There’s a new team in town down at Greek Street’s finest queer bar, The Green Carnation, and they bring with them a sparkling line-up and a fresh new outlook. One night that remains unchanged, however, marching proudly into its third year and as busy as ever is Vanity von Glow’s Sunday shindig Poppers At the Piano. Jason Reid caught up with the internationally ignored superstar this week…
by Jason Reid
Hey Vanity, great to speak to you as always. So what can we expect if we mince along to one of your Sunday nights?
A big tranny murdering your favourite pop songs at a piano, with the occasional delight of having poppers shoved under your nose.
What’s not to love about that, eh? The venue is also under new management. What’s changed from before?
In recent times the Green Carnation really lost its way. It went from being a classy Oscar Wilde inspired bar to serving Tesco wine in plastic cups and catering to a wholly unsavory crowd at the weekends! The new management want the Green Carnation to be a gay bar again and not a lads holiday in Magaluf. The upstairs piano bar is about cocktails and cabaret, while the newly refurbished ground floor a perfect spot for after-work drinks, and the men’s toilets the ideal location to meet me for a shag.
One in, one out! Many people will know you more recently for starring in Drag Queens Of London, how was that for you?
I think ‘starring’ is a bit of a stretch, Jason. Stripping down to one’s knickers in the opening credits does not a career in TV make! Having been used more heavily in publicity to promote the show than in the actual show itself, I did enjoy my daily advert in the London Evening Standard – nice not to be in the escort listings for a change.
Having watched it, what message do you think the show conveyed to the general public about drag performers? Or was it just some frivolous fun?
I’m not sure any show which suggests people willingly go on dates with Rosie Beaver should be taken seriously at all.
Would you like to do more TV?
Of course I’d be open to doing more TV work – entertaining in drag is what I do
A UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race, if the opportunity arose?
Unlikely. Spewing out repetitive sound-bytes, snapping my fingers and squealing ‘werk hunty’ in a faux-American accent isn’t really my cup of gin.
What would Vanity do?
If someone took your poppers away?
Cut their fingers off.
If you met one of your ultimate musical idols, Celine Dion?
I’d politely ask her to stop stealing my look and impersonating my beautiful voice.
If there were another Scottish referendum on independence and you could vote?
Scotland can do what they like regarding independence; all I ask is that they take that burst bagpipe Mary Mac off our hands so I can snaffle her job as a judge at G-A-Y Porn Idol, ogling all the cocks and bollocks.
If you could introduce one law?
I would make it a legal requirement that all twinks of eligible age be made to walk on all fours, as God intended.
If you were a Eurovision entrant?
I would grow a beard, embark on a European tour to promote my critically acclaimed and empowering Bond-theme of a ballad, culminating in a performance headlining London’s Pride day before swiftly fading into obscurity and never being heard of again.
If you could delete one scene from Drag Queens of London?
It would have to be a scene featuring someone other than myself, otherwise I’d be erased from the show completely.
• VVG Poppers at the Piano is at The Green Carnation (5 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4DD) every Sunday. Open 5pm-12.30am. Show from 9.30pm.
