I was still clubbing and slowly making friends and getting my face known. I worked for a short spell with ZANDRA RHODES. Became a make-up consultant and even worked in Boots! Finally i got a job with a big HIV charity where I met and became friends with a very special man called David. I moved in with him and we had several fantastic years of friendship. He encouraged me to travel and dress up, he would always tell me to go for it,and was a great clubbing mate.
By this time I had finally started to be noticed. The gay press in particular would often have pictures of me in their rags, in some outfit or other, posing about the place but not actually doing much. I was offered a door job at a club called "Essence" by Wayne Shires, who now owns "Crash". I took it and from there; things have just gone on and on.
My friend Phillip Stevens, who now owns a very influential fashion PR company called "Concrete" was at that time working for the legendary party promoters "PUSHCA". He had shown my picture to the owners who then offered me a hosting job at their monthly, huge and VERY glamorous parties. I loved it and was good at my job.
At this time, a drag queen called "Kimberley" who hosted "FRUIT MACHINE" @ "HEAVEN" also offered me occasional work DJing at "THE POWDER ROOM", which was at the time the busiest and biggest drag night in town, I didn't know what i was doing, but had a go and did OK.
There was only room for one ego in that club though, I didnt last very long! Phillip and I decided to do our own weekly night and found a venue in Mayfair called "QUIET STORM". It was quite sucessful for a short time. We even managed to persuade "EUROTRASH" to hold a star studded party there to launch their book, so again I was in all the papers. I loved it! The club soon folded however as I think we both were trying to run before we could walk!
The "PUSHCA" people had set up a very trendy night called "BAMBINA" at a small club in Leicester Square. They had roped me in to host and DJ in the VIP Room. The club took off big time and for about a year was THE fashiony place to go. Grace Jones, Kylie, Jean Paul gautier and Madonna all used to come down. It was fantasticly hedonistic. I made lots of friends and important contacts and would often get flown to foreign countries to DJ, by assorted crooks, stars and gangsters! I was having a great time.
At this point Debbie Lee who ran the oldest gay night in London, "BANG", had moved her night to "HEAVEN" on Tuesdays. They asked me if I wanted to DJ and I jumped at the chance. It was a very different crowd to "BAMBINA" but I soon got into the spirit of it. It was very "pop" and I played there for two years before it finally closed down when "HEAVEN" was refurbished.
Things were going really well at this time. I was getting more work than i could cope with. I was still holding my own small club nights at "FLAMINGO'S" in Mayfair called "CHICKSTIX". They were always rammed with freaks and fantastic people. My friend BOY GEORGE would DJ, alongside TASTY TIM, FAT TONY and MARK MOORE. I used to tell them to just play what they wanted, so we got a mix of ABBA and PRODIGY. Very bizarre but great fun.
Round about this time i was approached by Michael Joyce and Gary Henshaw,who ran the "LIMELIGHT TEA DANCE" on Sunday ,to DJ and host for them. The club was already a BIG success. I started, loved it and did it for 5 years nearly.I have only recently parted company from Gary. More about that later!
