SOULKISS

On a Fashion trip to London with Salford tech in 1985 myself and Joanne Yeomans went to the infamous club Taboo, greeted at the door by 'Trojan' who died of an accidental drug overdose the same year) a beautifully made up mannequin who vetted the door ferociously.   

Taboo was like a more extreme version of Blitz with emphasis on gender bending outfits and society scaring make-up, regardless of your sex and sexual preferences.

• Club regulars included designers John Galliano, John Richmond, John Flett,  Antony Price,  Judy Blame, Paul bernstock,  Gregory Davies, Jasper Conran and Bodymappers Steve Stewart, David Holah and ballet dancer Michael Clark ; models Susic Bic, Lesley Weiner and Dovanna; stylists Ray Petri, Mitzi Lorens, Paul Lonergan;  hairdressers Ray Allington and Sam McKnight;  pop stars Frankie´s, Spandau, Wham!, Boy George, Paul Young, Bryan Ferry, ABC, Marco Pirroni,  Pete Shelley and Sharon Redd.  Others habitue´es include artists Duggie Fields, Trojan, Andrew Logan, Michael Kostiff and film-makers Derek Jarman, John Maybury and Ceryth Wyn Evans. To name just a few.
  
• Leigh was frequently seen performing in Taboo a fashionable night club he operated, near Lester Square and is frequently identified as a key influence on the style of the New Romantic music movement that was popular in Britain during the early 1980s. 2001 saw a film documentary on him, followed by an excellent theatre production called Taboo, with Boy George and Julian Clary donning the face paint and mad clothes in a touching, fun tribute to a guy whose main purpose in life was to have a good time. Glimmers of the influences of film maker John Waters and artist Andy Warhol can be seen in his keen appreciation of bad taste, truly outlandish self presentation and a deep desire to shock and confuse. "I want to be the Andy Warhol of London" he once said. Bowery's career is described more straightforwardly in a 2002 documentary The Legend of Leigh Bowery, directed by Charles Atlas. Leigh died of an AID's related illness on New years eve 1994.

Anyway lets cut to the chase here - this is me and Joanne preparing to hit the club, we didn't think it cool to take our camera so hence no club shots.

Memories of the night......

• Boy George and Marilyn talking about getting some drugs in the ladies toilets
• Leigh Bowery coming up and saying hello and to our surprise saying "you both look gorgeous tonight"
• Leigh asking us to participate in a film he was making for channel 4 a documentary about shoes !
• Making a prat of myself talking about those said 'shoes' "My shoes bring out the tiger in me" what the hell was I thinking ????
• Seeing Poly Styrene from X Ray spex decked out in Kaftans
• Getting called "Bitch" by Boy George because I got served at the bar before him (sad loser lol)
• Seeing leigh Bowery in his famous 'look' the drip