Starting this week, G-A-Y Porn Idol plays host to a run of RuPaul’s Drag Race guest judges! And first up to inject some USA sass into the proceedings is the infamous Sharon Needles! UK’s own drag/cabaret starlet Meth called her across the Atlantic up for a chin-wag and gas-bag about life as an alumni of the world’s most famous drag contest…
Poppers, Meth or Alcohol?
Well, alcohol. If I wasn’t famous or an artist people would consider me an alcoholic.
Wrong answer… #DontDoDrugsDoMeth
Oh, well, I find your stage name to be one of the best in the world, I love it. I love any queen who is still treating the art form as a way to push buttons, be transgressive and be an all-around asshole.
Where are you right now?
I’m at home actually, I’m rarely here. I live in Pittsburgh, Transylvania. After being on Drag Race I’ve had a lot of opportunities to travel the world and see places I never thought I’d see. It’s made me realise that there really is no place like home.
What were your best and worst moments during Drag Race?
I would say the best moment would be… Oh, I know. Winning! The worst experience would be the way the producers of the show find your ultimate weakness and enjoy, almost sado-masochistically, forcing you to drudge up things from your past that you’d almost forgotten about.
You are obviously no stranger to controversy…
Me? Controversial?
The UK social media stratosphere recently went up in arms over a couple of Vine videos in which you slap a girl and also put a cigarette out on her…
Those glorious three vines! Six seconds of glory! What they actually were is me and a trans friend of mine who lives here in Pittsburgh. She’s very heavy into the BDSM and pain scene, and it’s something she brings to her stage shows as well. I was interested and she said, “Sharon, I would love for you to try some of it out on me” and me being the sick fuck that I am, thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to document some real, hardcore art. Well, the world is not going to understand that, they’ll jump to conclusions and thank god! When the world rallied for Sharon Needles on Drag Race I was worried because I never wanted to be something that everyone understood. The day that my work translated into universal admiration was the day that I was total sell out, failure. So I relish in people not understanding those videos.
How do you deal with this kind of reaction?
Social media is designed to propel one’s own fantasy by the destruction of someone else’s. Sharon Needles is a product that the world can enjoy or enjoy watching the destruction of. I had to learn a long time ago that what’s going on in that glowing box, it’s not real. It’s a debate between people who don’t know each other talking about something which they know nothing about. When you start in this business you tend to get very used to the nice comments and start becoming obsessed with the negative ones so I just choose to stay out of it.
So, your trip to the UK sees you performing in Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester and in London to judge at G-A-Y’s Porn Idol.
I’m usually only in London, so I’m really excited to see what the legendary children have to serve in all the cities. I love the UK because the queens are much more designed for fun. They’re like parties in high heels and I really like that.
What will you be looking for from the Porn Idol contestants?
I guess I’m looking for something I’ve never seen before. I’ve watched a lot of porn. When you’re on the road 300 days a year porn becomes one of your best friends. So I’m looking for someone that brings artistic expression. I also think I’m looking for a very large, uncut penis.
Who is your all time, Porn Idol?
Sulka. The first transsexual porn star in the 70s, the first person to get extreme plastic surgery, tiny nose, huge cheek bones, huge breasts and she was a huge inspiration to my friends the Glamorous Monique and Amanda Lepore.
Well Miss Needles that’s everything from me,
Well, thank you Meth for taking the time to talk to me. I’m looking forward to making a giant mess with you soon. Keep it strange and Happy Halloween.
• Sharon Needles guest judges G-A-Y Porn Idol (Heaven, Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG) on Thursday 3rd July. Discount wristbands from G-A-Y Bar. To be a contestant, text 07789 553 868 or email [email protected]
