Who Wants To Die For Art?

Sixty-seven years ago today Harris Glenn Milstead was born in Baltimore Maryland. He was raised in the home of well to do conservative parents in the suburb of Lutherville. In the mid 60's he became friends with John Waters who gave him the name he would become know for, Divine.
Divine was a spoiled only child who's parents paid for his elaborate lifestyle. After high school Divine went to beauty school where he excelled creating "beehive" style up-do's. In 1964 his was at one time considered the chief suspect in the murder of a friend but was cleared when a serial killers was apprehended.
After high school Divine and John Waters would hang out in a Baltimore "beatnik" bar. It was during this time Divine started dressing in drag. He liked to dress as Elizabeth Taylor.  Waters started making films and Divine became his star. Divine's first film was "Roman Candles" in this film he played a smoking nun. Waters' films used a group of actors called the "Dreamlanders" made up of Divine, Mink Stole, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce along with several others.
Divine along with the Dreamlanders performed on Sunday's in Waters' films Divine normally in drag played characters like Jackie Kennedy (Eat Your Make-up), Diane Linkletter (The Diane Linkletter Story) and Divine (Mondo Trasho).
Divine moved from Baltimore to Provencetown, MA in 1970 and opened a vintage clothing store. He didn't actually get a permit so he was shut down. When he shut down he sold off all of the stock as well as the furniture from his rented furnished apartment causing the land lady to obtain a warrant for his arrest. Divine escaped arrest by fleeing to San Francisco.

While he lived in San Francisco Divine starred in Waters' next film "Multiple Maniacs". This was the first of their films to get any significant recognition. This film was followed by "Pink Flamingos". Divine once again is the star playing Babs Johnson "The Filthiest Person Alive". "Pink Flamingos" found success in the underground late night film circuit. The final scene of the film depicts Divine eating dog feces. The scene made Divine famous but proved to be a torture to him for the rest of his life.
After filming of "Pink Flamingos" wrapped Divine and Mink Stole moved to San Francisco where they became involved with the legendary "Cockettes". Divine starred in several shows including "Divine Save the World" ad "The Heartbreak of Psoriasis". Divine returned to Baltimore in 1974 to star in "Female Trouble" as Dawn Davenport. This film gave Divine a chance to play two roles. He plays a character not in drag who picks up a hitch hiking Dawn Davenport and impregnates her. Divine literally fucks himself in this film. "Female Trouble" would always be Divine's favorite movie.
Divine was unable to star in the next John Waters film as he was the star of the play "Women Behind Bars" and was performing in New York and eventually in London. While in London Divine appeared in the film "Alternative Miss World" which went on to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.  Divine's success in "Women Behind Bars" led to another starring stage role this time it was playing Flash Storm, a Baltimore strip club owner in "The Neon Woman". The play was a success in both San Francisco and New York. Divine settled down in New York for a while where he was a frequently seen at Studio 54.
In the late 70's Divine started performing a nightclub act in gay clubs that involved singing and getting into fist fights on stage with other drag queens. He released a single "Born to be Cheap". After performing the club circuit Divine went back to film work with the role of Francine Fishpaw in "Polyester". Her love interest in this film was Tab Hunter and there was tabloid gossip that the two were an actual couple. Both denied the allegations. Divine and Hunter were reunited in the film "Lust in the Dust". This was Divine's first real film not directed by John Waters. Divine followed this a role in "Trouble in Mind" playing Hilly Blue a male character.
John Waters then cast Divine in "Hairspray". Divine again played two characters one male and one female,  Arvin Hodgepile and Edna Turnblad. This would utimately be Divine's most successful and last film with John Waters. Divine's last film role was a cameo in a low budget horror/comedy "Out of the Dark". "Hairspray" is considered her last major role.
Three weeks after the release of "Hairspray" Divine was in Los Angeles working on an episode of "Married With Children" when he was discovered dead in his hotel room on March 7, 1988. He was 42 years old.
"I think I've always been respectable. What I do onstage is not what I do in my private life… It's an act… It's how I make my living. People laugh, and it's not hurting anyone." -Divine

Jobriath the Forgotten One

You haven't heard of Jobraith have you. No one has and that's the shame. Who was he? He was a glam rocker from the 70's, a lounge singer and a stage actor. He was also gay and that is why no one knows him now. The 70's may have been the time of gay liberation and rock stars like Bowie threw bisexuality in faces but it was still a much more uptight world. Jobriath was a little too out for the record buyers and his records just didn't sell.
Born in Pennsylvania with the name Bruce Wayne Campbell he was a piano prodigy who was classically trained. He was drafted into the army during the mid 60's and quickly went AWOL. He later appeared in Los Angeles and was cast in Hair. Jobriath then performed with a folk rock band called Pigeon and was signed by Decca records. Around this time the military police found him and not too much later he was spending time in a  military psychiatric hospital. It was when he was released he became Jobriath.
A demo that he submitted to Clive Davis was rejected for being "mad, unstructured and destructive to melody". The tape was overheard by promoter & manager Jerry Brandt. Brandt is noted for discovering both Carly Simon and Patti Smith. Jobriath was living in LA working as a prostitute when he signed with Brandt who immediately started promoting him. Eventually getting Jobriath signed to Electra Records for a reported $500,000. A marketing campaign then began that was over the top. Almost as over the top as Jobriath himself. His face was everywhere in New York, buses, huge posters and an enormous billboard in Times Square. Brandt made extravagant announcements "Elvis, The Beatles and Jobriath" it was an amazing media blitz of hype. The first record was the eponymously named "Jobriath"andcritically well received. Jobriath made his public debut performance on the television show "The Midnight Special". He performed two numbers including "I'maman" which would become his biggest hit. Unfortunately record sales were not great and the album didn't chart.

Six months later a second record was released "Creatures of the Street". Both Peter Frampton and John Paul Jones are featured on this recording. A concert tour was announced without much hype and commenced featuring elaborate costumes designed by Stephen Sprouse. Jobriath was basically abandoned by both Electra and Brandt during the tour.
In the mid 70's Jobriath gave up his music career and moved to the Chelsea Hotel to restart his acting career. During this time he started performing a cabaret act under the name Cole Berlin. He lived in the roof top apartment in the Chelsea and supplemented his income again with prostitution. In the early 80's Jobriath's 10 year contract with Brandt finally expired. Jobriath did perform at the Chelsea's 100th anniversary celebration. He died 6 months later in August of 1983. He was one of the first famous musician to die of AIDS.
Jobriath has always had his fans. Morrisey, the lead singer of the Smiths, is among them. Morrisey has overseen the release of a compilation album titled "Lonely Boy Planet". Performance artist Ann Magnuson is currently working on a performance piece and ep about Jobriath.

Jobriath the self proclaimed "rock's truest fairy" is gone but not entirely forgotten.

Jayne County is Man Enough to be a Woman

Who created punk rock? That's a hard question to answer but one of the names that always comes up is Jayne County. Did Jayne create punk rock? Well maybe not all on her own but she was a major player in the movement. Jayne of course at the time was known as Wayne County.

Jayne/Wayne was born and raised in Georgia and in 1968 moved to New York. She became involved in the downtown scene. She was a regular at the Stonewall Inn the dumpy gay bar where the riots that ignited the gay rights movement started. In 1969 Jackie Curtis was putting together his play "Femme Fatale" at La Mama. Jayne and Patti Smith were among members of the cast.  "Femme Fatale" had a very successful run becoming an underground hit garnering a lot of attention to the Downtown/Underground scene. Jayne then wrote and performed in her own play "World-Birth of a Nation". Andy Warhol was at the time putting together his play "Pork" and cast Jayne in a role. "Pork" played in New York and then moved onto a run in London. Jayne spent some time in London where she formed a band called "Queen Elizabeth" and caught the eye of David Bowie and his company MainMan. Queen Elizabeth performed for a while and Bowie's company spent a lot of money. There was a show called "Wayne County at the Trucks" that is believed to be the inspiration for Bowie's Diamond Dogs tour. The song "Queenage Baby" is almost universally belived to be prototype for Bowie's Rebel Rebel. Did Bowie rip off Jayne? Listen to both songs and see what you think.
In 1974 Jayne formed "Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys" yet another protopunk band. They performed frequently at Max's Kansas City and CBGB in New York and recorded 3 tracks for a compilation album of New York bands.
Back in London "Wayne County and the Electric Chairs" was formed in 1977. London's punk scene was gearing up and Jayne was there recording one of her classic songs "Fuck Off". After touring through Europe and putting out a couple of records Jayne returned to the US and at that time stopped using the name Wayne. Wayne was Jayne and he was a she.
In the early 80's Jayne was again on stage in a play this time with another Warhol Superstar Holly Woodlawn. Over the years Jayne has appeared in a handful of films as well as working as a DJ.
Her out put of work has been more or less none stop. She has released over a dozen records. Jayne appeared in several successful films including Derek Jarman's "Jubilee" and Barry Shils' "Wigstock". Jayne is also a visual artist having had gallery shows in several cities.

Now living back in Georgia Jayne has formed a new band "The Electric Queers" and has started performing live again. Do not miss the opportunity to see her live! Who created punk rock? It may just have been been Jayne County!

Punk Globe Interview

Shameless Self promotion!!! I was interviewed by Ginger Coyote.

http://punkglobe.com/timmcarneyinterview0612.php

Plastic People of the Universe

There was a strong underground in what is now the Czech Republic in the 1970's. The sound of that underground was the band "Plastic People of the Universe. Founded in 1968 PPU as they are known was not a political activism band they were just a group of musicians who loved rock and roll and wanted to play. The band takes it's name from the Frank Zappa song Plastic People a favorite musician of founder and bassist Milan Hlavsa. Their sound was influenced by the Velvet Underground and Captain Beefheart with a eastern European flair. During the time of the "Prague Spring" PPU became extremely popular in Czechoslovakia. This popularity came to a head when they were scheduled for a concert in a suburban town outside of Prague and the Soviets shut it down arresting concert goers around the time of their crack down on the people of Czechoslovakia.
The band then went underground truly underground. In 1974 members of PPU along with other artists were arrested for organized disturbance of the peace. It was during this period that playwright Vaclav Havel and others formed together to write Charter 77 a document critical to the current government and its crackdowns.
PPU never considered themselves political even though their music was the soundtrack of the underground politcal movement. The band eventuallu broke up in 1988 and members went off to form other bands. In 1997 at the suggestion of then President and fan Vaclav Havel the band was reunited playing throughout the Czech Rebublic and eastern European countries. The founder of PPU Milan Hlavsa died in 2001.
Their recordings are available today and are as enjoyable as any of the music of that and this era.

Jim Parsons America's Favorite Nerd

Sheldon Cooper has made Jim Parsons a star. Who is Sheldon Cooper? Sheldon is a character on The Big Bang Theory a sitcom on CBS television. Jim Parsons is the actor who portrays Sheldon but he is so much more than just the nerd from TV. Classically trained at University of San Diego Jim Parsons has been on stage in New York and in several movies. He isn't just a one trick pony.
Growing up in Houston Texas his first role was the Kola-Kola Bird when he was six. He went on to perform in High school and then to the University of Houston before attending school in San Diego. Chuck Lorrey the creator of The Big Bang Theory and a host of other shows was impressed with Parsons' characterization but made him read a second time to make sure it wasn't a fluke. The character of Sheldon has a quirky rhythm that Parsons' classical training was able to make believable. So believable in fact he has one an Emmy award for best actor.
During the hiatus of the show Parsons has made a return to New York theater and is performing in the revival of Harvey playing the role of Elwood P. Dowd. Mr Parsons was reportedly planning to marry his male partner of 10 years but it has been called off as he doesn't want children.
The Big Bang Theory has been signed for another season so there will be at least one more year to catch Parsons as Sheldon.

Selene Luna Interview from Punk Globe

3 and half feet tall and a ball of fun. Who else could I be talking about other than Selene Luna? She may smaller than most stand-up comics but she stand against them all. Selene has brought her brand of lunacy to a club in Silver Lake on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles and kicked some ass. Akbar is her venue and her show is called Selene Luna’s Dog and Pony Show. A dog and pony show is an old showbiz tradition. It is an amalgamation of acts it is vaudeville at its most primal level. It’s DIY, its punk rock and so is Selene.Selene’s dog and pony show has its up and downs, when it is down man is it down but when it is up and it usually is it is hysterically funny as is Selene herself. She is one of the best parts of the show.
Selene is busy; she is working her ass off frankly. She and I chatted a couple of times and she agreed to take some time away from her whirlwind life to talk to me and Punk Globe.

Punk Globe: For our readers who don’t know about you, can you give us a bit of your background?

Selene Luna: I’m a 3’10″ actress, comic and burlesque artist, born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles. I’m an original member of the Velvet Hammer Burlesque, tour internationally and perform regularly with burlesque icon Dita Von Teese. I’m probably best known for my role in Lionsgate’s feature, My Bloody Valentine 3D, and playing Margaret Cho’s assistant in Vh1′s The Cho Show. My stand-up comedy has led me to work alongside Roseanne Barr and Robin Williams, as well.

PG: How did you come up with the idea of The Dog and Pony Show?

Selene: The Dog & Pony Show was my best friend Jackie Beat, drag superstar’s idea. During the Holiday season the entertainment industry tends to shut down, which is torture for someone like me because nothing bums me out more than idle time. Jackie suggested I put on a regular show during this downtime and it snowballed from there.

PG: Do you have someone coming to perform that you are really excited about?

Selene: Yes, I was especially excited about having Alec Mapa, Coco Peru and Calpernia Addams at my last Dog & Pony Show. I’m a tremendous fan of their work and we’re all great friends so it felt like family night. Jackie Beat will be doing my April 29th show so I’m super excited about that too! Jackie’s my vaudeville sister!

PG: How did you get involved with Margaret Cho?

Selene: Margaret and I have been friends for a long time; we met at her birthday party years ago. Margaret’s a beautiful dancer and she too is a fan of burlesque, so I began performing with her in the Sensuous Woman Show, Margaret’s burlesque and variety show. After touring with the Sensuous Woman Show, we continued to work together in various capacities. Margaret’s not only a dear friend but also my standup comedy mentor. I love that woman!

PG: Was the Cho show a lot of fun to do?

Selene: Absolutely! The best part about being on the "The Cho Show" was waking up in the morning to go work with friends that cracked me up all day.

PG: Where has you best show been?

Selene: This is a tough question. I’ve been lucky and old enough to have done more shows than I can remember. Reaching back to recent memory and I’d have to say it was last summer’s southern tour with Dita Von Teese. We did a show at the Dallas House of Blues, and the electricity that came out from that audience was unbelievable. The audience made me feel like we were doing Madison Square Garden.

PG: Have you had any really bad shows?

Selene: Ha! Yes, of course! Bad shows are learning moments for performers. I did a comedy festival in Maine last summer where I completely bombed. I simply wasn’t connecting with the audience, and that happens sometimes. I was tortured about the experience for months. I had the opportunity to return to Maine this January where it was much of the same audience. This time, my set went great and felt thoroughly redeemed. My work was simply better because I learned from previously bombing.

PG: Who would you have in your “Dream” Dog and Pony Show? Living or Dead.

Selene: How much time you got? Liberace , Don Rickles, Burns & Allen, Jack Benny, Joan Rivers, RuPaul, Divine, Katt Williams, David Sedaris, Amy Sedaris, Madeline Kahn, Richard Pryor, Murray Hill, Chavela Vargas, Penn & Teller, Dirty Martini, Dina Martina…my list is endless!

PG: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are really excited about?

Selene: I’m most excited to announce that I’m returning to NYC to perform my solo show “Special Needs” at the Laurie Beechman Theater on March 31^st http://seleneluna.com/site/?p=2033. Also, I’ll be doing a west coast tour with Dita Von Teese and opening for Margaret Cho in 2012. Please visit my calendar for dates and information.

PG: You are travelling a lot, where will you be so our readers who don’t live in Hollywood can see you?

Selene: The best thing to do is to visit my online calendar which is frequently updated http://seleneluna.com/site/?page_id=2

PG:  Do you have any show business advice you would like to pass along?

Selene: If you’re thinking of pursuing a showbiz career, just remember, your agent collects 10% because you do 90% of the work.

Selene Luna’s Dog and Pony Show plays on most Sunday nights at the Akbar throughout the summer. If you are in Los Angeles on a Sunday night around 8pm and have five bucks the show is well worth every single one of those five dollars and more!

Sharon Needles

She isn't the guitarist from Betty Blowtorch. She isn't in fact a real she. Sharon Needles is a drag performer. You can't say Drag Queen because there is an image to what a drag queen is and that image isn't Sharon Needles. Old school drag be damned she is a queen of the damned. When one thinks drag queen one thinks feathers, sequins and lots of foundation make up. When you say Sharon Needles you have to think white face paint, black vinyl and hypodermics. Not your grandfather's drag!
Sharon Needles made her national debut on LOGO's 4th season of RuPaul's Drag Race a reality show about non-reality. The minute she walked onto the workroom set she set herself apart from the rest of the pack. Sharon Needles is punk rock not disco. She is Courtney Love on a binge not Liza on a good day.

The television loving little boy from Iowa grew up and hit the clubs in Pittsburgh of all places before appearing on network TV. Sharon Needles' look is hard to really pin down. Goth is the closest adjective but even that falls flat. Her look has an edge and a dark humor punctuated by a snarling cackle. Think Cruella de Vil meets Elvira with a little Wendy O'Williams thrown in for bad measure. This is a drag performer to keep on eye out for.

Ginger Coyote a Real Hollywood Star

You may have seen her walking down Hollywood Blvd., you may have seen her on stage, you may have read her magazine. She is Ginger Coyote lead singer and driving force behind the seminal punk band White Trash Debutantes and publisher of Punk Globe Magazine. Ginger has lived in downtown Hollywood for 20 years and she knows everyone and everyone seems to know her. She started her career in San Francisco's punk clubs when it was just starting out. If there was a show at the Mabuhay Gardens or the On Broadway; Ginger was there. Originally a fan and scenester she started to chronicle the punk scene in her publication Punk Globe. The magazine in its earliest stages was made of photocopied sheets she stapled together after writing the copy and getting photos from local scenester photographers. She then moved on to a real magazine format with writer's from the scene and around the country contributing articles and art work. The only other magazine of its type at the time was Search and Destroy. Punk Globe was a much more DIY publication covering and living a DIY lifestyle. Over time the magazine grew and was printing 25,000 copies monthly. Ginger then started her own band the White Trash Debutantes. WTD has played around the world in places as diverse as dive bars, Pride festivals and Japanese TV. The line up has changed over the years but the vibe is still the same, in your face punk rock. When the band started to take up more of Ginger's time the Punk Globe took sort of a back seat for a while. The magazine still came out but on a more sporatic basis. In 2005 the print version ceased to exist and was replaced by the on-line zine it is now. Punk Globe's readership is now over a quarter of a million world wide. The WTD still alive and kicking appear around LA and the country. Ginger is still rocking out original songs about Susan Lucci, Miss Jane Hathaway and the Kennedys Wtd kicks it with covers of Jayne County and Ricky Martin. She is often joined on stage by the famous and the infamous to do the "Time Warp" again and again.
If you see her walking down the street don't walk on by. Stop and have a chat. You'll learn a little and have a great time!

Miss Kitten on the Keys

Several Years ago I had the pleasure of having met Miss Kitten on the Keys. She was a performer in a show I used to produce and never failed to get a great response. I have always enjoyed seeing her and talking to her.

Punk Globe: Miss on The Keys for those Punkglobe readers who may not have caught one of your shows; how would you describe them? Kitten on the Keys: Wow- me in Punk Globe? I have such fond memories of coming to The Mab and hanging out with the local color on Broadway as a young teen- I remember Ginger Coyote and Punk Globe- I bet there is an old stack in my parents basement Well- first and explanation of what KITTEN on the KEYS means- I adopted this name from a novelty jazz ragtime ditty from 1922 by Zez Confrey……My mind is always whirling and it sometimes feels like I have a dozen little furry footed friends clawing away at my grey matter. I was always a piano dork…my first instrument. I write campy punky cabaret songs with cheeky lyrics that will stir your nethers and tickle your funnybone. The underground cabaret and burlesque scene adopted me in the late 1990's and I started playing all about town and beyond as the vocalist and pianist for a grindcore Burlesque Band. The French have described me as "the Punk Rock Betty Boop" I am a ONE MA'AM BAND….I am a multi instrumentalist- ivory tickler, uke stroker, and accordion squeezer with an ADD addled stage presence . I love to dress up in decadent vintage inspired get ups that evoke the 1920's and other days gone by… ….I like to make and wear silly "Burlesque" nipple pasties like pig heads and vodka bottles. I have an amped up sexual stage persona that is both disturbing and alluring. My original three chord punk cabaret ditties describe unusual fetishes and odd human behavior like pony girls ,self mutilaters, Jesus fuckers, salty meat and cold cuts lovers, furries and girls that eat out of dog bowls. I like to bring silly props to help get my point across.. Cat puppets who give birth to kittens- Hamsters stuffed in Crisco cans, Hello Kitty vibrators and toy pianos. I also unearth vintage treasures that were considered "underground " blue tunes that use ye ol' double entendre. I have also covered some punk rock standards including Anarchy in the UK – known as "Kitty Anarchy" on toy piano, a spooky cabaret organ treatment for the pistols SUBMISSION, and I run my Ukulele though a distortion box that was given to me by the bass player from the UK SUBS while I was on tour of the UK with THE DAMNED.

PG: You are now a worldwide performer, what are some of your favorite cities to perform in?

KOTK: I had a blast June 2009 on a boat in Helsinki…..it was such a trip- they eat reindeer and bears and love ukulele's! Crazy right? Who would have thought that I would become popular overseas- I love the UK….they understand my cheeky humor- they do not have a lot of potty mouthed over the top lasses there so I am a novelty. Birmingham, UK and Edinburgh, Scotland are places that keep having me back- I have performed there several times. Belfast, Ireland was one of my best shows- opening for the DAMNED in the Twisted Cabaret Of The Damned Tour 2007 - they dedicated "LOVE SONG" to me and the girls! What a fun loving audience- they went ballistic! I have performed in France on many occasions- They treat visiting artists like royalty. I even have a small musical role in a feature film coming out in 2010 with award winning actor/director Mattieu Almaric- he is like the Sean Penn of France.

PG: Where do you want to perform that you haven't had the opportunity yet?

KOTK: I want to perform my one woman show in LONDON and BERLIN. I performed in TOKYO with another project and I have ALWAYS wanted to go back with my OWN frisky hi-jinks.

PG: Can you give us a little background on your crawl to stardom?

KOTK: I started playing in bands in 8th GRADE…..I had a little portable keyboard and a mom who did not mind driving me to band practice with the music geeks. We were are all so dorky but making money playing AC/DC and WHO covers at school dances. Our drummer was rad but needed rails of Crank to get him jammin'… One time the Mormon Temple hired us to play a dance and we had to change all the words to our cover songs- our lead singer was under aged and projectile vomited Southern Comfort on the Innocent clean cut Mormon dancers while pretending to be sober nubile Bon Scott... I then moved to the dorms @ SF STATE for my first year of college at 17- I immediately joined the girlie noisy psychedelic White Stains- we played at the MAB, The Sound Of Music, On Broadway and other great venues I had read about in underground music rags. We became pretty popular on KUSF and other college radio stations. Celso from Sound Of Music even requested us to play his spaghetti feed birthday! Our 12" EP had a great cover but never really went anywhere. I quit because of the speed freak culture. I did not like tweaking, scrapping baggies with razor blades or having nosebleeds. So I joined the pre-riot grll Sugar Baby Doll and or Sugar Babylon in the mid 1980's with Courtney Love, Kat Bjelland (Babes In Toyland), and Jennifer Finch (L7). At one point Insane Jane was our drummer. We did a Demo with Greg Langston ( Swinging Possums) on drums ….hard to imagine Courtney being influenced by the Cocteau Twins, REM and Felt……..but I have some rehearsal recordings that are ….pretty flowery and funny!

PG: Where did you start out? KOTK: Rest homes and church services for Senior Citizens! My Mom forced me to go to church…..I was such a horrible Christian, drinking beer, scoring drugs, making out with girls, and stealing the youth pastors dope stash. I went to Mexico 3 times for the lord….I was never born again- I wanted to rock! But I guess I have the church and the Humiliating high school marching band to thank for that. I was always running away to hang with the punks in Berkeley and San Francisco. It was a culture I wanted to be in. I went to Rather Ripped and Rough Trade and spent my babysitting money on import 7 inches. I was fortunate to have a permissive church lady Mom- I went to TONS of shows in the old days and was influenced by The CRAMPS, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Screamers, Toiling Midgets, VS, Throbbing Gristle, Flipper, Agent Orange, Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys. The Dead Kennedys even played at my high school in Lafayette!

PG: What was your first ever moment on stage?

KOTK: I was three years old and I was a misbehaved angel- I sat under the cross and had a temper tantrum while singing" away in a manger"- my mom laughed about what a stage diva I was for years.

PG: What was the first record you ever bought? Why?

KOTK: A TIE, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road at 10…I heard Elton John played piano, wore tight pants, silly glasses and had funky teeth. Sheer Heart Attack by Queen at 10 years old – I heard Freddie Mercury played the piano, wore tight pants, and had funky teeth. These sensitive piano playing British Blokes made me NOT want to get those painful braces. I remember trying to convince my parents that rock stars have bad teeth so I could too!

PG: Who is your favorite performer living or dead? Why?

KOTK: Gosh….there are SO MANY…limiting it to one would be so damn hard for me!! I adore history and over the top men…..Liberace is one- I even played his mirrored Baldwin Grand Piano in Vegas- I always say Freddie Mercury, Liberace and Alice Cooper are my three fave female roles models. But then there is Mae West and Shirley Temple too……..

PG: Tell the Punk Globe readers a little about Mr. Tinkler.

KOTK: I am lucky to have a real live GERIATRIC PUNK ROCK BOYFRIEND ……Mr Tinkler- a very frightening cabaret crooner who adores darling little girls in frills and bows…..He devilishly sings in the cabaret duo THE FIRKEYTOODLERS with me on piano. ( it means before the fuck in old English). This intense vocalist and sax god is really Ward Abronski. He blew the noisy sax solo on Flipper's classic SEX BOMB, leads Polkacide, and was in San Francisco's Famous Burlesque Orchestra which is where I fancied his hot surfer ass. People are always laughing at the song Geriatric Punk Rock Boyfriend from my Salty Meat Girl CD-It is all about loving a "mature" punk rocker- "he has hepatitis C, wakes up lots to pee- recently had his colonoscopy….but he still looks sexy to me…and he can't even see………" It's about Mr Tinkler- I have comments from people all over the world- this song makes ‘em giggle in their depends!

PG: What do you have coming up? KOTK: 2010 is an exciting year! I am going to revamp my one woman show- "Does This Piano Make My Ass Look Big?" in the US this summer and I am writing new songs for a new Kitten CD…that is if I can afford it. I am in a French film "TOURNEE" starring French Actor and Director Mattieu Almaric (Diving Bell and The Butterfly, Quantum of Solace) with some US burlesque performers. I sang a bunch of songs I hope did not end up on the editing room floor . I hear it will be out for Cannes 2010! A tour of Europe to go along with the film's release is also in store! I MC and play my three instruments in this burlesque and cabaret show. 2/13/10 I am opening up for the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Polkacide "From The Mab To The Slab" at the Bottom of the Hill! Raising money with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to battle Breast Cancer- Benefit for the Boob. Can't wait to dress up my boobs in a silly get up.

PG: What is your fantasy show?

KOTK: GG Allin, Extreme Elvis, Anita Bryant, Lux Interior, Buck Naked, Darby Crash, Tammy Faye Baker, and a church youth choir performing punk classics on ukulele's.

Thank you to Miss Kitten on the Keys. Check out her website (www.kittymusic.com) and see her shows live if you have a chance. It is well worth it!

Lili VonSchtupp Interview

In a down and dirty part of Hollywood, Hollywood the way it used to be, there is a grey cinderblock cube of a bar with a seedy strip mall attached. I pulled into the parking lot early and got a spot right by a door labeled “stage door”. It was a little early but my partner Millard and I wanted to be there on time. The front door was locked and had a sign reading “before 8pm, knock”. We decided to have a bite to eat at a Thai restaurant in the attached strip mall. We met a punch drunk boxer and watched a woman with a shopping cart duke it out with her boy friend (?). Welcome to “Monday Night Tease!” at the Three Clubs. After our meal Millard and I headed to the door that was at this point unlocked. We stepped in and back in time. The room was dark and vintage-y, Mae West could possibly be in that back very dark corners. We saddled up to the bar and ordered our cocktails. The room reeked of 1949 except for the Stooges on the juke box. Unfortunately it is the 21st century and we had to smoke outside. Suddenly fabulous girls started darting around. On the far wall from the bar a set of sliding doors opened and quickly closed with the fabulous girls disappearing behind them. The night was truly starting to look exciting. We knew we were about to see Burlesque. This was “Monday Night Tease!” produced by Lili Von Schtupp. This evening’s show featured Kitten on the Keys from San Francisco. The sliding doors finally opened and revealed another fabulous room, the show room! There was a small stage surrounded by two levels of tables and chairs. There is not a bad seat in this house. We loved the show and I knew I needed to contact Ms Von Schtupp.

Punk Globe: Punkglobe readers may not have heard of you yet so can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Lili Von Schtupp: I’m not sure what has kept them from knowing about it me? I’m an extremely famous (okay, mildly famous) producer and performer of burlesque in Los Angeles, California. Maybe they have a life? Hmmm… Anyway, I’m a burlesque enthusiast who found her way onto the stage at 37. I produce LA’s longest running weekly burlesque show, “Monday Night Tease!” (http://MondayNightTease.com), as well as a few other shows. Oh, and I created“The Burlesque Podcast” (available on iTunes) to talk about, and with other burlesque artists to spread my love for the art. And I’m a 44DD natural for those who care. ;) Punk Globe: What drew you to burlesque? Lili Von Schtupp: What didn’t?!? I was collecting since I found my first Playboy under my Dad’s bed. I watched old movies and musicals with my mom and had no idea many of the performers came from the burlesque circuit. The comics were amazing and the beautiful women in gowns and jewels, oh how I wanted to be one! I was fan of burlesque and didn’t know it. Slowly, as my collection grew I heard the word burlesque and then went on a hunt to understand it. Burlesque (in it’s current neo burlesque scene) is everything you love about women and entertainment. It’s sexy, smart, funny and always a good time. It encompasses parody and comedy with sexy, that’s great. For me it highlights and empowers women who may not be the ideal perfect image. Color, body shape, age, sexual orientation…none of it matters when you put on an outfit that makes you feel sexy, that confidence taking it off makes you sexy. It allows women and men to share a sexy tease in an innocent way (most of the time,) and connect again. I love strip clubs, but with burlesque it’s a journey of playfulness sometimes with a story, not really the end the result of being naked or actually having sex. I think of burlesque as foreplay on stage. Who doesn’t like that? Originally it was something a bit different; it’s gone through some big changes as society changed. It started out as parody of politics, culture and made fun of and pushed sexual morals at the time. It was racy because women showed flesh tights in public. How scandalous! With every celebrity photo showing naughty bits getting out of a car available on the Internet, burlesque seems tame now. Punk Globe: Can you tell us about “Monday Night Tease!”? Lili Von Schtupp: Why yes I can. “Monday Night Tease!” evolved out of the show I made my burlesque debut in, Derby Burlesque. It’s been running every Monday Night for 7 years. I’ve been producing it for over 3. I run it like a traditional burlesque show. I book 7 burlesque acts and a variety artist for each show and it changes weekly. I felt the need to keep the variety part of the show. Originally burlesque was more about the variety arts; comics, jugglers, plate spinners, singers, magicians and the like, with a pretty girl dancing. It wasn’t all about the dancing girls then. And now it’s mostly burlesque stripping. But the amazing thing is our dancers are the variety artists now. I book amazing acts that sing and strip, hula hoop and strip, strip while juggling and more. It’s pure entertainment with a sexy twist. Punk Globe: How did you find 3 Clubs, your venue? Lili Von Schtupp: I was lucky. I mentioned I debuted at “Derby Burlesque.” Well, the show was at the “Brown Derby” for a few years and was moved to 3 Clubs by the original producer. The 3 Clubs offers something not easily found in LA, a three-quarter stage with a great view from anywhere in the room. It was used in the movie “Swingers” and is perfect the show I do. It’s a local favorite and once you visit you’ll know why. I love that it is my home in LA. Punk Globe: What is the burlesque scene in Hollywood like? Lili Von Schtupp: Growing! When I started 7 years ago there was monthly show and the show I took over. Last night there were 5 burlesque shows in LA and tonight there are 5 more. Amazing. We have several burlesque schools, a few pole dancing classes, weekly burlesque exercise classes and arsenal of amazing talent to draw from. LA is a city built on talented people trying to break into movies and so have we a ton of homegrown talent and imports as well. There are shows themed to pirate burlesque, theater productions and we have the styles of Pussycat Dolls and Café Was (formerly Forty Deuce). Not to mention Jumbo’s Clown Room, strip clubbing at its finest. They just celebrated the 40 anniversary and had aerial strippers outside the venue with the circus party they threw. What’s not to love about Hollywood burlesque! Punk Globe: You have had some fun shows in the past what do you have planned for the future? Lili Von Schtupp: Well, we just had our “Inglorious Burlesque: The 3rd Quentin Tarantino Burlesque Film Festival” which we do every year. We also are bringing back “The Muppet (of burlesque) Show” based on Jim Henson’s works, and Lili’s Laugh In” based on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, as well as the really popular “maydonna” show, yep you guessed it all Madonna themed acts. As for new shows, I am just starting the “I Love Mel Brooks” show for February 2011, and I’m finalizing a new show this week. It’s exciting. As much as love the theme shows, I really enjoy booking a solid classic show full of gown and glove numbers and big fan dances. Punk Globe: What would be your dream show/venue? Lili Von Schtupp: Wow, I’ve done so many shows I’m proud of and have plans for some killer stuff in the future, but I have to say my dream show happened August 29th. Quentin Tarantino finally saw the show. I got an email with the subject line “Quentin Tarantino” the night after “Monday Night Tease!” did Inglorious Burlesque. I opened it and it was from Quentin’s people and he wanted to see the show but couldn’t come on Monday. I pulled he cast back together and we did a private showing him and the people from his company, actors from his movies, writers, Ads, prop people and his friends. He basically booked the show for his friends. He is such a sweet guy! Honestly, when he jumped on stage at curtain call and said it was amazing, it was the highlight of my career. So much time was spent on details and things only people who worked on the movies would get, to have them cheering though our acts was awesome. Watching the reactions of people who worked on those films laughing and cheering n the sexy strips was pretty fucking cool. I have an amazingly successful show that is surviving in LA on a weekly basis and friends I work with that are talented, smart, beautiful and sexy. I am managing to make a living doing what I love. Hell, I’m living the dream every day. As long as there is a stage and I can work with my amazing friends, I’m a happy. So there you have if right from the producer’s mouth! There is a great Burlesque scene in LA and Variety entertainment is here in a new and fresh format. Check out her show if you are in town it is well worth the trip.

Charlie Hides Interview

A few months ago I was goggling for something and a link came up to a you-tube video made by a guy named Charlie Hides. It was a video titled “Madonna’s GAGA Nightmare”. I clicked on it and was instantly laughing. Charlie Hides makes some very funny videos! They are a mix of his original characters and parodies of celebrities. The thing that makes them standout is Charlie, he plays all the characters! I have found all of them to be hysterical. One of his original characters is Laquisha Jonz I highly recommend her she is FUNNY.

I recently contacted Charlie in London where he lives and he made a cup of tea and answered some questions for me.

Punk Globe: How many videos do you currently have on your “you-tube” channel? Is there one that gets more hits than others?

Charlie Hides: At last count there were over 50 on main channel, and about a dozen more on my second channel which features mash ups of the outtakes and deleted scenes from the weekly videos. Any video which features Madonna or Lady Gaga gets more views as they are the most google searched entertainers on the planet. Because I often recreate moments in pop culture within hours of the event those videos go viral due to trending topics on Twitter and other social media.

PG: Can you give our readers who might not yet heard of you or seen your videos a little background on you as a performer and video maker?

CH: I’ve been working as a stand-up comic for years in the US and UK and in the past year have had millions of views on YouTube of my celebrity impressions and topical comedy sketches. I mimic everyone from Justin Bieber and Elton John to Madonna, Cher and Lady Gaga.

PG:  You’re an American how did you end up in London?

CH: The way a lot of people do, I fell in love with a Brit and was determined to make the relationship work. It was a huge challenge to transplant myself into a very different culture and to start from the bottom all over again after working my way up the ladder in the States but I quickly fell in love with the UK and it’s now home. London is incredibly vibrant and inspiring and has a great comedy scene.

PG:  Who is your favorite character to do?

CH: It’s always changing, I love doing original characters like Stanley Blackstone and Maureen. Laquisha Jonz is a single mother of three and is a lot of fun to do because she has opinions about EVERYTHING. Cher is fun to play because she is still a bad ass at 65 and doesn’t take shit from anyone.

PG: Have any of the people that you have skewered contacted you?

CH: Um no, thankfully. I’d be mortified if they were genuinely upset with my characterization. I try to be affectionate and not malicious and I’m not doing literal impersonations like and actor would do for a Hollywood biopic. I’m taking their persona and image and creating a comic version that is often quite dissimilar to the actual celebrity. I hope they would see that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I have been contacted by Boy George and Kylie Minogue who are big fans and have re-tweeted many of videos.

PG: How long do your videos take to make? Do you have a big crew helping you out?

CH: I often write and film them on Monday and Tuesday and upload on Wednesday morning. Big crew? It’s just me, a bag of wigs and a video camera. Sometimes I get help when I need an extra body for the scenes where I have two celebrities interacting. All of the close ups are my face but sometimes you see the back of someone or an additional arm or leg. Otherwise it’s just me.

PG: Is there someone you would like to do whom you haven’t done yet?

CH: I get requests all the time from viewers who want me to do their idols. I keep pushing myself to try new and different people, some I can pull off but others are just so beyond my physical ability. I’m playing character from 17 – 70 years old, male and female of different races and sizes. Without surgery or special effects team I’m limited by my bone structure. After many requests I’ve tried doing Brittany Spears but wasn’t happy with the look. I also tried Ricky Gervais but again, he’s got a completely different shaped face. I’d like to do Kanye West because he’s got the biggest ego in show business and seems to have a tenuous grasp on reality. He’s a perfect target so he’s on my list for future projects.

 PG: Have you thought of doing someone like Courtney Love or any of the other divas of punk rock?

CH: Yes, Courtney is on my list. I love her music and think she’s a brilliant actress, I’m sure I can pull her off as she’s got an iconic look and a similar shaped face. The right story line will come along in the near future I’m sure. I also love Deborah Harry and David Bowie, again, iconic looks and great artists. Maybe they will do a duet or slap a sky Marshall and make front page news.

PG:  Is there anyone’s character you can’t get down?

CH: Well, as mentioned I’ve had trouble with Britany Spears, I can do the Southern drawl but not quite got the look and I can’t do Kylie Minogue’s accent yet. I’m working on it.

PG: What is your next project? Anything you want to let our readers know about.

CH: In the next few months I’ll be doing more videos with my original characters and I’ve been asked to put together a live show incorporating many of the celebs I’ve become known for. That is a huge technical challenge but I’m having fun playing with different ideas which would incorporate video and live characters interacting. I’ll be debuting a version of it at the GAY VILLAGE arts festival in Rome at the end of June so I best get back to work.

I’d really like to thank Charlie for his time. He can be seen on you-tube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/CharlieHidesTV/videos

Now if you are in London or are traveling to London you can see Charlie live on stage where he does his original characters in Clapham at The Two Brewers on Sunday nights at 9:30. More info about the Two Brewers can be found at: http://the2brewers.com/

You can and should check out Charlie’s face book page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Hides-TV/136970379705116

Like him and get updates and see his new videos.

Michael Frost Is Not Dead

Michael Frost is not dead

Michael Frost is not dead. No matter what you have read or what he may have told you; he is not dead.  Who the fuck is Michael Frost? He is an artist. He is a writer, film maker and visual 2D artist. Born in Spain of Spanish and American parents he moved to the US in the 1970’s. Michael Frost is someone you should know about.

In June of 2011 a show of his collage paintings called “Cut Ups” hung in the Edgar Varela Fine Arts Gallery in Los Angeles.  These works were created with pieces of 1960’s Spanish movie posters pasted together and augmented with paint and LED lights. The amusing and alarming images captivate the audience as do his films. His film “3 Stories about Evil”, a still montage, exemplifies both the amusing and the alarming aspects of his work. One of the stories is “The Story of Pat and Pepper”. It involves a mother played by Mink Stole and her show business daughter Pepper a plastic baby doll. The images like those in the “Cut Ups” show are hilarious and disturbing at the same time. 

Michael Frost along with his partner Charles Wright produce, write and direct films as Helsinki Productions.  Their award winning short film “The Harvey Girl from Shanghai” is a mash up of stories making an entirely new and fascinating and funny story.  This story too is collage not at all unlike his “Cut Ups” works.  They are currently working on a feature film titled “Shut Ins” based on a web series starring Erica Gavin, a true Hollywood bad girl. She was a star the Russ Meyers movies “Vixen” and “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”.  Michael has future shows of his paintings and other scripts in various states of production right now.  This is a man to keep an eye on as you never know what he will turn out next.  Information about Michael Frost’s future shows and works available can be found on his website www.frostisdead.com .