January 21, 2020February 23, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

ERNIE GLAM

In the vein of those who have parlayed themselves from that rare moment in time known as New York Club Kids, Ernie Glam is no exception to that rule. From portraying the infamous Clara the Chicken in the 1990s in the club kid scene, to a successful career as a journalist, author and fashion designer, Glam did it all in the glow of the nightlife.

Where did you grow up? In Sacramento, California. What do you miss about it there? The warm, sunny weather. If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? In Paris or Berlin. What’s special about New York that most people aren’t aware of? The various styles of Chinese food. Since you’re a writer, what’s the “interview that got away” from you? As in, the interview that I never got, and now they’ve passed away? Right before our book, Fabulousity: A Night You’ll Never Forget… Or Remember, went to print, I was supposed to interview my co-author, Alexis DiBiasio, but he suddenly died before that could happen. What interview is most special to you? I interviewed a low-income immigrant couple who worked hundreds of hours for a failed nonprofit, in hopes that they would receive an affordable apartment in one of the buildings they volunteered to renovate. They never got the affordable apartment in the buildings they renovated. When the failed charity’s buildings were to be auctioned, my story was published and the auction administrator announced that the couple would receive monetary compensation for their volunteer work.

69 Hangovers chronicles a year of partying by journalist and nightclub personality Ernie Glam, who moved to New York City in 1984 and immediately began clubbing. Ernie Glam has a preference for flamboyant scenes and 69 Hangovers is a photo-documentary of parties where DJs played house, techno, EBM, goth rock and pop.

Who’s your dream interview? Iggy Pop. What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you during an interview? The battery on my recorder died within two minutes of starting the interview, so I got nothing and had to request a repeat interview. What article or expose are you the proudest of? An expose on school-cafeteria cleanliness violations, because it forced a school district to properly clean its cafeteria kitchens. What piece from Project X Magazine is the most special to you? A fashion spread with Milla Jovovich and Tony Ward, for which I wrote a narrative that was a poem in the spirit of Dr. Seuss. What other journalist do you admire? Ofeibea Quist-Arcton from NPR, because she sounds so polite, and I love her accent. Other than yourself or Michael Alig, who’s the most important club kid? I don’t consider myself very important. I’d say Richie Rich, because he was most successful at monetizing the club kid phenomenon.

What club kid is underrated? Onyx Noir, because his designs for Kanae & Onyx in the early 90s were brilliant and fun. Other than yourself, who’s your favorite designer? I’m not even in my top-10 favorite designers! I love Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? My first job as a teenager washing dishes in a restaurant. How did you come up with your name? I’m sure you’ve recounted that before, but I can’t quite recall. Sorry, I was a big fan of glam rock from the early 70s. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a fun man. What do you want to live long enough to see? Recreational cocaine decriminalized. Will you ever retire? I’m legally retired from my 20-year news-reporting job, but I may never retire from nightclubbing. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? I’ve spent most of my adult life surrounded by people who can be considered very weird, so consequently, nothing seems weird to me.

What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? David Bowie. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Job ads. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Ephesus, Turkey. Who would play you in a movie? Desmond is Amazing. I’m in Party Monster for about two seconds during the outlaw-party footage in the subway. What are you superstitious about? I’m not. Do you believe in aliens? If that means microbes on other worlds, then yes. What’s the gayest concert that you ever went to? Grace Jones’ one-man-show in 1981 in Philadelphia. She licked my hand towards the end of the show. What’s the most times that you watched a movie or read a book? I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’ve watched it enough times to know most of the song lyrics. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? How to compromise in romantic relationships. What did you learn from your parents? Good manners. Who’s your favorite performer? David Bowie. What’s your best characteristic? My sense of humor.

How do you enjoy spending your time? Dancing. What celebrity do you have crush on? Most of my celebrity crushes are dead. Who do you admire? Salvador Dali. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Leigh Bowery. Where would you go in a time machine? To my college years to correct all my bad choices. What would your last meal be? My mom’s chiles rellenos. What do you worry about? I don’t worry about anything. It’s a waste of mental energy. What are you afraid of? Donald Trump. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A castanet. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who depends on you, and for what? My family, for moral support. Who are you closest with? My husband. What would your autobiography be called? Dizzy Chicken. What’s on your bucket list? Visiting assassinated-presidents’ resting places. I only have one left. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not being able to say “I love you” at a younger age. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I vacationed in Southeast Asia hoping to try dog or cat meat. Where can we see you? In nightclubs.

November 19, 2018November 20, 2018 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

CHAD BUSH

In just five years, Chad Bush has turned Fort Lauderdale’s Pig Week into the country’s preeminent bacchanalian event for gay men. But you’ll never guess what game Bush plays in his down time.

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? In Akron, Ohio. What do you miss about it there? Swenson’s Hamburgers. The Galley Boy hamburger, specifically. How long have you lived in South Florida? Off and on my whole life, but 12 years now for this last stint. Why did you move here? Because I hate the cold. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Wilton Manors. What do you like most about living here? I love being in a community that supports each other. What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? Blue Marlin. What’s your favorite naught venue in South Florida? Well, Ramrod. What’s your claim-to-fame? Besides raising my son, starting Pig Week and having it grow to be the largest party of its kind in the world.

ADVERSTISEMENT

When did you start Pig Week? I started working on it in 2014, and the first one was in 2015, so this is the fourth one. Why did you create it? Because there was nothing like it here in the USA. What’s important about Pig Week? It brings together all genres of men. Leather men, twinks, bears, muscle men, and jocks. All men can be “Pigs.” Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Cleaning the parking lots of shopping malls in Akron. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a man with a vision. Do you believe in an afterlife? I believe more in afterbirth. I have seen that. Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed? No. I think the worst was the early 80s when the government did absolutely nothing to research HIV and let millions of gay men die from aids. That was the worst.

What do you want to live long enough to see? For Broward County get a vote-count right. Will you ever retire? I thought that I already had. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? How to spell “Blue Marlin.” What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Waipi’o Vally, Hawaii. Who would you like to be for a day? My dad asked me that when I was 11, and I told him Grace Jones. He knew then that I was going to be the boy that could not throw the ball. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My son and Ralf Vidal. What talent would you most like to have? To see the future. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That after you get grey hair and you’re dying your beard, it’s easier to go blond than it is to go brown.

What did you learn from your parents? Everything. They are amazing. Who’s your favorite performer? Nina Hagen, Nina Flowers, and Nina Simone. Ok, well, somebody named Nina. What’s your best characteristic? My ability to laugh. How do you enjoy spending your time? Playing duck, duck, goose. What celebrity do you have a crush on? Jason Statham, if he gained 50 pounds. Who do you admire? Barney Frank. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Rosalind Russell. Where would you go in a time machine? Well, first kill Hitler, then invest in Apple, and then tell Grace Jones that I want to be her. What would your last meal be? My grandmother’s gumbo and spoon bread. What do you worry about? My thigh. It itches.

What are you afraid of? This bug that I just found on thigh. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? Zamfir’s pan flute. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? Is pig an option…? Who depends on you, and for what? My family, and for love. Who are you closest with? My Boyfriend, Ralf. What would your autobiography be called? The Making of Babylon. Ghost written by Mark Brandon, and available in May of 2020. What’s on your bucket list? A mop. This place is filthy. What’s your greatest regret in life? Smoking cigarettes. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I’m an artist. Where can we see you? Every weekend behind the bar at Ramrod, or everywhere during Pig Week.

March 18, 2018April 2, 2018 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

VICKIE BENNETT

At over 35 years, Vickie Bennett is—by all accounts—the most-tenured female bartender in the gay bars in Broward County. But it wasn’t always pretty. She had to learn how to survive in the male-dominate world of them—a world which she saw ravished by AIDS.

Where did you grow up? In Akron, Ohio. How long have you lived in South Florida? Since 1978. Why did you move here? Well, it snows in Ohio, and I love palm trees much better than snow. And I was young. Me and my girlfriend-at-the-time were on our way to California. She eventually went on to California, and I just stayed. What part of South Florida do you live in? In Davie. What do you like most about living here? I like the ocean and the palm trees. I just like it—I don’t know. What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? Backstreet. Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why? I mostly stay at home with the puppies and my girlfriend. But when I do go out, I go to a straight bar. I want to go where no one knows my name and I can just be a fly on the wall. What’s your claim–to–fame? I’m the longest-running female bartender in the gay bars in Broward County. That, and my cocktails—people tell me about them all the time. They like to drink them because they don’t taste like pure alcohol. What’s the first place that you worked at in South Florida? Backstreet, in 1982.

The definitive book about mixed drinks. The book is noteworthy for its witty, highly opinionated and conversational tone, as well as its categorization of cocktails into two main types: aromatic and sour.

What’s the best place that you worked at in South Florida? Once again, Backstreet. It was in the space where Revolution is now. It took up the whole block; it was a big venue. It had a pool in the back, too. The early eighties was a very magical time to grow up and be gay. Particularly, in that club. At first, I did everything there—bar backing, taking care of the entertainment, etc. They eventually made me a bartender, but they put me on the second floor, in the back, figuring that I would quit. But I ended up making more than the boys, so they moved me to the first floor. Me and my girlfriend were the only female bartenders there. I never made so much money in all my life. What’s the biggest tip that you ever got? Nine hundred dollars. I only made one drink for this guy, and then he walked away. He left nine $100 bills under the ashtray. I tried to find him, in case he left the money by accident, but he was gone. What do you think about the gay bars today? Bars are getting more integrated, and young gays don’t give a fuck if you’re gay or not. I can’t imagine that young bartenders have a following, because people don’t go out like they used to. But I’m lucky because I’ve been here a long time, so I have a following.

What’s your best celebrity encounter? Andy Warhol. I was at the bar-area in Backstreet, and all these queens were like, “Who’s that ugly guy?” None of them knew who he was, if you can believe that. I had Warhol sign a napkin, and he drew a heart. I still have it. What celebrity are you closest with? Grace Jones. I used to hang around with her all the time. She’s fucking wild. I haven’t seen her for a while, though. Who’s your best industry friend? “Pooch.” I’ve known him for years. He’s a great guy. He used to work at Scandals, but I’m not sure if he’s there anymore. How would you like to be remembered? I really don’t know. I’ll leave that up to the public. I’ve introduced people who are still together years later, and I run into so many who tell me that I made their first drink when they just turned 21, or when they just moved into town. I feel like I’ve grown up with everyone here. Will you ever retire? Probably not. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Probably Facebook. What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why? The keys, but not Key West. It’s not artsy there anymore, and it has too many cruise ships. And working at The Copa for all those years in Key West kind-of ruined it for me. What’s your favorite band? The Pretenders. And on a side note, Chrissie Hynde grew up in Dayton, too, and my aunt—who had a beauty salon—did her mother’s hair.

What are you superstitious about? Black cats. Do you believe in aliens? Yes. And I think I’ve met a few of them. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To save more money. What did you learn from your parents? Not much. I didn’t really have a childhood, because I had to bring up my brothers and sisters since I was 10 years old. What’s your best characteristic? I’m a good listener (laughs). How do you enjoy spending your time? Me and my girlfriend [of 28 years] go to Key Largo every-other weekend. That’s my getaway. What celebrity do you have a crush on? I used to love Suzanne Pleshette. Where would you go in a time machine, and why? Back to the early 80s. That was the best. But it was bittersweet, because the late 80s and early 90s were a very sad time because of AIDS—it was horrible. I mean, I would be serving someone, knowing that it would be their last drink. I was losing friends and customers left and right, and every time you opened up David Magazine, you saw another friend’s obituary. After a while, I got numb to it. I just couldn’t go to anymore funerals. And at that age, I had gone to more funerals than my parents ever did.

What would your last meal be? Probably Jets Pizza. The pizza is amazing—I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like it. What do you worry about? Money, money, money. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why? Probably a trumpet, so people would listen to me (laughs). Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? Most of the time, I’m a lamb. But it depends on the day, because sometimes I have to be a wolf. I’m a woman in a man’s world, so I always have—and had—to be better than the boys and the beautiful men just to stay alive. Who depends on you? My puppies… and my girlfriend. Who are you closest with? Tommy, my cook. What would your autobiography be called? Behind Bars. What music do you listen to when you’re upset? I don’t listen to that much music. I listen to talk radio and sports radio to unwind. What’s your greatest regret in life? That I didn’t save more money. I made millions, but we all did back then. You always thought, “Oh, why bother saving? I’m gonna make another $1,000 tonight.” If we only knew… Where can we see you? At Beefcake’s on Wednesday and Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., and on Friday and Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. to close.