, roughly 18 years old, lived on fresh fruit and sushi, and stripped at night using the name ‘Crystal’ in Taiwan, ca. 1983.

“I was working at a dance hall in Taiwan, trying to earn money, so I could afford an apartment in San Francisco. I was utterly broke, so I was sleeping in a bed with a bunch of Brazilian dancers. I got crabs, and I had to get up every night to dance to Gloria Gaynor and Billy Idol’s ‘Rebel, Rebel.’ After a while, I was like, ‘Get me the fuck out of here.’ All these other dancers were constantly nodding out. We all had to wear numbers on our dress. But I had no money, and they were holding my passport, so I was kind of stuck.”