John Spacely, also known as Gringo, was an American musician, actor,
and nightlife personality. His life was chronicled in two Lech
Kowalski documentaries, Story of a Junkie and Born To Lose: The Last
Rock and Roll Movie.He was born in Venice, Los Angeles, and his birth
name is unknown. He adopted the stage name of John Spacely at a young
age. His father abandoned his family, which made him not want to use
his father's last name. While in California, he was nicknamed Whiskey
John. He later was known in New York City as Gringo. His grandfather
was of Hispanic descent, and he had one brother and one sister. He
attended Venice High School.Spacely began hustling on the Venice Beach
boardwalk after high school. He then moved on to hustling in the San
Francisco area, and on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. Various
reports have stated he had multiple long-term girlfriends/wives. In
1980, Spacely's wife, Cindy Elaine Houldson, became pregnant with
Spacely's son, but the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Shortly
thereafter, Houldson died in a motorcycle accident in Washington
state. These events greatly affected Spacely and led to his growing
substance abuse.
and nightlife personality. His life was chronicled in two Lech
Kowalski documentaries, Story of a Junkie and Born To Lose: The Last
Rock and Roll Movie.He was born in Venice, Los Angeles, and his birth
name is unknown. He adopted the stage name of John Spacely at a young
age. His father abandoned his family, which made him not want to use
his father's last name. While in California, he was nicknamed Whiskey
John. He later was known in New York City as Gringo. His grandfather
was of Hispanic descent, and he had one brother and one sister. He
attended Venice High School.Spacely began hustling on the Venice Beach
boardwalk after high school. He then moved on to hustling in the San
Francisco area, and on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. Various
reports have stated he had multiple long-term girlfriends/wives. In
1980, Spacely's wife, Cindy Elaine Houldson, became pregnant with
Spacely's son, but the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Shortly
thereafter, Houldson died in a motorcycle accident in Washington
state. These events greatly affected Spacely and led to his growing
substance abuse.
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