March 27, 2007

Up The Butt

In case you haven't noticed, these last five years, bear culture has evolved from being a small niche of chubby boomers ditching their Gilettes, to an ever expanding beardblob of hipsters, punks and artkids. One of the main points of ignition that started the facial hair explosion, at least in Europe, was a small, pink, fanzine called "Butt".

Gert Jonkers and Joop van Bennekom started "Butt" the "fagazine" in 2001, with the aim of putting the sex back in homosexuality. And ever since they have been connecting the dots between 70's clone culture, post AIDS queer culture and current arts and fashion. Much like a sexed up "Index Magazine" they've done straight forward Q & A's with everyone from Edmund White (who they photograph sucking on Jonkers foot) to Rufus Wainwright. They've displayed Scissor Sister Jake Shears' butt, artfag Asianpunkboy, getting fucked and a whole lot of bearded cuties bareing it all for photographers such as Ryan McGinley, Bruce LaBruce and Terry Richardson. To sum it up: they've made it cool to be a fag again. Something "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy", "Will & Grace" and bad pants almost made impossible.

The reason I'm telling you this is that a while back they released a book on Taschen, summing up the first five years of "Butt". Ever wondered what happened to 70's gay icon Peter Berlin? Or with 80's icons Frankie Goes To Hollywood? And is it true that Michael Stipe and Casey Spooner (of FischerSpooner fame) used to be an item? It's all in the Butt Book, which I suggest you buy today.

And if you are still not sure if you want to invest in the book, check out Issue No. 18. It features a chat with Michael Lucas headlined "NEW YORK'S HARDCORE PORN DIRECTOR FROM RUSSIA EATS ASS IN PRIVATE".

By Tom Ass

Posted by lavenderlounge at 2:58 PM

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