OUR LATEST ISSUE
Liza Minnelli
Liza
When it comes to gay icons, they don't come any bigger than the diminutive Liza Minnelli. Daugher of Judy, mother of black stockings and bowlers hats,
"I believe, seriously, no joking, that my gay audience understands me better than anyone else"
So, it's so fun to have you back. What's the most fun you've ever had in your life?
Oh, I've had great times. Let's see: being on the cover of Newsweek and Time in the same week? I was the first one to ever do that, so that was pretty snappy.
And Studio 54 with all your mates...
Bianca, Andy... I'm dropping them like flies these names. I hadn't been to a club for a long time because of my sobriety and a friend of mine, a hairdresser, very nifty, Teddy Darling, took me to a club in California. I walk in and there is somebody whose behind is naked, swinging at me! And I thought, "Oh, my nerves!" And then I turn the other way to see what's in the other rooms and somebody taps me on the shoulder and there's this girl with this enormous black corrugated penis and she says, "Hi! I'm a big fan." I said, "Evidently!"
Did you used to go to the notorious New York gay sex clubs of the 70s and 80s?
I went to a couple but Halston [famous fashion designer] really didn't let me. He was very protective, like an older brother to me. Once I went with him and a couple of times I just went with a bunch of guys and that was great. I enjoyed just looking around. There was this time, more recently, Madonna, myself and Naomi Campbell... Now Madonna had just come from working, so she looks like Madonna. I too have just come from working so I look like Liza Minnelli and Naomi has got on a 70s black and white daisy outfit with big bell-bottom trousers. And Steven Meisel (the photographer on Madonna's SEX book) was there in a big fur hat. And off we go into this club and Madonnna said to me, "Now this is serious. This is not what you're used to."
And was it?
Well, in we sway and I'm absolutely shocked. It was really weird. 'Cause there were men who were women with breasts and the whole thing. And then there were the guys, construction workers. Real construction workers, not dressed up. And then there was the guy who came in with the hairy chest, padded bra, white see-through blouse, black skirt just below the knee and very large black pumps. And my eyes were just twirling. THIS is divine decadence.
I like the posse of gay icons you hang out with: Madonna, Liz Taylor, Barbra Streisand...
There's a lot of us. But I believe, seriously, no joking, that my gay audience understands me better than anyone else. I think that a lot of people are born gay and suffer terribly until they finally come to terms with it. And I know that my gay audience knows exactly what I'm talking about with all these songs where it's about we're going to make it, we're going to come through.
Do you think you've got a better handle on life than your mum?
This sounds corny but I feel like mum is my guardian angel. I feel like she's watching out for me. My mum told me to let the legend go where it wants. People can say what they want to say. All I'm saying is, I'm fucking back!
Liza is appearing at London's Coliseum this Sunday (25th) and next Tuesday (27th) May.
