Wham, bam, thank you, glam

>> Rock 'n' roll's sleaziest era returns to Montreal

By JOHNSON CUMMINS

Once again that brazen hussy of the rock world, glam, is undergoing a revival. That would make this revival number...oh, fiddlesticks, I've lost count. Anyway, noting this revival, the Mirror decided to poll some of Montreal's current glam scenesters to give us the reasons why we should be going back to the platforms and to tell us if all that glitters is gold. Introductions, please! Plastic Patrick and Jet Phil are members of Montreal glam band One 976, poised to release a debut CD, Ask For Ass. Lee Lee l'Amour and Rico Cocono are the party hosts for the new glam night known as Lipstick, happening at Jailhouse.

What is glam?

Jet Phil: It's glamour, it's taking everything and doing it over the top.

Plastic Patrick: That whole period from the late '70s. It seems at that time the whole planet was into having a party, whether it was disco or rock or whatever. We are trying to capture that energy now. I guess if there would have to be a message to glam, it's saying be whoever you want to be.

Rico Cocono: I think glam can include anything from new wave to punk and even Suede and Supergrass. I think it's anything with attitude.

Lee Lee l'Amour: When you're dancing to glam it should make you feel sexy. I think glam is something that breaks down the taboo of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

Do you think dressing up is important again ?

PP: Well, I've been doing gogo shows and drag shows for six or seven years now, so this is hardly new to me. I think dressing over the top has been in music for years. Drag is starting to happen more in rock 'n' roll. It was linked with house music for years but, especially in New York, you're seeing a lot more drag and rock 'n' roll.

RC: No cargo pants!

When Velvet Goldmine came out, a lot of people said glam was going to take over, but it never did.

JP: We hated that movie.

PP: God, that was a boring movie. I guess it had good intentions.

Can a genre seeped in the '70s survive in the new millennium?

LLL: It's just taking glamorous things and mixing them with rock and I think it's definitely time to rock now.

JP: Well y'know, Johnny Thunders and Sylvain Sylvain were the shit back then, but they never played as fast as us. Glam is growing and we want to grow with it.

PP: Some people's knowledge of glam just stems from the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack, but better that than Garth Brooks. If people like us then maybe they're going to discover Guns N' Roses or Kiss and I think that's great. You've got to move on with glam and personalize it.

Do you find rock 'n' roll open about sexual orientation?

JP: Look at Jayne County or Joan Jett. When we watched Joan Jett play with Def Leppard, she was amazing. I have been into rock 'n' roll ever since I was a teenager, which is when I found out I was gay. I think it's great being gay and into rock 'n' roll. I think it's funny when you see Marilyn Manson being a wannabe gay.

PP: I think for the most part people don't care if you're gay, but if people are scared to like us because two of us are gay, then they're really missing out.

Do you find that glam is still heavily rooted in sex?

PP: Oh yeah, I've had girls grabbing my ass while we play and I love it. We have groupies, it's been excellent. When we play people are making out all over the place and I'm happy that we're sending out a sexual vibe when we play.

JP: I think that sex is rock 'n' roll. Look at Paul Stanley and Little Richard--whether you're gay or straight, that sexual energy is there.

LLL: Ideally, I would hope that after Lipstick it just turns into an all-out orgy. Sex feeds from rock 'n' roll and rock 'n' roll feeds from sex. :

One 976 have rented out male strip club Club Stock (1278 St-Andre) to launch Ask For Ass on Monday, April 17, 9pm. The first Lipstick night is at Jailhouse Rock on Saturday, April 8, 9pm, 5$