At Home With Dusty O.

Dusty O

Lady Bunny is one of the “mothers” of American Drag. As a long-time collaborator with Ru Paul, film and stage star and creator of Wigstock, the Trannyshack crew are overjoyed to have her as headline guest at their next ball at the Bloomsbury Ballroom (June 21st). As I got to grips with Bunny, she was as rude and fabulous as ever. Here’s what she had to say.

 


You’re back in London… Tell us what you have planned for the Ballroom show? 

There are some terrific songs which were mainly hits in the UK so I’m going to seize that opportunity to perform some of those. So I’ll be performing the hits of Dusty O, Tasty Tim, Lady Lloyd and Silver Summers. KIDDING! I don’t say this often – but I actually have new material. So dirty jokes and new song parodies of everyone from Daft Punk to Katy Perry to Adele to Prince. I always like to get to the venue before I completely decide on what I’m doing so I can see what the vibe is.

The whole drag “bug” is catching on again here. You have always been a world player. What’s your take on the London drag scene?

I haven’t really experienced the London scene is a few years, except for pics on Facebook. When I was last there, Johnny Woo and his band of misfits were ruling the roost. But I’ve always been inspired by the London scene – you gals really have your looks together and tend to be more stylish – and thinner – than Americans. I know I’ll hear some good music, since Europe tends to have better dance music than the US.

Any gossip on Ru Paul who we know you have worked with a lot over the years?

Ru who?

What’s your hot drag tip for newbies? 

Suicide is a proven weight loss technique. Within a week you won’t need any contour at all and after a few months, your eyes will look huge!

“I just don’t believe in banning words. I do believe in free speech.” – Dusty O.

You have been top of the game for a million years. What do you attribute this to? Tell us about your work ethic…

I really don’t do anything but work. But I’m bored easily, so I like to do different things and so it keeps things fresh. I perform in clubs, have a 1&1/2 woman cabaret show on Tuesdays, DJ a lot, write for a few blogs and recently I wrote a forward to a book, and am now working on my own. I will definitely need some help filling in some of the drunken, blacked-out blanks. I’ll never forget performing at Heaven years ago with Miss Kimberly and the manager came to pay me. I shooed him away, since I was more concerned about the gorgeous moroccan guy I was blowing in the dressing room than my payment. And I’ve had many hilarious nights out with Stella Stein, Leigh Bowery, Tasty Tim, Luke Howard, Jeffrey Hinton, Princess Julia, Lavinia, the Bodymap crew – and many more.

What’s your take on the “tranny debate”?

I learned that word on the London club scene, where it was used affectionately – not as a slur. The English abbreviate everything. Breakfast is brekkie, biscuit is biccie, etc. And tranny is an abbreviation for transvestite or transsexual. As the former, I’m free to use it.  Much as blacks are free to use the N-word. Many gay men don’t like the word faggot, yet many gays use it – including drag queens on stage hired at gay events. I just don’t believe in banning words. I do believe in free speech. If someone offends you, don’t patronize or watch them. It isn’t your right to silence everything you don’t like.

Are you excited about the London gig ?

Very! I haven’t been there in ages! And I’ve always had a blast at the smaller parties, so I’m sure that the ball will be a mess!

Give us a message for your London fans…

Please fuck me before I die!

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