Well written article. Covers the famous like Brian Epstein and Jann Wenner and the Who’s Kit Lambert, but many others, too. Includes an unfortunate but fascinating story involving a homophobic Harry Nilsson and a wonderful George Harrison.
A great view into an fascinating and important dimension of rock.
Fascinating indeed, but I’m a bit surprised that they didn’t say anything about those performers who were gay. Yes, yes, of course the majority were and are straight: That’s no surprise, since the majority of the population as a whole are straight.
Thanks, WordMan. I learned a lot from that article - quite interesting.
It wasn’t an article about the gay men of rock, though. It was the gay men behind the straight men of rock. I feel that’s an entirely different topic.
Good article…for some reason I never knew Jann Wenner was gay!
One gay man who had a rather dramatic impact was Nicky Nichols, the designer who convinced Todd Rundgren to appear on the Midnight Special for the first time dressed like this.
. . .and I already know what you’re linking to without clicking. Arguably not a GOOD influence there. Todd had a massive mainstream hit and appears on early 70’s TV looking like that? Kind of cuts two ways: It’s certainly memorable, but perhaps not in a good way at that time. Wonder if it hurt him, or had little effect. He didn’t seem to use that as a springboard, so I don’t think it helped. Todd didn’t seem to be driven for huge mainstream success anyway, as far as I could tell - just wanted to make his music his way.
Huh. I know some of Rundgren’s songs but never realized he went through a glam phase.
What was weird was that he was dressing glam, but wasn’t doing Glam music.
Good read. Thanks WordMan.
I always thought that Epstein committed suicide. That article says it was accidental. Wikipedia also says it was accidental, but there is some suspicion that he may have contemplated suicide at some point.
Did this get revised over the years from suicide to accidental?
“Accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills” sure sounds to me like a euphemism for suicide.
