Pop culture, music, movies, books and art, not only saved my life as a shy awkward teenager, it was the driving force in making me into the creative 80s crazed muscle animal I am today! Barbarians from the 80s films my dad would rent from the local video store shaped my image of masculinity, while 80s pop singers inspired my hunger to follow my dreams and fantasy books allowed me to escape my life and hide in their adventures instead.
I discovered Take That through my first and very best “gay” friend growing up, as he put on a VHS tape that he had dubbed Could It Be Magic on. Cut to the Nobody Else album and I had every “official” single they had ever released and my fair share of merchandise and brain-washed my mum into a massive fan. She loved Gary and I made her picture frames of Gary throughout the house that annoyed the shit outta my old man. they weren’t the first boy band I loved as I was a big NKOTB fan and even saw them live when they toured Aust and apparently, according to my mum, was mistaken at the concert for Jordan Knight as I had the same bouffant hairstyle! But Take That was my one and only boy band obsession and came at the same time as I was going through Gayberty;
the period during which a confused and closeted individual reaches homosexual discovery and becomes capable of buggery.
“the onset of jacking of to Rogan Richards “
I have since given my collection of TT wonders to a Op Shop in Australia for a hard core TT fan to discover in jubilation! Ironically I discovered a TT book in an Op Shop here in Walthamstow which relighted my fire about the band and made me go back and rediscover their old songs and 1st TV appearances. I had also not followed their career after reuniting and it was fun watching their music videos for the first time. They will always take me back to a time of self discovery and confusion and a mixture of fear and self doubt with excitement and horny empowerment. If I had a soundtrack to my “coming out” Take That would definitely be on it…
If you’re a horror geek like me you would have seen this amazing documentary, if not and you are a Freddy fan check it out. The Elm Street franchise is my fav horror franchise. Elm Street 4 being my fav one of the series and loving the original. Nancy is the best character, only surpassed by her drunk mum. And closely followed by the so bad she’s great Patricia Arquette replacement, Tuesday Knight (and her KIKASS song from the opening title sequence!)
WHERE is ROGAN
Based in Madrid. Won’t be traveling again till 2026.
