Ari Gold will perform at The Pub this Friday in Wilton Manors. But before you see him live, keep reading to find out which of Gold’s relatives was a pass-around butch party bottom.
You grew up in the Bronx. What’s special about the Bronx that’s not common knowledge? It’s the only borough with a “the” in front of it. It also has more parks than any other borough. Growing up, it was great being in such close proximity to black and latino people, which greatly impacted my musical tastes toward R&B, soul and dance music. What New York venue do you miss that’s gone? The Palladium! It was such a beautiful space, with such a huge dome ceiling. I will never forgive my alma mater, NYU, for tearing it down to build an ugly brick box dorm. Where do you hang out in New York in your down time? I love going out to eat. I don’t hang in the clubs like I used to, but there also isn’t the same club culture like there was when I was coming up in the 90s. That was a heyday. I just did a big concert in New York at The Cutting Room, which is a great music venue. I’m always going to the theater! Do you live in New York? I live on the lower east side of Manhattan, and I’m a fourth generation Lower East Sider. My mom grew up there. I’ve lived in New York City my whole life except for some stints in L.A., which I love, and my brother Elon lives there with his wife and kids. I would move there if my life allows.
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If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? I’ve always wanted to live in the UK or Berlin, so who knows? Which collaboration was the most special to you? I was particularly touched when Peppermint asked me to sing the George Michael cover for “Too Funky,” especially knowing how important George was to me as an openly-gay artist. I love working with Kevin Aviance, getting to write, record and be styled and photographed by Boy George, working with RuPaul in Starbooty, my ex Billy Porter, and my collabs with Adam Joseph. But my favorite has been writing and recording my album, Soundtrack To Freedom, with Bob Sandee, a.k.a. Subgroover. It was the most magical time I’ve ever had recording an album. Collaborating with both my brothers as a child can also never be rivaled. I guess I can’t choose one. If you could collaborate with anyone, who would you pick? There are producers like Jam and Lewis and Babyface that I’ve always wanted to work with, but I’d have to say the craziest dream come true would be to work with Madonna, because I’ve spent so much of my life worshipping her—and I still do. If you had to choose one of your songs to launch into space, which one would you choose? “Space Under Sun,” cause’ its spacey! Since you’ve toured all over the world, what was your favorite destination so far? Overseas, the audience in Switzerland was awesome. In America, performing at SummerStage in Central Park was pretty damn cool.
What’s your favorite movie? Just because it’s the gay bible, The Wizard of Oz. What drives you crazy? Being asked to choose my favorite! How would you feel if your pet was the master in heaven, and you were the pet? I co-parented an English Bull dog with my first boyfriend—the Lady Bully J. Blige—named after Lady Bunny and Mary J. Blige. Lady Bully, RIP, was a pass-around butch party bottom, so I don’t think that would work. Do you like zoos? My Mother would take me to the Bronx Zoo as a child all the time, and I loved it. I like aquariums now because they’re environmentally conscious and do work to help the animals and Mother Nature. Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend? If I was healthy enough to do so, I’m sure it would be a huge gift for me to be able to do that. My percussionist, Hector, just did that for his sister, and they’re both doing great—it’s so beautiful to see how a human can sacrifice for another human like that. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? First, as a loving son, brother, uncle, and, most importantly, as a good friend. After that, as someone who sacrificed a lot in order to heal communities with music and storytelling in ways that hadn’t been done before.
What do you want to live long enough to see? Peace on earth, LGBTQ freedom and equality, and Trump going to jail. Will you ever retire? I don’t think that I’ll every stop being an artist. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? I had a fan tell me that when I wanted “alone time” he wanted to be there to share it with me. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? I remember being 19 and meeting Madonna’s back-up singer, Niki Harris, at a club in L.A. I told her that I don’t usually go up to celebrities, but that I was a huge fan, and she sassed back, “I’m not a celebrity, honey. I’m a real person!” So thanks to her I now fangirl all the time to everyone I meet and love, and I’ve met almost everyone I’ve been a fan of. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? My new music video for NGOR Radio! What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? I never knew how much an 80s TV theme song would speak such deep truth. “You take the good, you take the bad, you take em’ both and there you have the facts of life.” Life is a paradox, so practice cognitive dissonance. Balance is key. What did you learn from your parents? It’s always an opportunity to learn something, and it’s never too late. Who’s your favorite performer? Madonna. Who’s your favorite singer? Brandy.
What’s your best characteristic? I’m a talker, but I think I’m even a better listener. How do you enjoy spending your time? With friends and family, and doing anything cultural. Celebrity or not, who do you have a crush on? I had a big one on out-actor Brian J. Smith, but I’ve gotten over it, thankfully. Well, I at least stopped torturing myself by following him on Instagram. Who do you admire? Oprah, and Michelle Obama. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Mr. Rogers. Where would you go in a time machine? To the 70s pre-AIDS disco era. What would your last meal be? Something Japanese. Maybe scallops with foie gras. What do you worry about? My parents getting older, and this country falling apart. What are you afraid of? Trump’s power and stupidity. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A piano. It’s my favorite instrument and the one that I wished I played well. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A fierce golden Daniel lion. “Ari” means lion, “Gold” is my last name, and “Daniel” is my middle name. So there. Who depends on you, and for what? My parents depend on me to keep them growing, on their feet, and never getting too comfortable or set in their ways. Who are you closest with? God. Where can we see you? On my website or at The Pub this Friday!
Although New York has changed a lot since the 1980s and 1990s, what’s still unique about it that most don’t realize? It’s one of America’s few walking cities, with an outrageous street scene, and great people-watching. I’ve always had a theory that passing by all kinds of people is very humanizing. Every day I pass Muslims, Jews, trans people, handicapped people, straight jocks, homeless and tourists from all over. Down South, we would get bottles thrown at us from cars as the drivers yelled anti-gay slurs. Seeing people face-to-face opens your eyes and you realize things like, “Well, she has on a hijab, which I may not fully understand, but she is snatching that video game out of her kid’s hands just like any other mother would.” What New York venue do you miss that’s gone? Palladium, The World, Tunnel, Splash, Mars, Building, Limelight, BoyBar, Sound Factory Bar, Sally’s Hideaway and Jackie 60. There are so many! When you’re out of drag, where do you hang out in New York to unwind? At a massage parlor! Carrying those big wigs on your head, twisted up in girdles, and prancing in heels can really work up some kinks which need to be released regularly. And no, I’m not talking about a massage with a “happy ending” (laughs). 
