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. 

By Mike Jeknavorian

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.

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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.

 

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

MICHAEL FAZAKERLEY

Few eras were as hedonistic or crazy as the club-kids and drag scene in New York during the 1980s and 1990s, and Michael Fazakerley was there to photograph much of it.  The first retrospective of his work, some unseen until now, will debut this Thursday in Wilton Manors.     

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHEN R. LANG

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up?  In Southwest Philly.  What do you miss about it there?  Family time and Rittenhouse Square.  Where did you live in New York?  I moved there in 1978 to attend FIT, and I lived in the same apartment in Chelsea for 28 years.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  Since 2005, but I visited many times in the 80s & 90s.  Why did you move here?  In 2005, I wanted and needed change after 28 years in New York.  I was drained from my 12-year career with Calvin Klein and Georgio Armani.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  I lived for eight years on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and now for five years in Wilton Manors.  What do you like most about here?  The nature and the weather.  What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone?  The Copa and The Marlin Beach. Oh, and Johnny’s (laughs).  Where do you hang out in South Florida?  I’m a little low-key today, so The Pride Center and Wilton Drive.  I also enjoy the beach.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I wore a few hats.  Today, I believe it will be my photos from the New York club scene from the 80s and 90s.  I’m planning to leave my archives to the Stonewall Museum so that they can be a part of our history, live on, be part of my legacy.  I also had a great career as a photo stylus, window dresser and visual director. 

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Who was your favorite nightlife impresario?  A favorite is hard to say.  I loved Kabuki Starshine, Kenny Kenny and Leigh Bowery.  Who’s your favorite fashion designer?  Thierry Mugler, because of his impact, drama and creativity.  What’s the craziest shoot that you ever did?  Fifteen people in my one-bedroom apartment in New York for a HX cover and editorial for Valentine’s Day.  What celebrity did you photograph who was different than what you expected?  Leigh Bowery and Amanda Lapore.  Both were sweet, conversational and professional.  Will you ever retire?  I’m semi-retired early due to health setbacks, but I do pet sitting, I volunteer at a few places, I’m looking into having a book published, and I’ll travel with my exhibit.  If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?  As someone who cares for other’s well-being.  What do you want to live long enough to see?  Elected officials and big businesses having to show their financials.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL FAZAKERLEY

What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked you?  I get asked a lot about Party Monster, the film and what it was really like.  What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  As a stylist, I worked with many at Scavullo’s studio.  I guess early Boy George and Grace Jones.  Oh, and Cher.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  I googled the November election ballot to prepare myself to vote.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited?  A few.  Sitges, Spain, and Mykonos, Greece.  If Trump was drowning, would you save him?  I would try to.  What’s your favorite drink?  Ice tea and lemonade—an Arnold Palmer.  What’s your most treasured possession?  Old family photos and my dad’s dog tags.  Do you believe in ghosts?  Spirits…?  Yes.  Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with?  Lady Diana, David Bowie, and my brother Frank, who passed four years ago.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  That money doesn’t buy happiness. 

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHEN R. LANG

What did you learn from your parents?  Work ethics and tolerance toward others who are different than me.  Who’s your favorite performers?  Cher, Elton and Patty Labelle.  What’s your best characteristic?  Compassion.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  I love the sea and mother nature.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  John Stamos, for many years.  Who do you admire?  Many, for various reason, but let’s say Oprah and Cecil Beaton.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?  My dear friend, Jim Tremblay, who passed at 38.  Where would you go in a time machine?  To the first moon landing.  What would your last meal be?  Eggs, bacon, grits and biscuits with gravy.  What do you worry about?  Humanity.  What are you afraid of?  Prejudice and suffering. 

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Pansy Beat was a short-lived fanzine published by Michael Economy in New York from 1989 to 1990, totaling five quarterly issues. This book celebrates Pansy Beat’s brief but influential life, including a reprinting of all five issues in their original format, previously unseen photographs by staff photographer Michael Fazakerley, new full-color artwork by some of the original contributors, plus new essays and interviews.

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?  A piano.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  I go back and forth a lot, but sheep wins.  Who depends on you, and for what?  My pet-sitting clients, and my cat, Noah, for care, food, protection and love.  Who are you closest with?  Currently, my roommate Frank, my friend Charles, and my sister, Maryann.  What would your autobiography be called?  …And the Beat Goes On.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Wagner and Ravi Shankar.  What’s on your bucket list?  To visit Cuba and Fiji, and to have my exhibit shown in New York City.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Being honest to a fault.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  Wow (laughs).  Hmm…?  Pass. Where can we see you?  At the Stonewall Museum on October 18, in L.A. in March 2019, and hopefully in New York City in the summer or fall 2019.