When we love, we don’t count? This French fan of Lady Gaga, a long-time collector, tells us how his passion started, the treasures he owns and why each object has a story for him.
At 31, JP Spasaro has a real passion for the singer Lady Gaga: he collects everything related to the American star. Rare records, collector’s items, limited editions… He is now the owner of an impressive collection worth several thousand euros. Proud of his treasures, he shows them off on his social networks (@gagaroomofficiel) and tells us behind the scenes of this passion which can quickly become expensive.
“I started in 2011, buying my first Gaga album. For me, the start of the collection was by purchasing this first album“, remembered JP Spasaro. This famous “first album“, it was Born This WayLady Gaga’s third opus. This is the starting point of a true love for the unique universe of the one who is nicknamed the “Mother Monster” by her community of fans around the world.
For JP Spasaro, collecting is not just about accumulating objects: his collection is intimately linked to his own history. “It’s truly love for the object. I find it super interesting to have an object that tells a story, a work. When I look at an object I immediately think about what this object says. It indirectly places me in a precise context of his career and of my life too“, he confides. In his collection of more than two thousand objects, certain pieces immediately attract attention….
Among them, a real rarity: a sculpture box-style case giving the impression of a pink metallic veil with a base in the name of the star imagined by her to house a bottle of champagne (a jeroboam) Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2005. Produced in only 110 copies worldwide, this work proudly sits in the room he dedicated to it. Purchase value: almost 1,000 euros.
And yet, it is not this piece, as precious as it is, that touches JP Spasaro the most. The one that has the greatest sentimental value in his eyes is a pair of ski boots worn by Lady Gaga during the filming of the film House of Gucci by Ridley Scott. A unique object, full of history, which creates an almost intimate link with the artist he has admired for so many years.
Collecting has a cost and JP Spasaro is fully aware of this. Although he likes to find new pieces linked to Lady Gaga, he keeps his feet on the ground and adopts a thoughtful approach. “There is no investment that is made every month. It is an investment that is made over several years“, he specifies. There is no question of spending his entire paycheck on a whim. As for the total price of his collection, accumulated over the years, he prefers to give an estimate: “I don’t know exactly anymore… I have spent more than 10,000 euros since the start of my collection“. A significant sum, but according to him, the true value of a collection is above all subjective: “For some, it would only be worth 2,000 euros, for example“, he explains.
When a collection grows so large, it can sometimes give rise to misunderstandings. “From the moment we start collecting a lot, there are many people who will associate it with psychological illnesses.“, recognizes JP Spasaro, well aware of the outside gaze. He also mentions a recurring question that we often ask pop culture collectors: “Why do I have such a special bond like this with an artist who is not supposed to know me?“For him, the answer is obvious:”It’s specific to my story, what she managed to give me when I was younger, and to help me. Like many of his fans.”
