The gay scene is a forever growing and constantly evolving place. The current landscape of prominent gay villages in Soho, East London and Vauxhall, with numerous pockets of surrounding venues, was predated by other popular gay ghettos, like Earls Court. Go back 20 years to the first issue of QX and you’d be hard-pressed to find more than Comptons and the Village in Soho. As time rolled on, the gay scene exploded across the city to become the most diverse gay community in the world. And these are just some of the people who helped create it that are sadly not with us to celebrate our 1000th issue. While they may not be around to raise a toast, we certainly haven’t forgotten their remarkable creativity, vision and contribution…
Chris McKoy, DJ and promoter
By Thomas Mutke, Bootylicious promoter
Chris McKoy was bubbling with infectious excitement and enthusiasm. A 19-year-old from Derby when he first hit the gay scene in London, he soon discovered that there was nothing out there specifically for black gay people and the music they were listening to.
The first club he did as a co-promoter/DJ, ‘With Love’ at the Vox, and then the Pressure Zone, addressed that particular problem with spectacular results. Practically overnight there was a big weekly gay club in Brixton for the new sounds of R’n’B or Swingbeat as it was called, with the likes of Mary J Blige, Joe, Biggie, Faith Evans, Sean “Puffy” Combs who were then just starting out, and Reggae/Ragga.
He was the life and soul of any party, as well as probably the most outspoken and visible black gay man out there, frequently on TV and in press interviews. Especially so during the Buju Banton furore where Chris tried to steer a course that wouldn’t demonise a whole music genre just because powerful people saw gains to be made from “populist” homophobia, something that we still see in many parts of the world.
During the last few years he started playing his particular brand of House music and soon became a successful DJ for Trade Lite and Factor 25 amongst others. It was his success as a House DJ that brought him to Amsterdam where he died in December 2001. His legacy lives on to this day in Bootylicious, the club he co-founded and for which he coined the name. As usual he knew how to pick a hit.
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Tony De Vit, By Laurence Malice, Trade creator
Tony was not just a fundamental and much loved member of the Trade family who certainly inspired a magical era for the club from his debut set, which broke so much ground with his musical take on what we were establishing. He was also one of my best friends. We simply clicked when we met, on word of mouth, he used to travel from Birmingham with friends to experience Trade.
From our first introduction his enthusiastic charm won me over, and then I listened to his mix tape! He felt inspired to push a new style of the tougher end of House & Techno, which completely fitted our ethos and went on (before social media) to establish Trade globally. His style is still held in high respect all these years on. Pete Tong once commented that Tony’s mixing was so flawless it was very hard as a DJ to follow him!
Before anyone else he brokered his tuff edged sound in Ibiza which raised so many eyebrows including a comment from the legendary DJ Alfredo who was concerned that Tony’s set at Manumission was too fast – Tony had over 7,000 people on the floor at Privilege going crazy and finished his set with new TDV remix. As he pulled his headphones out, he commented to Alfredo; “Too fast? Mix out of that!” The power of his reputation speaks for itself after all these years, a completely unique tour de force, a pioneer who will never be forgotten – and most importantly; a much missed friend.
Transformer, By Chrissy Darling, interviewed by Jonny Woo
I met him back in the 90s at a club in Birmingham. I was working on the door and a guy turned up with a bag with some very glittery material protruding, and I knew it was him. I had heard of him, because we both worked for Miss Monneypenny’s and he had appeared on their CD cover and I thought, WOW, this guy’s good.
He was doing stuff that nobody else was doing. He was wearing birdcages as shoes for example. He was utilising things that other people wouldn’t have dreamt of using. We would be walking down the street and he would find things that had been thrown in the rubbish, or just left on the street and he’d say ‘Oh Miss Thing, I’m going to make something fabulous out of this!’ I’d say ‘Yeah Yeah, whatever’ and he always surprised me with an amazing creation made from some plastic he’d found in a skip.
I remember him wearing a headpiece that was made from two giant cones which lit up and flickered like a spaceship. People were mesmerized, yet he was very dismissive of his own genius.
He wasn’t drag as such, but of course there was a transgender element going on, but it was more like performance art. Whatever anyone else tried to do, you couldn’t out do him. He was always two steps ahead of everyone else.
He was fearless going to a club. He knew he could walk in and all eyes would be on him. He was never scary, but people were totally fascinated by him.
Out of drag he was very handsome and very sweet. Also very intelligent to an extent which made others feel less so, but not because he was superior but because he truly was, a creative genius.
Many people who arrived on the scene after his death may not have heard of him. He doesn’t have the legacy that other club stars may have. He never had a celebrity entourage. He never ingratiated himself to people just for the fame and he did all the work himself. There was no team sewing on sequins or making his outfits. It was all his own work. It’s a shame that his legacy has been lost in the midst of time, because in my opinion, he was the best.
Steffan Whitfileld, By Vicky Lee, Way Out Club promoter
Numbers are strange aren’t they! QX has produced 1000 issues. Last year the WayOut Club completed 1000 nights. On the 23rd August Steffan Whitfield would be celebrating his birthday, but we lost him to cancer in 2005 at the age of 40. This year the WayOut Club is 21 years old – that’s more than half of the number of years that Steffan was given.
I can’t believe nine years have passed – Steffan would have loved where the scene has gone to in these last years. He was a bit of a ‘luddite’ with computers, but he loved his phone and I can imagine him now with a tablet blogging and Facebooking and videoing and YouTubing, knocking us dead with his creativity.
He aspired to being La Voix vocally and I see a lot of Steffan in La Voix’s performance and image. He may even have beaten Dusty O to ‘Tranny Academy’, and if he hadn’t he’d have been kicking his own arse that he hadn’t thought of it first. He would have been an advocate, judge, mentor and he would have promoted ‘Drag Idol’ worldwide. He would have SO loved the platform that social media provides us now.
It was this love of the platform and an audience that he taught so many of us to embrace. But with a platform comes the opportunity to spread a message and Steffan’s message was: “Age, race, sexuality, gender have NO boundary and… neither does LOVE.”
Since losing him WayOut has raised more than £7000 for cancer charities. It seemed, to me, to be logical on Saturday 23rd August to remember Steffan, raise more money for charity and celebrate WayOut’s 21st anniversary all in one amazing night.
I call on all of my ‘sisters’ to pledge their support and join us in a mega show and on that night we will open both halves and both bars at The Minories. I will also ask for an extension for an hour or two. Alan Bugg and Cancer is a Drag will join with us and it will be a phenomenal night.
qxmagazine.kinsta.cloud/blog-event/steffan-whitfield/
Simon Hobart, Popstarz promoter, By Dusty O, DJ and promoter
Simon was and is a huge hero of mine. When he took over The Ghetto, my night ‘Babe’ was the only one he kept and after a little tweaking it became ‘Don’t Call Me Babe’ and a nighttime legend was created.
Simon could do that. He had an inner sense of what people wanted from a club and the talent to deliver. He was always spot on trend wise and unafraid to try new things, but keep the best of what was there. He went from promoting Goth clubs to the spectacularly successful Popstarz, which tuned in perfectly to those discontent with the generic gay clubs of the time. He was fearless and innovative.
On a personal level, I adored him. Simon was subtle, gentle and kind. He treated his staff, his customers and his friends with respect and grace. The perfect gent. We shared every Tuesday night together for several years so I got to know him a little and I never saw him lose his temper or be rude to anyone, ever. He was a beautiful, clever and inspiring man and I was heartbroken when he died and as were so many others. I will never forget this charming man and his clever mind, gentle heart and the best jewelry on the scene. I miss him enormously.
qxmagazine.kinsta.cloud/blog-event/simon-hobart/
Tallulah, DJ (1948-2008), By Patrick Lilley, Queer Nation promoter
Tallulah was not just one of London’s most prominent and pioneering DJs, but my very best friends but also a mentor and lovely to work with: a class act, a gentleman and everybody’s friend. I never heard anyone say a bad word said about him and he was kind to strangers and friends alike.
My favourite thing would be to pop round and watch Leni Reifanshal films like Olympia, with some modern soundtrack he chose (Lemon Jelly?), smoke joints and have afternoon tea… Or on the phone watching Crime Watch as Tallulah would suggest the most ineligible men to date from the most wanted posters or CCTV of guys leaping over counters! He had a wonderful sense of un-PC humour and so many of us miss him.
qxmagazine.kinsta.cloud/blog-event/tallulah/
Paul Wilde, co-founder Eagle London, By Mark Oakley, Eagle London owner
One of the most influential and important people in my life, I had known Paul from his Wilde Artist Management Days back in the early Eighties. He put Divine on the back of an Elephant at the Hippodrome, he managed Lilly Savage in her early career and then went on to create Wilde Ones Events who were responsible for London’s original mega Prides in Clapham and Hyde Park. His proudest production achievement was Brighton Pride from the early few tents in a park to the UK’s most popular Pride event.
He also created a hugely successful retail business with his life partner Gregg Ohanian, Wilde Ones on Kings Road, and his co-ownership of Eagle London with myself and Ian Cullen. All of which survive today as a vibrant legacy to his amazing love, character and ability to see an opportunity and partner with the right people. Paul was also one of the original founders of London’s gay business organisations, and a tireless supporter of the early Aids awareness campaigns, ensuring everyone was treated with love and respect. Always and forever, one in a million.
Steve Elliott, Salvation Promoter
Steve Elliott made his name on the London gay scene when he began working for Alex Erfan’s Salvation club after its second birthday in 1999.
Alongside Alex, they established the brand as one of London’s most popular regular events and one of the UK’s most famous internationally recognized brands. When the club was sold to new owners, Steve and Alex parted ways with Steve continuing to work for Salvation as Director and Promoter.
Steve was key to taking the Salvation experience to over sixty countries around the world, something that his partner, Ian Durston, cites as one of his proudest achievements.
