KISS: Sans Make Up

"Let me tell you a nightmare scenario. We're going through an airport in middle America someplace, and there's one of these stores in the middle of an airport. And mostly mature women stop in and buy these things, because no young lady in her right mind would go and buy fashion in an airport. And there's this kind of red-sequined glittery top that Dame Edna might wear. I stopped everybody, walked in there, proudly put cash down and took this red sequined outfit. Of course it was too small, so I had to get the seamstresses to take it out. And I proudly walked out on stage like a fucking buffoon, because I had lost my soul."

Gene Simmons from KISS on the terrible make-up-free wilderness years.
Heaven forfend a member of KISS should look silly, eh?
Quoted in a suitably amusing mini-oral history of the brilliantly ridic' rockers in The Guardian.
The band are sort-of promoting The KISS Monster Book, which in true Kiss-style is 3ft high and 2 1/2ft wide and costs just $4,299.
Gene says; "When they say size don't matter, they're lying!"
Rock on.

Donna Summer: Our Love

There's been some strange comfort in how much coverage there's been about Donna Summer and her death since yesterday.
And, for someone who was rarely taken seriously by critics in her 70s heyday, much of it pleasingly placing her as a pivotal figure in popular music.
(Though I've lost count of how many tributes I've heard from Paul Gambaccini...)
Just about every story and obit said she was very popular with The Gays, and then mentioned the controversy over that alleged "Aids is God's punishment" comment.
I think it's sad how this myth, and it is a myth, became such a big part of her story - it would look odd if an obituary didn't mention it - and despite her endless refutations and a high profile libel case.
The two best articles I've read by twelve inches or more both came from The Guardian.
Here's a beautiful piece by Alex Needham on her game-changing records and the power of her music; "charged with feelings of liberation, a pre-Aids world of pansexual freedom and adventure... her best records still pulsate with that spirit, the lifeforce of pop itself."
And here's Paul Flynn on Donna Summer as the "the accidental gay icon".
(I read it soon after it went online and many of the readers' comments brought up that Aids comment, often assuming it was true. Grrr...).
I know what Paul means, and agree - though I don't think it was completely accidental.
Interviewing Giorgio Moroder some years ago he told me during the Casablanca days rather a lot of the people they worked with were gay.
Casablanca's rarely given credit as a gay-friendly and pioneering gay-savvy label.
Giorgio told me he was too naive to notice they'd queered up the sleeve of his Nights In White Satin album, by adding a K to the title, and getting Giorgio shot for the cover photo in what looks like a gay sauna surrounded by some... knights in white satin.
KISS may have built Casablanca's city on Rock 'n' Roll, but their manager, Bill Aucoin, was gay - and I bet it was him who told those four nice Jewish boys to turn up the camp to 11.
As for Casablanca's other really big act, Village People, what need I say?
Though yes, they were often coded - and their bizarro film, Can't Stop The Music (often blamed for bankrupting the label) had them playing themselves laughably straight.
Casablanca also put out two of Disco's boldest singles, The Ritchie Family's Cruising The Streets and Skatt Brothers' Walk The Night.
And then there was Patrick Juvet and Paul Jabara - the latter wrote No More Tears (Enough Is Enough and It's Raining Men - and they signed Dusty and ruddy Cher!
But anyway I'm wibbling away.
As I said, these are two great pieces.
Donna Summer deserved writing about her as good as these.

Update: There's more! Jon Savage and Ewan Pearson on How I Feel Love Changed Pop. Wow.

Neighbours: Kiss Me Quick

'Never have the lyrics - 'Everybody needs good neighbours, with a little understanding' - of the infamous Neighbours theme tune rang so true.
'For Chris Pappas, played by James Mason, and on-screen boyfriend Aidan Foster (Bob Morley), will need some open-mindedness from their friends after sharing the first ever gay kiss on the soap.
'The long-running Australian drama has finally featured its debut same-sex kiss - the first in 27 years...'
'While the topical subject should be commended by writers penning the script, it seems producers weren't quite bold enough to allow the action to occur close-up and instead opted for a long shot.
'But executive producer Susan Bower insists bosses were keen not to scandalise the kiss, saying: 'It’s not sensationalist or token - we are very proud of the way we have done this.'

The Daily Mail.
An unsensationalist and undisgusted piece from the Mail - though I get the feeling they'd've been a bit more excited if it was two good-looking young women "locking lips".
The thing is it's so quick and done in the background, one wonders if anyone would have noticed it if the tabloids hadn't pointed it out.
The Sun was similarly unphased, concluding; "Let’s hope viewers will be more happy to see Chris and Aidan love thy Neighbour."



There's some great readers' comments on the Mail Online, as per:

"Why have they got to spoil a good show with AGENDAS. Sometimes you just want to be entertained and enjoy what you are watching with your family. If people want gay kisses, turn over to Hollyoaks." Lee, London England.

"Sick! End of." Mark, UK.

"Not really bothered one way or the other but oh dear yet another two really good looking guys have turned to the other side....... What are we girls going to do now there's not much TOP TOTIE to choose from? Can't you make you them short, fat and bald like all the rest of the men out there... That way at least I wouldn't get envious." Mum, Cheshire.

"Neighbours is about to lose a regular viewer. Depravity is not entertaining." Annie, Daventry, England.

"I'm outraged. You would think gay people existed in real life or something. PC gone mad. Off my screen now. I don't understand it therefore it must be wrong. blah. blah. blah. (just getting it all out the way)." Dan, Manchester.

And Fagburn's favourite comment on this hoopla;

"Wasn't aware of the fact that they use those large red plastic cups in Australia, I would typically associate that with the US." Annie.

Daily Mail: From The Message Boards

'Photo Of Gay US Marine Leaping Into Boyfriend's Arms Goes Viral'
The Daily Mail.

A selection of Mail readers' comments online:

You'd never see a Royal Marine acting in this manner.
- Jo Bee, Ecosse

Gordon Bennett, give me strength.
- Fireball XL5, Lostinspace

This is not your fathers military anymore. Thanks Obama.
- Jon, Cheyenne, Wy

REVOLTING
- Anon, UK

The Afghans are going to have a field day.
- Sam, London

Would not want him behind me in a tight corner, he wants to try that on the taliban
- tom, west mids

What is it about seeing two men kissing that always makes you feel uncomfortable?
- John, London

This just shows how sick life is getting.
- stan white, leeds

The lord will strike them DOWN
- Pinky, Strathclyde

God help us if there's a war!
- Edna Welthorpe (Mrs), London N1

• I should stress most comments are positive (and the last one above was me)... 

Update: The Sun ran this story on Tuesday, as I type there are close to 100 comments, nothing really homophobic, a few men say they just don't like any public displays of affection, regardless if they're by straight or gay couples. Most common comment - and general consensus - "Good for them!" 
Good for them.

Spain: Those Election Results In Full

Obituary: Bill Aucoin

Here is the New York Times obituary for Bill Aucoin (above, left), best-known as manager and champion of KISS.
Didn't you just know there had to be a gay man in there somewhere?