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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 2004)
17.2004 » MUSIC .......... ¥ ............ Back to tke future Lonely Planet Boy Johriath • Sanctuary Records There is— in the context of our country’s increasingly puritanical, anti-cosmopolitan cul tural climate— a seductive whiff of the contra band to this new compilation of decadent, witty glam- rock tunes hy the first openly gay pop star. The self- described “true fairy of rock ’n’ roll,” Johriath recorded and released these stings, with much hype and little suc cess, in the early 70s, a The first openly gay pop star, the late decade before he died— liter Johriath sounds like Ziggy Stardust- ally forgotten, era David Bowie ptxir and alone- —of an AIDS-related illness in 1983 in New York. Lonely Planet Boy was conceived and com piled hy Morrissey, a longtime Johriath obses sive, making it one of the most tangible acts of musical hero-worship ever. (How many artists pay lip service to their heroes/influences, and how many actually open the vaults, buy up rights and release long-buried gems?) The disc contains songs from Jobriath’s 1973 self-titled debut album and its follow-up, 1974 s Creatures o f the Street. Though more ten der and whimsical, they strongly resemble the Pioneering homosexual rediscovered; pioneering metrosexuals reunited grandiose, cabaret-weaned wistfulness of While Jobriath’s outsize talent, beauty, Jobriath’s glam peer, the Ziggy Stardust- imagination and ambition did go unrewarded era David Bowie; tracks like the mourn ■ during his lifetime, Lonely Planet Boy is at least ful piano ballad “Space Clown" and the some small vindication, not only of one fasci funky rocker “Earthling” even match nating should’ve-been queer icon, but of the Ziggy s space-based themes of difference, currently endangered aesthetic ideals— should I alienation and escape. More earthhound say “values.7"— that he represented. are the sinewy, harpsichord-driven — Christopher McQuain gender-identity challenge “i’maman”; the richly melodic, “Moonlight Sonata”- referencing “Heartbeat”; and the previ ously unreleased “1 Love a Good Fight,” Duran Duran • Sony a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the (homo)erotic side of conflict. Unabashedly admitting my love for Duran Lonely Planet Boy doesn’t skimp on Duran during the ’80s at a small private school presentation, either. The bright pink got me branded a fag hy a fellow student who inside sleeve is a Johriath panoply, tak counted Queen among his favorites. Queen? ing us from the lipsticked, angelic, stat Queerly, somebody uesque chorus hoy of the first album to the wasn’t doing his warm, scruffy, slightly sleazy softcore persona he homework. adopted after retiring from the music biz that Fast-forward 20 failed to achieve him stardom. years: I still love Duran Duran, and The liner notes include an introductory fan letter hy Morrissey, a thoroughly informative nobody’s question biographical essay and still more photos, ing my sexuality— only my sanity after including a particularly •gorgeous black and dropping $300 on a white composition in which the singer’s visage is glamorously lit to resemble that of a brave, ticket to see them tragic cinematic heroine of the '40s. This last fall in a small Arizona club. 1 fig image seems most emblematic of Jobriath’s troubled life and early death. ured it might be my Astronaut Bob Mensel, Artistic Director Saturday, December 1 8 ,2 0 0 4 ,8 pm • Sunday, December 1 9 ,2 0 0 4 ,2 pm Kaul Auditorium • Reed College T h e P o rtlan d G ay M e n ’s C ho ru s welcomes guest conductor M a ry M c C a rty for our first mamstage event of our 25th A nn iversary S e a s o n . Multi-talented Mary - flutist, singer and former director of Chrysalis Children’s Choir will bring her inimitable energy and musicianship to our annual celebration of all the holidays of the season. A friendly and warm tradition for the entire family! For ticket sales and information, go online to www.pdxgmc.org or call the PGMC office at 503-226-2588. T ic k e t p r ic e s : $ 2 5 , $ 2 0 , $ 1 5 a n d $ 1 2 ABSOLUT ___ W I L L A M E T T E R egional A rts & C u lture C ouncil WEEK CATERING I 503-2 9 1 -8 3 5 0 only chance to see the original five (singer Simon LeBon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and three unrelated Taylors: bassist John, guitarist Andy and drummer Roger), who hadn’t played together since Live Aid in 1985. 2004 is almost over, but the reunited Duran Duran are far from it, as evidenced by Astro naut, which should relaunch them into the stratosphere. “(Reach Up for the) Sunrise”— the exhilarating first single, originally featured in remixed form on the Q ueer Eye for the Straight Guy soundtrack— will send Erasure into fits of jealousy and everybody else to the dance floor. The rest of Astronaut has one foot in the bedroom and the other planted squarely in the real world. LeBon has not sounded this homy since 1990’s Liberty, lauding the joys of sex and love on upbeat electro-pop-rockers “Astro naut," “Nice” and “Want You More!” His in satiable libido is also front and center on funky standouts “Taste the Summer” and the blush- worthy “Bedroom Toys.” The aptly titled “Finest Hour" could have been an Olympic theme a la “Not Enough Time” by INXS, had it arrived sooner. The same could be said for the optimistic, Oasis-esque “What Happens Tomorrow,” which lyri cally offers hope and a strong shoulder on which to lean during tough times. Astronaut boldly goes where few bands have been able to return to after reaching such lofty heights. Houston, we no longer have a problem. —Jim Thompson JF1
