Archival pictures taken by Madonna's former partner, musician Dan Gilroy, are making waves online. In the photos, the future superstar appears in a completely different guise: with short dark hair and casual clothing in New York. According to Wave RBC.UA, citing the Instagram account History Photographed, the photographs date back to 1979 — a period when the artist was a dancer just beginning her creative journey.
Moving to an old synagogue in Queens
By the time of the shoot, Madonna's life was intertwined with Dan Gilroy, the author of these shots. After the couple began dating, the future star moved into an old synagogue in Corona, Queens, where her partner lived and worked alongside his brother Ed. It was in these conditions that the artist's early creative persona was shaped, far removed from the stage images she would later become globally associated with.
Outfit on the bus: sweatshirt, cargo pants, and sneakers
In the published images, Madonna is captured on a bus wearing a short haircut, a sweatshirt, green cargo pants, and sneakers. These shots contrast sharply with the singer's usual stage personas and document an early period of her life before she became an international star. According to sources, at the time the Gilroy brothers worked as waiters by day and performed comedy acts at night.
From drums to original songs
While her partners focused on work and comedy performances, Madonna learned to play the drums and began writing her own songs. Dan taught her how to play the guitar, after which the pair founded the band Breakfast Club. Madonna initially played drums before transitioning to performing her own compositions. In 1980, she left Breakfast Club to form her own band, Emmy and the Emmys.
Breakup and the fate of the archive: letters, instruments, and a documentary
The couple's professional and personal relationship lasted about 18 months. The breakup, as is known, was driven by differing visions of the future and ambitions: Madonna sought to develop as a solo artist and ultimately took that step. After parting ways, Gilroy preserved personal photographs, videos, and love letters that Madonna wrote to him during a trip to Europe. Part of the archival materials was used in the 2019 documentary 'Madonna and the Breakfast Club' directed by Guy Guido. In September 2024, the musician told People magazine that he initially planned to put the letters up for auction alongside the musical instruments Madonna used at the start of her career, but she asked him not to make them public. In response, the singer signed the instruments, and Gilroy returned the letters.
