Issue 116 116 - September 2008 mag.bent.com 0 3 0 3 2 4 7 1 N S S I
1 0 0 3 0 3 2 4 7 1 7 7 9
£1.95
€3.00
Brigh ton Pride t Linden uar t tu ures - S t tu Words and pic t Wo
he th , carried on t on Pride ble w a t 11am to tlle o f Brigh t his t wh t w e d fiirs t a m The f Th e d a r a p he th ell and t fe he rain f th frron t as t he sea f th he frrom t th wiind f w h t on cue t igh Rig . k r a P n o to t s e r P o to y t y a wa 0 ead y bedraggled w te 0 , 0 its s t ts 0 5 r e ve v o s a d e to opp ly s t fiinal y he rain f th ke t clouds cleared and t ir. Surrounded b y mar a fa f n u fu t f t n a i g e h th t o to t n i d e m a e r tr t s l e y y t p s o e e n p ngside A m lon be alo lub es and lu ellilie we s, w ys o y to x t g se x ing s sellin alllls ta s t ly camp trrageous y t u o e th t h G A L all and PF wa one w to nal, S t ion tio erna t te he older In t th t h th i t wi w r ounge yo he y th ive, t ti ve va t ltra conser va he u tr th h t ith wit alues va ixed w m xe nal v o i ti t i d a r tr t a on is to h t igh s. Brig ts igh t a r tr t s e h th t h th i t wi w s ys y a g ha t e th h f t th and t ages and none o f ta y fiilled s t it y f celebr t e h th t e r a e n o g , e n ide id o r s p ys y it sa ga y ha t t wh on Pride is w to ither. Brigh t e th e s n e s n o n s a r G e i h d th t r a n i M th he bes t it is t For m y mone y t ith tiin - no more or less. wi th y w he t a y th t wa its w s t ts o l h c i h wh w , n o d ly replaced Lon fiirm y has h c i h UK and has f wh w e te t a fa sponsors, a f sm and big business commercialilis er. te en Manches t alllle fa ly be f also sad y u t o f ith indie pop blaring o wi th iful w ti fu as plen t wa t w tainmen t er ta te En t music e s u o h f o s d n u o amiliar s fa he f th te en t and t arz t ta he Pops t th t u ere o f co rse we ts s w en t te h t th it, bo t Wiild Fru t, f W hundering ou t o f th t ain ith as man y people ag wi th t w tiing poin t o burs t to packed t bulous fa f a e th t h as wa he park w th f t op o f to he t th t t t e. A ide sid ts dancing ou t itiional it d a tr t r h th t i wi w e te enge. Comple t ve as Re v wa t w ha t th t t en t te circus t lace p e h th t s a wa w i s h th lore t esses and cabare t ga te drag hos t es, xe x e s , s e g a f o x x i he bigges t m th fiind t ld f ou could yo here y wh w und o s e h th t t t e r a b a c e h th t ween ers. In be t we ve amilies and lo v fa f pop c i s o clas to es singing in unison t ice oic vo f v th housands o f f t o f o w b i n a r f o fllags he air besides f th viing in t a v wa songs, arms w f o t t i i r p s e h th t e, ide it o f ga y prid he spir t th as t wa his w Th colours. T wiill kno w ou w yo y e r e h th t e r e we w u o yo f y f I . 8 on Pride 200 to Brigh t ear. ye t y ne x t e r e h th t e b hen it th ou missed t t if yo y ha t I mean, f y er y wh w ve t v te ed bu t haus t xh er, e x te urs la t andered home, 12 ho wa ind wi w A s I w e h th t n o tlles his t wh f w he sounds o f th tililll hear t d a h happ y I could s t I e l p o e p he happ y th he all t th f t hough t o f th and smiled as I t y.. his da y th t t me t
Heroic Pride k ins wk Ha w k H os: Mark to Pho t
th hird Leeds he t th f t ers o f ise Organis s a grea t a it Pride are hailing t’’s en t ve e v e h th t o to t Trrue success. T e h th t n e ve v e , s e o r e th t heme o f h ld u o c r e h th t a e we w e l b a change ix and a er s x ve en t o v ve no t pre v ing ak ing ta le t housand people f t l th ha f trre en t c y y it c c ti t i as ta an t fa he f th t in t par t re o m s d n a s u o h th th i h t wi t parade w d e te t a m ti t i s e n a d n a look ing on ty y r t a p t e e r tr t s e h th t g n i n i joi jo 12,000 e. te er Brigga t we in Lo w
he parade began th ore t fo Be f are Leeds Mililllennium Squ age ta s t n i a m a o to t t t ed hos ye pla y nge a r e s r e ve v i d a h th t i wi w pack ed p o ra pers, to frrom choirs t s f ts o f ac t o Ind y Punk , to chees y pop t o be hones t To s. T ts and drag ac t ha t th s t ts m here so e ac t wh here w th t he y th t t y bu t egor y te musical ca t n wn w o n k y n a d trranscende t or fo it f b tle it as a l ti tl wa here w th l bes t and t th y heir ear th th e t ve all ga v t.. or mos t fo t f yone and a lo t er yo ve e v nning group lan B T Pride pla ylle, Chair o f Leeds LG Tom Do y To firrs t he fi th it’’s t it , g n i z a m as a wa ear w ye his y th t t urn ou t tu ‘ The t id,, Th said rk ed o wo it w it d n a y a wa w s i h th in t en t in ve he e v t t i th e spl t ve e ha v we e w ime tim t his t th a p k p r t t ook to ho t wh yone w er yo ve e v k e hank th o t to ellll.. I’d lik e t ly we real y w a t h th w t w o n k I tiic da y and as t ta an t ly fa e y f te as an absolu t t w i wa ear; t ye y b y k b ork wo he hard w th ti made all t m e e s s r ee te n t lun olu vo he Pride v th t he th as t y w l wa t’ i ’. No t on y th t or th wo w , t, t n a l i i l r b y y t t r a p parade and lm i F d n a y a D s ts t he Spor th t o be to ed t ve sho w also pro v lk . o fo f h th t i wi w s its it h e ive iv s s ma o to t t Some o f us are abou t t s e r d e n r a ell e we ak e a w ta t her members are th hils t o t wh w alread y bus y planning hich wh er Pride w te Wiin t Leeds W y r b ak e place in Fe uar y ta wililll t w T B G L ith wi th o coincide w to t h. th y mon t or y to his t e Summer 2009 ide Leeds Prid t.. us t is scheduled 2nd A ug . s. i ie e s a r d i a r d ou r yo n y Put i itt i n
e d i r P m a A m s terd
me n, ds o f ga y nd o usa n ho h t g n n i y y x r r r e a s o ua l lss ro tss c e r te e t oa t bo e ns o f b m be r o f h ze u o z n d led t , n e l le n n i a ve a c ic i ra v g f f i a g n ng - t ra h i n O nce o t h l b u t s i ig ga n t c l lo a s ma l l b a d va v na l a n o ra r io i t t a t i x d s e a n r ra r a t ia i o y es b l le mos t a l m sca n t y n n w i o d no n a la l e a l c he h ra t y e r n ve a l lss i n r,, se v e r ve oo - ma n to t ime e v da m’s ca n f rd r s t t i m rs r e i i f te t s e e m h h t h A r T h o . fo g tss t ug r,, o u ro ea r h r ye t h h i iss y e r t h ade o f boa ra ve a r e v p w e o h h d H t ld l . a d e rd r n d a o a o ra e r R Pa r te e a b re n i iss t Ca na l l P rss we r e M i n re e r te u r t u n i iss t e b l le ne t m i n n a nd C u l t o io i t s po ns i b a e c re r c h ca b i n u tc o d s ls l E D u t a ho i iss k e n b y w a n , ta t y, y o t t s r n a a o io i w p t r n e u e ve v t te o bo ia t i i t ia n i t i n c h La b tc oc uses a t fo ” he D u t t h f t n me n t f he m. ” k o f e r k te go ve r n as t e o f t h e n P l la h o T T “ s is i . y. y s is i t t i i l h a T u . q s e e ue u r e s ng a l l i iss i ng ea k o r ge nd re fo f d b r rd ta n t soc i ia eco r re m po r ta i m ng a t a r n i d h h i iss n t e te t t p u a t e h g ug hos ho u t h o f t h o s rs r h e w b n m o u s ire n rs r t he t h he pe he e n i re t he f t he t t ha t ’t sa y i f So me p u t n t n i iss t h n i o a d ta t r y e e c h h t s h is i t t t ing he t i n t ,0 0 0 b u t!! W ha o t no 5 0 0 0 ges o r v i iss i rg a r ugs o r n u r b d e he h n t o n s o a ccess. uc e w re hose ig u r lia n t s u f ig ded b y t h rd a r as a b r i l i l l ia g e e re r d s a ra r a a w P t l P l e n ve e v he Ca na te r t h u bs a f te u pac k ed c l
Photos: Darrell Hirst
Pink Picnic We thought it would never happen, and the early morning forecast was not promising but, Summer arrived in Huddersfield right on c ue for this year’s fantastic fantastic Pink Picnic. This event is always looked forward to in the hope of getting out the old picnic basket, l oading it up with quiche and Lambrini and having a rather pleasant day frolicking with other gays from right across the country. Mr Gay UK 2007, Daniel Broughton was on hand to officially announce the bouncy castle… and bars… and various stalls officially open and an array of acts, DJs and other entertainment kept the crowd happy all afternoon. As well as the appearance of several pretty boys with their shirts off was the Deputy Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Yorkshire (not with his shirt off) who was meeting and greeting the happy revellers, the Police even had their own stand in amongst those of Mesmac and the like. The weather certainly helped and for once everyone could enjoy the picnic without having to dive for cover because of a sudden downpour. downpour. A great tim e was had by all.
North-East’s biggest Pride Festival for f or Bradford
t Bel f fas t Pride he recen t th te i e t Desp t ers y caused b y ve trro v con t inson’s DUP MP Iris Rob tii-ga y ramblings, an t ere we w er 4,000 people ve o v s ts t e e r tr t s he th dancing in t y’s he c ti y’ th t t lfas t a t o f Be fa , s e i r l e ve v e r Ga y Pride d bad n a s r e te t s e te t o en pr ve e v o dampen to ailing t fa her f th ea t we w husiasm. th heir en t th t he th o t to ti i ion t In oppos t d wd o w r c l l a m s a e parad s ts n u tu t r is t o f religious oppo s a s g n o sang gospel s d made wd ful cro w he colour fu th t y it y he c t th t h g u o r h th y t a y wa heir w th t er, one ve e v we trre. Ho w cen t er, te a pos t d e i r r a c n a om wo w us s e J ‘ e he messag th ith t wi th w n i , ’ e yon er yo ve es E v ve Lo v o Mrs Robinson to response t y ual ti y xu se x g describin homo tiion”. as “an abomina t y in un ti y m m o c y a g he Th T ed we w s thern Ireland ho Nor th e b o to t t t ve l es no hemse v th t he lik es th y t ed b y te tiimida t in t er and te is t i n M P he DU th f t o f he th flle w t ts and f her cohor ts e d i r th ihP wi t fllag w rainbo w f . n o i ti t c i vi v n o c d n a
The biggest Pride Festival in the North East is coming to Bradford this October, led by the Equity Partnership, Bradford’s Bradford’s lesbian, gay and bise xual (LGB) community development charity charity.. Hazell Dean tops the bill at the main event, at Bradford University, on Saturday 11th October from noon until 7pm. Over twenty other eve nts are scheduled from 4th October – 6th November. Board member and Chair of the Equity Partnership Communications Group, Ian Burkitt, said: “This year’s Bradford Pride is an arts and culture festival, a celebration of diversi ty ty,, which the whole community can join in with. We’ve put together a huge range of activities whic h should appeal to everyone across the city”. For the complete programme and updates, visit the Equity Partnership website: www.equitypartnership.org.uk
08 0 2 r o f ide s a r rdd i i G G r raas r P e r u u t F u e r – Ca r rdd i f f ff - Wa l lees L& G M ide e m b te g h ug o u ro h Se p t d Ga y P r id 6 t h rd es b r o r fo dd l le ms f e l m - M i id he h r C e d r n e e b k e m e e te Ga y W h Se p t 7 t h u pe r G e m be r - S te p t e n k S i n h h t 4 1 h 11 t h b y Goes P De r b r e b asgo w m e te t y!! – G l la h Se p asga y 28 t h h- 2 2 6 t hd e r - G l la rd b o r fo m e ad f ra v o N h iva l - B r es t i va F e r – 9 t h b e o d to t id i r c P O t s 1 e m be r ve h No v poo l ve r p o be r – 6 t h to a - L i ve o p i ia h Oc t to 4 t h o mo t H r e b m e ve 2 2 nd No v 1s t - 2
MR GAY UK 2008 Page 36
SEPTEMBER 2008 ISSUE 116
AvENUE Page 12
MARTIN fRY
CHRISTIAN GEoRGE
Page 16
Page 18
Publisher: Terry Gerge Editor: Grdn Hpps Features Editor: Adam Lwe London Correspondent: Simn Saidge Cover: Din Gamech (Mr GAY UK 2008) Courtesy of: Army Red Fragrance Creative Director: Graham Gddard (g7adl.c.uk) Photo Editor: Mark Hawkins, Contributors: Beyonce, Adrian Adrian Gillan, Lee Hudson, Chris C hris Geary,Terry George, Chris Amos, Marc Spicer, Spicer, Marc Duncan, Les Lea, Jarrett James Astrologer: Philip Garcia
Editor’s words Is the world going barmy? Are we all, in one way or another, going stark staring bonkers? I refer to the recent spate of TV commercials that have been pulled for one thing or another. another. Heinz were thoroughly criticised by the loony right for showing two guys kissing in an advert for sandwich spread (see our You Tube feature). And Mr T has been removed from our screen because of something that was perceived to have been anti-gay. OK, if either of these were in some way offensive to viewers then the companies need to be called on it… however, however, I gather that the Mr T ad was pulled after uproar (real or imagined?) from a gay organisation in the USA, who incidentally never saw the ‘offending’ ad as it was only broadcast in the UK. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bUxi_Eo6f http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bUxi_Eo6fU U They objected to a speed racer in tight yellow shorts who was being pelted with Snickers bars by Mr T. who shouted “You’re a disgrace to the man race. It’s time to run like a real man.” I think there could have been more outrage from the black community as Mr T was seen firing these snickers bars in a drive by, at a white guy, from a machine gun on the back of some kind of pimped up Hummer… no stereotype there then… except to the readers of the Mail. Have people not got anything better to do than write to the TV companies and object about… well nothing of any import usually. I always think that TV
6
companies take far too much notice of the loony letter writer. I used to work for a TV company and produced a late night TV programme. We often got complaints, even though it was late night and you would have had to tune in specifically to watch. The letters nearly always started “ I was appalled as I flitted through the TV channels to be confronted by…. (add you own horror)”. It was never from regular viewers who knew what to expect but the flitting air-head who doesn’t know what the off swi tch is for. It’s It’s even funnier to see that these days Ric hard and Judy are doing the same stories on the sofa at teatime. However, those letter writers did give us problems because everything seemed to stop, even for one letter of complaint. No matter that the other million or so viewers were not incensed enough to write, phone or felt the need to complain, the self introspection that followed was as annoying as it was laughable.
Editorial:
[email protected] Advertising:
[email protected] Accounts:
[email protected] Design:
[email protected]
ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Darrell Hirst 08712 246 529
[email protected] Advertising Executive: Stephanie Mre 08712 246 530
[email protected] Advertising Executive: Riccard Heirquien 08712 246 557
[email protected] THE NEXT ISSUE IS OUT 30TH SEPTEMBER Publishing Director: Michael Rthwell Finance Director: Ian Ellis Accounts: Luise Lee 08712 246 516 IT Support: Dan Slatrd Website: All Pints Nrth Distribution and Availability Enquiries: 08712 246 529 Clubs & Bars Distribution: Dale Express
I object to someone els e’s e’s morality being thrust upon me. I’m the judge of that, not some fatuous person who thinks that they are responsible on my behalf. And if these people feel moral outrage I suggest they look to themselves first and… look no further. further. People are now seeing horrors where there aren’t any and ignoring the horrors that actually exist.
UK: £36.00 Basic annual rate: UK: International: Call: +44 113 3449536 for prices
And in keeping with this philosophy… I’d like to object to the editor about this piece of writing, which in my view is lacking in any moral fibre.
Bent Ltd. APN House, Temple Crescent, Leeds LS11 8BP Telephone: 08712 246 511 Fax: 08701 222 666
Hugs
Gordon One last thought…
Occasionally the gene pool could use a little chlorine.
SUBSCRIPTION
Tel: 08712 246 529 Web: www.mag.bent.cm
© Copyright, Bent Bent Ltd. 2008. No Part of this publication may be rep roduced, stored in an electronic or other retrievable system, or transmitted by any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Advertisers are reminded of their obligations under the 1984 Trade Protection Act. Advertisers are responsible for the content of their copy under the terms of the Act. The appearance or mention of any establishment, product, individual or organisation within this publication, should not be taken as an endorsement by the publishers of the same unless otherwise stated. The appearance, mention or likeness of any individual or organisation within this magazine should not be construed as an indication of either the sexual preference or political persuasion of the same, unless otherwise stated. Contributions are welcomed on the understanding that any unsolicited manuscripts that they may be published without further correspondence, with a fee (if applicable) paid at standard rates as specified by Bent Ltd. Work cannot be returned to the author unless agreed by the publisher.
September 2008
BUZZ
Gay Gold Let me join the hordes of gay folk around the world who watched in awe as the only openly gay male athlete in Beijing, Matthew Mitcham, pulled off one of the great upsets at the Olympics in a spectacular fashion. The favourites, the Chinese 10m diving team, were well ahead and it was with the last spectacular dive that Mitcham grabbed the gold medal. The emotion from the man himself spoke volumes but I have to say that I was screaming, cheering and crying along with the man himse lf as he pulled himself from the water knowing he’d just performed a perfect ‘dive of a life time’. Many gay commentators are up in arms that his sexuality was never mentioned by most post games analysts. NBC came in for a great deal of anger and I can only add my agreement to this posting from a journalist. “If he had had cancer, or if his parents had been killed in a car crash when he was 2, or if he had just proposed to his girlfriend, they would have mentioned it. But they never s howed him hugging his boyfriend, never mentioned it. They referred to “personal problems,” but I’m afraid they decided Matthew’s Matthew’s sexuality was off limi ts. A real shame.”
s o t o h P A P / P A : e g a m i
The Japanese Popstars
Nativ e to Nor ther n Ir eland ( any f y f etish ishists expecting cute Japanese gir ls can leav e now ), and consisting of D f Declan lan McL aughlin, Gar y C y Cur r ra n, and Gar eth Donoghue, T he J a panese ar e r idin iding g a w av e of g f gr eat liv e gigs, ma jo jor f r f estiv al book ings, and media pr aise ise of f t f the back o k of t f their r r r ecent single, ‘EP1’. T he Japanese Popstar s’ only p y par allel w ith r ock m k music is that they ’d built up a sizable liv e f ollow ing befor for e r eleasing their f r f ir ir st ma jor jor s sing ingle – s – some migh ight ev en say c y cultish, ju judging by t y t he amount of c f clip lips on Y outube. T heir g r gigs igs ar e ty pically r y r a u c o us af f fa ir s, w ith an ener gy t y that cr ack les w ith ith each beat, chor d, and k ey boar d stab. How ev er , let’s ge t one thing str aight about the music – T – T he Japanese Popstar s ar en’t indie r av e, or a r any other s r sub-sub-sub genr e, their s is big r oom, cool as f **k electr onic music built f or fe r fes stiv als and stadiums. T hey ’r e not dance k ids aping ing indie k ids ids, nor a r ar e they i y indie k ids dr opping sy nths and calling ing themselv es ‘r av er s’. T his tr io a r e heading f or t r ter r rito itor y o y once held by O y Or bital, Chemical Br other s, and Under w wo r ld - back t k to the fut futur e dance music f or t r today , tomor r ro w , and f or ev er , and should be f illin ling y our e r ear s pr etty soon. T heir a r album - W e Just A r re - Out Now – w – G Gung Ho Recor ding ings w w ww .my w . my space.co .com / the ja japanesepopstar s
8
September 2008
d e m a r F
? ? n n o o c c I y a a G
Joe Orton 1. Joe Orton is one of the most overlooked
great Playwrights of the last hundred years with ‘Entertaining Mrs Sloane’, ‘Loot’ and ‘What The Butler Saw’ being his most successful. He also wrote lesser known novels such as ‘Between Us Girls’.
It’s not all Black and Gold The inter-web thingy is a wonderful… erm… thing. GMTV had current heartthrob Sam Sparro singing his latest single 21st Century Life, and straight after they had a webcast with the t he man himself. Here are10 questions Sam answered. 1. You launched the album in Camden do you have an affinity to the place?
Yes Yes I l ove Camden, nice galleries, great venue…it’s got a nice feel about the place. 2. Is it true that Chaka Khan discovered you?
She didn’t exactly discover me. We knew people who knew each other and she liked my voice and encouraged me and as I’m a big Chaka fan… 3. What’s all this about appearing in a McDonalds advert?
It was when I was 7… I was dressed as a pirate and ate a burger… but I got attitude from some people because of it so my mum said “No more” 4. What’s your earliest musical memory?
I was about 2 or 3 and my grandparents had a piano… and I would always be banging around around on it. 5. Do you have a girlfriend?
No but I do have a boyfriend of two years (Unfortunately this line of questioning wasn’t pursued). 6. On various sites it says that you wrote Black and Gold in 10 minutes… is this true?
Ten Ten or fifteen minutes… I wrote the lyrics all in one go and I already had a bass line (he proceeds to do the sound - dun dun dun…) I don’t have any set formula for writing but once I know what I want to write about… off I go. Songs come from life experience and it’s cathartic to get it off your chest. 10
7. Mark Ronson is a fan of yours and he flew you out to a festival…
Yes, Yes, I sang Black & Gold and Stop Me with him and his band at Coachella recently. I used to go to watch the acts there myself when I was younger… I think Coachella is one of the best festivals worldwide so it was incredible to be up there performing for thousands of people...compared to the last few years when I was out there sweating with the rest of the crowd. Mark i s a really lovely, lovely guy. 8. You do your own artwork don’t you… with that and performing… and writing, which do you prefer?
Well, I have done the logo and the single cover and I enjoy doing that but I love the whole process of creating and being in charge of the entire thing. I bring people in who can do things I can’t or who I think can do it better than me. 9. You’re from Australia originally but you’ve lived in the UK and the US… where do you call home?
I have an apartment in London but I’ll always be an Australian, always a Sydney boy but I love travelling… chasing the sun. 10. Are the glasses for real are did you get a good deal from Specsavers?
Lol… No they’re not real… it’s all just a cunning disguise!
2. Orton was famously played by Gary Oldman in
‘Prick Up Your Ears’ written by John Lahr, Lahr, the title was one that Orton was planning on using before his death as a re-working of ‘Prick Up Your Arse’. 3. Like all good gays he wanted to be a famous
actor; he enrolled and was accepted at RADA, and like a true drama queen delayed his arrival after appendicitis. 4. At RADA he met Kenneth Halliwell who became
his co-writer, best friend, lover and murderer… as you do. duo’s writing that got them 5. It wasn’t the dynamic duo’s noticed first; they got arrested for defacing and stealing books from Islington Library. The pair would take them and return them with new covers, margin blurbs and illustrations, generally of a ‘homo-erotic’ nature. This prank landed them in separate prisons for six months; Orton believed the severity of the punishment was “because we’re queers”. 6. Orton created a pseudonym called Edna
Welthrope who had ‘extremely high morals’ and not only complained against anything and everything but also when Orton did things of an evi l nature, would write to all in sundry saying ‘Joe Orton doesn’t exist and if he does he certainly doesn’t live here thank you”. 7. He famously wrote an original film script to star the Beatles but Brian Epstein, the band’s manager, manager, would not allow the homoerotic overtones that were implied. 8. Orton was a self confessed obsessive cottager
(sadly his favourite haunt has been knocked down) and used to do it as often as possible. He kept diaries which admitted to his addiction and also used to flaunt it in Halliwe ll’s ll’s face. 9. Halliwell murdered Orton with a hammer in August 1967, Orton was aged just 34. 10. In the room with the bodies (Halliwell killed
himself afterwards, though forensics said he actually died first) Halliwell had left a note explaining his actions on top of Orton’s Orton’s diaries which read ‘if you read this diary all will be explained… especially the latter part’. The latter part is actually the least outrageous. 11. Despite the fact Halliwell murdered Orton their ashes were still c ombined together and spread in Golders Green garden of rememberance. We think this is a mixture of a gay Romeo & Juliet and a gay Eastenders storyline.
September 2008
RoB … bigger and better
RoB, Central London’s only leather and rubber store has opened its new shop in the dungeon as phase one of their ambitious ret. They opened in 1992, offering customers the very best in quality leather, rubber and twisted gear at their Wells Street premises. 16 years has seen many changes, but what hasn’t changed is RoB’s RoB’s attention to innovation, quality, service and value for money. money. Now stocking over 5000 lines it was decided in April to start an ambitious redevelopment of their shop space. The basement workshop has already been transformed into a dungeon shop space and the old cave on the ground floor removed.
Competition Competiti on Time Time
WAXX breaks the mould when it comes to men’s underwear. underwear. Inspired by urban trends and extreme extreme sports, WAXX uses stunning prints to create its own distinct handwriting. Vivid pop art prints and graphic designs are created in France using British style influences. These fabulous undies, in soft comfortable Lycra for sizes S-XL, offer a design to suit every man and his mood. The names of the prints say it all - think of Butterfly, Butterfly, Gold Member, Las Vegas, Sharks and Geisha. Fantastic packaging consists of WAXX’s WAXX’s reusable metal tin with a clear inspection window, a free WAXX key ring and sticker. The biggest selection of WAXX briefs and boxer briefs in the UK is available from www.deadgoodundies.com To be in with a chance of winning one of the latest WAXX boxer short designs, all you have to do is answer this question: Where does the WAXX brand come from? Don’t forget to include your size (S, M, L or XL) in your competition entry
Work is due to be completed by the end of September, September, and will see a completely new shop, almost twice the size of the old, offering loads of new lines, on two floors. The ground floor will be light, airy and industrial with a definite wow factor, factor, whilst the dungeon basement will be darker with cell doors everywhere. Andy Brodie, RoB’s RoB’s retail manager says “We are creating a shop where we ’ll help our customer’s customer’s fantasies come true in surroundings that will set a new standard for what is expected from leather and rubber shops.” In the meantime, it’s business as usual. RoB is open 7 days a week, Monday to Saturday 1030 to 1830 hrs and Sunday 1200 to 1700 hrs. RoB London, 24 Wells Street, London, W1T 3PH. T: 020 3073 1010 email: email :
[email protected] london@rob .nl web: www.rob.eu
Turn to page 92 for entry details www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
11
VENUE A VE
Right Up Our Street…
In recent years music industry cynics have hailed the death of pop. Avenue are on a mission to bring fun and excitement back to the charts - to prove pop music isn’t dead.
So boys introduce yourselves – and remember Bent is a gay mag… so you know the type of think we want to know about.
R: I’m Ross, I’m 21 a Scottish lad I’ve got model material I think. A: I’m Andy, I’m also 21 and I am tall dark and handsome, I was on ‘Stars In Their Eyes’ as a Beatle. S: I’m Scott, I’m 23 and I’m y our cute guy next door and I was in Harry Potter. Potter. M: I’m Max, I’m 19 and have played football for some big teams and I have a HUGE… secret. J: I’m Jonny, I’m 24 and I also have a massive secret and am a professional dancer. Now people may well recognise you from the X Factor, how was that whole thing?
J: At the time it was absolutely devastating. We were gutted completely gutted. Long term though it was the best thing ever, we wouldn’t be doing this now. S: We enjoyed our time on the X Factor, I absolutely loved it. What happened was hard for us but it was also great exposure. We would never slate the X Factor its good for new talent. R: If we’d stayed on the show we might not be around now if you look at the way things have gone with some of the acts on there. J: It made us closer as a band… All: Definitely.
12
Where did the name Avenue come from?
A: It was just on the list. (All laugh.) M: We just wrote a few down; it’s it’s a bit boring innit? It was the best on the list we wrote. R: It sounded right instantly. instantly. S: We had awful names like Volume, Cell, and Sound the list c ould go on. M: The bad ones were all Scott’s Scott’s ideas. As soon as we got to Avenue we all loved it. J: And I used to live on an Avenue. M: I do live on an avenue… hang on this could get sill y. Why did you choose ‘Last Goodbye’ as the first single?
J: Because it’s a mint song. A: It’s just a really strong song that’s got a real dance vibe whilst being a good pop song. We wanted to do something you wouldn’t expect from a boyband. M: It’s a bit rocky and raw, were not one of those bands who are going to be doing the perfect routines, and we’re rough around the edges. R: Also ‘Last Goodbye’ sounds like it should be a big ballad but it isn’t, we have got some ballads but they aren’t those bland middle of the road ones, if we do ballads we do balls out ballads.
So what’s the album like?
A: Really eclecti c… there’s there’s a bit of everything. We’ve been working with the writers behind Alphabeat, Orson wrote this single and we’ve worked with dance writers and we have the ballads. S: They aren’t stereotypical ballads… one called ‘Killer’ is a bit of dark twisted tale of a psycho stalker. M: Overall it’s just a dead upbeat poppy, rocky danceable album. Who was the last great boyband?
A: Blue were good, boys and girls liked Blue. S: I think what Take That are doing that’s new is really good. J: It’ll be interesting to hear Boyzone’s new stuff. So if you’re the new Take That who is the Robbie? All: Max. M: I will be the one in ten years time who’s not doing the reunion and is just eating pies in America. Avenue’s debut single ‘The Last Goodbye’ is out on 1st September on download and in the shops on the 8th. They will be appearing at Manchester Pride, Stoke Pride and Heaven for more info see www.weareavenue.com
September 2008
TS BI TS
T o p
0 1 0
thins NOT to sy on you fist dt 1. I y don’t ik this stunt tht much, but I ntd to us this 2-fo-1 couon bfo it xid.
2. I usd to com h th tim ith my x.
The Russians are coming… Gena Ivanov is a Russian fine artist who was born in Vladimir into a military family and grew up in various places in the former Soviet Union from Ussuriysk in the Far East and finally settling in Belarus in the West. Gena began to draw at school but at the time he was more interested in modern dance and this took most of his e nergy. nergy. After school Gena went into the army where he served for two years as a military artist. Art now firmly in his soul, he then rushed to art school and studied at Bobruisk Art School where he graduated with distinction. In 2000 Gena was made a member of the Artists’ Union of Belarus! In 2004 he decided the time had come to move to England and he now owns a studio in the centre of Norwich, which he also runs as as a gallery. gallery. “I have always found the male body inspiring and coming to England has finally given me the freedom to paint in the way I want to. I aspire to show the beauty of the male body, body, the romanticism, the sexuality and its character.” At Adonis Art, 1b Coleherne Road, London - 2nd – 26th September
3. My thist sid I shoud mt mo o… you’ my ihth tody?
We are the Champions! Stonewall Football Club the UK’ UK’ss longest running and most successful Gay football team recently sponsored by Barclays, have won the recent EuroGames 2008 2008 in Barcelona. The team went through the tournament without defeat, including beating Belgium and Milan (Italy) in the group stages and then beating Washington (hosting World Cup next year), a team from Paris in the quarters and another Parisian team in the Semi ’s. Stonewall FC won the semi final 4 – 0 with a convincing victory. The final was against old rivals Cologne (Germany) who had a very strong team. The final was played in a local stadium and the atmosphere was great with many of the locals supporting Stonewall FC. The final was won 2 – 0 with two great goals goals and a hard working team performance. The event had 23 teams from from across Europe. Europe. Those that did not qualify from their group stages played out for the recreational competition, which was won by Stonewall FC Reserve team beating Belgium on penalties. It was a great achievement for Stonewall FC to dominate the tournament winning both gold medals.
Dirty Dancing: The Time Time of Your Your Life 20 of Britain’s Britain’s best up and coming dance sensations will jet off to Kellermans, AKA Mountain Lake Resort Virginia, home of the raunchy routine and setting for the 1980s cult classic film that caused an international dance frenzy. From there follows an intensive ten week training regime with some of the industry’s most prolific figures, complete with a dreaded weekly ‘dance off,’ in which one couple is guaranteed to leave the competition forever. forever. The losing pair subsequently relinquish their claim to a dream prize to-dance-for – a year long contract with acclaimed global dance agency Bloc, whose alumni include singer/dancers Justin Timberlake, Madonna and Christina Aguilera.
4. It’ It’ss bn touh, but I’ com to cct tht most o I dt just on’t b s smt s I m. 5. Coud you xcus m? My ct ts ony if h dosn’t h my oic on th nsin mchin y hou. 6. H you thouht bout cosmtic suy? 7. My x usd to don himsf in CK1… n took to it mysf. 8. Don’t you think scond bott of in is bit… xtnt? 9. I y f tht I’ on in th st f ys. Usd to b I oudn’t h in somon ik you scond ook. 10. You don’t mind if moth coms on too do you?
Living TV - 10th September - 9pm.
14
September 2008
4
Arse Facts top’s top’s tip tip
TIN FR Y MAR TI
The Shiny Suit Is Back… Martin Fry has been the face of super 80’s band ABC since they started in 1982, Simon Savidge caught up with him at home (he makes a mean cuppa) to talk about the Steel City Tour, Madonna, and how you follow the massive cult album ‘Lexicon of Love’. Do you feel now with the new tour that the ‘Sheffield Pop Mafia’ is back?
Oh I like that, the Sheffield pop mafia, I might steal that. Yeah Yeah it does I guess. I think this tour feels different from other 80’s tours I’ve done. Partly it’s because it’s specifically celebrating the Sheffield pop scene back then with Human League and Heaven 17. When we had a mee ting with for this tour it was odd, I guess it was a bit like a scene in the Godfather where they’re all around the table. Is Sheffield again at the forefront of good music with so many successful bands coming from there?
I hope so and it would appear so now you’ve got Arctic Monkeys and Reverend and the Makers and such, yeah it seems to have come back with a bang. Do you think there is the whole nostalgia thing towards the 80’s now, is it nostalgic for you?
I spent so long as a 100% pop star, star, travelling the world and stuff and then suddenly it goes quiet so to have this interest in the 80’ 80’ss again and these tours are great for all of us. Has there ever been any rivalry between bands and has it come back?
Oh god there was massive riv alry alry.. Back then everyone did ‘Top of the Pops’, which seriously needs to come back, and that was your window and you had to glimmer and shine, if you didn’t that was it, you couldn’t be a popstar. You walked 16
in unknown and left a popstar, so rivalry was huge. You’d see these people like George Michael, Boy You’d George, Human League etc and you all wanted the number one, so you’d all be looking at each other and seeing who was the more outrageous. What can people expect from the tour?
All the classics, regardless of what tour it is…be it for a new album… or an 80’s nostalgia gig… you need to do your classics. They make you. I have seen so many tours where it seems the theme is ‘I’ve suffered for my art now so must you’. Or it’s all new songs and that can be alienating. The glam gauntlets will be thrown down. Will you be bringing back the Shiny Suit?
Yeah… I have got some new ones ready, but then I Yeah… think shiny suits are actually trendy again anyway. Well Lexicon of Love has now been voted in the top 100 album of all times how does that feel? It’ss great, to know people appreciate your work that It’ much is fantastic. It’s a privilege.
ABC went quite quiet after the mid-nineties… I had had my twelve years of fame and pop stardom I kind of went underground. I had to go away and do something else, you have to or you would just go nuts. Yet you released another album ‘Traffic’ this year, what made that happen?
I was just ready I think, well I think we all were, the timing was right. We made sure from the start that we stayed with what we knew; we didn’t get Timbaland or Mark Ronson to reinvent us unlike some bands I won’t mention. We did all our experimenting in the 80’ 80’ss and we’re now comfortable with our style and ourselves. We made it more muscular and tough, I want to make some more, just for fun. I wasn’t sure that anyone would want anymore ABC songs. So what’s next after the tour?
How do you feel about artists like Madonna and Kylie who were also huge in the 80’s and never seem to stop?
A holiday first, I might make another record to follow ‘Traffic’ ‘Traffic’ and also I have done some dates with an orchestra doing the Lexicon Of Love i n its entirety so I would like to do more of that, its an exciting time.
Kylie lies about her age, come on we all know it. I think both of them had lulls i n the 90’s 90’s but I don’t think anyone made truly great music in the 90’s 90’s it was anonymous. I think Kylie is good at what she does when she does pop, Madonna I kind of feel has started chasing music rather than leading it.
You can find ABC’s latest album (and discography) in all good music retailers. To buy tickets for the December Steel City Tour at www.ticketmaster.co.uk for more on ABC and Martin Fry visit www.abcmartinfry.com September 2008
TIAN GEORGE CHRIS TI
By George, He’s Fit! Christian George may appear to be a new face on the music scene with the release of his debut single ‘Strangers’. However he has in fact been a dancer and stylist to the likes of Britney,, Kanye West and Will Smith. Now he’ Britney he’ss out on his own and he couldn’t be enjoying it more, Simon Savidge caught up with him to talk one night stands, being a playboy and David Beckham.
How is all in the world of Christian George right now?
It’s It’s crazy but awesome, really pretty amazing. The single seems to be steadily climbing, the album is sounding pretty hot and the video is out now. After nine years of wanting this I am loving every minute. So why did you pick Strangers as the first single?
I think it kind of represents the album and myself the best I guess. It’s a danceable track which was quite important to me, you want your first song to be instantly catchy and I hope this is, well I think it is. It’s It’s got quite racy lyrics… There are only so many ways you can skin a cat. I wanted every track to be honest on my album and this is honest about my playboy days. It’s kind of homage to One Night Stands and I suppose celebrates them. People are too prudish about things like that. We have all had one night stands, so why not sing about them in a positive way, as they can be. You know ‘let’s make love like strangers’. You have sampled Laura Branigan’s huge 80’s hit ‘Self Control’ why did you choose that?
I didn’t actually and originally it wasn’t a sample. When we were recording the song one of the other co-producers was singing along with Self Control and we realised it was sounding slightly like it and it really worked so we just went for it. Well the 80’s is very ‘in’ right now isn’t it?
I think that because it was a time where people, not everyone obviously, obviously, made songs that have lasted. Some music that’s coming out now you know will sound dated next year rather than in 20 years, that’s that’s the sort of music I hope I am making, songs that sound good and will last. You were a dancer and stylist for the stars before this, has this always been the long term dream?
Of course it was. I mean I enjoyed both the other jobs and they put me in the right c ircles for what I wanted to do l ong term and also financially supported me through them. It also was ki nd of like a learning process of watching these stars and seeing how they behaved and how I would and wouldn’t want to behave myself. Like a School of Stardom, who was great and who was lousy to work with, spill us some gossip.
I don’t really have any most of the people I worked with were great. I don’t wanna start making enemies by slating people. If I had to say who was best it would be Kanye West, he is a really decent kind of superstar. Speaking of superstars, people are comparing your looks to David Beckham, how does that feel?
Well its flattering, I mean there are worse looking people to be compared to aren’t there? He’s He’s like v oted one of the best looking men so yeah I can handle that. The gay audience like him and I am all for that. So you’re hoping to have a gay audience?
Yeah. Yeah. I mean I think if you go out to make music that is just for gay people then you’re undermining them. I make music for everyone and I am just really honoured that so far the gay audience seem to like it. They know what’s hot and what’s not. The debut single ‘Strangers’ is out this month, for more information and a bit of a perv see www.christiangeorge.net
18
September 2008
BIT Z Z
The names Hadrian… With the latest chapter in the 007 franchise, A Quantum of Solace soon to be released, our favourite Bond, Daniel Craig looks set to star as the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The star has been tipped to show his talents in an upcoming biopic directed by John Boorman, and if the press is to be beli eved about his request for Bond to be more gay active, this might be just the part for him. As well as being famous for constructing the wall that sort of separates England and Scotland the Emperor also had a male companion Antinous, who used to accompany him on his travels. It was a bond (if you’ll pardon the pun) between the men that saw, on Antonious’s death, the distraught Hadrian naming a city in Egypt after his favourite.
Essex chat
Word is going around that Gavin and Stacey stars James Corden and Matthew Horne are to get their own chat show. James, who is never out of the headlines these days, especially after he snogged Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe, at a recent awards ceremony and Matthew have both co-hosted several TV shows since the success of the BBC 3 award wining show. The BBC is keen to cash in on their popularity and the obvious rapport between the two. This will be in addition to a forthcoming BBC3 sketch series and a Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey, which James devised with co-star Ruth Jones, who plays Nessa in the award winning show.
The Death of Calvin Klein? Fed up with giving advertising space to Calvin and his mates? A new company will put your telephone number on the waistband of their boxers or tight shorts – so you can pull – in your own personalised pants. It’s the perfect icebreaker! Let the world know you’re available… or at least who to phone should your partying get out of hand. £9.99
www.mag.be nt.com
www.NumberPants.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
19
TERS SHAPESHIF TE
Shaping Shaping Up The Shapeshifters made a huge name for themselves with the now legendary ‘Lola’s Theme’ in 2004. Now they’r they’ree back, taking the helm of Defected’s latest In the House compilation. Bent caught up with Simon Marlin to discuss touring, recording and defecting.
When we speak to Simon he’s relaxing in the sun, smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of c offee in the early afternoon. He’s only just managed to do this, British weather being what it is, and he hopes it stays that way. But London being what it is, there’s still traffic roaring past and he has to concentrate to hear us. It’s been a couple of years since your last record. Why’s that?
Our last album, House Grooves 2, was in 2006. I guess it’s because we did a few albums all at once and we felt that if we were going to do another it should be special. What else have you been doing in the meantime then?
We’ve been touring almost non-stop. We’ve been everywhere from Australia to the US, doing the DJing side of things. Basically working hard, having fun and looking for inspiration. We did a mix for Moby and we’ve got a new track called ‘Treadstone’ ‘Treadstone’ which will be out later in the year.
20
Which is better—recording or DJing?
Recording, definitely. We’re real studio monkeys. We like to just get in there and fool around and create. But we were recording eight months solid for EMI, making another album, but then they had various problems and we needed a break. So we left and joined Defected. We defected to Defected, as it were. Then we went on tour to get out of the studio. Where’s the best place you’ve toured?
To To be honest, there are great places all over. Australia was fantastic because we just did festivals back to back. And you know, Ibiza’s Ibiza’s always great. We only do Pacha there now, but it’s immense. It’s one of our favourite clubs. But Croatia’s good too, and in fact the whole of Eastern Europe puts us to shame. It’s It’s less c ommercial. It still feels fresh. The attitude is just better, I think. It’s It’s more sophisticated and the crowds have more energy. The clubs are just full of all these beautiful people. It’s It’s how the UK used to be ten years ago. In comparison the UK seems really jaded. We’ve been spoilt for DJs so people
don’t get as excited anymore. So people just don’t make the effort. The reason I think Global Gathering still does so well is because it’s still a big event—so people can get prepared for it. They can gear themselves up and make a big deal of it. But most clubs don’t have that quality. The music’s just pretty average and even the big clubs look like they’re just falling apart. So what’s coming up over the rest of the year?
We’ve got an eight-week tour of the US, which will be pretty intense. Then we’re off back to Ibiza again. Doesn’t the touring get tiring?
Not really. I mean, the travelling’s exhausting, but as soon as you get behind the deck s, the atmosphere picks you up. It’s hard to be tired when people are going bonkers all around you! The Shapeshifters Shapeshifters ‘In The House’ House’ - Out Now
September 2008
T V V BIT S
Photos: ITV, BBC, LIME PICTURES
Soap Love Love
“From Albert Square to Weatherfield, credible gay and lesbian characters may be scarce on our small screens, but this poll proves there’s clearly still no shortage of gay love-interest in many of our Great British soaps. Whilst lesbians and gays nationwide are doubtless all hoping Corrie’s Carla and Liam are granted same-sex storylines, however fleeting, the departure of queer character John Paul Mc Queen from Hollyoaks – so wonderfully portrayed by sexy James Sutton over the past two years – will prove a true homo-blow for many a single gay bloke!”
Most desired gay male date with male Brit soap star:
1. Rob James Collier (Liam Connor Connor,, Coronation Street) 2. James Sutton (John Paul McQueen, Hollyoaks) 3. Robert Kazinsky (Sean Slater Slater,, EastEnders) 4. Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw Grimshaw,, Coronation Street) 5. Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe, Emmerdale) Compiled by gay-PARSHIP.co.uk
33% 30% 14% 12% 07%
I am not a name… I’m a number Sir Ian McKellen continues to defy those who say that the 69 year-old star should slow down his acting commitments by taking on the part of Number 2 in the up-coming remake of the 60s classic TV series, The Prisoner. He will play opposite Jim Caviezel, who starred as Jesus in the controversial Mel Gibson directed, The Passion of Christ. ITV Productions is co-producing the six-part series with Granada International and AMC, the US cable network behind the critically acclaimed Mad Men, with a worldwide premiere slated for 2009.
All systems go for a new Torchwood Filming for the third series of the smash hit drama Torchwood, created by Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies, has begun in Cardiff. Due to transmit in 2009 the programme has proved so successful that it has moved from its BBC2 slot onto BBC One. The series – called Torchwood: T orchwood: Children Of Earth - s ees the team embarking on a single actionpacked adventure as they battle for the future of the human race against the most fierce force they have encountered. The highly motivated Torchwood Torchwood team are John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones. Other regular cast involved in their highoctane adventure are Kai Owen as Rhys Williams, Gwen’s husband, and Tom Price as PC Andy.
C B B : o t o h p
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
Special guests in the five part series are Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, The Thick of It, Skins), who plays the role of Mr Frobisher – a civil se rvant who’s who’s hiding a terrible secret; Paul Copely (Coronation Street, The Bill) as Clem - the survivor still haunted by his past and Liz May Brice (Bad Girls, The Bill) as Johnson – the cynical covert government agent determined to expose Torchwood. Torchwood. Russell T Davies said: “The new series of Torchwood Torchwood is hugely bold and promises to be bigger and better than ever - the audience is in for an amazing ride. This series is one big serial and the most ambitious story we’ve ever made, and we’ve got plenty of surprises in store.”
21
ALBUMS
b y Adam Lo we
ALBUM OF THE MONTH
4BWO Pandemonium – The Singles Collection Out: 1st September
They’re Swedish, they’re successful and they carry the Euopop flag with honour. Great melodies, terrific arrangements and a giant book of rhymes - makes this the most accessible album ever. Eighteen tracks that will have you singing along after the first hearing and rushing to their next live performance. This is more enjoyable than watching a kitten chasing a ball of wool.
Stereo Sushi Vol. 13
Seven Steps
STREET SOUNDS
Songbook
More Money Less Grief
Out: 15th September
Out: 29thSeptember
15 Years of Paradise
Out: 29th September
Out: 15th September
Stero Sushi’s thirteenth outing gathers together more soulful house with ambient excess and deep-throbbing grooves. Diva Barbara Tucker dazzles and delights as ever with a reworking of ‘We Are’ and Margaret Grace’s sizzling vocals rip open ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’. Terry Hunter remixes Glen Lewis’ ‘Stay With Me’, which is now a more luscious affair, dripping with style and glamour. All in all, this is a strong selection of hi-fi house for late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings.
Seven Steps is a powerful and personal album, slathered over a chunky bed of bass grooves, which were not as present in Shri’s earlier releases. This is effectively a revision of his own signature sound, with a lot more spunk. This album has teeth but still retains a strong Indian ambience. The LP funks up Bombay street music, with heaps of bass languishing under traditional Indian instrumentals. This is a rollicking, cultured album, and one that demands another listen.
Out: 15th September
Woodpigeon, whose first band was called Woodpigeon Divided by Antelope Equals Squirrel (or W/A=S for s hort), is an odd fellow. He chose his name because he likes how the word looks like a rollercoaster when you write it in cursive. He once also wrote a song called ‘John Cusack Escapes from the Nazis’. Luckily, none of this silliness is present in the album. Or rather, it is, but in a way that is totally serious and doesn’t come across as silly. Songbook is a diary of his return home to Canada after her left Scotland, and bursts with nostalgia and warmth. This is one for the softies out there. Or maybe your mums.
4STEREO
22
SUSHI
4SHRI
4KING
King Street Sounds’ last 15 years include such music luminaries as Joey Negro, David Morales, Barbara Tucker and Quentin Harris. With all these elements in the mix, you can be sure this is as cutting edge as it is popular. popular. Some of these tracks are remastered 12” releases that have never appeared in digital form until now. This guarantees the album as a musthave for all dance music connoisseurs.
4 WOODPIGEON
4THE
METROS
This is an album with tourettes. Boisterous, badmouthed, angry and schizoid, it’s still rhythmic, anthemic and, more often than not, fun. Though at times it’s a little selfindulgent and trashy, with its messy collision of pop, rock, humour and Kate Nash ‘urban realism’, it’s definitely fun. This is a sound that’s that’s ultimately young, and whilst maturity can produce something more enduring, why not have fun in the moment and wait for the boys to become men in a few years’ time?
September 2008
SINGLES
b y Adam Lo we
SINGLE OF THE MONTH 4TURNER
CODY
First Light Out 29th September
This is the title track of Cody’s second album. It’s full of cheer and swing, in desperate contrast to his famed anti-folk and blues. There’s a crafty conjuring of traditional styles in a new, dynamic presence with elements of the lyrical ballad and blues-driven boogie. But it’s the lyrics that really stand out, shimmering above the music like a rainbow. More will definitely be heard of this NYC songster songster..
4CHARLIXCX !Franchesckaar! Out: 22nd September
So long as you can get past the irritating misspellings (‘cause she’s she’s cool, i nnit?), this proves to be not too bad considering she’s she’s a 15 year-old. Pop Justice called her ‘Quite good’ in a way not wholly intended to damn with faint praise, since it was also their song of the day. Electroqueer can’t stop playing her. We’re a bit more discerning, but she’ll do for now. Give it twenty repeats and we’ll want to invite Gary Glitter to her house.
24
4 X-PRESS
2 FEAT FE AT.. DAVID BYRNE
4CAMP
ACTOR
Your Obsession Out: 8th September
Camp Actor is the gestalt of Justin James and Marlowe, Out: 22nd September who met at a record shop If this song sounds irritatingly in North London and set familiar, that’s because it is. It up their own night, ‘Press’, was released a few years back at Shoreditch’s Herbal bar. and was just as annoying Now they’re unleashing back then. Now it’s no longer their fourth single, the enough to revive the 80s first to come from their or 50s or even 40s—we’re debut album. Theirs is now reviving what we had a a riddling mix of layered few years back. So long as melody, jagged beats and I don’t have to si t through kaleidoscopic eletronica, but ten seasons of Friends again it is intelligent and emotive (damn you, E4!), I’ll live. Ignore all the same, and indicative this, and listen out for some of bright things to come. decent new music. Lazy
4DUNNEASY
4MR
FT MONIQUE BINGHAM
Off the Top of My Head
Won’t Stop Out: 15th September
This is a warm, soulful groover with the luscious lyrical lashings of Monique Bingham. Combining deep house, gospel vocals, African and Latin percussion, and NYC’s jazz soloists, dunnEASY and Bingham make this a rich dance track perfect for al fresco parties and chilled glasses of cider.
NO HANDS
Out: 11th September
Mr No Hands is named after his favourite BMX stunts, and has spent much of the year building a reputation for himself. He’s a 24 ye ar-old musician and animation artist, who has released seven singles on his label, each one with an exclusive animated video created by himself. He ’s been interviewed across the music press and has been featured on the home pages of Myspace and YouTube. The comparisons to Mr Scruff and Lemon Jelly hold true, but there’s something eclectic about his i nspiration that shines through in this single and makes its jolly blend of arcade games, drums and furious energy a good one. September 2008
MUSIC C OM P E ET I T ION T
Michael@50 4101
90S HITS
4CREAMFIELDS 10
The 101 phenomenon continues with 101 90s Hits, FIVE jam-packed CDs of 90s classics. With monster chart hits from pop hunks Robbie Williams, Five, Ricky Martin, George Michael and the mighty 90s boy band Take Take That, to girl power tracks from Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera, Louise, Tina Turner Turner,, Britney and Eternal. Not forgetting those infectious dance, pop and Britpop anthems from Olive, Chumbawamba, D:Ream, M People. Blur, Shampoo and Supergrass, the perfect soundtrack to your summer and beyond… Out: 8th September - Label: EMI TV
YEARS THE ALBUM Fall in love again with those clubbing sounds you love to remember, this is going to be the biggest and best ever collection of club hits and bangers imaginable so, its time to get your dancing shoes on. The world-renowned name that is cream delivers yet again, with an array of the tracks have those memories come flooding back. 3 CD’s with 60 tracks of the finest tracks compiled by cream grab your whistle and hit the dance floor! Out: 8th September Label: Ministry of Sound
To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fabulous 5CD collection just answer this simple question: Who had a hit with Millennium?
To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fabulous 3CD collection just answer this simple question: Finish this title of Daft Punks’ dance floor hit, Around the ______?
4R&B
CLASSICS COLLECTION
4
This superb triple-CD album contains monster chart-topping hits from N.O.R.E (Nothin) and Pussycat Dolls FT Busta Rhymes (Don’t Cha), and the ultimate classics from Blackstreet (Don’t Leave Me), Jay Z (Big Pimpin), Salt N Pepa (Push It) and R&B Diva of the year, Rihanna (Umbrella). Plus all the years greatest from soul sistas Mary J Blige, Nelly, Kelly Price, Ashanti and Alicia Keys, to urban megastars megastars 2PAC, 2PAC, Red Man, Dre Dre and Snoop Dogg.
The CD features 3 discs and 60 tracks, containing all the classic dance and pop tracks you need for summer, so slap on the sun lotion, reserve the best pool lounger... lounger... and pop it in the CD player! Feel good songs by the likes of; Eric Prydz, Scooter, Uniting Nations, O-Zone, ATB, DJ Sammy, Sash!, DJ Otzi, T-Spoon, T-Spoon, Whigfield, Aqua, 2 Unlimited, Bob Marley vs. Funk Star Deluxe, Lou Bega, Shaft, Doop, Rednex, Boney M. and many more.
Michael Jackson has just passed yet another milestone in his career as he recently turned that scary ve 0. Not sure that he can turn back time, though I’m sure he has tried to borrow the ‘Back to the Future’ DeLorean car at some point in his career, but he has several rsts that he should be proud of over those 50 inspiring years. Joining the family group at 7 years-old he immediately seemed to take ce ntre stage, and for a young lad, his voice was extraordinary and powerful, which demanded an audience took notice. The hits of the Jackson 5, with his strong vocal lead, were soon to dominate the charts all over the world and the cute little front man Michael was catapulted into a showbiz career career.. Since that auspicious start Michael has had a plethora of hits, originally with his brothers but eventually his solo career took off and the confident young man produced some of the best and most i nventive music of its day. Indeed, at just 20 years-old, his album ‘Thriller’ topped the charts and went on to become one of the most successful and highest se lling albums(and music videos) of all time. In recent years his popularity, for various reasons, has nosedived and the King of Pop (as he liked to be called) has struggled to find any new material to entice his fan base back. This 50th birthday Motown collection of his early hits just reminds us of what a precocious (in the good sense) talent he was… and what an e xceptional voice the young Michael Jackson had… and it’s one we miss.
‘ULTIMATE HOLIDAY PARTY’.
Out: 29th September September Label:UMTV
Out now – Sony Records
To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fabulous 3CD collection just answer this simple question: Who had a hit with Thong Song?
To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fabulous 3CD collection just answer this simple question: Finish the title of Scooter’s hit The Logical ______?
4MICHAEL
JACKSON AND THE JACKSON 5 With worldwide record sales of over 60 million, there’s no denying Michael Jackson is one of the biggest superstars our generation has seen. Massive all-time classics on this stunning new beautifully presented package include material from the Motown years from both the Jackson 5 (ABC, I’ll Be There, I Want You Back, Never Can Say Goodbye) and Michael’s solo material (You’ve Got A Friend, Be n, Ain’t No Sunshine, One Day In Your Life, My Girl). Out: 01/09/08 – UMTV To be in with a chance of winning a copy of this fantastic CD all you have to do is complete this Jackson 5 song title: Never Can Say __________?
COMPETITION TIME Turn to page 92 for entry details www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
25
TS BI TS
Still Swinging Swing Out Sister celebrate the eclectic cultural mix of the UK’s constantly changing music scene, with a sound that owes as much to hip-hop and jazz fusion as sixties pop and soul, with its well crafted arrangements and a hint of electro along the way way. As their 9th studio album Beautiful Mess is completed, Bent talks to Swing Out’s Corinne Drewery about the process.
I’m in the mood for… Lover
We just can’t can’t pin this one down. Here at Bent Towers there’ss disagreement as to what we think of Rosie and there’ her chums and this single ‘Lover’. Is it a more on-the-ball Placebo, is it Siouxsie Sioux at her wailing prime… or is it none of these t hese but better? Yep we’ll go with that. Hailing from the west country of Cornwall, Rosie & The Goldbug formed in 2007 after enchanting lead vocalist Rosie, who had been away at Uni studying music, decided to return to her roots with the sole purpose of forming a band: “The course was all about studying mundane jazz modes and it made me realise I wanted to just write three chord pop tunes and rebel”. Fed up fronting a band “full of belchin’ ‘n’ fartin’ lads who s eemed intent on playing boring old indieguitar wank”, Rosie saw an escape route when meeting Plums for the first time. Joined by pounding bass player Pixie (her sister’s pointy-eared pointy-eared boyfriend – hence the elfish nickname) and utterly mesmerising female drummer Plums (previously of Japanese drumming group Kagemusha Taiko), Rosie & The Goldbug are a razor-sharp razor-shar p three pronged trio to be reckoned with. Wi th the album to follow in October you can be sure we’ll be hearing a lot more of this slinky, sexy combo over the next year. ‘Lover’ - Out: 8th September - Lover Records
Don’t deal with the ordeal on your own Every year, thousands thousands of men call the Survivors UK National Helpline. Many of these calls are from men who are talking about their ordeal for the first time. The anonymity of a phone call means it can feel like the safest and easiest way of talking about what’s happened to you and how it has affected your life. All of the Helpline workers are trained and knowledgeable in sexual abuse and male rape issues, and they work to the British Association of Counselling Ethical Framework, so your call wil l be confidential. They’re there to provide information, support, and understanding, and you won’t have to do or say anything you don’t want to. If you would prefer, prefer, they can simply listen; just talking about your experiences can be a huge weight off your shoulders. For many men, it’s the first step on the road to putting their past behind them. If you need to chat call the Survivors UK National Helpline number: number: 0845 122 1201 (opens Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7pm - 10pm). www.survivorsuk.org
26
It seems amazing that SOS have been around for over 20 years… I suppose that means you both still get on very well?
Andy (Connell) and I get on well most of the time- apart from when we are trying to write a song which usually involves an argument or two….this makes for a better piece of music usually- I suppose it’s it’s like a weird kind of quality control - we are both fighting for the bits we feel should stay. Critics always say your music is a jazz/pop fusion… is that a description you’re happy with?
It’s It’s better to listen and make up your own mind, but if it is away of inviting somebody in who has never heard our music before, then I suppose it’s a enough good start. There are elements in our music from all kinds of influences, ranging from hip-hop to jazz to northern soul to Latin….some influences are more apparent than others. This is your 9th studio album… tell us a little bit about it… and why the title Beautiful Mess?
Beautiful Mess seemed to sum up the fusion (or confusion!) of ideas. We wanted this album to have a more intimate, up close and personal feel. The more records we make, the more we seek perfection, but sometimes in order to achieve that the original idea gets lost in the process. We decided to keep the songs as close to the original idea as possible as they usually go through so many changes before we finish them. After nine albums we felt we should have had enough practice.
Will there be a tour or live gigs?
I am looking into doing some one-off unplugged sets using natural acoustics- just to see what it would sound like. They could turn into gigs but would be more like recording experiments. There are some great tunnels around London Bridge and along Regents Canal…. I would also love to try some caves…maybe somewhere like Chiselhurst. What other projects have you been involved in (or are involved in) because you don’t just tour and record SOS stuff do you?
Andy has done several scores for short films. A couple of them have done well in independent film festivals. He also worked on a soundtrack for pilot for a Bondesque tv programme called The Outsiders. It was great fun, some of the pieces we worked together on were a spooky lullaby, a French song for a romantic scene in Paris and an operatic piece playing as background music at a dinner party. Who do you see as the ‘next big talent’ to come out of your home City of Manchester?
I wouldn’t know the next big talent if I tripped over it- the cool stuff bubbling under is what interests me… Jamie Finlay is worth checking out . And RKW. ‘Beautiful Mess’ out: 8th September
September 2008
BIT S
GEORGE MICHAEL THE UPS, DOWNS AND SIDE SIDEW WAYS OF AN ICON by Adam Lowe
The man born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou Panayiotou in 1963, but b ut known to everyone else as George Michael, has had a turbulent celebrity career career.. From Wham! to ‘Wham, bam, thank you, man!’ his journey has been charted throughout the press. This month Bent takes a look at his greatest, worst and most embarrassing moments to d ate.
WOGONE With the rather unstartling news that Terry Wogan is to hang up his wig and not host next year’s year’s Eurovision Song Contest the race is on to find his replacement. Top Top of the bill is Graham Norton who has proved very successful in giving a new dimension to presenting with the recent Andrew Lloyd Webber ‘please find us a star’ series of programmes. No doubt John Barrowman is in there somewhere as well but to be honest, he was next to useless on the finding a song for Europe show last year. A brand new face might be nice. One who actually enjoys the show… and can hold their own… after seeing her in Eurobeat… I suggest Mel Giedroyc. Mind you… what’s what’s the betting that Terry makes an about turn once he sees what money they are offering his succe ssor. ssor.
www.mag.be nt.com
UPPER – George has sold
DOWNER – In February
SIDEWAYS – George was
over 100 million records worldwide, and in the UK has had a dozen #1 singles and seven #1 albums. In the US he’s had 10 #1 singles and two #1 albums. Faith, his 1987 debut solo album, is one of the bestselling albums of all time and netted him six of his US #1s as well as accounting for a fifth of all his record sales.
2006, George was arrested for possession of Class C drugs.
pretty much caught with a mouthful when members of the public spotted him with an older, scruffily-attired man on Hampstead Heath. He later spoke on Richard & Judy to defend his actions, saying he and Kenny had an open relationship and he wasn’t ashamed of his sexual activities.
DOWNER – On April 7th,
1998, George was caught with his pants down in LA— trying to get a police officer to join him in the cottage. SIDEWAYS – May
15th, 2006, George was found horizontal—that is, unconscious at the wheel of his Range Rover. He was woken up by a member of the public who’d been knocking on his window for five minutes, before he then drove off erratically and hit a traffic bollard. Later the same month, he was questioned by police for shunting three cars on his street. UPPER – George is the most
played artist on UK radio in the last twenty years. Beat that, Chubby Williams!
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
SIDEWAYS – Horizontal again, George was this time found at the wheel of his Mercedes, causing an obstruction to traffic. He was later convicted for possession of cannabis. He later admitted, on Desert Island Discs, that his cannabis addiction was negatively affecting his life. His partner Kenny Goss, also a lover of being sideways, has been treated for addiction to tranquillisers and visited rehab for two months in 2004 at George’s George’s request.
George concluded his mammoth 25 Live tour, tour, which took him round Europe twice, with two Earl’s Court gigs on 24th and 25th August. The tour also saw George performing in the US for the first time in 17 years.
UPPER – George was the
first person to perform at the newly reopened Wembley Arena, although he was later fined £125,000 for overrunning by 13 minutes! DOWNER – George became
unpopular for a while when, in 2004, he released the highly controversial single ‘Shoot the Dog’, the video for which featured Tony Blair as George Bush’s pet poodle.
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
27
TIN WILL MAR TI
One One Voi Voice ce
If you’re into the likes of El Divo, Russell Watson Watson or Andrea Bocelli then you’ll just love this new kid on the block. Will Martin is a fresh-faced, good-looking, 23 yearold New Zealander who has recently signed a lucrative recording deal with Universal Un iversal Records. His voice is strong, smooth and, for a guy his age, remarkably sophisticated. Bent tracked him down to get the low down on t he next big singing sensation.
Did you get into singing the usual way… via a church choir or perhaps a school performance?
It was exactly that. Found myself a bit bored bored at school around the age of 12, so I auditioned for the school show. I had never really sung before so was very surprised when I was cast in the lead role. I should really point out that I was, at the time, at an all-boys school … an all-boys school that had decided to present My Fair Lady! At what point did you realise that you had a voice that was quite exceptional?
Mid-teens. I had begun begun achieving regular regular success in regional competitions, and so about the age of 16/17 I started considering the possibility of a singing career. Where was your first paid performance… and how did that feel?
Can’t remember when the first paid performance was, but I certainly remember the day I was offered my first regular singing job. I was 18, and I would perform in the corner of a little Italian restaurant on Sunday nights. It wasn’t full time by any means, but it was a step in the right direction. Does a voice as rich and smooth as yours need a great deal of daily maintenance?
To To keep a voice at its optimum, there are lifestyle choices that have to be adhered to. You have
28
to say goodbye to certain foods, and vices (!) Maintenance goes far beyond singing scales each day, but that’s obviously a key part too. You have an operatic voice but is that your favourite style… could there be a rapper trapped somewhere inside you?
WILL-E-M ?!? Hehehe, maybe not quite quite rap. My voice is certainly suited to the big fat orchestral stuff, but I’m an entertainer at heart; I love to sing what people want to hear. hear. I certainly wasn’t singing classical during my s tint at The Hard Rock Café in Dubai! We shall see how my style evolves over the next few years. How do you feel when you have to sing a song in another language?
Scared. But I enjoy a challenge. challenge. I’ll find an appropriate tutor and work it until I’ve got not only the pronunciation, but the accent as well. Every song is a story, story, and in order to tell that story right, you need to know exactly what every single syllable means, and how it should be presented.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
“Guilty” is open to i nterpretation, but I spend far too much time in the kitchen. I am a passionate but overly pedantic chef. There’s There’s nothing I’d rather do than cook you dinner, but I need to block off the day to do it ! What’s What’s on your iPod at the moment?
I tend to keep music on my pod for months until I feel like something else. I’m still loving Newton Faulkner’s Faulkner’s ‘Hand Built By Robots’ and ‘The Reminder’ by Feist. So those two definitely, plus I always have a pile of club classics to get me through my run each day. When can we see you in the UK?
I’ll be somewhere nearby nearby soon. Check out www.willmartin.net www.willmartin.net for updates of where and when. Album – New World Out: 22nd September Universal
Growing up in New Zealand… did you always want to be a singer… or a Rugby player?
I would have loved to have been a rugby player. Unfortunately though, though, I’m not quite built built for it. In saying that, I have been fortunate enough to run onto the park with the All Blacks, albeit, to sing the national anthem.
September 2008
P OLARI
Fancy yourself as queen bee? Think Think you’re you’re a ‘proper bloke’? Well Bent knows what kind of gay you are, and here’s how to tell. 1. Is your favourite film: A) The Princess Diaries B) Die Hard C) Scally Boy Orgy D) Mean Girls? 2. Do you prefer to wear:
Bona Fantabulosa antabulosa Omi Palone’s If you don’t understand any of the above then you clearly haven’t been to Polari. What is Polari? Apart from being an old language that gay men used once upon a time it is also a salon evening run by author, host with the most and creator of Polari Paul Burston and featured DJing from the delicious Dom Agius. Simon Savidge caught up with the dynamic duo to discuss Polari’s re-birth. “I wanted to create something that mixes both reading, culture, music and entertainment for gay people who don’t just want to get off their face on drugs and find cock on a good night out, not that there’s there’s anything wrong wi th that” Paul explains “Also like many gay writers I am starved of places to read my work, meet my public and sell my books, so Polari is a m ixture of all that also.” “It’s “It’s like a club night” Dom adds “with content”. It’s It’s a formula that has also worked incredibly well with many gay and l esbian authors coming to read “Stella Duffy was a sell out it was such a successful night” and even honorary gay readers such as Will Self have come to read “it’s a sign of things to come”. Bent has been and we can officially say that it’s a great night where everyone is made to feel very welcome. Paul started it on his own with the support of friend and fellow author Rupert Smith. However as Polari grew Paul decided he wanted to do more of the hosting before the reading and DJing after so he called Dom in. They have been friends for years after “Paul stole some rare American toothpaste from my flat”. “It’s “It’s like a twisted marriage now, we even have ‘Children of Polari’ our husbands don’t mind” and
www.mag.be nt.com
the pair are now looking at different ventures in the future. For now though the focus is on the relaunch of Polari in September at Trash Palace. A venue which is totally appropriate for the Polari audience which ranges in age from 20 to 60 and from Goths, to Dandy’s and funky students, it’s a great mixture. For regulars there is no need to fear “It’ll be more themed so were having ‘Blog’ nights, ‘Dandy’ nights and a Duffy night with Stella and Maureen Duffy reading… if Duffy wants to come along and sing she’s more than welcome.” It doesn’t stop there though; Polari could be coming to a city near you. “We definitely want to do some stuff nationwide, and we’ll be doing something for Homotopia” Paul laughs “Mind you last time I did that I ended up naked in a hotel foyer in front of a family and some bemused receptionists…But that’s another story.” Polari is relaunched at Trash Palace on 10th September. www.myspace.com/polarigaysalon www.paulburston.com www.domagius.com www.myspace.com/thechildrenofpolari
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
A) Anything pink and fluffy B) Combat gear and a machine gun C) Trackies D) A sneer? 3. Your favourite word is: A) Fabulous B) Motherfucker C) Innit D) Duh? 4. You call people: A) Babes B) By their motherfucking name! C) Fella D) Biatch? 5. Your idol is: A) Maria von Trapp B) The Terminator C) Nick Griffiths D) Patsy Stone?
RESULTS: Mostly As - You’re a fairy. A sugarcoated,
limp-wristed, lisping poof. Be prepared to be eaten alive. You’re an animal. A meathead. Mostly Bs - You’re You’re You’re a Neanderthal. So learn to eat with cutlery and stop beating your mates up. Mostly Cs - You’re a chav. A scally. Stop playing with yourself on webcam and sniffing other men’s socks, innit! Go get a job and buy some proper clothes. Mostly Ds - You’re a bitch. You’re probably also a whore, a skank and a vacuous nightmare. You You are one of the Heathers, a Plastic, Mae West without the talent. Think Kill Bill with verbal swords and more alcohol. 29
VAL TII VA G WHIZZ FES T
G! WHIZZ! G! Mini is the little sister of the Faroe Islands’ prestigious G! Festival. Spurred on by the travel report in July’s Bent, I took up sponsors Atlantic Airways’ call to arms and trekked across a thousand miles of empty space (in a plane, of course) to the Faroes. Though our cabin crew resembled ABBA after being beaten to a pulp by the ugly stick, and the in-ight meals were odd to say the least, we arrived drunk on free booze and eager to see what wonders the islands held.
The festival-goers all either looked like yokels or, or, strangely, Kate Moss. Viking chic was the rule for the adults, giving us the impression that the fashion was just to grab a sheep and drape it over your shoulders. In comparison all the kids wore skinny jeans and designer labels, but other than eBay we couldn’t figure where they bought their clothes from. Even stranger was the number of people who’d learned English from watching UK and US TV shows. The festival was designed as a fundraiser, since last year’s G! Festival, though sporting international names on the music scene, went bust. Instead, a variety of local bands were performing for free in order to generate the moolah for the next big G! True True to its name, G! Mini was small. Perhaps a little too small, it seemed at first. Indeed, we drove past it several times and even the stewards pointed us in the wrong direction. Our first sight was what appeared to be a blitzed, open-air public loo. Inside, a handful of lonely revellers partied to techno house music last heard on the underground scene of Germany, Germany, despite the rain and lack of shelter. At least the DJ had raised the roof! (Or had it been bombed?) This first venue was calle d Ground Zero and we avoided it from thereon in. Though it was popular with the local ravers, who finished the night pilled off their faces i n the nearby grass. 30
Next on our journey was the small Viking festival on the beach. We debunked the valkyrie’s spectacles as an anachronism and proceeded on to the main arena: a school football pitch with a stage erected at one end and a booze tent beyond the nearby climbing frame. There wasn’t much of a crowd at first, but by midnight the party was in full swing. The odd thing was, bright bands of sunlight slashed across the hilltops between bands of shadow. Because they’re so near the Arctic Circle, the summertime Faroes never get dark. They have a strange kind of twilight instead, so it never feels later than 7 or 8pm. Bet You Are William stole the show on this first night. Their soundcheck sounded like a series of musical premature ejaculations, with numerous bursts of noise and false-starts until they started proper. proper. But once they hit their stride, they were rocking the stage with panache and cool, slagging off Dire Straits and still seeming down to earth. Next up was folkpop songstress Lena Anderssen. A sultry, spastic mix of Laura Critchley and Sheryl Crow, she provided acoustic melodies and a rampaging performance to electrify the eager crowds. It was then we decided to depart, figuring we’d seen the best, and grabbed a crate of the local booze to glug on back at the hotel.
Next day we discover Boys in a Band. Though not possessing a terrible original name, they did have a gimmicky side-project to the G! Mini up their sleeves. The boys were being helicoptered round the islands by our benefactors, Atlantic Airways, so they could perform 24 shows in 24 hours. This involved performing outside a shop, on a bridge and next to a fish m arket mere metres from our hotel. The boys were friendly, refreshing and energised, despite their exhaustion and odd instruments. Back at the festival, Budam made manic, deathly noise in a brilliant way and Orca reveal themselves as the stars of the second night, using whatever trash they could find to make music with. This included milk bottles, drainpipes and loo roll with strings attached. As if that weren’t enough, the man who had now become a legend to us, Magni Arge, was introduced to us on the beach, singing his heart out to every Faroese song the locals yodelled into the bitter-cold night. All in all, the festival was a surreal smash. It never got busy till midnight, but that’s because the locals have no concept of time and turned up when they could be bothered. Then they stayed until dawn (of course, with it bei ng light all night, you never notice). Things bode well for next y ear, ear, so I’d definitely recommend turning up for the G! Festival proper once it returns.
Don’t You Leave Me Here Set to the beautifully evocative jazz melodies of ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton, Don’t You leave Me Here is a powerful and moving new play which chronicles the turbulent early years of two of the earliest pioneers of jazz music. The The musical genius of Ferd ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton and Tony Jackson was to prove hugely inuential in the development of jazz music. As a young man in 1906, the c harismatic and flamboyant Creole born Ferd ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton played piano in the brothels of New Orleans alongside his homosexual friend Tony Jackson. Ferd and Tony Tony were regarded as some of the finest pianists in the Storyville District of the city in the early 20th Century. Despite their obvious musical talents, life was certainly not easy for them. The play portrays a forgotten world where the late night atmospheres of down-at-heel jazz joints in New Orleans and hot clubs of Chicago jostle for attention alongside the racial and sexual prejudices, poverty and ill health that plagued the two young musicians. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds 27th September – 18th October Box Office: 0113 213 7700.
September 2008
Y OUT UBE by Mark H k Haw k ki ns
THE BEST OF: Gay Genre Commercial
Sunday Night Project - Scott Mills & The Hoff Wii Fit Hula Hoop Playgirl Nicholas Ryan
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1t8UuzUqqI www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2oHdDjoxUI www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsS7VNAparo
Bunny Letter Opener
**BANNED ADVERT** Heinz Mayo Advert
Crazy Girl On Train Train
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBHZT3a-FA www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl0bkv0jCCM www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eXNClwV5AM
Jay n Easy Lee - Dear Penis
Ellen with her Hawaii Chair
The Shower
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ3lw-eNrFk www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHiqVygN-w0 www.youtube.com/watch?v=30FM57Mg9Kw
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
31
TRE TH THEA TR
Manoeuvres
Aaron is a soldier. Aaron is a hero. But Aaron is in love… with a man. It used to be illegal in the Army but times have changed. And when Aaron gets hitched and claims his right to bring his ‘bride’ to live with him in the married quarters? That’s That’s when the war really begins. And Aaron ain’t taking no prisoners.
Rikki Beadle-Blair’s (Metrosexuality | Stonewall | Bashment | Familyman) ground-breaking ground-breaking new comedy is about the one thing that’s always worth fighting for - love. The Drill Hall 22nd September – 7.30 - £5 16 Chenies Street London Tel: 020 7307 5060 www.drillhall.co.uk
Spamalot’s A Laugh-a-Lot! Are you looking for camp cheerleading mermaids and several knights in shining armour as your perfect night out? Then you must see Spamalot, the musical ‘lovingly ripped off from Monty Python’ which will have you laughing for hours. We weren’t sure we were gonna be convinced, but were bowled over, particularly by ‘The Lady of The Lake’ played by the fabulous Nina Soderquist who is all about being a diva. She’s simply wonderful and we think she needs a solo show. We digress; you don’t need to be a fan of Monty Python either to enjoy this, it’s accessible for everyone, so make s ure that you join King Arthur (currently being played by the superb Sanjeev Bhaskar) and his tight panted knights as they hopelessly l ook for the Grail. Oh and if you think that this doesn’t look like your typic al camp musical? You are so wrong, get ready for Sir Lancelot and possibly the gayest moment in the history of musicals! We kid you not.
32
Tony & Twizzl Twizzle, e, The Glory Glo ry Years - a riotous look at the cult of celebrity
Award-winning comedy duo Lipservice Theatre perform the world première of their new show at The Lowry, inviting audiences to spend an evening in the company of Tony & Twizzle Twizzle who provide a ‘warts and all’ look back at their fabulous showbiz careers. Anthony Chalmers and Isobel ‘Twizzle’ Trilling – stars of Celebrity Wheelie Bins and What’s Down your Passage? - spill the beans on their fascinating lives. Tony talks candidly about their remarkable comeback after winning Celebrity Wheelie Bins, how Twiz Twiz drove him to drink, his time i n rehab and the road to spiritual enlightenment. Twiz Twiz was famously sacked by Sir Loin Andrew Webber after her voice cracked during the Royal Variety performance, made and then lost a fortune when the bottom fell out of her underwear business and famously invented facial gymnastics.
Spamalot is playing at the Palace Theatre, London. For more information and tickets please go to
The Lowry, Salford - 8th –13th September
www.montypythonsspamalot.com
www.thelowry.com
Box office: 0870 787 5793 or
September 2008
presents in arrangement with Tim Reed Management
L
I
V E
HAMMERSMITH LAYOVER Live At The Hammersmith Apollo Saturday November 29th at 8.00pm Tickets: 08448 44 47 480 www.hammersmithapollo.net www.pamann.com
www.myspace.com/pamannairhostess
TA LESLI MARGHERI TA Do you like a gossip?
What’s your best one line put down?
Oh my god… there’s a site in the states called Perez Hilton and I swear I am on that lik e every day, ten times a day. Also I have gossip on people I have been in shows and films with in the US… but I’ll tell you after when you’re not recording. I so love a gossip.
Hmmm, my best one liner. I don’t really have one. I do have a number I give to guys if they hit on me which I give out, it goes to a ‘rejection line’ that says “if you’d like to choose a sad song to explain why the girl you called isn’t interested press one” its evil genius, i t’s t’s amazing.
Don’t we all yes a girl game for a good gossip is good with us, and addicted to Perez too. 9/10
No put down lines? Hmmm! However a rejection line number why don’t we have that here. 9/10
Madonna or Kylie?
Where would you go for a really good camp fabulous night out?
Madonna…because Kylie isn’t really big in the States. I just grew up loving Madonna, Madonna, Madonna, Madonna. Totally. I mean Kylie’s nice and cute and all. I don’t believe the divorce rumours, see I am gossiping again. Do you know that since I have been in England I have been told I look like Amy Winehouse, I cannot fricking believe it. How can someone choose? We love them both, additional points for more gossiping and the wonderfully random Winehouse connection. 8/10 What’s the campest thing you have ever done?
I guess playing Ines in Zorro at the moment is pretty high camp, she would totally have been a gay icon, and she’s she’s got the ‘one name’ like Madonna or Cher. She gets dumped after following her love, so s he’s he’s the underdog, and sings ‘Bamboleo’ with lots of fit men in amazing clothes, but that’s more her than me… So mine would be singing I Will Survive, I am not kidding, in front of a load of Gay Men at a Gay Halloween Celebration in West Hollywood. There were thousands, a sea of gay men, heaven. Oh and I was the voice of Cinderella in Disney’s Cinderella 3 that’s camp isn’t it, and the residuals are great! Well that’s blown our camp-o meter up frankly, and on its first outing, for all the above 14/10.
Can Can You Be Our New Best Friend? Simon Savidge interrogates Lesli Margherita who plays Ines the real star of Zorro - The The Musical and nds out if she is camp enough and fabulous enough to be his new best friend, read on for the results.
Do you have any dressing room demands?
It has to be pink. Seriously, I am so not saying that for points I just love pink, Other than that I don’t have any… yet. I would like my dog to be shipped over, or a new puppy a day. The pink is good, dogs are cute, we wanted more. 5/10 Have you ever thrown a complete diva strop?
I have my dark days, I know I shouldn’t but I do. I do it more at home, I try not to do it in public. I’ll tell you something a bit sad… when I am in a really bad mood I make a fist and draw a smiley face on it. That’s That’s sad right? I last had a major strop when I got here in London; firstly they put me in like a basement with no window calling it a flat. Secondly you walk everywhere. It was bleak, bleak, I was literally crying at the tube station trying to find the rehearsal place. I mean in LA I drive the block to my gym. Driving to the gym, face painting your hands, dark days – can this woman be anymore fabulous? 12/10.
34
I need some serious help here, I haven’t been on the gay scene yet. At home it would be out on West Hollywood, the best nights ever seriously amazing and fun and just beautiful. Here I just go to the s how and that’s that’s kind of camp. The show is camp enough. I need a serious night out. I have a gay friend in the show; I call him my gay in the Pueblo. Oh dear two extra points for the gay in the Pueblo 5/10 but we have offered to take her out so this will be rectified! Primark or Prada?
PRADA! I mean someone told me to go there and holy crap it was like a flea market. I couldn’t believe it, I bought one like three dollar tank top. I went to Oxford Street one, there was shit everywhere. Maybe I should go back sometime early when it’s it’s clean. Every girl should know how to team the two. 6/10 How many gay friends are too many?
(Shocked) Never! I can’t believe you asked me that. Never, never, ever. There’s no agenda. You’ll always get the truth. (Even when they tell you that you look awful in something?) No that’s good too… though then I’m like ‘God your so negative’. That perks me up, there’s there’s no bullshit, with gay guys. Is this a sign of being fickle or fabulous, we go with fabulous. 8/10 The Man Behind The Mask… Batman or Zorro?
I could audition to be Catwoman, they so need to erase the travesty that was Halle Berry. Berry. Batman. Oh my god I shouldn’t have said that… but its true, who wouldn’t? I mean it’s Batman. Batman’s got the car… and he’s he’s rich too, I mean Zorro does alright but as if he would ever have Bruce Wayne money or a Zorromobile! A woman with needs like us, saving people is great money and a good car is so much more important. Isn’t it? 10/10 94/100 Frankly we don’t want her to ever leave the UK, an icon in the making!
You can see Lesli in Zorro- The You Musical until December; you can also see her screaming her lungs out in Bogeyman 2 or singing gaily in Disney’s Cinderella 3 both on DVD now.
September 2008
T HE AT RE
From Torchwo Torchwood od to Sherwood!
Following the record-breaking success of Aladdin last Christmas, John Barrowman will be returning to the Birmingham Hippodrome in a brand new production called - Robin Hood - The Pantomime Adventure.
Barrowman is reportedly set to receive a staggering £270,000 for appearing in pantomime ‘Robin Hood’, making him one of the highest paid panto stars working over the Christmas period. Robin Hood is a new and exciting modern pantomime with all the traditional elements of the story - Robin and his extraordinary band of ‘Merry Men’ fighting the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham; the magic and mystery of Cassandra the Sorceress with amazing illusions and the ‘wow’ factor of this year’s show, Titan - a giant robot. A sight that would frighten Captain Jack but will amaze panto audiences! audiences! John Barrowman commented: “I had a great time at Birmingham Hippodrome over Christmas and the new year. Everyone made me and the whole cast feel so welcome. I’m really looking forward to coming back. Robin Hood – The Pantomime Adventure is going to be a spectacular production, full of surprises and l ots of sparkle. Don’t miss it!“ Robin Hood - The Pantomime Adventure. 19th December – 1st February www.birminghamhippodrome.com/robinhood
LaLaLyric, LaLaLyric, an evening e vening of music and fashion hosted by Simon Amstell LaLaLyric is a unique fundraising event that teams the most audacious and exciting musical acts with fast-rising fashion designers. The event will raise money for LYC (Lyric Young Company) an important and inclusive company that nurtures the creative talent of tomorrow. tomorrow. Simon Amstell will compere and host the LaLaLyric line-up that includes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Emmy the Great, Melodica, Melody and Me, FrYars and graduates from London’s most prestigious fashion and design courses: the perfect kick-off to London Fashion Week! The LaLa Marketplace will consist of a range of market stalls by young and upcoming designers selling original accessories and clothing. Lyric London - 14th September - 8pm Tickets: 0871 22 117 22 www.lyric.co.uk www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
35
TE TERR Y & MR GA Y UK
TERRY GEoRGE TELLIN’ STORIES
Me Ter Terry ry You You Jan Janee This has been a very busy month. One minute I was up in Edinburgh at the White Cube studio, which was exhibiting some of my photographs from the Rio Carnival… and I thank all of you who turned up to have a look. The The Carnival seems to be of never ending interest and I love going and experiencing that whole Latin vibe of dance, rhythm, pleasure and partying. From there I dashed down to London to join in a feast fest at Gordon Ramsey’ss place. All very nice… if a tad expensive… but the meal was Ramsey’ superb. I had a few meetings to attend then it was a quick sprint back up north to help organise the Grand Final of Mr Gay UK, which some of you may know we’ve been producing for the past 16 years.
I was absolutely overjoyed when Jane McDonald agreed to host this year’ year’ss event. I’d seen her in concert recently and was absolutely bowled over by her performance and it was with some trepidation that we approached her. Loose Woman, TV star, raconteur and singing sensation… you get the whole package with Jane and she is such a joy to work with. I remember back in 1999, Jane was hosting the contest for the first time as it was being transmitted on Channel 5… even then she held the crowd in the palm of her hand… and little me… well my job was to conduct all the backstage interviews. From then on, Jane and myself have got on like a house on fire so, when she agreed to doing the whole thing all over again, it seemed only natural that I should co-host with her. Now, although I’ve been on TV lots over the last year or so (some might say too much!) being followed by a TV camera crew and going about your normal life is way different than having to learn a script, take direction, look… well… OK and appear calm and relaxed in front of several hundred people (who incidentally have come to see a bevy of young, almost naked guys strut their stuff), can give you pause for thought. As the Mr Gay UK final was all 36
part of Manchester’ Manchester’ss fantastic Pride event I knew there would be lots of interest and I wasn’t disappointed when the crowds started gathering outside the venue The Ritz, early in the evening. In the afternoon the rehearsals had gone really well and we’d had a laugh with the contestants as my partner Michael reduced everyone to tears of helpless laughter as he stood in and pretended to be Jane. However, when the show started and I looked out over the huge expanse of faces of those who’d flocked to see the show… I was terrified. My lips froze, my mouth went dry and I couldn’t remember a word I’d learned during the afternoon. Thankfully,, Jane came out, put Thankfully everyone at ease (there was a guy in the front row with tears of delight freely flowing) as the lady took charge and made everyone from the audience, the contestants and even me… feel so damn special. From then on we were both cooking and I have to say that I haven’t enjoyed a final as much as this one and we’ve been doing them for some time now. Congratulations to a worthy worthy,, and particularly shy wi nner nner,, Dino Gamecho, as already the offers are coming in for him. Not only is he gracing the cover of Bent but he’s he’s also set to become the face of Army Red men’ men’ss fragrance.
MR GAY UK: JUDGE’S REPORT By Bent’s Features Editor Adam Lowe ‘What do you think of our contestants cont estants so far?’ asked Terry George, host of Mr Gay UK 2008 with Jane McDonald. ‘I think you need to get a spatula because I’m stuck to the seat!’ I said from our judges’ panel on the balcony at the Ri tz. Nineteen gorgeous men had, only moments before, paraded across the stage in their best fantasy wear for our delectation. Helping me judge we re Aled Hayden Jones of BBC Radio 1, Steve Strange, Scott Wright, and Bex and Luke from BB9. Everyone was chatty and extremely down to earth. Jane was an utter delight, singing onstage and inspiring tears from one man at the front, and greeting all the judges with a huge, warm smile backstage. She also brought her new boyfriend, Eddie Rothe, who was the drummer in The Searchers and Liquid Gold who, I’m told, we all ‘danced ourselves dizzy’ to decades ago… Big Brother’s Brother’s Bex and Luke were the picture of young love, sitting side by side on the judge’s panel and keeping close together all night. They we re thrilled to be there. ‘It’s ‘It’s such an honour,’ honour,’ said Luke. ‘All the contestants are attractive guys; it’s hard to pick a winner.’ winner.’ Terry Terry and Jane were exc excellent ellent hosts who fed off each other all night, exchanging banter with each other and making the contestants feel comfortable. ‘We were really nervous at first,’ said Paul Spurr, Spurr, entering on behalf of Wakefield. ‘But Terry Terry and Jane were wonderful and really put us at e ase.’ In third place was the very popular Davie Henderson, who appeared onstage dressed in a sailor’s sailor’s outfit, representing Glasgow. His fans were numerous and had been wearing T-shirts T-shirts and passing out flyers all day at Pride. Second place was taken by John Dewey from Chelmsford, who was a cute guy we’d all noticed as soon as we went backstage. The winner was the yummy Dino Gamecho from Cardiff, representing Pulse. Dino had originally appeared, slightly dirty and tousled, in rugby gear for the fantasy wear round. For the swimwear round he appeared in tight Hotblood trunks and did a backflip for the audience. Of c ourse, that made him extremely popular with the judges and the crowd, so it was little surprise when he won. That is, to everyone but Dino. ‘I really didn’t expect to win,’ he said. ‘I was looking around at all these gorgeous men, and I just thought, there’s no way I’ll wi n this! Some of the guys were really muscular and toned, so I expected them to win.’ I asked him if it showed that the stereotypical view of the gay body-beautiful wasn’t necessarily what people really wanted. ‘I guess so,’ he said. ‘Perhaps people just want a regular guy. It just goes to show that you don’t have to have perfect abs to win something l ike this. Anyone who’s who’s had any reservations should just enter—I’d recommend it to everyone. Anyone can wi n, so long as you’re just yourself.’ This year has seen the widest range of applicants for the title, including transvestites, twinks, PE instructors, deaf guys, old guys, young guys, large guys, skinny guys and teachers. This, the 16th anniversary of Mr Gay UK, was the first year a Welsh lad had won the title.
Our cover shot, taken by Terry George, comes from a shoot put together by the Celebrity photograp photographer her Rachel Joseph, which we were kindly invited to. The shoot was for the Army Red Fragrance that our new Mr Gay UK Dino, will be the face of. September 2008
MR GAY UK
Photos: Mark Hawkins
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
37
MR GA Y UK s n i k w a H k r a M : s o t o h P
Dino… oh ho… Dino! Nineteen year-old Dino Fabian Gamecho from Cardiff has just been crowned Mr Gay UK 2008. He’s the rst winner to come from the valleys and Bent was privileged to catch up with him a couple of days after receiving the title for a bit of a ‘sgwrsio’ (Welsh for chat).
38
September 2008
MR GAY UK
How are you feeling about winning Mr Gay UK?
Ohh, it’s still just sinking in. It’s amazing as I was so totally shocked when I won. I’m now looking forward to doing… whatever I’m going to be doing with it… being a role model for the gay community. Have you got any preconceived preconceived ideas of what it will mean to be Mr Gay UK?
No… I’m not really sure what it does entail. Some promo work…? But I gather you’ve already done one photo session haven’t you?
Yes. I was up early the morning after I won the title and was whisked off to do a shoot for Army Red aftershave. It was amazing… I’d never done anything like that before and I looked at the photos after and thought WOW…I couldn’t believe it…that’s me! Do you think that is something that you could get used to?
Yes, definitely. definitely. (he laughs good humouredly) How have your mates all taken the news?
They’ve been so happy… and supportive... all my mates at Pulse, where I won the heat, have been brilliant. My family i s really happy. I’ve had so much public support it’s amazing. Were you already out to your family?
I’ve been out since I was 17 so all my family knew. What’s your job at the moment?
I work in the Revolution in Cardiff, which is a vodka bar and I also work for Barclays as a mortgage advisor. advisor. But in a few weeks I’m moving to London to start university. I’m doing drama and theatre for my degree. Do you have a boyfriend or are you looking for one?
Whenever I try and look for one… I can never find anyone and when I’m not looking I usually meet someone. So I’m not looking but if someone comes along then that’s good. So who would be your ideal type?
I really like guys with a sense of humour… So Alan Carr would be your ideal…?
Oh definitely (laughs) I do love Alan Carr he makes me laugh. No doubt you’ll be bumping into him quite a bit over the next 12 months.
Back to your type?
I really like guys who are masculine, funny, funny, people who take care of themselves and who smile but personality is more important than body shape to me. Talking of looking after yourself… did you always have a good body?
No I’ve had to work really hard. Up until the age of 15 I was about sixteen and a half stone… so quite fat at school but when I moved from home up to Cardiff I lost some we ight. Then I entered the Mr Gay UK heat… and won it and, because of all the encouragement I got, I thought I’d carry on and see what I could do. So, I set my mind to it, changed my eating habits, got an extra job so I wouldn’t spend my time boozing and partying… and now spend most of my spare time now down at the gym… and I l ove it. It isn’t something I did on a whim I worked really hard for it. I have my gym shorts with me now as that’s where I’m going straight after this interview. Weren’t there any celebrations after winning the title?
Yes there was. I think I really over indulged. But at least you had a good reason?
(Laughs) Yes… Yes… but the thing is. I love going to the gym. When you see results from something... like winning the competition… I know I’ve got to keep it up… and it gives me loads more confidence. Is there anything special that you want to get involved in as Mr Gay UK?
Yes I’d like to help with the anti-bullying campaign. I think it’s important that young people have someone they can relate to and realise that it is fine and absolutely normal to be gay… and not to be afraid of those feelings. Did you have a particular bad time coming out yourself then?
In relation to my family… no… i t was more of an internal struggle. I was living in a small town in Wales and at 14 I didn’t know anyone who shared my feelings and the only people I could relate to were off TV. I felt that I didn’t fit… just alone and confused… and really scared. It was all a big secret but I actually got outed by my step-mother when I was 15 when she found my internet history. (Laughs) At the time I was massively traumatised; crying and so ashamed… but eventually it all calmed down. Later, when I moved to Cardiff, I had my first boyfriend, turned myself around and met so many amazing people who are gay and made so many fantastic friends. I realised there was nothing at all to be ashamed of... and now, I wouldn’t change me for the world.
(Laughs) I’d love to meet him. I saw him in stand up and he had me in creases. Wicked!
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
39
NE WS
Clean Boy Boy George recently had to cancel a tour of the USA because they wouldn’t grant him a visa because of his conviction for drug possession but now he has vowed to put his drug-taking days behind him - because he doesn’t “want to die.”
In an interview with Q Magazine the star admitted to a long battle with drugs and suffered numerous brushes with the law as a result. In 2006 George performed community service with New York’s sanitation department, after he was convicted of falsely reporting a burglary and possession of drugs. He insists that he has kicked his habits for good, because he fears he will end up dead unless he stops. “I’ve been strung out on drugs for the past five years. But this time I’m clean for good - I don’t want to die. He went on: “I s pent five years in this chemical cloud. Getting clean at the end of 2007 was a very big thing. I was using half my brain, half my personality. Now I know it won’t happen again.” George admitted that his four gram a day heroin habit cost him his career, let alone his self esteem. “Everything that’s that’s gone wrong in my life has been because of drugs,” he said.
Ellen makes it ofcial In mid-August Ellen DeGeneres married her longtime girlfriend Portia de Rossi at their $30million home in Beverly Hills. Despite DeGeneres being one of America’s chat show ‘big guns’, the event was no big show-business extravaganza, as there were only 20 close friends and guests invited. 50-year old Ellen DeGeneres and 35-year old de Rossi have been an item since December 2004. They were able to marry after the California Supreme Court ruled against a ban on gay marriage in May. Even though they weren’t invited many of LA’s ‘out’ elite sent messages of congratulations.
HIV ban lifted President Bush has signed into law a President’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The bill also contains an amendment inserted by the Senate that ends the ban on the entry of HIVpositive people to the United States. HIV-positive HIV-positive people will no longer be required to seek a special visa waiver through a US embassy abroad if they wish to visit the US. This means that the HIV entry ban is no l onger law but an administrative decision to be ruled on by the Department for Health and Human Services. Genevieve Edwards from Terrence Higgins Trust said: “We hope the US health and immigration departments will now move quickly to implement this change and make it easier for people with HIV to travel to the States. This i s something Terrence Higgins Trust has campaigned long and hard for along with other organisations in the UK and abroad. abroad. We urge other countries with restrictions to follow the lead of the US and remove them as soon as possible.”
Drug Action People who take drugs to enhance their physical appearance, including those who aspire to take part in the 2012 London Olympics, are being warned against using anabolic steroids as the Government recently announced its intention to add a further 24 anabolic steroids and two growth promoters to the list of those already cl assed as Class C drugs. These drugs are already banned by sports authorities but they are not illegal at present. The Government recognises the harms associated with the use of anabolic steroids and the move is to e nsure that our drug controls are up to date, with the latest evi dence of harms and availability of this group of drugs. These c ontrols continue to be aimed at suppliers and traffickers who profit from selling and supplying these substances. The Government also announced its intention to c onsider controls for the chemical precursors Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (also known as 1,4-BD). When ingested rapidly, they convert to gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB), which is a Class C drug and has been cited in cases of date rape. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs found they were increasingly being used as a le gal substitute for GHB, particularly as a “cl ub drug”, and can lead to dependence if used regularly regularly,, unconsciousness and even death by intoxication. www.talktofrank.com
Counted out
Two Two University of Nebraska wrestlers are in trouble after they were featured on a gay porn site s howing off their hot bodies and very aroused private parts. John Marsh, owner of the web site Fratmentv.com, says the University of Nebraska athletic department has contacted him in an inves tigation into photographs that allegedly show the two wrestlers naked or partially clothed. The pictures appear to show, separately, Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan, but Marsh wouldn’t confirm 40
their identity, citing his policy to protect models. He says he’s working with the school to maintain the athletes’ eligibility. NCAA athletes aren’t allowed to use pictures of themsel ves for commercial purposes. Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning says both wrestlers have been dismissed permanently from the team. Manning says their behaviour doesn’t reflect the team’s standard of excellence. See the boys in all their glory http://gay.fleshbot. http://gay.fleshbot. com/5035313/real-college-w com/5035313/real-college-wrestling-jocks restling-jocks--fratmentv--fratmentvno-really
September 2008
ADV IC E E
Bum fun
Pink Law Seminar Know your rights at home, work and play
Award winning solicitors rm, Award Russell Jones & Walker is hosting a free Pink Law Seminar in Manchester, in association with Village Drinks.co.uk and PinkNews.co.uk.
The seminar, at the Malmaison Hotel, aims to enable gay individuals to le arn more about their legal rights and will provide free advice on pertinent issues which affect the gay community, such as civil partnerships, sexual orientation discrimination and same sex adoption. The seminar will also assess the range of new laws affecting gay people’s lives and the day to day impact that these will have, with the aim of answering the many questions gay people may have about their rights. The event will include presentations from specialist discrimination lawyer David Franey and Wendy Hewitt from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as well as a team of lawyers experienced in civil partnership issues, who together will be providing answers to questions such as: *How do I complain about being victimised at work without being outed? *What kind of discrimination at work will result in compensation? *Are pre-nuptial agreements legally binding? *How will the goods and services laws work? How can I take action against homophobic businesses? *Can I adopt my partner’s partner’s children? *If I and my partner got a ci vil partnership in the UK, does that mean we are also married in Spain? The event will be held on Thursday 18th September from 6.30pm Malmaison Hotel, 1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LZ. Anyone wishing to attend should register at http://www.rjw.co.uk/news-events/ events/booking_form
www.mag.be nt.com
GMFA are expanding access to their famous Arse Class so that gay men across the UK can learn more about their butts. The free one-day course teaches you everything you need to know about the arse, whether you’re a top, bottom or flip both ways. You can find out how the arse works, how to make sex more comfortable, what to do with giant dildos and why the arse is so vulnerable to HIV. There’s information on which sexually transmitted infections you can get in your arse, how the guys doing the fucking can get HIV and which lubes are best for putting a variety of things up your bum. “No one ever talks to gay guys about their arses and sex, we’re just expected to pick things up as we go along. A lot of guys approach us with questions about bum sex, how to maximise their pleasure and reduce their risks. Unfortunately, there’ss a l ot of superstition and there’ misinformation and men get worried that they’re not having sex properly or safely,” said Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes for GMFA. “The arse class gives men the chance to explore the arse and find out the things that they’ve always wanted to know”. The course is run by both GMFA and trainers from local gay charities and healthcare services including: The Sheffield Centre for HIV & Sexual Health, Southampton Gay Community Health Service, Yorkshire MESMAC, THT, MESMAC North East, The Eddystone Trust, The Armistead Project and LGF. All of GMFA’s courses and workshops are free of charge to participants but places are limited and must be booked in advance. To To book a place, go to www.gmfa.org.uk/national www.gmfa.or g.uk/national or call 020 7738 6872. The /Arse Class/ is a one day course which takes place on Saturday from 10am to 5pm. The dates for the course are: Saturday 11th Oct: Brighton, Leeds, Liverpool
ARE YOU IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A FOREIGN NATIONAL? Shiva Shadi, immigration specialist at law rm Davis Blank Furniss, explains the ins and outs of the Visa Visa Application process…. So, you’ve entered into a relationship with a foreign national who requires a visa to stay in the UK. Your partner’s visa is about to run out but you both wish to continue the relationship. What options are available to you? The bad news is that Visa applications are rarely straightforward - but they are time consuming. If for example your partner has come to the UK on a tourist visa he or she cannot simply extend his or her stay in order to continue the relationship. The most realistic option is for your partner to apply for a civil partnership visa. To To apply for a civil partnership visa, the applicant must return to his or her own country. It cannot be done from the UK. You You will also need to official sponsor your partner. partner. The sponsor is a key part of the application and must be prepared to act as a guarantor for the applicant. You must be able to provide evidence of your financial status i ncluding salary details and recent recent bank statements. Evidence of your accommodation in the UK will also be required. For a civil partnership application to be successful it is also absolutely vital to be able to provide proof of the relationship. To To prove a relationship exists, you must be able to produce evidence of your time together – photographs, restaurant restaurant receipts, telephone telephone bills, travel tickets. In fact, anything that that can help establish that you are having the relationship that you claim you are having and that you have had it for at least six months. The onus is on the applicant to prove the relationship exists. And the more evidence you have the better. Where possible, all documents should also be supplied in their original form. The Visa Officer sees large numbers of forged documents, and it is easier for them to verify if an original document is genuine, than a photocopied one. Although the application is undoubtedly time consuming, it is not impossible. There are lengthy checklists and detailed forms to fill out but as long as you provide accurate information throughout throughout there is every chance of success. Preparation is the key to success. A summary of information required for a civil partnership visa • Completed application form • Passport and passport sizes photographs • Certified copy of civil partner’s passport to prove he or she
is British or is settled in the UK
Saturday 25th Oct: Birmingham, Bristol, Middlesbrough
• Sponsorship letter from civil partner detailing the relationship • Evidence of civil partner’s current financial position in the UK • Evidence of civil partner’s accommodation in the UK • Evidence of relationship • Visa Fee
Saturday 1st Nov: Plymouth, Sheffield, Southampton
Shiva Shadi is an associate specialising in immigration law at Davis Blank Furniss.
[email protected] [email protected] o.uk
Saturday 18th Oct: London, Manchester,, Swansea Manchester
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
41
BOOKS
5 CHRISTOPHER AND THE BOYS Howard Roffman
Christopher is on vacation in San Francisco where he meets up with guys his age who have c ome from all parts of the world i n search of adventure. We accompany the photographer on his own personal odyssey through these tender encounters and bare witness as these young men explore their burgeoning sexuality. Christopher and his friends reveal themselves much more subdued, albeit with relaxed naturalness than in Roffman’s previous works. £25.99 – Bruno Gmunder
4
BRONX BOYS
Anthony Gonzales
4
SKIN BOI
by Ty Dehner
You You can feel the evil in them, just with one glance. The shaved head, heavy boots used to kick the shit out of those who cross them, the sneer that intimidates those around them. But Hell… all that and more makes me want to kneel before them and lick their white laced boots.
Gangs, gold chains, street slang, home of rap and hiphop, setting for numerous Hollywood movies—that’s movies—that’s the Bronx everyone knows. Vulgar, dirty, and animal best describe the action. There seems to be no room here for touchy-feely lovers, just the down-and-dirty meat and potatoes: shagging and getting shagged. Artwork that is possibly offensive but fantastic none-the-less. £12.99 – Bruno Gmunder
£10.99 Nazca Plains
42
September 2008
BOOK S
4
MEN ON THE EDGE
4
DYNAMIC DUOS
Edited by Christopher Pierce
by Keith W Swain
For the uninitiated, edgeplay is sexual activity where there exists actual, lifethreatening danger. danger. Edgeplay ranges from the sensational (such as erotic strangulation), to the controversial (the cult of barebacking) to the truly hardcore (men who actually wish to die during, or right after sex). The men in these stories go to the very edge for their sexual thrills.
Are you a superhero or a sidekick? Psychologist Keith Swain reveals the knowledge he has gleaned over years of practice: gay men are not the same, and a succes sful relationship needs an alpha and beta type to have amazing power and ability. It’s all about interpersonal; relationships and what makes them strong.
£10.99 Starbooks Press
£9.99 Alyson Publications
4
BONGANI
4
By Leonard Zett
X-POSED
By Dylan Rosser
This pocket size book of beautiful images of the African athlete Bongani is quite stunning. It is aimed at lovers of the black male - straight or gay - but every shot is sexual in composition and erotic in nature. Bongani seems pleased to exhibit his body for us all to adore… and sweat over. £14.95 Janssen Publishers
Sleek bodies, impeccable beauty: the sensuous style of Dylan Rosser is a testimony to the unerring talent of this London-based artist who masterfully sets the male body against carefully chosen backdrops. The male nude melts under the gaze of Rosser’s Rosser’s lens, baleful eye s plead with the observer, and chiselled chests conjure up landscapes of the body. The models present themselves openly, honestly and full of self-confidence; the air sizzling with erotic sexuality.
MASTER OF THE REVELS
4
by Andrew Grey
Bereaved Tom is persuaded to attend the revels at a local leather bar, bar, and unexpectedly overthrows the reigning Master. But he’s reluctant to fulfil his new role, and when he falls in love he wants out – but the only way to resign is to submit to the next Master… £10.99 Starbooks Press
4
NIGHT VISIONS
Over 60 artists contributed to this high-quality 320-paged book of contemporary male photography. photography. Ni ght is obviously the theme and a wide variety of styles are represented and taken together to provide a good overview of today’s today’s contemporary male photography. photography. Whether romantic or fetish, sex or tenderness, staged or “street photography” – the imagination has no limitations. £20.99 Bruno Gmunder
£32.99 - Bruno Gmunder
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
43
FILM
b y Chris Amos
10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT GERARD BUTLER 1 Attended Glasgow University, where he studied to be a lawyer and was president of the school’s law society. 2 Has recently finished filming romantic comedy The Ugly Truth Truth co-starring Katherine Heigl. 3 First stage role was in Coriolanus and was poked in the eye with a wooden stake during rehearsals for the play. play. 4 On the first day of s hooting his film debut in Mrs. Brown (1997) he had to bound naked into a freezing sea and as a result developed hypothermia. 5 While filming Mrs. Brown he saved a young boy from drowning in the river Tay and received a “Certificate Of Bravery” from The Royal Humane Socie ty. ty. 6 Was at one time the lead s inger for a Scottish rock band named Speed, although music eventually became his second love after acting. Phantom’s 7 Cried whilst talking about the Phantom’s loneliness to The Phantom of the Opera (2004) director Joel Schumacher. Schumacher. 8 Was chosen as the most attractive man of 2005 by Hello! Magazine rry. He does this 9 Prefers to be called Ge rry. because he notices that many people (especially Americans) struggle with pronouncing “Gerard”. 10 In 1996 was cast as Ewan McGregor’s character Renton in the stage adaptation of Trainspotting. Superhunk Gerard Butler stars in Guy Richie’s new London crime flick, RocknRolla out on the 5th September.
44
5STEP
BROTHERS
5DISASTER
MOVIE
Out: Now
Out: 5th September
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, who last teamed in the box-office smash Talladega Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Bobby, now star in Step Brothers, directed by Adam McKay (Talladega (Talladega Nights). In Step Brothers, Ferrell plays Brennan Huff, a sporadically employed thirty-nine-year-old who lives with his mother, Nancy (Mary Steenburgen). Reilly plays Dale Doback, a terminally unemployed forty-year-old forty-year-old who lives with his father, father, Robert (Richard Jenkins). When Robert and Nancy marry and move in together, Brennan and Dale are forced to live with each other as step brothers. As their narcissism and downright aggressive laziness threaten to tear the family apart, these two middle-aged, immature, overgrown boys orchestrate an insane, elaborate plan to bring their parents back together. To pull it off, they must form an unlikely bond that maybe, just maybe, will finally get them out of the house. Hilarious.
From the writers and directors of the box office hits - Meet The Spartans, Epic Movie and all those Scary Movies, comes this year’s most outrageous, gag-a-minute comedy. Disaster Movie follows the misadventures of a group of ridiculously attractive twenty-somethings during one fateful night in a city besieged by every natural disaster and catastrophic event k nown to man. As they try to make their way to safety they must solve a series of mysteries to end the rampant destruction. Taking Taking aim at everything and everyone, including Sex and the City, Indiana Jones, Iron Man, High School Musical and the UK’s UK’s very own, Amy Winehouse, Disaster Movie lampoons blockbusters, pop culture icons and public figures along the way.
September 2008
F ILM
Movie Buzz British funnyman Russell Brand is expected to take the lead role in the remake of cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, according to reports. However, the show’s show’s creator Ric hard O’Brien will not be involved in the remake. Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell have donated their fee for completing Heath Ledger’s final film role to the late star’s star’s daughter. daughter. The acting trio agreed to play versions of Ledger’s character Tim in The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus following his death i n January. Hollywood actress Selma Blair hated having to pile on the pounds for her latest role in the US version of the comedy Australian hit comedy show Kath & Kim – because her on-screen wardrobe for Kim was so tight, her clothes c ut into her thighs. Alec Baldwin is to get caught up in a love triangle with Meryl Streep, in a new romantic comedy movie. Streep is already signed to the project and Baldwin is in talks to join her in the currently untitled film, which has been penned by Father of the Bride writer Nancy Meyers.
4PINEAPPLE
EXPRESS
Out: 12th September
The guys who brought you Superbad reunite for this action-comedy Pineapple Express. Lazy stoner Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver (James Franco): to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop (Rosie Perez) and the city’s most dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole), he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him. And it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they’re not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia; incredibly, incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to ki ll them both.
George Clooney is planning to invest more money in pal Brad Pitt’s housing project in New Orleans, Louisiana after sponsoring the building of two homes earlier this year. The Fight Club star launched the Make It Right Foundation to raise funds for housing in the city after the devastation caused by 2005’ 2005’ss Hurricane Katrina. Hollywood actress Kate Winslet felt awkward filming a sex sce ne with Leonardo DiCaprio for a forthcoming movie - because her husband Sam Mendes was directing. The pair, pair, who played lovers in 1997’s Titanic, are working together on upcoming film Revolutionary Road, and are again playing a couple.
5THE
DUCHESS
Out: 5th September
The Witches Of Eastwick is to be turned into a TV series in the U.S. – more than 20 years after it hit the big screen. Tom Tom Cruise’s role in forthcoming film Edwin A. Salt has reportedly been recast for Angelina Jolie because studio bosses fear he has grown too old to play a movie hero.
3THE
Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley), was the original “It Girl.” Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party. Party. But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she se emingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke (Ralph Fiennes). And when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons would l eave all of London talking.
WOMEN
Out: 12th September
After Sex and the City and Mamma Mia cleaning up at the box office, it’s official, chick flicks are back. Looking to emulate their success The Women tells the story of Mary Haines (Meg Ryan), a clothing designer who seems to have it all – a beautiful country home, a rich financier husband, and an adorable 11-year-old daughter. daughter. Her best friend, Sylvie Fowler (Annette Bening), leads another enviable life – a happily single editor of a prominent fashion magazine, a possessor of a huge closet of designer clothes and a revered arbiter of taste and style poised on New York’s cutting edge. But when Mary’s husband enters into an affair with Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes), a sultry ‘spritzer girl’ lurking behind the Saks Fifth Avenue perfume counter, counter, all hell breaks loose. Mary and Sylvie’s relationship relationship is tested to the breaking point while their tight-knit circle of friends, including mega-mommy Edie Cohen (Debra Messing) and author Alex Fisher (Jada Pinkett-Smith), all start to question their own friendships and romantic relationships as well. The film also stars Candice Bergen and Bette Midler. www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
5TROPIC
THUNDER
Out: 19th September
In the action-comedy Tropic Thunder, Thunder, Ben Stille r plays pampered action superstar Tugg Tugg Speedman, who is cast in the biggest, most expensive war movie ever produced. He sets out to Southeast Asia with a “Who’s “Who’s Who” of celebrity co-stars. They i nclude Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), Jr.), an intense, three-time Oscar-winning actor; Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), star of the popular gross-out comedy franchise The Fatties; multi-platinum hip-hop-star-turned-entrepreneur hip-hop-star-turned-entrepreneur-turned-actor -turned-actor Alpa Chino (Brandon T. T. Jackson); and first-timer Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel). Soon after the production begins the actors are thrown into a real-life situation and are forced to become the fighting unit they’re portraying, in order to find a way out of the jungle in one piece. Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey both have cameo roles.
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
45
VD D VD
Holding On A movie about drugs and relationships may not be to everyone’s taste but writer and star of Holding Trevor, Brent Gorski’s plunge into these murky waters has produced a very creditable rst attempt. With characters that are real and a story that has humour and pathos, Bent caught up with Brent and asked him how this project all came about. Holding Trevor is a very intense subject for a movie was it difficult getting it to the screen?
I think that if I have gone the normal route to get the script produced than I might have found it very difficult, especially since I was completely unknown as an actor and a writer at the time. With that in mind, I decided early early on that this would have to be a movie that I made on my own terms. So, I got the money together and searched for someone to help me produce the movie. The film’s film’s director, director, Rosser Goodman, took great interest in the project and she and I produced it together. together. It was very much a grass roots effort with very little money and a whole lot of blood, swe at, and tears. You wrote and starred in it… was this a creative thing or an ego trip?
Initially, I began began writing the movie as a vehicle for me as an actor. I figured that if I couldn’t get my foot in anyone’s anyone’s door then I might as well pave my own way. Along the road, however, I found that writing was something I adored just as much as acting. And, while the story itself is not autobiographical, I did use my life experience as a guide for some of the relationships in the film. So, I think that there was much more of a personal want and need for me to be able to play the lead role. Even though there’s plenty of humour… it’s a pretty upsetting movie at times… were there occasions when you thought perhaps this wasn’t the way to portray a gay characters?
I wanted the film to have just as many ups as it does downs. And, I don’t really believe there should be a difference in how one portrays a gay character versus a straight character. character. People are people; that was the only thing I ever really cared about when i t came to writing a gay character. character. I wanted to make sure that I was writing multi-dimensional characters that were true to life instead of ones that perpetuated some idealistic fantasy or limiting stereotype. Did you have a hand in the casting… if so, what was the criteria?
The director of the film and I completely cast the movie on our own, partly because we couldn’t afford a casting director and partly because we had a really good sense of how we thought the characters might be played. Obviously, some of the actors who came to audition for the respective roles really broke the mould and showed us an even more dynamic sense of who the characters would become. become. It was the actors who really really brought something to the table, and who showed us they were good enough to handle portraying the roles within a very limited timeframe for shooting, that ultimately became part of the cast. And, besides my own role, I had also written for the part of Jake to be played by my best friend, Jay Brannan. Do you have a partner and who would be your ideal bedmate?
I am in a ve ry serious relationship and have been for a number of years now. He’s He’s my ideal bedmate, obviously. obviously. And, I really don’t don’t think I would have been able to make it through the exhaustive process of writing, producing, and acting in my first feature film without his strength and support. Is there a role you’d kill to have?
At this point, I’m not really sure. When I was younger I always dreamed about someday having an opportunity to play James Dean, but once I saw James Franco do an amazing job portraying him in a biopic I decided I didn’t need to embarrass embarrass myself later in life. So, for right now I think I’d just really love to do work that means something to me and has something to offer an audience. audience. I’d also like to think that being being in some sort of Sci-Fi or fantasy film would be amazing, but at the same time I’m worried it might just ruin the mysticism behind it all. 46
5HOLDING
TREVOR
Trevor Trevor is in a predicament with his boyfriend Darrell, who just won’t kick his drug habit. Handsome doctor Ephram is just his type, yet he cannot bring himself to leave Darrell behind. Meanwhile, catty friends Andie and Jake offer their opinions on the situation, yet they too are at a crossroads in their live s. Relationships are broken, rekindled, and recreated whilst Trevor and those around him come to terms with drastic changes in their lives. Featuring a hilarious turn from actor and musician Jay Brannan (Shortbus) as Trevor’s acid-tongued best friend, Holding Trevor Trevor is an uplifting yet at times sobering morality tale. Out 22nd September - £14.99 Peccadillo Pictures To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: Who wrote the movie Holding Trevor?
September 2008
DV D
4PROTéGé
4QI
The film tells of a well-intentioned narcotics agent, who is deep undercover in the heart of Hong Kong’s lucrative heroin trade. However, as he becomes more embroiled with one of the key player’s craft and is increasingly entrusted with his confidences, he finds himself corrupted by the easy money and new found power. Unable to separate himself from his undercover persona, he immerses himself into his role as a drug trafficker. trafficker.
Host Stephen Fry oversees the likes of recurring guest Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Bill Bailey and Dara O’Briain in their quest to find the answers to (or in most cases not) questions on everything from crotchets to Christmas. The ‘C’ Series features all twelve 30-minute episodes and exclusive DVD extras including commentary from production crew, cut scenes and outtakes.
Out 8th September - £19.99 – Liberation Entertainment
Out Now - £19.99 - Warner Music Entertainment
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: question:T To which whic h country does Hong Kong belong?
To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: Finish the title of this Stephen Fry television series, Jeeves and ______?
4THE
AIR I BREATHE
Starring an award-winning stellar cast including Forest Whitaker, Andy Garcia, Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy, Brendan Brendan Fraser and Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Air I Breathe is a powerful, thrilling and moving story of four strangers whose lives become entwined by unpredictable twists of fate. As the story unfolds, a series of hidden connections are revealed sparking a dramatic and gripping crescendo. Out: 5th September - £15.99 - Pathé Distribution To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: Finish the title of this Kevin Bacon film, Foot_____?
4SMART
PEOPLE
Professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid) might be imperiously brilliant, monumentally self-possessed and an intellectual giant – but when it comes to solving the conundrums of love and family, he’s he’s as downright flummoxed as the next guy. When his brother shows up unexpectedly for an extended stay at just about the same time as he accidentally encounters his former student Janet, the circumstances cause him to stir from his deep, deep freeze, with often comical, sometimes heartbreaking, consequences for himself and everyone around him. Out 15th September - £17.99 - Icon Home Entertainment To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: Finish the title of this Sarah Jessica Parker film, Sex and the _____?
- THE ‘C’ SERIES
4UNEARTHED
There are only two types of people that drive down the dusty highway of Pueblo, New Mexico: truckers or businessmen who are simply passing passing through. through. But that suddenly changes one evening when a mysterious trucking accident knocks out the phone lines and blocks the only way out of town, thus leaving Pueblo in complete isolation. When Annie, the Sheriff arrives at the wreck, she finds a horrific scene: a scorched big rig with only the limb of the driver remaining and one inexplicable clue – a strange, crab-like leg affixed to the front of the tanker’s grille. What has been released and who will stop it as thee carnage unfolds? Out Now - £15.99 – Icon Home Entertainment To be in with a chance of winning a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: Name the horror movie that starred Anthony Perkins and had a famous gory shower scene?
4MEET
THE SPARTANS
This is the latest tongue-in-cheek parody from the team behind ultimate spoofs Scary Movie, Date Movie and Epic Movie. When the leader of the Persians, Xeres (Kevin Davitian, Borat, S.W.A.T.), threatens to invade his kingdom Leonidas (Sean Maguire, Eastenders, Grange Hill) must round-up 300 of his finest soldiers to defend his homeland. Unfortunately just 13 of his not-so-finest turn up to meet the call of war, war, and he heads into battle with his ragtag army armed with nothing more than a cape and his leather underwear! Out Now - £19.99 – 20thCentury Fox Home Entertainment To be in with a chance to win a copy of this fantastic DVD all you have to do is answer this simple question: Sean Maguire was in which British school based drama?
COMPETITION TIME Turn to page 92 for entry details www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
47
TH & BEAU T Y HEAL TH
Sex & Sweat in the City We’ve been lucky enough to try out We’ve the gym that, if is she was a gay man, Samantha Jones would never leave, welcome boys to Sweatbox Soho.
Let’s go dogging! Bulldog the UK’s UK’s first natural grooming brand for for men, has launched six new natural products into the range; the sensitive range has been formulated using Cedarwood and Patchouli, two essential oils that are celebrated by aromatherapists worldwide for their therapeutic skincare benefits, but that also contain no “sensitisers”. Each product also contains key natural ingredients at levels that really work. The range starts from £2.99
www.meetthebulldog .com.
Your name is Mud Trevor Trevor Sorbie Professional Mg Moulding Mud is a modernist pomade for shaping, defining and holding. It is the number 1 selling product in the Mg range of men’s men’s grooming products, available exclusivel y at Boots. This completely unique product is great for breaking up texture and defining s tyles and it’s also the easy way to rough it up and get that tousled look with the minimum of e ffort. £6.49 - 100 ml For more information about the Sorbie range of products www.trevorsorbie.com
Smell of a Man New fragrance Style from Italian men’s stylish clothing company, Canali is dedicated to the sophisticated man: aware of his own charisma, self-assured, elegant but informal. It’s a spiced, woody composition that is founded in a selection of raw materials; noble and rare natural ingredients. £55 Eau de Toilette 100ml
48
Lip Service Eco Lips Energy lip balm contains caffeine, green tea and B12 to deliver a unique boost of energy. £4.50 www.bathandunwind.com
London has many attractions and one for the boys is nestled not far off Oxford Circus, Sweatbox is a new frontier in ‘men-only’ Gym, Spa and Sauna. Confused? Don’t be. Managing Director Mark Ford says: ‘You have sauna’s that have a treadmill and a few weights they call a gym, what we are doing is creating an experience where you can gym with the latest technology, book book a great massage or just have a long steam, chill out or have sex in stylish and friendly surroundings’. No expense has been spared in every level. There is a great red and black theme which is chic, masculine and sexy. Not only is it super stylish it’s it’s super easy to distinguish between spa, sauna and gym. The top floor is dedicated to the gym area where ‘people can work out in a towel if they want’ on the latest in fitness technology such as NASA developed Vibration Plates. Go a floor down and you find steam rooms, hot rooms and a Jacuzzi where you can relax and cruise eye candy. candy. This floor is also where massages, facials and waxing are available. We were treated to Mario and his 90 minute ‘hot rock’ massage and we can tell you with its mix of hot and cold massage, there is nothing like it, we were so relaxed we almost missed deadline! The final floor is where you can let it all hang out, literally, with a chill out room, juice bar and restrooms and private cabins. Ones not to be missed are the Crystal Rooms, which are a mix of silver and glass and we have not seen the like of in a sauna before. Seriously check this out; it’s it’s better than the crown jewels. Sweatbox is open 7am to 2am Monday to Thursday and 24hours from Friday to Sunday at Ramilies House, 1-2 Ramilies Street Soho W1. Membership is available now for more details and details of forthcoming foam parties check out www.sweatboxsoho.com www.sweatboxsoho.com
September 2008
F IT NE SS
Website: JarrettJames.moonfruit.co.uk Mobile:
07876525392
Location:
London Center
Home and Away way Business and vacation travel can be a fun change of pace from the daily bump and grind. The change of scenery can be invigorating and fresh. But, what do you do when your daily exercise routine will be interrupted? Do you simply have to deal with your tness programme and balanced dietary intake taking a backseat or is it possible to be a healthy traveller? Two Two major obstacles stand in the way of staying fit and being a healthy traveller; your meal options and your exercise facility options.
When at a restaurant consider child portions, items without cream sauces, grilled chicken breast as the entrée, and dressing on the side for salads to keep you calorie intake near the appropriate levels. When socially drinking, opt for wine. The calorie count is generally lower per ounce and you will be more likely to drink it more slowly. Adding this small amount of control to your food diet i ntake can make a big difference with a prolonged vacation or business travel. This will help with the intake portion of your healthy lifestyle. The next obstacle to overcome has to do with the daily calorie expenditure your body requires. Your Your personal trainer and gym membership may be a great distance away. Routines are easy when you have those advantages at hand, but follow along and you won’t miss a healthy beat. Exercise options while travelling: Begin by trying to select a hotel with a fitness facility. Look
closely as recent Worldwide poll indicated “55% of business travellers say they’re so disappointed with their hote hotel’l’ss fitness fitness facilities that they skip their workout on the road.” Gym not required—when the hotel gym is inadequate or non-
When you lose the luxury of putting together your own healthy meals and are forced to utilize restaurants for meals over multiple days, sticking to a healthy diet plan becomes a challenge. You You will have a simple choice. You may give in and indulge in whatever food and drink comes your way, or you can plan a head just a bit and make the best healthy lifestyle choices while travelling.
existent you can still perform push ups, sit ups, lunges, squats, bridges, etc. to work your entire body with nothing more than your body weight. Travelling velling kits are Bring your own gym is another option. Tra available or you can build your own wi th resistance tubing, a thin mat, an inflatable ball, wobble stability disk, or several other light weight options exist.
Meal options while travelling:
Bring snacks for on the plane or between meals. Almonds, dried fruit, meal replacement bars, fresh cut vegetables, etc. all make for excellent snacks that you can easily store in your l uggage.
Most hotels have a built in stair master. You are encouraged
Keep your water intake at capacity.
With any combination of the above healthy travel tips you will be able to maintain your healthy lifestyle while away. Do not stress or worry about your trip. You should enjoy your time away, the new environment, and even the likely restaurant meals, but with a little planning and creativity you will have no problem being a healthy traveller and staying fit while on the road.
If you have a choice, select a hotel that has a mini kitchen to provide you options outside of the restaurants. Bring your vitamins & minerals as well as other supplements along to ensure your body receives the appropriate micro and macro nutrient quantities for correct bodily function.
www.mag.be nt.com
to utilize those hotel stairs, rather than the elevator, as often as possible.
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
49
TUFF S TU
Occasionally we like to feature cars in our Stuff section. We could go for the expensive and glam or the cute and camp but this time we thought we’d swoon over the latest mid-range coupe from Volkswagen. The old Scirocco was up there with the sporty eli te but now it’s back with even more vroom. It’s sleek, it’s hot and it’s a racy little number that is destined to be a big hit with those who like to be a bit understated in their taste, but like a bit of a lion under the bonnet.
Return of the Scirocco
From £20,940
4HD
READY
With the standard for video moving towards high definition, AIPTEK’s AIPTEK’s AHD Z500 Plus will allow home movies captured today to benefit from the 1080p display technologies of TV’s designed for the foreseeable future. Recorded holiday memories can be played back in years to come safe in the knowledge that the 1080p picture quality is suitable for future high definition enjoyment. The 3x optical zoom with user-friendly auto focus is accompanied by a Macro mode to ensure both distant and close-up subjects are captured in equal clarity. For those who want to be Speilberg on a budget. £249.99
50
5 WAKE-UP
SOUNDS
No more rude awakenings with this Philips Wake-up light. Designed to gradually simulate the early morning sun rising and accompanied by bird song or gentle lapping water sounds this is the cool way to shake of that lethargic feeling on those dark winter mornings. £100
www.philips.com September 2008
ST UF F F
4
COFFEE PRESS
The Presso Coffee Maker is a manual, non-electric espresso machine that produces the pressure required to make cafe-style coffee in your own home. This award-winning device comes with both eco-credentials and a very stylish design. Made from solid polished aluminium, it will compliment any kitchen surface and looks set to become a design classic £58.99
http://www.ecoutlet.co.uk/
5ROCK
AROUND THE ‘BOX
For all lovers of the 45… (that’s how records used to be in t’olden days) there was no better way to listen to them than on the old jukebox. Thankfully, they are retro chic, a talking point and still look pretty brilliant just about anywhere. If you have a few spare quid lying around and want to have something you’ll just love forever… To check out different styles, accessories and prices: www.wurlitzer.co.uk
5COCKTAILS
FOR… ALL
We all love a good cocktail, but most of us lack the patience and skill to make one ourselves. TibuRon Batidas (Brazilian for ‘cocktails’) are a range of award-winning, ready-to-serve cocktails (14.7% abv), to be enjoyed with your friends in the comfort of your home! Available in three exotic rum-based varieties, there’s no need for shakers and stirrers; pour over ice, sit back and sip away. £6.49/50cl bottle www.outindrinks.co.uk
TIGHT ON THE CURVES
5
Philips has partnered itself with the Williams Formula 1 team to come up with this collectable, fully waterproof and ergonomically designed shaver. shaver. Its sle ek contours and rotating blades delivering a close and accurate cutting edge designed to make you a winner. £90
www.philips.com
5
ELECTRIC CHAIR
The amazing new Pyramat PC Sound Chair will give a whole new meaning to being glued to your desk! Hear and feel the sound while listening to music, playing computer games or watching movies… it’s all built in for that experience of total involvement. £244.95
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
www.boysstuff.co.uk
51
FASHION
3
BANG UP TO DATE
We love Rufskin and thank the lord this range of denim, underwear and Tee’ Tee’ss has finally made the journey from San Diego to the shores of the UK and is now available at banglads.com. Rufskin is the love child of designer and photographer Hubert Pouches and his partner Douglas Coats. Their range of denim is made to celebrate the male form, low waists and attention to detail are designed to enhance individual masculinity and made from the highest quality material. They have a huge range of styles from ‘Charly,’ ‘Charly,’ Rufskin’s signature low-rise boot cut jean. No waistband and a sculpted back yoke makes you look better than any jean has done before. To more daring styles such as ’ Trick’ Trick’ which features a super low cut which leave your ass no where to hide, for guys who truly want to stand out. And that’s that’s just the je ans! The rest of the Rufskin line which includes swimwear, jockstraps, t-shirts, vest tops and sport pants all follow the same m antra of sex appeal, comfort and quality. Discover Rufskin and find out what you are missing. www.banglads.com www.banglads.com are offering 20% exclusively to all Bent readers simply enter BENT09 when asked for a promotional code at the checkout.
£30 - Smiley t-shirts by Religion Stockist; 020 7729 5005.
Mjolk @ Top Man Collarless Cotton Stripe or Check Shirt £50 Trousers Trousers Dark Denim £60 Wool Trousers Bright Blue £60 Bum Freezer Jacket Bright Blue or Dark Denim £90 DB Waistcoat Dark Tartan £50 Shawl Collar Dark Tartan or Bright Blue £100 52
September 2008
£165 jeans £120 shirt £260 boots
F ASHION
www.realrealgenuine.com.
3BLACK
SUIT JACKET
The Fabric is a Subtle Black Shiny on Black Matt Pinstripe 100% Cotton Jacket with attached waistcoat and is teamed with matching trousers. Jacket: £480 Tr Trousers ousers £215 www.nicodidonna.com
Nanny State’s - Mr B Hi Tops From £50 www.drshoes.co.uk
5CARRY
WITH CONFIDENCE
In line with the Zero Impact re-brand that offers three-fold protection; environment, back and content; the new Sling backpack offers a padded compartment custom fit for notebook, and an internal organiser panel for accessories such as mp3 player and mobile phones. Its padded shoulder strap distributes the weight evenly across the shoulder, guaranteeing the user comfort and piece of mind. Sling I - £59.95 Sling II - £69.95 www.brenthaven.co.uk.
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
53
VEL TR TRA VE
Muscles in Brussels From mussels with chips to muscles in zips, Adrian Gillan enjoys his Euroboys in Brussels. Cute young Eurobods and FrancoFlemish lads well and truly pout and sprout in Brussels’ bijou café-bars, not least around the Old Town, with its famous pissing-boy fountain, the Menneken Pis, and expansive, cobbled Grand Place. Paris minus the bustle, this intimate city has all that phallic Gallic continental charm, but on a very human scale. Also take in the imposing 18th/19th Century imperial district - with its Palais Royal; Magritte-brimming Palais des Beaux Arts; and grand museums in the Parc du Cinquantenaire Cinquantenaire (avoiding the dull bureaucratic “EuroZone” en route). Plus ascend the 50s-futurist Atomium structure on the outskirts of town, easily reached by tram - always good for a laugh. And the Belgian capital’s capital’s sizable gay scene awaits… Traditional Traditional pub Le Bel gica (rue du Marché au Charbon 32; is the old boy on the block but still one of the most popular to get the night buzzing. Equally atmospheric, sample Tels Quels (rue du Marché au Charbon 81; a queer cultural centre by day that 54
magically transforms into an ambient if not overly-raucous café-bar by night. There are a whole load of other little snug gems to taste the true soul of gay Brussels too, like bashful little Blue Night (rue des Pierres 36). There’s also a nice clutch of more continental cabaret-focused venues like Le Can-Can (rue des Pierres 55) or Chez Maman (rue des Grandes Carmes 7; for a camp concoction of nightly “spectacles” or DIY karaoke. And don’t miss a chic clutch vying for gay pretensions: saucily-named L’Homo Erectus (rue des Pierres 57; is one of the oh-so-busiest, plus “refined” brother L’Homo Erectus Classicus (rue du Marché au Charbon 5; or youthful Boys Boudoir (rue du Marché au Charbon 25;). Behold: yet more variety on the scene - this time for those all hot ‘n bothered, beleathered or booted-up with nowhere to go! Manly men head for the all-male oft-nude likes of Gay Naked Party @ Cocoon Club (Chaussée de Louvain 42; www.gaynakedparty.be) on Sundays; or – for the truly hard-core - Duquesnoy (rue Duquesnoy 12; www.duquesnoy.com).
After all these years, The Box (formerly “Why Not?” - rue des Riche-Claires 7; www.boxclub.be) www.boxclub.be) is still the main club staple in town. Although scarcely bigger than a large London bar, it gets cruisy enough with prowling sorts gazing down from the gallery above onto shirtless young Franco-Flemish fops posing and pouting for Belgium on rostra beneath! Swallow that Flem! But it is well worth planning your entire Brussels weekend around La Démence (rue Blaes 208; www. lademence.com) – the country’s country’s biggest gay club night that materialises ad lib - check their website - about once a month. It attracts Belgium’s finest from the surrounding lowlands, not to mention beauty-boys from across Europe – a rare little white-party Eurotrash. If you still fancy letting off steam, day or night, Macho sauna (rue du Marché au Charbon 106; is the largest, most central and established wet joint. Or gents oft “take airs” for fresh outside fun in the Parc de Bruxelles - amidst sunken shrubs near the pond facing the Palace! Great, gay-frequented places to eat near the scene include Café du Vaudeville sprawling out into the palatial Galeries de la Reine precinct - perfect spot to preen and be seen; modern chic Jaloa (Place Sainte Catherine 5; T: +32 (2) 513 92 62; with its wall-projected nature movies and dishes served on sizzling slate plates; cosy Au Petit Boxeur (Rue Borgval 3 ; T: +32 (2) 511 40 00); and great-value Le Chat Noir (Rue Jules van Praet 8; +32 (2) 512 10 77; One of the most unique places to stay is definitely the Chambres d’Hôtes des Galeries de la Reine (Galerie de
la Reine 11; T: +32 (2) 511 23 45; www.chambresdhotesduvaudeville. be) – essentially a chic B&B in the midst of Brussels’ most historic boutique-brimming precinct, with large oft-Africa-themed main chambers plus operatic en suite bathrooms with huge gilt mirrors and almighty central tubs. Other gay-friendly B&Bs include Downtown Brussels (www. downtownbxl.com), L’Art de la Fugue (www.lartdelafugue.com), (www.lartdelafugue.com), The White Room (www.lewhiteroom.be), Maison Noble (www.maison-noble.eu) (www.maison-noble.eu) and Brussels @ Heart (www.brussels-atheart.be). Central gay-friendly hotels include Royal Windsor (www. royalwindsorbrussels.com royalwindsorbrussels.com - does “Demence” club weekend packages), Warwick Barsey (www.warwickbarsey. com), Stanhope Hotel (www.stanhope. be) and Radisson SAS Royal Hotel (www.brussels.radissonsas.com).
Useful websites For general and gay info on Brussels and the South of Belgium: www. belgiumtheplaceto.be Brussels Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (January) - www.fglb.org Belgium Gay Pride (May) - www.blgp.be Eurostar operates up to 10 daily services from London St Pancras International to Brussels with return fares from £59. All Eurostar tickets to Brussels are valid to/from any Belgian station at no extra cost. Tickets are available from www. eurostar.com or 08705 186 186. Fastest London-Brussels journey time is 1h51 minutes.
September 2008
T RAV E EL
Your man on Gran Can Loved Lanzarote? Tried Tried Tenerife? Tenerife? Adrian Gillan enjoys a surprise touch of queer class on Gran Canaria, gayest of the Canaries.
A little bit of Spain of the coast of Africa, Gran Canaria is a “mini continent” in its own right, boasting cliffs, dunes, mountains, valleys and lush forests. Third largest of the Canaries, it also c laims quaint villages, historic towns, fine resorts, glorious year-round year-round weather and – famously - hords of queers, mainly German and English, constantly and habitually flocking and migrating to its sunny southern shores, notably to Playa del Ingles and adjoining, tad classier, Maspalomas.
TO STAY Palm Beach Hotel (Avenida del Oasis, Maspalomas; T: T: +34 928 721032; www.seaside-hotels.com) – The only design hotel on Gran Canaria, or i n the Canaries, this luxuriously revamped 70s retro-chic 5* gem is set amidst palm-shaded pools and gardens, featuring three excell ent restaurants (Gran, Trattoria & Orangerie), regular poolside barbecues, bars and terraces; plus gym, sports, spa and naturist sauna ‘n steam zone – all next to the sultry Sand Dunes of Maspalomas; and conveniently close to the Playa del Ingles, Yumbo Centre and more common queer vibe.
TO SEE & DO Of course you might wanna just lounge about on a beach or at your hotel, but – for the more discerning tourist - there are many other attractions on this we llnigh circular, circular, once volcanic isl e. Some must-dos: Stroll or camel-trek through some of the hectare upon homo hectare of Las Dunas (Saharan sand dunes) of Maspalomas - a designated national park on the Atlantic’s Atlantic’s edge - se gueing into Playa del Ingles. Apart from attracting gay males of the human species, the dunes are also famously home to many rare birds, including the ringed plover, Argentinean parrot and hoopee! So tread carefully! Take a coach tour, or hire car, through the island’s spectacular Central Highlands, peaking at a giddy 2000m, with rock formations including “King Kong” and “The Monk”; perhaps taking in the quaint village of Tejeda; Tejeda; and noting how the pine trees to the north “milk the clouds” for moisture. Explore island capital, Las Palmas, on the northwww.mag.be nt.com
eastern tip - to shop in designer boutiques; sip in gay bars around Parque Santa Catalina; or gorge on authentic local tapas overlooking the sea and fine beach at tasty La Marinera. Columbus stopped off here en route to reaching the New World, presenting his creds at what is now the fascinating Columbus Museum. Tenor Alfredo Kraus was born here; and Agatha Christie wrote The Mystery of the Blue Train whilst here in the 1920s! Day-trip to neighbouring Tenerife: www.fredolsen.es www.fredolsen.es Splash out on water sports – notably surfing, windsurfing and even kite surfing!
TO BOOZE ‘N CRUISE There is simply no room to cover all but a fraction of the dozens of gay bars, clubs, saunas, shops and eateries in Playa del Ingles: mainly in the central Yumbo Centre, Centre, plus a small smattering in the nearby Cita Centre, and elsewhere. Just enter a complex, stroll around, and flit from joint to joint - doubtless bumping into numerous famili ar, ar, albeit tad-tanned, faces from local scenes back home! Here’s our punt. Bars Adonis (Yumbo, Floor 1) – Friendly German-owned bar with terrace. Centre Stage (Yumbo, Floor 2) – Camp music/show bar. Fiction (Yumbo, Floor 1) – Prominent outdoor terrace, with waiters gay-gadding in thongs! Mykonos (Yumbo, Floor 4) – Swish yet cruisy upper dance bar, with labyrinth and terrace. Chaps (Cita Centre) – Leathery cruise dive in the nearby Cita Centre.
Two Two other popular cruising areas, more on the fringes of the Dunes – one a short walk from the Dunes’ north west corner; the other a short walk from their north east corner! Follow the tracks!
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS Classic Collection Holidays offer 3 nights from £457 (7 nights from £779) at the classy Palm Beach, Maspalomas, this Spring. Prices are per person based on 2 sharing a twin/double room on a bed-&breakfast basis and include return flights and private transfers: www.classic-collection.co.uk or freephone 0800 008 7288 Pride Maspalomas runs 5-11 May 2008: www. gaypridemaspalomas.com General info on Gran Canaria: www.grancanaria.com www.grancanaria.com General info on Spain: www.spain.info/uk; www.spain.info/uk; or request a brochure via 08459 400 180 (24 hrs) Spanish Tourist Tourist Office: PO Box 4009, London , W1A 6NB; 020 7486 8077;
[email protected]
Clubs Heaven (Yumbo, Floor 4) – Same owners as the world-famous London club; with busy darkroom. XL Men’s Club (Yumbo, Floor 2) – Cruisy, beleathered dance joint.
Steaming & Cruising Sauna Heroes (Yumbo, Floor 4) – Much as you’d expect. Beach Spot 7, Dunas de Maspalomas – Popular gay nude beach by the sea, with a handy kiosk!
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
55
TRA VEL TR
GAY GAY GORMET GALORE Edinburgh has more restaurants per head of population than any other city in the UK!
The Kitchin (www.thekitchin.com), (www.thekitchin.com), Restaurant Martin Wishart (www.martin(www.martinwishart.co.uk; with its very own cook school, www.cookschool.co.uk www.cookschool.co.uk ) and Number One (www.thebalmoralhotel. (www.thebalmoralhotel. com/dining/) are all Michelin-starred. Champany Inn (www.champany.com), near town, is also newly Michelin-star rated. Two especially hot tips…
Steam me up Scottie! Adrian Gillan takes the high road north of the border for a queer cultural and culinary treat in capital, Edinburgh! SIGHTS From medieval Old Town with Castle, Vaults and Royal Mile, to Georgian New Town with its stucco squares, this “Athens of the North” blends historic heritage with living culture and even boasts its very own well-nigh “inner-city mountain”, Arthur’s Seat. Tours of the amazing Scottish Parliament are available throughout the day, daily; plus check out the vibrant Dynamic Earth exhibition nearby! Take Take a leafy s troll along the banks of the narrow Water of Leith - stopping off at the picturesque Stockbridge district, plus the splendid Royal Botanic Garden with its mighty trees, hedges and glasshouses - to quaint old Leith itself, home to the majestically moored Royal Yacht Britannia. Though Edinburgh used to share Pride Scotia (www.pride-scotia.org) (www.pride-scotia.org) on alternate Junes, Glasgow has now “hived off” with its own event, leaving the Scots capital to hold the event by itself every two years – next scheduled for 27 June 2009. Edinburgh does, of course, host another fairly well known “Festival” – in reality, reality, a clutch of festivals (most notably www.eif.co.uk; www.edfringe.com) www.edfringe.com) - eve ry summer! 56
SCENE Most of the gay action happens in the Broughton locale around follyfilled Calton Hill – up which great views abound, and men oft take airs; and, at the foot of which, pubs and bars keep pumping tunes and booze into the wee small hours. The Blue Moon Café (1 Barony Street; T: 0131 556 2788; www. bluemooncafe.co.uk) boasts healthy, healthy, filling fodder and attitude-free staff serving all a boy could need – plus its underground basement bar, Deep Blue. New Town Bar (back to original name after a stint as Twist, 26B Dublin Street; T: 0131 538 7775; www. newtownbar.co.uk) gets pretty busy, especially since its refit. The Street (2 Picardy Place; 0131 556 4272) sprawls out onto just that all summer long! Stylish Planet Out (6 Baxter’s Place; T: 0131 556 5551) is a bit of an institution that goes head-to-head with buzzing-to-the-rafters Habana (22 Greenside Place; T: 0131 558 1270; www.cafehabanaEH1.com) a few doors down. Two-levelled Two-levelled club CC Blooms (23
Greenside Place; T: 0131 556 9331) is the scene’s mainstay cheesy bedrock, sure to press all the right buttons, night in, night out. For the more discerning clubber, clubber, nearby Luna (formerly Ego, 14 Picardy Place; T: 0131 478 7434) goes gay with Vibe on Tuesdays; and sprawling basement GHQ (4 Picardy Place; T: 0131 550 1780) hits the mark pretty much any day. Still restless? We doubt if any of the world’s great cruising grounds can boast a classier name than the Royal Terrace Terrace Gardens – a long stretch of landscaped slope, brimming with lolling men. And few can claim the 360-degree panoramic, manly vantage just behind it, up Calton Hill, with stars above and the Scotch capital’s capital’s own twinkling lamps flickering away beneath. Alter natively, Steamworks (5 Broughton Market, T: 0131 477 3567, www.steamworkssauna.co.uk) is one of several busy saunas in town, just around the corner from aforementioned Blue Moon caf.
STAY The Bonham (35 Drumsheugh Gardens; T: 0131 274 7400; www. thebonham.co.uk) - Fine boutique hotel, situated in the city’s city’s West End, near scene and sights. Runs special packages for food lovers whereby its acclaimed chef, Mic hel Bouyer, takes guests to Edinburgh’s Edinburgh’s farmers market, or even fishing on the River Tweed, Tweed, and then helps you prepare a subsequent meal.
The Living Room (113 - 115 George Street; T: 0131 226 0880; www. thelivingroom.co.uk) thelivingroom.co.uk) – Large, modern, vibrant bar plus sprawling rear restaurant in the city centre. Recently launched its Cocktail Masterclasses for Men at which participants learn everything they need to know to mix three classic cocktails, including The Living Room’s own authentic signature, the Basil Grande. Only £25 per person. Advanced booking required; subject to availability. availability. The Stockbridge (54 St Stephen Street; T: 0131 226 6766; www. thestockbridgerestaurant.co.uk) thestockbridgerestaurant.co.uk) - Highlyregarded AA-rosetted neighbourhood restaurant in the quaint Stockbridge area just north of centre, now in the Michelin Guide. Chef proprietor Jason Gallagher and his team offer locally-sourced “classic French cuisine with a modern twist” in a relaxed yet intimate setting within a listed building. Lunch, Weds – Sun, 12.30pm to 2.30pm; dinner, Tues – Sun, 7pm - 9.30pm. Great-value set menus. For details of over 600 restaurants across Scotland as well as information on food festivals, trails and local Scottish flavours: www.eatscotland.com www.eatscotland.com Edinburgh can easily be reached by the regular rail service of National Express East Coast: www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com For more on Scotland and its cities, including their gay attractions: www.visitscotland.com/citybreaks www.visitscotland.com/citybreaks or call 0845 22 55 121 to request a Visit Scotland brochure or to book accommodation. September 2008
Sponsored by:
Get sum more from 3Sum You You may have seen the fantastic cartoon artwork from designer Billy the Kid that has announced a new partnership with three of Leeds’ top gay businesses. Queens Court, Homo and Basement Sauna have come together to offer a Monday night bonanza of places to go and things to do… on a budget. Both Queen’s Court and Homo@Mission are offering bargain price admission with drinks at £1.50, while the Basement Sauna is givi ng greatly reduced admission to those who love to let the steam take the strain. And in keeping with the new influx of students that will be visiting the ci ty, ty, there are e ven further reductions to welcome them onto the vibrant, and ever expanding, Leeds gay scene. www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
57
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
A touch of Velvet for Manchester A stylish city centre hotel is to become the latest addition to Manchester’s Internationally renowned Canal Street later this year. Velvet Velvet hotel will occupy a prime spot above the we ll-established Velvet Bar & Restaurant, and boast panoramic views of the Manchester c anal. The £3.5 million luxury, four-star four-star hotel is a first for the Gay Village and i s one of an elite cluster of boutique boutique style hotels in the city. city. The plush twentybedroom hotel will occupy 8,000 sq ft of space over four floors. All rooms will have their own individual style. Balcony rooms will provide impressive views of the city and Canal Street, while the luxury penthouse suites will centre on stunning modern décor and one-off pieces creating an abundance of character and a contemporary feel with an e dgy twist. The hotel’s hotel’s concept will focus on distinctive and flamboyant pieces of Rococo furniture and artwork. Daring designs and bold bold statements define each room and create a feeling of sheer indulgence and opulence. Owner Mark Cain said: ”We don’t want to follow the crowd and our vision is to create a truly unique hotel that can’t be compared to anything else in the city, and one that really reflects the heart and soul of the vil lage.”
58
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
September at the Viaduc Viaductt
The Viaduct is still flying high after the huge success of their Leeds Pride Party and September is looking to be another major month. Their reigning pool champion, Joe, will be defending her trophy ev ery Tuesday night as the pool competition returns. This year the winner gets all the entry money, a trophy trophy and a pool cue in a presentation box. Even if you get beaten the free food will more than make the night worthwhile. The popular T-Girls night on the 5th will see dozens of Yorkshire’s Yorkshire’s T-Girls T-Girls coming out to enjoy themelves and dance the night away. This is also the official launch of a new Friday Night - School School Night with Anna Glypta playing loads of the old-skool classics as well as all your current favourites. They re-launch the daily menu and buffet service on 12th September with a taster party from 8-10pm, there’ll be loads of free food and a special guest or two and this is also a great time to book the pubs function room for your Wedding/Civil Partnership/ Birthday or Christmas Party. On the 19th September The Viaduct is proud to once again play host to the Leeds heat of Drag 4 U. This charity drag pageant raises money for the Terrence Terrence Higgins Trust and is holding heats all across the region. Entry forms are available from the pub. The winner of the Leeds heat goes through to the grand final on the 28th November. November. Saturday Night is Camp Attack Night when Ms Glypta plays three of the campest, cheesiest gayest anthems back to back to back throughout the night. As if that wasn’t enough The Viaduct Showgirls are now back home again after their Pride tour and have been working on some fabulous new numbers. Catch the show most Sundays at The Viaduct.
60
September 2008
Face of Flamingo Blackpool’s Blackpool’s premier venue continues to draw the crowds and the Fitlads Party night just goes from strength to strength but now here’s an opportunity for all you hunky spunks in your kit… how would you like to be ‘the face’ of Flamingo. The club is looking for 3 fit, toned lads to become, what they hope will become the definitive image of Blackpool clubbing and partying scene. The images will be used on all material promoting the club including web, national and local gay press, flyers, posters, banners etc. To enter, send 2 images of yourself (1 face and one body shot) to Phil and he will be in touch! The winners get £500 cash in hand plus loads of goodies - not bad for a couple of afternoons in the club getting your pictures taken!! Phil can be contacted at phil.
[email protected]
Reporting homophobic abuse Gay and lesbian police staff in Kirk lees are to offer reassurance and support for members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community in a brand new concept. On the first Wednesday of every month the New Union Bar on Union Bank Yard Yard in New Street, Huddersfield will open its doors between 5pm and 8pm. The idea follows a survey carried out by the Cohesion Unit at Calderdale Council at the 2007 Pink Pic nic in Huddersfield. It was noted in the results of the survey that there was no facility for members of the LGBT community to report incidents directly to a gay or lesbian member of police staff. Kirklees Inspector Nicola Gibson has been involved in setting up the drop in points and says: “We wi ll always take on board people’s people’s concerns and we have listened to what has been said. We already have hate crime reporting centre across West Yorkshire but there isn’t always instant face to face contact with the police. The hate crime reporting centres are not necessarily staffed by an officer, but these drop in points enable us to provide that face to face contact and with a lesbian or gay member of staff. Nicola continued: The LGBT community does not appear in pockets within West Yorkshire, it is spread across the whole region. We have acknowledged and recognised this in providing these drop in points within our neighbourhoods. We will continue to monitor its success and adapt to the needs of others within the LGBT community.” community.” To contact the force:
[email protected]
62
September 2008
Pride 2008 At Manchester’s Favour avourite ite Gay Venue The fencing is down, the main stage stored away and Manchester Pride has finally come to a close. Any worries over this years attendance were soon put to rest as the e vent exploded onto Manchester’s Manchester’s Gay Vi llage with the usual drama and exhibition that characterise Britain’s Britain’s most successful Pride event. The team at Cruz had been toiling away for weeks drilling and sawing, and sewing sequins, creating the most fabulous of productions in Her Majesty’s Gay Ship – Cruz 101. Sold out every night, five days of clubbing spectacular kicked off on Thursday with ‘Back2Back’ ‘Back2Ba ck’ and a P.A. by the Sally Jaxx performing the dancefloor classic ‘9 To 5’. ‘Big Gay Friday’ could have been re-named ‘HUGE Gay Friday’ as Cruz was bursting at the seams with the hottest guys in the Village who partied into the early hours with ‘Urban Cookie Collective’. After a few short hours sleep the team were back to prepare the flag-ship float for the Manchester Pride Parade putting together the trademark PrideBus and trailer! The production continued with Gaydio’s Gaydio’s live broadcast of Michelle Gayle on Saturday night at Cruz 101’s ‘Drama Queen’ with both floors packed with the fittest of Pride’s Pride’s clubbers. ‘Sunday Night Screamers’ did not disappoint with the legendary Lonnie Gordon jetting in from America to perform her catalogue of club anthems. As the crowd screamed for more, things got hotter as Lonnie gave it to them, pulling the crowd onto the stage and belting out one final tune. Hosting the annual Pride Closing Party ‘Disco Inferno’, the club was sold out and packed with everyone who didn’t want the party to end as Manchester Pride came to a close. Filled with a crowd of Bears, Muscle Men, Indie Boys, Raging Dykes and Drama Queens, everyone cheered as ‘Rose Royce’s’ Royce’s’ Gwen Dickie boogied with her Disco Anthem ‘Car Wash’. Dj Dino played disco classics and pop anthems while downstairs, in Sub, Rob James was causing nose bleeds with his exclusive Trance Anthems Mix. As temperatures soared the room was full of half naked guys who refused to go home partying on til 7am! Cruz 101 would like to thank all it’s it’s customers for a fantastic weekend and hopes to see everyone for Manchester Pride 2009!
64
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
The BIG gay weekend Manchester Pride has become something of a big date in the gay calendar,, and with just cause. calendar This year’s year’s Pride was a riot of fun. Kicking off with Mr Gay UK on Friday and continuing all through the bank holiday weekend. Thousands turned up en masse to watch Mutya at Essential and Jane McDonald on the main stage. Chickens pecked, turkeys gobbled and teddy bears picnicked in Sackville Gardens. Live music and al fresco partying was the order of the day, day, and because God loves the gays so much, even the weather held out. The 2008 Parade winners included Age Concern (Best Entry), Essential (Best Commercial Entry), Amnesty International (Best Community Entry) and Dame Gracy (Best Walking Entry), who typified a tumultuous rainbow of floats and marchers. The sounds of clacking clappers and whistling whistles were raucous, but loudest of all were the cries and chants of men in bellytops and hotpants. For everyone too lazy to walk, there was booze flowing from every pump, keg or barrel in town, and a greedy queen at the end lapping it up. Information and lifestyle tents provided free pens, condoms and sweets, and the marketplace provided des igner, igner, gayoriented and local goods for all. There was certainly something for everyone, and proof that Pride has no signs of slowing, credit crunch or not. Manchester loves to have fun but it also doesn’t forget - and once again the Vigil was a focus point for everyone who has lost someone. A time to remember, a time to grieve but that moment of respect is all too easy to lose when you’re out partying… thankfully, when you’re surrounded by other supportive people… it helps. Manchester is really proud of its Pride… and so it should be…
66
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
68
September 2008
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
69
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
ORGANIC IS TWO!!! Has it really been two years already? It must be true that time fly’s when you’re having fun because Manchester’s Manchester’s favourite place to party until the e arly hours, Organic, celebrate their second birthday this month! The team at organic tell us they have an ‘extra strength’ Organic lined up with extended hours and sets from all of their current residents!
Since their move to Spirit on Canal Street the night has been on fire, with the biggest crowds and the best atmosphere, so you just know this event is going to raise the roof off their new home. DJs Nik Denton, Gregg Holden, Babyjane, Ben Hamilton, Ross Homson and Paul Furley will be dishing out the soundtrack that unquestionably has seen Organic rise to i ts untouchable glory! Organic’s Organic’s second birthday is on Saturday Night/ Sunday Morning of 13th September from 1am until 8am. More information can be found at www.myspace.com/cluborganic 70
A New Identity Identity is a new late night bar in Sheffield’s traditional gay area. The bar has been known known by many names and nights but its latest incarnation is modern and contemporary.
Identity has 1 bar and dance area on the ground floor along with disabled access and facilities and you also access an outside courtyard and roof terrace with cover for smokers as summer hasn’t been as kind as it could have been. Upstairs, is the main dance area area with a brand new sound and lighting system as we ll as another bar with the same range of drinks available as downstairs. Identity came about after 3 friends were talki ng about wanting something different on the Sheffield scene. Everyone has their own Identity and they wanted to create a venue where there was no attitude and ev eryone was free to come, as they wished, without being judged and able to express their own Identity. Nick, the bar manager, and the staff provide a welcoming and fun atmosphere and the venue has made a welc ome addition to the Sheffield scene.
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
Turn Back Time
For centuries Londoners have made pilgrimage to a pleasure mecca south of the river and the Autumn season at the Vauxhall Tavern plans to bring back that… pleasure principle. Every Thursday night for the next month or so, this bastion of good taste, fun and cutting edge camp will embark on a series of events to make other venues cry into their beer. There’ There’ss to be a spit ‘n’ sawdust spectacular with Nathaniel de Ville, Timberlina, Bearlesque, Polly Vinyl & DJ Dawn Right Nasty. Later, Later, they present classical music with a twist. Drag shows supreme and a whole host of spectacular segments of spondific entertainment. Check it out! Thursdays at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY. £5 or free if you dress up http://www.rvt.org.uk Photos © MikeKear.com
72
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
Derby Goes Pink This year Derby City hosts its very first pride event called Derby Goes Pink @ The Bass Rec Derby City Centre. The Day Kicks off with a DGP parade starting @ The Duke Of York on Burton Road travelling through the city centre to Bass Rec The Main stage features a broad range of entertainment, Angie Brown, Hannah Jones, Jason Prince, Girl Group Vouge,The No Tomorrows, Kelly Wilde, Pete Martine, Charlene (Prisilla Queen of the Dessert),Sam Solace, Hannah Brakenberry, Plus theatre, acoustic music, and much, much more Miss Diva Chanel, Sindee Chaddite and Dame Bella Dona Plaster are your hostesses for the day. The event also features a community village with information stalls, food stalls and market place. There will also be a Dance Marquee with a top line up of DJ’s The event coincides with Derby Feste so the city will be alive with a whole raft of entertainment. The DGP Committee have worked extremely hard to give the LGBT community a day of unity and celebration in what can only be described as long over due. DGP - 27th September The Pink Parade starting at the Duke of York at 11:30am The Main Event kicks off at 12pm in The Bass Rec until 6pm From 6pm onwards the party moves back to the Duke of York for fun and frolics More info: www.derbygoespink. com and www.derbyfeste.com.
74
Autumnal choice The Nightingale has lined up an impressive Autumn list of big name appearances and events to warm up those forthcoming weekends, beginning on 6th September with Angel City vocalist Lara McAllen. Lara enjoyed a run of hits a few years back including ‘Love Me Right’, ‘Do You Know’ and ‘Sunrise’ and she’s back promoting new material. The X Factor is back on our screens again and to celebrate, one of last year’s year’s most popular finalists Niki Evans makes a return visit to the club on 13th September to perform her debut single ‘Love Me No More’. There’s There’s a 90s dance anthem sound clash on September 20th as Baby D reprise their monster club hits ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ & ‘I Need Your Lovin’ plus Shanie will be performing the Alex Party club classic ‘Don’t Give Me Your Life’. Top girl duo Booty Luv wi ll wrap up September’s schedule on the 27th, performing all their chart hits including ‘Don’t Mess With My Man’ and ‘Boogie Tonight’, Tonight’, as well as premiering the new single. Looking ahead to October and 80s shopping mall superstar Tiffany makes a return visit on the 4th with the enduring pop hit ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’. Former B*witched sisters Ms.Lynch will ‘Blame It On The Weatherman’ all over again on 12th October. Plus now confirmed, the 90s chart topping dance act Snap! are onstage at the Nightingale in November performing their chart toppers ‘Rhythm Is A Dancer’ and ‘The Power’. September 2008
THE
SATURDAY NIGHT OUT! 6 September
LARA McALLEN from ANGEL CITY, CITY, with the club anthems ‘LOVE ME RIGHT’, ‘DO YOU KNOW’ & ‘SUNRISE’.
13 September
NIKI EVANS The X Factor star releases her debut single ‘LOVE ME NO MORE’ on 1 5 Sept. www.niki-evans.com
20 September
90s SOUNDCLASH Classic 90s anthems with BABY D ‘LET ME BE YOUR FANTASY’ and SHANIE with Alex Party’s ‘DON’T GIVE ME YOUR LIFE’.
27 September
BOOTY LUV The girls are back with new material. Hits include ‘BOOGIE TONIGHT’, ‘SHINE’, & ‘DON”T MESS WITH MY MAN’.
4 October
TIFFANY 80s shopping mall pop superstar ‘I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW ’ & ‘ COULD’VE COULD’VE BEEN’.
COMING SOON: 8 November
SNAP! Massive 90s chart-topping dance act ‘RHYTHM IS A DANCER’ and ‘ THE THE POWER’.
Advance tickets available from The Nightingale Club, Kent Street, Birmingham, B5 6RD Tel: 0121 622 1718 www.nightingaleclub.co. www.nig htingaleclub.co.uk uk www.mys www.myspace.com/nighting pace.com/nightingaleclub aleclub Advance tickets also available from www.ticke www.ticketweb.co.uk tweb.co.uk
Cardiff Pride Line Up Revealed The list of celebrities include: Brookside hunk Philip Olivier, the original 1960s Tiller Girls, former Atomic Kitten Liz Mclarnon and Radio 1 presenter Scott Mil ls. The newly formed South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus, will be joining forces with the Brighton and Hove Gay Men’s Men’s Chorus, BBC Radio Wales’s Wales’s Chris Needs wil l be singing and there will be finalists from TV’s Britain’s Got Talent including Irresistible and Hoop La La. One of the UK’s UK’s top female impersonators, Wales’s Wales’s own Ceri Dupree will make his Cardiff Pride debut and there will also be appearances by chart artists Sonia; Andy Scott-Lee; Nicky French; Kelly Wild; Jackie Graham and gay rapper McEnvy The local Cardiff drag queens will be adding their own personal colourful style of entertainment throughout the day and one of the UK oldest and favourite drag artists, Maisse Trollette will be co-hosting the stage. In a addition to the main stage, sponsored by gay travel company ManTravel ManTravel International, there will be a cabaret marquee, which will offer the best i n drag, comedians and singers. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service sponsors Combustion, the main dance arena, in association with Cardiff gay venues, Club X and the Kings Cross and dance specialists Decandence, Combustion will be strictly for 18 year olds and over. It will feature local club DJs including Ant Nichols from Kiss 101 Admission to the park is just £8 (plus 50p booking fee). Access to the VIP area is an extra £10 (plus booking fee) and must be purchased with ticket. Children free and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Entrance tickets can be obtained from www.ticketlineuk. com or by calling 029 2023 0130. Profits from the day will go to l ocal lesbian and gay charities and other worthy causes in South Wales.
76
September 2008
Love is in the air
The sun shone in abundance for Bristol’s very first ‘BristoLove’, an LGBT organised event which had been pulled together in a matter of we eks by PUSH promoter Shay Malt. The event brought together most of the Old Market venues and staged over five areas in and around Braggs lane with nearby Flamingos Nightclub being used as a watering hole and thoroughfare. thoroughfare. Whilst PUSH regulars, DJ’s Lee Pattison & Lukas Hopwood, played in one area, Wonky vs Duchess were playing in another. another. Just a wee stone throw away was the Old Castle Green where many soaked up the sunshine at the same time as some well needed BBQ in the beer garden. Many converged around Braggs Lane, itself playing host to the main stage area hosted by local drag queen and lush Miss Tray la Trash. Trash. It was nice to see some had made the effort to support the day despite previous Pride attempts. Many came in fancy dress and some with children, marking it as an event for all. Kitty Litter played to a packed audience in Flamingos Nightclub for ‘Handbag’, drawing a successful event to a raucous close. Here’s to Bristolove 2009. Well done. Words and photos: Marc Duncan
78
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary. ChrisGeary.com com
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
79
Thanks Belfast
With Belfast Pride now out of the way for another year, Kremlin and Union Street want to say a big thank you to all their loyal customers for making this Pride the best the Gay Village has ever seen. But the party never stops at Kremlin! September sees the return of the World’s World’s Most Famous Gay Club “Heaven” on tour. DJ’s DJ’s Nick Tcherniak Tcherniak and the infamous Dusty O join forces with a band of hot dancers and drag queens to bring the biggest and best of London’s London’s gay clubbing to Belfast on the 6th. Just before that is one of the most popular theme nights of the year “Back To To School” when the school ties and gymslips are dusted down for another year. Top Manchester club Poptastic’s monthly residency is on 12th with two rooms of sound back to back bringing the best in Indie in the long bar and the the main clubroom devoted to Pop and Camp Classics. The 26th of the month brings the annual Drag Ball, when amateur drag queens from all over Ireland and further afield battle (sometimes literally) for the Queen of Drag crown and automatic entry to the Alternative Miss Ireland Contest. International Chart Sensation “September” will be performing one of the top tunes of 2008 “Cry For You” amongst a string of their hits on 4th October. A fantastic lineup indeed as September sees Kremlin launch into the winter schedule with an explosion of top nights out. www.kremlin-belfast.com/
80
September 2008
Photos: ChrisGeary ChrisGeary.com .com
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
81
Sauna Guide When responding to an advert, please tell the advertiser that you saw their advertisment in Bent Magazine.
Steaming in Belfast The Pipeworks, on Union Street, sits right at the heart of Belfast’s Gay Village. Flanked by the Union Street Bar on one side and Kremlin nightclub on the other it’s in a perfect position for some after hours action. Entry is by buzzer and the complex is situated on the second floor. Admission is £12 but there are numerous concessions and special promotions on during the week. Upon leaving the changing area first stop is the coffee lounge, which is well stocked with snacks and light meals. The staff that were on duty during on our visit were ple asant and made us feel welcome. Screens were showing recent DVD’s DVD’s and the days papers were available.
Next stop the Jacuzzi which was clean and fresh and I have to say “very busy”! There was then a dry sauna and steam room both of which were roomy and very cle an. Things got a little sleazier on the second floor with plasma screens showing porn and twelve private well – equipped cubicles on one side of the hall and a large m aze on the other. A second very comfortable lounge with open fire and free internet pods join the two areas. It was a very mixed crowd, age wise and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. It was a weekend night and v ery busy. Apparently it is also busy on midweek afternoons… so, the Pipeworks is well worth a visit if you’re in Belfast. Call: 028 9023 3441
82
September 2008
Photo: Upto Clues
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
83
Hotels - Guest Houses - Apartments - Saunas - Escorts - Chatlines - Stories - Websites - Sexual Health - Mailorder
Classifieds
To advertise in these pages contact Riccardo:
08712 246 557 or email:
[email protected] [email protected]
When responding to an advert, please tell the advertiser that you saw their advertisment in Bent Magazine.
BRIGHTON
MANCHESTER
BLACKPOOL
Westfield House 78 lrd St Backp Fy1 2DG Jim r Jh 01253 621992
Fridas t Mdas - Ga ma/fma ad thir frids. High rcmmdd rcmmdd fr caiss ad fridiss
Mda -Thursda ights Men only , no DReSS CoDe Usua faciities in a rooms. Cose to scene and shops etc. Most rooms en-suite and ate ‘Brekkie’.
www.wstfidhusht.c.uk wstfid_hus@htmai.cm Concessions to The Famingo and Aqua Sauna
84
September 2008
BLACKPOOL
www.mag.be nt.com
To subscribe to Bent please call 08712 246 529
Myspace.cm/ bentmagazine
85
BLACKPOOL
Nigel welcomes you to the
Granby Lodge
enbrook PRIVATE PRIVA TE HOTEL
H o t e l BLACKPooL
“A SMALL, CLEAN, COMFORTABLE & FRIENDLY HOTEL OFFERING A VERY WARM WELCOME TO BOTH MEN & WOMEN”
• Tea/Coffee
making facilities in all rooms
2 mins walk from Clubs, Pubs, Shops & sea Most rooms en-suite, all with TV, tea/coffee making facilities Generous Full English / Vegetarian breakfast Free car park Club & Sauna concessions Open all year
• Car parking
•
available
• Residential
•
Licence
• Doubles, groups & family
•
rooms available
• 5 mins from Blackpool
•
North train Station & shops
•
69 Lord Street, North Shore, Blackpool FY1 2BJ
•
01253 626737
15 Lord Street, Blackpool, FY1 2AZ
www.thelenbrookhotel.com
[email protected]
www.granbylodge.com
Tel. Brian: 01253 627842
LONDON
SERVICES GABRIEL STONE / BRICK RESTORATION
Specialist in all STONE & TILING applications • Free measuring service &
estimates • Competitive rates & All work
guaranteed • No job too small • ALL AREAS & LONDON
GABRIEL ON:
01322 669908 mobile: 07946368382 Email: gabxgabi@yah.c.uk
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNET SERVICES
ADC PO Box 4039, M60 2YD. Calls only 50ppm. Over 18s only. We may send free promotional msgs. Helpline 0844 848 1304
86
September 2008
For an advert call bent on 08712 246 530 or email:
[email protected]
SEAN
AJ
Heathrow & Brighton
AJ… this 24 year-old has proved very popular since he appeared on the scene. Perhaps it’s his relaxed attitude, maybe his tall dark and handsome looks, his smouldering dark eyes and his short cropped hair… or his rather solid 8” feature. He’s equally happy acting as a travel companion, dinner guest or entertaining entertaining his clients at his place or theirs. Loves to role play… so come up with a scene and he’s more than happy to act it out with you. Mainly dominant but could be coerced into a different, more acquiescent role but AJ is above all, a friendly guy to spend time with.
Jason 31 blonde hair, blue eyes, slim & tanned Easy going & Friendly. In / Out calls or overnight Private discreet service
Duos Available + Hotel Visits 22 YO, IN & OUT CallS / OverNIgHTS. SOHO www.gaYDar.CO.UK/,,,,,,,,,,,SeaN (11 COMMaS)
MaNCHeSTer IN/OUT CallS TrY THe BeST
07919 945225
ROCCO (27 y.o)
5 11’ Tall verY HaNDSOMe ITalIaN-INDIaN rUgBY plaYer, 24 HOUrS IN/OUT/HOTelS/ OverNIgHT/Travel 100% DISCreTION aSSUreD
0752 728 1723
Brighton
0700 3755082
07756 966 522 New latn boy mAx
CeNTrallONDONaNDallOverUKIN/OUT/ HOTelS
07864854036
CRAig
OUTCallS,HOTelvISITS aNDOverNIgHTS. BaSeD IN YOrK, CaN Travel.
07792 527 354
STOrIeS TO rOpe YOU IN!
BRETT CARTER 22
verSaTIle,IN-OUT,lONDON-SOHO
07748277328
HOW TO ORDER BY TEXT4
4MUST HAVE A SPACE THEN THE CODE 4SEND TO 89981 AND RECEIVE ORDER
9 NOT A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE!
Rand y Lad & His Pal 668
Filthy Twinks
Dirty Campers
Teen Suck
Outdoor Ride
Tongue Tong ue Filth Fi lth
Campers
468
469
470
471
X 472
473
Piglets Filth
3 Way Finish
Sleazy Sucker
In The Field
Finger Fun
Farm Boyz
474
475
476
477
478
479
O R D WO E W T H E T T X T TX R T TO O R D E R TO T H E N T T H E N E T AC E PA BEN T S P O: TO D T REF NUM A N D S E N D
8998 1
Behind The Hay 480
X X
X
Harder, Harder
Hard & Fast
On The Tractor
Shower Room
Suckin’ 69
481
482
483
484
485
e.g. B E N T 668 to 8998 1
FILTHY HARDCORE VIDEOS
X
Auditions
Dirty Str8 Lad
500
501
Beasted Boys
3 Ways
Two On One
Banged Hard
Big Soldiers
487
488
489
490
491
Tattooed Hotty
His Harness
Spikey Collar
He Gets It
3 Filthy Lads
Footy Boyz
503
504
505
Fun In The Bath 506
Slow Play
502
507
642
643
Full Frontal 486
X
TO VIEW ALL THE FILTHY CONTENT JUST TXT BENT TO 89981
X X X
Dirty Chav
Scally Suck
Face Frenzy
Fast & Deep
Bad Lads
Jock Strap
Scally Scum
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
Doing His Pal
5 Lads Suckin
Bad Lads B&B
Filthy Gym Orgy
Hot Shower
Will Does Paul
Sit On It
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
Trackie Lad 651
Taking It Deep 675
HAVING PROBLEMS DOWNLOADING? CONTACT YOUR MOBILE NETWORK & SIMPLY ASK FOR YOUR ADULT BAR TO BE LIFTED.
ONCE YOU’VE DONE THIS, YOU WONT HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN AND YOU CAN RECEIVE AS MUCH PORN AS YOU LIKE! OR TXT ADULT TXT ADULT TO 84469 AND FILTH DIRECT WILL TALK YOU THROUGH IT. OR CALL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE HELPLINE ON 08712 246 536. OUR FRIENDLY STAFF WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP You must be 18 or over to use this service. Hot vidlets cost £3 each. Check your phone compatibility before ordering and make sure your phone is WAP or GPRS enabled. This is NOT a subscription service. Customer Service Helpline: 08712 246 536. Service provided by APN, Leeds LS11 8BP
Illustration: PAUL NEWBOULT www.myspace.com/valcorcity
TOR Y S TO
Kyle By Marc Spicer
Kyle had a routine, one he liked to perform just to make sure he was in the mood before he had sex. Kyle knew from past experience that when it came to sex most guys just wanted to rip his pants off and get straight down to shafting his taut young body... but he liked to prolong the moment… so he would start by himself a good while before his guest arrived. Slowly removing his clothes he would feel every item as it slipped from his body. The sensuous swirl of certain materials adding to the sexual chemistry that was already filling his head. Occasionally catching si ght of his growing excitement reflected in the mirror, mirror, made his nerves tingle. He loved spending that little bit more time letting his cock throb behind the cotton boundary of his tight briefs, which also hugged and emphasised his perfect bum, before pulling them off to reveal his pale but well shaped torso. His stiff proud cock, his perfectly sized hanging ball sac… he turned to look in the mirror at his best feature… the main reason he was in such demand… his faultlessly shaped and unblemished arse. Once naked his body thrilled in the knowledge of what was to cum… his visitor… on this occasion at least was twice his age, twice his size and twice the length and girth… would only want one thing… Kyle would be well prepared. He tweaked his own firming nipples, his hairless chest heaved in anticipation and those ‘crazy head thoughts’ took him on another journey as his hand reached down to his cute but insistent cock. The practically nude pubic area was just as his visitor demanded him to be… shaven and smooth. His bum hole was equally bereft of even the finest of hairs; his anal lips velvety, tight and ready to grip and control anything that would find its way to this erotic point. He lay out on the sofa and surveyed his youthful body and loved what he saw… as did the many others who paid him a visit. He stroked his growing firmness to it’s full
90
throbbing glory… little glistening pearls of precum bubbled from his piss slit… and he gloried in the sensual feeling his own hand could produce. His gentle but constant massage bringing that firm cock to a peak he could hardly contain. Finger nails grating across the pink dome of his bell-end, tickling the sensitive frenum and sending wave after wave of pleasure throughout his body. body. Fingers covered in sticky lubricant sought his tight little butt-hole and smoothly slipped into that dark but welcoming crevice. Again the pleasure threshold had him swooning with delight as his butt bucked to receive even the smallest of incursions. His warm, well-trained sphincter muscle responded and gripped firmly, he knew
that his hole could drive a guy completely over the edge. He wasn’t like most young guys; he just didn’t lie there and let a cock pound his butt. He worked those muscles… swivelled his hips… bucked and bounced and moaned as he knew his punters loved him to… A knock on the door brought him from is reverie and he knew he was ready to do business. He got up onto his knees and bent over the sofa calling out for his guest to enter; smiling to himself as he realised the double entendre he’d just made. The door opened - presenting his rampant visitor with his tight, c ute beautifully shaped and lightly lubed hole available for immediate entry.
September 2008
y u u a a e e B t t
YONCé SIMON & BE YO
the and th
Find more out about Simon or message him your problems at
a ks fr e
www.myspace.com/simonsavidge
Simon says … Dear Simon I have completely fallen in love with my best friend. He doesn’t seem to feel the same way but I have to admit I just can’t talk to him about it, I mean how embarrassing could that conversation be? I don’t want to ruin the relationship but he does keep asking if there is something wrong with me as I have started to see less of him and have gone quieter. I certainly don’t go drinking with him anymore as I might blurt something out. It’s It’s driving us apart and me crazy,, I mean he m ight feel the same way? crazy Mark, Stockport Dear Mark, This is much more common than people believe, especially with friends of the same sex, sometimes those lines can become blurred and of course we all watch TV - things like Friends - where it all seems to be just peachy and works out… even when it doesn’t. Sometimes it can end in disaster and you could ruin a wonderful friendship. I actually would broach it as you are in danger of ruining it all anyway. Maybe your idea of having a few drinks isn’t such a bad one, and also if he’s he’s a true friend it won’t matter. Dear Simon I am hoping you can help, you see my man and I have bee n together for 3 years and while we’ve never loved each other more… we’ve both recently become aware that our sex life has become a little stale. So we’ve tried all sorts; nipple clamps, different flavoured lubes, the works. One thing that drives him insane with excitement however is ice play; there is no part of his body and nothing too cold to try. The trouble is he wants to indulge me in return, yet I am getting what I can only describe as the worst ice cream headaches… in my balls, and I am wondering if this could do some serious damage. Neil, London Dear Neil I am glad you have sent me this as you hear a lot about ‘wax play’ but less about ‘ice play’. I don’t think that the odd ice cube on your tackle will cause lasting damage, but if your finding this so unenjoyable then it might do damage to your mental state and your relationship. I know I’m repeating myself… but talk to him, just say that while you have no issues with his enjoyment of it, it’s not really your sort of thing. If he still wants to indulge you with ice try massages and things that aren’t in such a personal area, people pay good money for that and it actually improves c irculation. Dear Simon, I have recently split from my wife and am now a fully out and proud gay man. I am hoping that I can meet guys out there who won’t have a problem with this but also won’t have a problem with the fact that I have a child. The child lives with my ex-wife predominantly however, I do have him some weekends and want to meet someone who is cool with that. Where can I go? Dale, Northampton Dear Dale, I don’t think there is anywhere specific that you can go other than just out and about to meet new people. I do know that there are networks and websites that offer you support such as GDUK which you can find here http://members.gaydads.co.uk http://members.gaydads.co. uk as for where can you meet men? Just go out on the scene or some websites, meet some new men and see what happens. If it puts them off… well that’s there loss, I am sure there are a lot of decent men out there that won’t be fazed by this.
COMPETITION TIME
Send your entries to:
Competition Time Bent, APN House Temple Crescent Leeds, LS11 8BP
or
[email protected] (inc. name and address)
GAY SHAME
Pride season is pretty much over and all I’ve got to show for it is a killer hangover and a huge dent in my personal finances. Now all the messy, political stuff is out of the way, it’s it’s back to partying the carefree, shameful way. You know, the way those people in the adverts do. ‘You wouldn’t start your night looking like this, so why end it this way?’ Well, um, actually, actually, why not? And if I’ve not got in from my night out yet, why not haul myself over for brunch at Harvey Nick’s in whatever I was wearing last night? I wear the stains like badges of honour. Sometimes the stains help me identify exactly what I have been up to. Sick means booze. Blood means S&M. Leaves mean bushes. Going out, especially at Pride, is only measured a success by the amount of shame the next day. day. But now Pride season is over and I can relax. Or at least, I could if it wasn’t freshers’ week at the end of the month. But that offers new opportunities. Fresh meat. Hot young boys, drunk, naïve and eager to have fun. I might not even leave the house till midnight, then I can just skim the totty from the streets in a continuous stream until the end of the night. In order to be a good fresher, of course, you have to be game for anything. It’s It’s part of the bonding rituals. Part of uni life. And in order to be a good gayer, you have to know how to pick them up. The more hardcore among us will be camped outside the nightclubs like particularly ardent festival fans waiting for the gates to open. Then, as soon as the first fresher crosses the threshold, they’ll snap into action, slapping fake tan across their limbs, powdering their noses and tangling their hair in greasy knots. They’ll dash inside, tongues waggling, and fall over themselves (and each other) to deliver cheesy chat-up lines and offer to buy (no doubt rohypnol-laced) drinks. This year I’ve had a better plan: host freshers’ week at mine. I’ve put up the
Bent Magazine Prize Draw Terms & Conditions 1. The prize draws are open to UK residents aged 18 and over. 2. No purchase is necessary. 3. Only one entry per person is allowed and multiple entries will result in an entrant being disqualified. 4. The deadline for receiving entries for the competition is the last working day of the magazine’s month. 5. Winners will be notified within 28 days after the competition closes. 6. Proof of delivery or email will not constitute
posters, paid for the ads and sent out armies of boys to flyer and promote. Doors open at 8pm and close sometime around June. Bring your wallet, your best outfit, a change of pants and seventeen or more friends. Condoms will be provided in the industrial-sized bins in every room. Get your money ready at the door, drop your pants and prepare to get screwed. Only the sexiest need bother coming. Freshers’ week is the most important time of year for any gay scene. It brings in the new faces, without which the bored scene queens would erupt into civi l war. Fresh meat is good, because there are barely enough gay men to keep any scene alive without newbies arriving to spice things up again. How many times can we visit the same five or ten venues, week in, week out, without going mad? This year I also plan to travel even more. How else can I top the last year’s shagging record? If you see me around, buy me a drink. But be nice. I might just put you in my column.
Beyoncé xxx
proof of entering the prize draws and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, corrupted, delayed or mislaid entries. 7. The winner(s) will be the first valid entry drawn at random. 8. Bent reserves the right to substitute the prize for another prize of equal value. 9. There are no alternative cash prizes. 10. Bent Magazine’s decision is final and no correspondence correspondence will be entered into. 11. When you enter a prize draw, your details will be used to provide you with updates, information and promotions from Bent and other members of
APN Ltd. You can opt out at any time by following the Unsubscribe link on the bottom of every email or by sending an email to unsubscribe@bent. com asking to be removed from our mailing list. 12. By submitting an entry, all entrants acknowledge and accept these terms and conditions. By taking part in any prize draws or competitions, you agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of Bent Magazine which are final. 13. Bent Magazine reserves the right t o disqualify any entrant and/or winner in its absolute discretion for any reason and without notice.
Calls charged at 10p per min. APN House, Temple Crescent, LEEDS LS11 8BP
92
September 2008
Feature | STARS
Philip has just started to write detailed monthly travel horoscopes in addition to his existing content of weekly love & gay horoscopes, daily horoscopes and weekly & monthly in depth scripts for phone lines.
Aries (Mar21/Apr20)
I l l u s t r a t i o n s : O l i v e r W e i s s / o w e i s s . c o m
Virgo (Aug24/Sept23) It’s important now to be assertive and not let others other s see you dither. You You need to show a determined and positive face to the world. This means if you do feel uncertain or anxious, hide this and deal with your worries later, in private. Within your professional life, do your utmost to let others see you are fully in command. Where you can drop your guard is when you are with a close friend or lover who knows you well. CeleBriTy leO 24/8 Chad Michael Murray 25/8 Sean Connery 26/8 Macaulay Culkin 27/8 Mother Teresa 28/9 Shania Twain 29/8 Michael Jackson 30/8 Cameron Diaz 31/8 Richard Gere 1/9 Gloria Estefan 2/9 Keanu Reeves 3/9 Charlie Sheen 4/9 Beyoncé 5/9 Freddy Mercury 6/9 Greg Rusedski 7/9 Gloria Gaynor 8/9 Pink 9/9 Hugh Grant 10/9 Ryan Phillippe 11/9 Moby 12/9 Prince Harry 13/9 Roald Dahl 14/9 Sam Neill 15/9 Agatha Christie, 16/9 Davina McCall 17/9 Baz Luhrmann 18/9 Greta Garbo 19/9 Jarvis Cocker 20/9 Sophia Loren 21/9 Bill Murray 22/9 Billie Piper 23/9 Julio Iglesias
Whether employed, self-employed or looking for work, there could be an offer or opportunity you will want to give more thought to. This may have come from out of the blue. Even if it means making a few changes in your life, it could be worth trying for something new while the chance is there. If you’re single, you could meet some wonderful romantic opportunities through being adventurous. If y ou’re attached, you will be having a few good laughs with your lover.
Taurus (Apr21/May21)
Trends Trends support your desire to get to the root of an issue that has been holding back some private plans. If you’re single but about to be wed, you might wonder why your partner’s partner’s taking so long in fixing the date. You’ve always taken your relationships seriously and if you feel someone’s someone’s playing with your fee lings, it’s time to find out why. why. It’s It’s a great tim e to put your creative imagination into your work.
Gemini
(May22/June21)
You’re You’re entering a determined phase in that whatever you decide to do, y ou won’t let anyone stop you. You have a creative goal in mind now and despite it having fun connotations you will be working flat out to bring it about. You’ve You’ve been patient and hopeful about a romance and there is every chance the guy you fancy feels the same way about you. You have luck on your side and whatever your hopes and wishes, many are likely to come true.
Cancer (Jun22/Ju23)
Cooperation is the key theme as September begins. You’re You’re in a helpful mood and despite the fact you have your private interests, you will also be willing to join in a team effort. People appreciate your input and your support and the way you always make yourself useful. If you’re single, you could find yourself unconsciously gravitating towards those who might help you achieve your business or financial goals.
leo (Ju24/Aug23)
You You should be seeing results where your personal ambitions are concerned. An offer is likely and this may have something to do with a job you’ve always wanted to do. Love opportunities will happen within your working environment or as you go about your business. You will be attracted to people of high status and power, and they to you! If you’re already half of a duo, bonds of affection will be growing stronger and it’s a good time for making joint plans for the future.
libra (Sept24/Oct23)
It might be a good idea to take a step back to view the somewhat secretive mood that seems to
surround you. Without realising it, you may even have played a part in this. By making a mystery out of the most trivial event or conversation, this has now blown out of all proportion. What you need to do now is be open and straightforward in all your dealings. Especially with a l ove partner. partner. That way he and others will follow your lead and life will be far less complicated!
Scorpio (Oct24/Jan20)
In partnerships of any kind, this isn’t the time to indulge in any kind of test of wills. No matter what might lie at the heart of such a contest, for the moment, agree to disagree. Be willing too, to give way on issues that, if you’re honest, really aren’t worth arguing about. Someone close might be making plans for the future and there’s there’s something secretive about these. Single? Romance could come unexpectedly into your life.
Sagittarius (Nov23/Dec21)
Pay attention to the words and mood of your partner now. Does it seem as if he’s he’s wound up about something? If so, persuade him to tell you what it is. He might find it hard to put his feelings into words. Gently coax such thoughts out into the open. Be sure you follow through on your commitments. If you don’t, there’s there’s every chance someone is going to feel as if you’ve let them down. Be wary of a person who is known for his duplicity.
Capricorn (Dec22/Jan20)
Longstanding relationships go from strength to strength. A new love affair will be of the lasting variety. Your Your mood is light and bright and if you’re creatively inclined, you feel inspired now. Travel, Travel, no matter how far, will appeal. In fact, you’re likely to have a better time than you expect when you’re anywhere or with anyone who keeps your mi nd actively stimulated. This will all make for a delightful start to September.
Aquarius (Jan21/Feb19)
You You have the energy to s pare to join a partner or friend in a trip or some spur-of-the-moment pleasure plans. It doesn’t matter in the least if this is a demanding time on the social front. All forms of communication will bring you luck now and you will enjoy discussions, meetings and negotiations. If you’re entertaining at home, what begins as a small informal gathering could turn into quite a vivacious and lively occasion!
Pisces (Fed20/Mar20)
It will be an inner need to improve your security that makes itself felt now. This will influence your views about money, especially shared finances. It’s also likely to tip over and somehow involve partnerships and close relationships. If you feel a joint budget needs a revamp, this is the time to deal with it. A lot can be achieved through adopting a tactful and persuasive approach. There’s a hint of exciting developments in romance as the month moves on.
Is that special relationship around the corner? Speak to one of Philip Garcia’s live psychics now on for your look into the future.
0906 117 7584
Calls cost £1.50/min from BT Landline. Landline. 18+. Calls Recorded. Recorded. Po Box 322, WA15 8YL
94
September 2008
TS TRIPLE TS TI TR VI VISCON TI
Hungary for the Viscont iscontii Triplet ripletss Without a doubt, Hungary’s hottest export, the Visconti triplets are the rst triplets to become part of the gay porn industry, and it will never be the same since!! These young stars, born on 26th February 1986 show off their identical tanned toned bodies and more in the world renowned production which will become a global phenomenon within days of release.
96
The teenage triplets are: Joey, Jason and Jimmy and stand a domineering 6’ 1” tall, with rippled muscular torsos and an almighty 8”x 6” dick which would get anyone throbbing hard at the sight of just one of them, let alone three all standing together. Joey is the eldest and has the more passive personality in comparison to his younger siblings. His interests include Pilates and dance which certainly help maintain the figure we’re all aching to see. Also being the most sexually inexperienced, this is a hard thing to see when he’s he’s in action alongside his brothers. Caught in the middle, Jason isn’t the type of guy to be sidelined, the loudest of the three; he’s a real gym addict who loves the feeling of pumping iron, flexing his awesome muscles to the envy and delight of those around him. Confident and with good reason, he’s he’s loves riding his motorbike and is training to be a certified mechanic. Jason certainly enjoys his wild sex life and has no problem getting what he wants: “I’ve always been open about my sexuality and I like the sex, but it’s never hard for me to get laid. It just comes to me.” Now that’s that’s something we can all aspire to!! Jimmy is the youngest and perhaps the most innocent. A fan of extreme s ports, he’s he’s always seen on his skateboard or sliding down the Alps with a snowboard. Their first movie from Elite Male – Brotherhood Secrets is ready to be unleashed into Europe, distributed by Eurocreme.
September 2008
•HOW TO ORDER BY TEXT
DEOS I V Y A G T T I C I L XP
• NEED A SPACE THEN THE CODE • SEND TO 89981 • RECEIVE YOUR ORDER BY TEXT
BEST SELLING XXX VIDEOS
Sex 4 Cash
Council Trash
Young Twinks
Skinny Teens
Sit On Me
Scally Lads
5
7
8
9
10
11
Shag My Arse
Harder
Ride Me
Back door Fun
Watch Them
Barebacking
12
13
14
15
16
17
On My Face
Twinks At It
Hard Twinks
Hot Suck
18
19
20
21
Scally Filth 201 20 1 TO ORDER TXT TXT EU EUR RO SPAC SP ACE E THEN THE RE REFE FERENC RENCE E NUM UMBE BER R AN AND D SEN END D TO TO::
8998 89 981 1
Lovin It
Pump It Deep
22
23
e.g. EURO 201 to to 89981 8998 1 TO VIEW A LL VIDS TXT EURO TO 89981
HARDCORE ADULT CONTENT
Dirty Scallies 24
Outdoor Sex
Lick It Off
Watch ‘Em’ Go
Filthy Slags
Dirty Sex
Rent Boyz
Threesome
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Hot Scallies
Filthy Fellas
Jockstraps
Naughty Boyz
Jock Straps
Licking
32
33
34
35
36
37
Hard Pleasure
F**king Deep
Deep Throat
Hairy Men
Hardcore
40
41
42
43
44
XXX
Rimming Ass
38
39
Give It To Me
F**ktastic
Rim Me
45
46
47
100% FIL FILTHY THY POR PORN N
Slow Suckin
Cock Fun
Locker Room
Hot Orgasm
Rugby Lads
Hard F**kin
Suck And Rim
Hard Sex
48
49
50
51
202
203
204
205
HAVING PROBLEMS DOWNLOADING CONTENT? CONTACT YOUR MOBILE NETWORK & SIMPLY SIMPLY ASK FOR YOUR ADULT BAR TO BE LIFTED. ONCE YOU’VE DONE THIS, YOU WONT HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN AND YOU CAN RECEIVE AS MUCH PORN AS YOU LIKE! OR TXT ADULT TO 84469 AND EUROBOY WILL TALK YOU THROUGH IT. OR CALL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE HELPLI NE ON 08712 24 66 30 OUR FRIENDLY STAFF STAFF WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP All videos cost £3 each. Check your phone compatibility before ordering and make sure your phone is WAP or GPRS enabled. This is NOT a subscription service. Customer Service Helpline: 08712 24 66 30. Service provided by APN, Leeds LS11 8BP.
You must be 18 or over to use this service.
www.squirt.org
HOOK UP ANYWHERE ANYTIME WITH ANYONE GET A TASTE FOR FREE ! ACCESS CODE: BENT
Thousands of Local Cruising Listings
Live Webcam Webcam IM & Group Cam Chat Local Profiles
XXX Pics & Porn
