Madge? Lady Ga-who? Kylie Min-what? Fuck those bitches, the biggest gay icon is actually a man, and has to be the Thin White Duke himself, David Bowie, says Tony Fletcher, one half of club DJ duo, TheMenWhoFell2Earth…
Now I have to admit, even though I did see Labyrinth at the cinema as a kid, I only properly discovered David Bowie when I was well into my teens (my heart belonged to John Lennon for many years before). I can’t actually remember what first grabbed me about him, but I think it’s pretty poignant that it was around the time I was realising my own sexual identity that my obsession with all things Bowie began.
Let’s go back a few years – a good few years before I was born, I would like to add – forty years ago to Thursday 6th July, 1972. Midway through that week’s Top Of The Pops saw a multi-coloured jumpsuit (designed by Freddie Burretti) and red-patent-boots-wearing Bowie perform ‘Starman’ to the British public.
This not only captivated the teen audiences watching on their tiny sets at home, it kick-started quite the controversy. During this three and a half minutes of iconic TV history, Bowie looks ‘seductively’ (so they say) into the eyes of guitarist Mick Ronson, puts his arm around him and they lean in to share the mic for the first chorus. What followed was a public uproar of disgusted and open-mouthed parents, all for a flirty hug and a look on the telly – between two men.
Fast forward to September of the same year (two weeks before seven hundred people walked from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park in the first Gay Pride march I might add), and we read Bowie’s now legendary “I am gay and always have been” quote in Melody Maker.
Admittedly, he soon slightly backtracked with him saying he was “bisexual”, but nonetheless, it took the world by storm and was what must be the first coming out (of sorts) by a musician ever.
“I don’t think you can deny the impact on modern gay life and culture made by this make-up wearing, gender-bending, skinny boy from Bromley.”
I wasn’t around to witness ‘that’ TOTP moment, but a friend who was said the impact on him was pretty significant: “David Bowie, or more specifically Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, was the blueprint for my vision of Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
A band that prompted parents not only to lock up their daughters, but to lock up their sons as well,” said singer and original purveyor of gay shock, Holly Johnson.
To be honest, as much as I’m sure Bowie is someone who has experimented sexually, I always saw him more as pseudo-gay, but I don’t think you can deny the impact on modern gay life and culture made by this make-up wearing, gender-bending, skinny boy from Bromley.
As for his influence on others, Gaga’s ripped off the Aladdin Zane lightning bolt on many occasions. And as they emerged back in the Britpop era, bands like Suede and Placebo also had a real sense of Bowie running through them, but much more through the sexual ambiguity than Gaga does.
He’s probably not the answer to most kids down Old Compton Street when asked about their gay idols, I’m sure, but then who is a young gay-friendly pop star these days? Rihanna? Safe to say she’s not quite hit her Ziggy Stardust period yet, though it’s conceivable she could go and lose it on drugs in Berlin, I guess.
I would really like to think he’s still idolized by other gays, too. One of the big reasons we started club night ‘Rebel Rebel’ back in the day was, other than hearing his music at the wonderful Duckie, there wasn’t anywhere else I could indulge my obsession.
And it’s as true today as it was then, that no matter what age the audience is, they still shake their stuff when we play his tunes.
Pushing boundaries for so long makes him a gay icon in my eyes forever more. Sure, much of what caused a storm around him at the time might seem tame today, but he forever holds a place in that line of moments where teenagers were mesmerized by something their parents were outraged at…
And I’m sure a whole host of other kids (gay or whatever) when they discovered Bowie over the years finally found someone to idolize too.
• Bowie tribute night ‘Serious Moonlight’ is at Dalston Superstore (117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB) on Saturday 23rd March, 9pm-3am. Dress code: Bowie.
