Popular youtube archive from the 80s Club Kids

With Christmas upon us, it's time to reflect and get cosy on the sofas....and watch anything that our screens throw at us, so I am hoping that the following selection of videos will entertain you as much as they did us. Late 70s and 80s were times of social rebellion that affected popular culture and left a mark on arts, music and fashion, ultimately leading to the birth of a multitude of social subcultures but none more exciting and unique than the New Romantics (UK) and the Club Kids (US). They combined creativity with party lifestyle and with an admirable dedication to individuality they challenged the social acceptance. They set new rules for generations to come and we are now experiencing revivals of the movement all over the world. My book documenting the new wave of club kids in London (published in 2011) is still selling worldwide and I get many emails and messages on social media from people who tell me that it inspired them and opened a whole new world that they were hungry for.
So let's reflect on times past and have a laugh along the way. Enjoy these and Merry Christmas! 

The Legend of Leigh Bowery. ..

A timely reminder of the legend that is Leigh Bowery

Leigh Bowery Book...

Watch Sue Tilley talk about Leigh Bowery in which she depicted the extraordinary life and talent of possibly the most outrageous and creative of all club kids to date. Recommended by my friend Phillip Salon, this book ispired me and opened my eyes to the genius of Leigh back in the day and I passionately urge everyone :

 Find it. Get it. Read it. 

Laterz!

Oggs

A brief look into the Club Kid scene in 2013

And so we entered into the new year with a little sadness in our hearts about our shrinking Club Kid scene. The decade of the Noughties which saw the full-on revival of the dressing-up as a norm is now behind us and the vibes that were firing our tastes for all things 80s are muted and almost dried down, which means the club kid scene will go into another ice age until a future generation re-discovers the thrills and tribulations of this artistic subculture that painted the town red to black and every colour in between.
With fewer parties dedicated to the dressers, we will be reporting less about the nightlife and more about the culture and the legacy this scene has left for generations to follow.

For a start, in 2013 we will experience one of the biggest retrospectives of the Club Kid scene which be accomodated by the grandeur Victoria & Albert Museum and will open in the summer. The show, titled Club to Catwalk will explore the loud and striking fashion of the ’80s. As I tried many times in my blogs and through my book to make a point about the inspiration that the Club Kid subculture has contributed to world fashion, we will at last experience that true recognition, somewhat long overdue. The show promises to include everything from original club kids Leigh Bowery and Boy George to the work of designers like John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and Katherine Hamnett. Curator Claire Wilcox is also hoping to include a collection of one-off custom denim jackets that were originally created as part of a V&A collaboration in the ’80s. They’ve already found several of the original jackets, including ones created by Zandra Rhodes, Paul Smith, Jasper Conran, Betty Jackson and Jean Muir and are still looking.

More on the subject will be reported as we come closer to the date, watch this space.

Taboo in Brixton

Last week the brilliant musical Taboo returned to London at its 10th anniversary. We strongly recommend seeing it even in this new, more-humble offering as it is really an eyenopener to the younger club kid, a reminiscence at a bygone era that changed the way we party, dress and celebrate the creative self-expression that manifests in extreme dressing up.

The musical runs until february 2013 at the Club House Brixton ( literally 10 feet from the station, so worry not) and celebrates the life and art of Leigh Bowery, Boy George and his ever-so-flamboyant sidekick Phillip Salon (*see older posts).

A fresh new addition to the cast is Sam Buttery, who is channeling the inexplicably captivating Leigh Bowery, while Alistair Brammer dazzles as Billy, the bi-curious leading man and Matthew Rowland is of course, the perfect Boy George.
There you have it, you are summoned. No excuse.

             

Remembering Leigh

Today's focus is on Leigh Bowery. The most creative, talented and seriously disturbing artist/designer/performer to come out of the Club-Kid scene. In a way we can argue that he created the notion of the Club Kid and pioneered the nightlife club culture with his ventures, most notably the London club Taboo.

His influence is everywhere today, so let's have a look at the person himself...