John Frame’s Queer Radio Downloadable
Archives 1993 - 2011:
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This
page was last updated and checked for accuracy on 17th November
2011. Please be kind enough to report any errors or inactive links by emailing me.
My eternal thanks - John Frame.
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grouped
as Audio - interviews etc / Other
Audio (not interviews) / Video / Images / Text |
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Audio interviews by John Frame for Queer Radio
and/or This Way Out The list of mp3s is being constantly expanded as I go back
through my archives. Already listed below are complete interviews with: |
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Sid
Bromley (Jazz Show, 4ZZZfm) Judy
Carter (“Homo Handbook”) C
Jay Cox (film “Latter Days”) Jonathan Harvey ("Beautiful
Thing") |
Nancy
Lambert (Brisbane wildlife carer) Love-In
For Love Equality voxpops (13th Feb ’05) Nikki
Madden (“Next Of Skin”) John
Marsden (late lawyer) John
Moriarty (“Liquid Lover”) Chris Freeman of Pansy Division Queer Radio’s September ’93 first
birthday show David
Rakoff ("Don't
get Too Comfortable") |
David
Stevens ("The Sum Of Us") |
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Many more are to come – for example: Doug Stevens, Mark Weigle, William Yang, Robert Dessaix,
Georgina Beyer, Christos Tsiolkas, Julian Clary,
Rob Clarkson, The Sailors, Bloodhound Gang, They Might Be Giants, Matt Yee,
Simon Hunt, Tony Ayres, Todd Graff, CJ Cox, Gregg Araki, Bob Downe & Mark Trevorrow, The
Three Marys, Suede, Robert Urban, Michael Gow,
Stephen House, “Happy” Charles Green, Jade Esteban Estrada, Dan Woog, Duayne Boutte, Dwight Ewell, Brian Watson, Rodney Croome, Noel Jordan, Vanessa Wagner, Cindy Ryan, Monique
Brumby, Christine Johnson, The Kransky Sisters,
Brian Greig, Derek Hartley, Peter Beattie, Lesbian
National Parks and Services, Mark Islam, John Ashfield, Michael Vaccaro, Paul Livingstone and Stephen Abbott, Kate
Champion, Phillip Adams, Leah Purcell, Sani Towson,
Deborah Cheatham, Dr Lynne Hillier, Prof Milton Diamond, Gina Mather &
Kristine Johnson, Maria Theodorakis, Reg Livermore, Henri Szeps, Gay
Woods, Judi Connelli, Tyler Coppin,
Jimmy Rowland, Matthew Duffy, Rona Cameron, Scott Silverman, Enda Markey, SONiA, Stanley
Kwan & Jimmy Gnai, Ian Roberts, Andrea Weiss, D’Gey, Clive Barker
and other musicians, artists, authors and activists. Requests to urgently
upload any of the above will be considered. |
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Other
Audio: Pat
Parker “Where Will You Be When They Come?” (14th
October 1979 Third World sponsored Kickoff Rally for the National March on David
Tomlinson “When We Were Very Young” (late 50’s World Record Club
vinyl recording for children). Dick Bentley
“Hans Christian Andersen” (late 50’s World Record Club vinyl
recording for children). Burl Ives
“Capt Burl Ives’ Ark” (1958 Decca High-Fidelity microgroove vinyl
LP for children, featuring “Quack, Quack Paddle-Oh!” and “Bongo And His
Baboon Drum”) Sons Of Bee Gees live at The Roxy, Brisbane 8th
July 1995 Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Dance Party (recorded direct to
DAT from the PA desk) |
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Video:
Mark Weigle
performing live in the 4ZZZfm studio 3rd October 2007 Jacob Diefenbach
interviewed live in the 4ZZZfm studio 13th December 2006 ShitStickers – “A
Case In Song for Sodomy Law Reform in New South Wales Gay &
Lesbian Counselling Service “Coming Out” 1995 TV
advertisement |
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The Three Marys (Mary Jo Paranzino, Mary
Abt, Jon Arterton) – were interviewed by John Frame by phone (speakerphone
at their end) from Provincetown, Massachusetts on 30th August
2001. Hear the 40 minute special which aired on Queer Radio that week, and
read John’s review of their album which was published by our local LGBT
street press Queensland Pride Magazine: Review: CD "The Three Marys" (self titled) By John Frame 12th January 2002 for Queensland Pride Magazine’s "Sound
Out" column The Three Marys http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/3marys CD: The Three Marys (2001, USA, independent release) "I had to move to Provincetown to find out Mary was a boy’s name" says Mary Jo Paranzino. She moved 5 years ago to Provincetown, Massachusetts with her life partner Mary Abt, because of its reputation as home to a highly creative artistic and literary community which embraces diversity. The two Marys run an accommodation and travel agency during the week and most Sundays they perform with the third Mary, local handyman Jon Arterton at the historic Universalist Meeting Place. The two Marys were with lesbian vocal group Destiny and Jon was a founding member of highly acclaimed The Flirtations. Their music is "accapella with piano" and this live recorded self-titled CD captures their sheer enthusiasm for the power of singing. They run regular vocal workshops encouraging others to find their own voice and to be proud of using it. Their songs encourage political and personal awareness, celebrate gay & lesbian sexuality, and call for freedom of expression. One of three superb originals, "Homophobic Blues" is the stand out. Far from being blue, it’s a tasty tango dedicated by Mary Jo to her homophobic brother Anthony. When performed live, Mary Jo tells how he was the only member of her family who refused to accept her as an honest and loving person. "Provincetown" is in praise of their home, where many gay men and lesbians on holiday walk unselfconsciously hand in hand down the street with their partner – feeling with absolute certainty for the first time in their lives, that they are totally OK just as they are. Send
feedback re this The Three Marys interview |
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Nikki
Madden – songwriter, recording artist and performer
from the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales by phone on 12th
December 2001 by John Frame for Queer Radio. Nikki had just independently
released her CD album “Next Of Skin”, a love song dedicated to her partner of
20 years. That’s the song she discusses in this 4 minute interview – and as a
celebration of monogamy, it is just as vital today as an anthem in support of
marriage equality. I include below a transcript of our interview. In 2012 Nikki released
a new version of “Next Of Skin” on her 4 track CD ep
“Old Chook Music”. I’m very pleased to find that Nikki’s site http://www.nikkimadden.com.au/
includes the following quote: “The song 'Next Of Skin' has received broad acceptance and support.
It’s an up-tempo piece with a catchy hook that’s indicative of the
politically aware, yet life affirming nature of the rest of her songs. She
has a uniquely intimate style of vocal that is very easy on the ear, just
like her spoken voice. John Frame 4ZZZ”. You can buy Nikki’s CDs through that site. Watch two
performances by Nikki from the March 2010 Blue Mountains Festival via her
YouTube account: http://www.youtube.com/user/nextofskin TRANSCRIPT:
JF: Nikki Madden you have a brand new album out and,
being a woman, I expect that your music might be focused towards women? NM: Golly – my life is full of all
sorts of people I must say. It’s very much from a woman’s point of view – it
can’t be helped, it’s the only point of view I can manage. My partner and I
suffer the difficulty of her being similar in gender to me, and we’ve been
together for a real long time and done all the legitimate things that couples
do and yet we find ourselves in a position where somehow our relationship
legally is considered inferior. JF:
In the movie “Jeffrey” the
suggestion is made that all you need to do is get a relationship – that
having a relationship, someone to specifically love helps you focus your
life. Did you find that worked for you? NM:
We’re both people who relate to other people easily and happily as social
creatures and there are people who like to live in a kind of isolation whom I
can understand totally. I’m not one of them. My partner and I are probably
more effective social units, if you like. Goodness me – having to quantify
ourselves as to how effective we are socially seems to be the order of the
day right now. It’s possible soon that we might even be able to put a dollar
value on how valuable we are to the people around us as a mutually supportive
couple. JF: Is that what the title track of the CD “Next Of
Skin” covers though? NM: It’s probably best that I talk
about music, and “Next Of Skin” is 90% love song and 10% voter disaffection.
I wrote “Next Of Skin” to celebrate my partner of 20 years, in the same way
as any lover celebrates their lover – and I was compelled I guess, by the
fact that I’m classified as a folk singer, and that I’m compelled to put in
my love songs some sort of comment about how, despite the fact that we feel
1000% legitimacy in the way we relate to each other, that our relationship is
somehow legally inferior. So I’ve kept the language in the song in the
territory of soft-core salaciousness - so as to make a serious social justice
issue exude some genuine humanity. So I’m absolutely totally selfless from the
point of view of a songwriter that I feel really pleased because – gee, I’m
pretty old, my partner and I have raised a whole bunch of kids who pay more
tax than we do now, which we figure by any measure has to be a successful
contribution as a couple to the fabric of society. None the less, we still
find ourselves in this position of illegitimacy. It’s a love song and it’s also about
monogamy – mmm MONOGAMY. It’s a
choice – monogamy’s a choice, and it’s much underrated in terms of the
language of the poets. Often times an adventurous romantic life can be made
out to be just that – romantic – and monogamy is often made out to be
unromantic. So “Next Of Skin” is very much in praise of the joys of monogamy. JF: I like the fact that there’s my friend Frank, who
lives in northern New South Wales, and he self-describes
as a “serial monogamist” – it certainly works for him, he needs someone that
he loves and trusts in his bed. NM: I really like love. I love
romance and love - I think it works wonders. It does for me. I’m only one of
6 billion, but it does for me. ----------------------------------------------------
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Ji Wallace Australian Olympian Silver Medallist in the Gymnastics
discipline of Trampoline in Sydney in 2000. Interviewed by John Frame by phone from Adelaide for both Queer
Radio on 4ZZZfm and This Way Out in Los Angeles. In the previous week
Australia’s mainstream media widely reported that “Jumping Ji” Wallace had decided to tell the general public about
his identity as a gay man – and his intention to continue to compete. Ji tells us that he had been out to his family and
friends for many years, but that it was a friend who worked with the gay
street press “Melbourne Community Voice” who suggested to him that his story
would be a positive boon to support other athletes in accepting their
sexuality through honesty, as a move to enhance their well being and
performance. He is great fun to chat with and highly inspiring for any
listener - whether
or not they are athletes (or gay). In 1996 Ji was World Champion in the Double Mini-trampoline and
shares his story as a young man obsessed with jumping. In 2005 Ji fully intended to train with the aim of representing
Australia in Bejing 2008, but he did not make the
team and instead travelled to work with Cirque de Soleil. In August 2012 Ji made
smaller but no less significant national mainstream media headlines by
revealing that, like the USA’s Greg Louganis, he was now living with HIV. The
Sydney
Star Observer reported on 8th August 2012 regarding a letter
they had received from Ji, in which he wrote: “I
have been contemplating writing this for a while. I caught a CNN Piers Morgan
interview with Greg Louganis here in London. It made me think and think and I
couldn’t sleep, so I wrote. I felt inspired to write. I too am an Olympic
medal winner living with HIV. I have
never publicly disclosed this before but felt inspired by [the] interview…
and by Anderson Cooper’s ‘coming out’ letter last month describing ‘value in
being seen and heard’ in the face of disturbing violence, bullying,
persecution and condemnation by peers, colleagues, government officials and
worst of all family and friends. I too have been that victim of these
atrocious behaviours. Luckily I managed to come through.” It is vital for the
knowledge to be out there that being gay or being HIV+ does not stop athletes
from being able to perform skillfully, strongly and safely – and they should
be able to do so, free from any discrimination or harassment..
Send
feedback re this Ji Wallace interview |
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C. Jay
Cox USA writer, director and songwriter for the
feature film “Latter Days” (through TLA Releasing) interviewed by phone from
Los Angeles on 2nd December 2004 (using a Sony pick-up and Altec-Lansing headset to MiniDisc).
Latter Days follows the emerging romance between two young men who meet in
Los Angeles and virtually fall in love at first sight, but need to reconcile
some big issues. Aaron is a devout Mormon missionary from a small country
town on his first mission (and residing with three very straight peers) and
Christian is a freelance hedonist who undervalues the connection between love
and sex. This beautifully filmed, carefully scripted and brilliantly acted
film does a power of good by providing superb cinema entertainment and
allowing the audience to experience both empathy and empowerment. I spoke
with C Jay in connection with the late January Australian release of the DVD,
and the cinema screening at Melbourne’s Midsumma
Festival (as a fundraiser for JOYfm). I had watched
the preview USA DVD with the commentary track, and most of what we discuss is
quite different to what you will hear from the commentary on the DVD (and now
also available on Blu-ray – see my recommendation
further below) “Latter Days” deservedly won the
Audience Awards at the Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Toronto gay and lesbian
film festivals. It was the highest grossing gay film of 2004. Topics discussed include (in order): Los Angeles; the film’s success; Mormons in cinema;
being honest; directorial satisfaction; lead actors; acting convincingly;
taking responsibility for roles; the two lead characters; broadly applying to
religion-reinforced rejection of same sex attraction; supporting closeted gay
viewers to embrace sexuality and spirituality; love in its many forms is
godly; suicide as a result of entrenched religious oppression is not a way to
achieve positive change; Jacqueline Bisset; gay
supportive media – especially Armistead Maupin’s “Tales Of the City”; making
your life better through positivism. So which version should you buy on disc? Be aware that the Australian release of the DVD
through “Beyond Home Entertainment” does not include the commentary track. I
recommend ordering either the original TLA Releasing USA version of the DVD
or the superior looking and sounding Blu-ray
edition which was released by TLA in the USA in early 2012. “Latter Days” was
actually filmed as HD Video using professional Canon cameras and the Blu-ray edition perfectly reproduces the original
recording quality. The Blu-ray is in 1920x1080 24p
with a choice of DTS HD Master 5.1 or DTS HD Master stereo audio for the
feature (Dolby 2.0 for the commentary) and includes (in DVD definition) all
of the bonus features that were on the USA DVD which are: 3 music videos,
deleted scenes, “Behind The Scenes” featurette,
“Reason Thirteen” short film by C Jay Cox, subtitles, and the commentary
track by C Jay Cox and the lead actors Wes Ramsay and Steve Sandvoss. Send
feedback re this C Jay Cox interview |
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Sid
Bromley (1920 – 2004) Brisbane’s acclaimed and much loved veteran Jazz Music
aficionado was a long time presenter on 4ZZZfm. For several years the Jazz
Show followed immediately after Queer Radio. Sid alternated presenting the
show with Rod Ferguson (who was sometimes relieved by son Guy). Sid was
always accompanied by his lovely and loving partner Dot. In the 90’s and
early 00’s, the other announcers at 4ZZZfm were very generous in supporting
public awareness of LGBTI rights issues for “Stonewall Day” by allowing 12
continuous hours of queer friendly programming. Some announcers chose to let
the Queer Radio and Dykes On Mykes announcers
present in their stead, and other announcers chose to present their own queer
positive show. Sid did a wonderful job with his 2 hour show on Stonewall Day
28th June 1999 – devoting the first hour to queer friendly
material, and playing a wonderful selection of fine music in the second hour.
Sid always brought
along scripted notes for his commentaries (and, very sensibly, a spare light
bulb to read them with) - and those comments were as valuable as the music
itself. It is lovely to hear and to share his voice. Sid passed away on
11th March 2004, aged 83 – there is a wonderful tribute to Sid by his close
friend and jazz compatriot Bill Haesler at: http://ml.islandnet.com/pipermail/dixielandjazz/2004-March/018532.html
Send
feedback re this Sid Bromley Jazz Show |
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Steve Cohen
singer, songwriter and keyboard artist was
interviewed by phone from Philadelphia, PA, USA, in 1997 by John Frame for
Queer Radio. Steve had just released his debut independent release CD album
“Silent Too Long” – which is a genuine stand out in music by LGBT artists for
lyrical crafting and quality of both musicianship and production. In 2000
Steve released an excellent sophomore album in “I Must Have Been Crazy”
(later re-issued with a new cover as “Crazy”). Steve continues to compose and
self-produce music. His recordings as “Steve Cohen” and more
recently as “Elton Costello”
are available from www.cdbaby.com . Topics discussed include (in order): being an “out’ musician and writing from that
perspective; how his music is received by an audience; being raised Jewish
and coming out to his family; seeing yourself reflected in gay culture;
getting over past habits – like avoiding eye contact with people you’re
attracted to; stepping lyrically into his father’s shoes (“I’ve tried”);
emotionally engaging as well as
uplifting music; body image (“ Want To be A Jock”); the Outmusic
peer support performance and networking group; on personal awareness and
honesty regarding sexuality; being taken seriously as a songwriter and
musician; growing up in Philadelphia as a gay man (or any minority);
Government attitudes to gayness and its effect on well being and health; my
well-deserved praise for Steve’s music.
Steve Cohen’s independent release albums “Silent Too
Long” (1997) and “Crazy” (2000) are available in CD or mp3 format via: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/SteveCohen
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Julian
Clary “the renowned homosexual” performance
artist, comedian, TV celebrity, actor and author, has been interviewed twice
by John Frame for Queer Radio – in 1998 and 2004. Julian
is an absolute joy to chat with, and he is continuing to tour, write and be
generally media active. His highly recommendable autobiography “A Young Man’s
Passage” is thoroughly engaging, hilarious and heart rending. 12th
March 1998: by phone from Adelaide, Australia. Topics:
Adelaide; hosting the nationally telecast ABC TV coverage of the 1995 Sydney
Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade; “labels”; gay parenting; the nitty
gritty of gay sex; as a positive role model and empowered individual; on a
“heterosexual” Mardi Gras?; the Jean Genet play “Splendids”;
film “Carry On Columbus”; on the exploitative nature of pornography; the one
man show, Hugh Jelly gets fit and happy; Russell Churney;
late partner Christopher – love as the meaning of life; features of this
show; Fanny the Wonder Dog staggers on at age 18; Julian’s withdrawal
problems. 10th
March 2004: by phone to Julian on his mobile at Sydney airport. Topics: Changes in treatment of queer men and women?; being
very publicly recognised and accepted; “Rove Live”; performing as Leigh
Bowery in play “Taboo”; Julian’s towering presence; Julian’s celebrity dog
Valerie and cat Gloria; gay marriage; Queensland’s Sodomy Law; 4 years doing
panto in “Cinderella”; Julian’s breakfast radio show; writing “A Young Man’s
Passage”; the “Natural Born Mincer” tour; love
makes sex increasingly special.; Julian Clary’s official website: http://julianclary.co.uk/index.html
Send
feedback regarding these interviews |
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Christine
Johnston
interview recorded 20th May 2003
by John Frame under the fig trees by the Brisbane River in New Farm Park – in
stereo using Sony ECMM907 mic to Sony MZR50 MiniDisc. Christine is talking about her “Decent
Spinster” show (part of the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride festival), in
which she presents a character who clearly inspired
“Eve” for her long running success with The Kransky
Sisters. Christine is a warm
and wonderful person to chat with. We discuss especially her stage character,
her love the musical saw, and her love of birds (as an accomplished mimic of
their calls – with a spectacular finale to this interview). I love the
ambience of this stereo recording – including the birds, the ferry and the
people in the park. “Decent Spinster” was a wonderful show. Christine
continues to perform regularly with the Kransky
Sisters, as well in shows designed especially to entertain and engage
children. Christine Johnston’s official website: http://www.christinejohnston.com/
Send
feedback regarding this interview |
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The Kransky Sisters interview recorded 7th November 2005 by John
Frame via phone – with Mourne and Eve Kransky using a speakerphone at the Queensland Performing
Arts Complex (and the naturally reserved Arva
playing tuba quietly in the background) promoting their “Baggage” tour.. As per the text above,
cut and pasted from the QPAC site, the Kransky
Sisters are the most famous creative artists to emerge from Esk in rural
South East Queensland. They are highly talented and gifted musicians and much
loved entertainers, with a truly unique view of the world. Topics discussed include (in order): playing at the Playhouse; why Arva
lives in the “humpy” rather than the house; would marriage affect their
household?; Perry Slice - local abbatoir worker;
people have their favourite Kransky; how they might
record an album; a potential DVD release; international engagements; “it’s
good to be happy”; new music in “Baggage”; at one with the audience; about Arva’s reticence to talk; the big surprise; merchandising
and farewell. Closing music: The Kransky Sisters live performing “Sexual Healing”. Kransky Sisters official
website: http://www.kranskysisters.com/
Send
feedback regarding this interview |
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Robbie
McEwen interview recorded 27th
October 1999 by John Frame via phone from Robbie’s
parents’ home on the Gold Coast. In July
1999 Robbie had won his first stage of the Tour de France - on the final day,
and in spectacular fashion, on the Champs Elysees. In this same year he was
named Australian Male Road Cyclist of the Year. Robbie would go on to win the
Green Jersey three times in the Tour de France and is loved and respected as
true world star in the sport. He is noted for his playful friendliness, his
courage, his aggressive and fearless style, and especially for his whirlwind
sprint. Robbie has announced that 2011/2012 will be his last season of
professional racing. He lives in Belgium with his wife Angelique and their
three children. I had contacted
Robbie’s manager asking for permission to record an interview while he was
home for a holiday and to race in a criterium at
South Bank. My personal interest was that I was an avid recreational cyclist
with a long term interest in professional racing (I had trained properly, but
only ever raced once) – and that Robbie was a local boy who had earned
international success in the world’s toughest sport. The manager told me that
Robbie was a bit curious as to why the Queer Radio program would want to
speak with him, since he’s not gay (and in fact was about to be married) –
but that he was happy to talk with me nonetheless. I expected that Robbie
would give honest answers around the issue of cycling being known as a very
demanding and somewhat macho sport – in order to counter the attitude which persists
among those sad jerks who think that shaved legs and lycra
equate to weakness. In 1999 there were no
openly gay cyclists in the international sport, and I asked Robbie if he knew
of any and, if so, whether he thought that openness about homosexuality would
make a difference to how that rider was treated by others. Robbie said that
it was common knowledge that a couple of the women professional cyclists were
lesbian, and that they were accepted as such. He didn’t know of any of the
men being privately or openly gay. Robbie suggested that any who were might
be well advised to keep it as an issue within their own Team – that there was
nothing to gain in letting the whole peloton know. As for whether
professional cycling could be considered a sport for wusses, Robbie said he’d
like any detractor to know exactly what his legs feel like as he’s racing
hard. Robbie was totally cool, calm, collected and friendly in our interview.
Since then my heart has skipped extra beats of pride every time he has won a
stage or Green Jersey in the Tour. I hope that Robbie enjoys a wonderful life
with his family in his well earned retirement from the very big league of
professional racing.
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Judy
Carter author of “The Homo Handbook: Getting in Touch
with Your Inner Homo: A Survival Guide for Lesbians and Gay Men” (1996 Lambda
Literary Award Best Humor Book) (Paperback) (Fireside, New York,
1996). I spoke with Judy on 21st October 1999 by phone from her
home in Venice, California, USA. I bought this book from
Trish Weston’s “Red Books” in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley in 1999, and I know that there are many good reasons
to buy and enjoy the "Homo Handbook" - regardless of whether you're
prepared to follow the gradual steps suggested or prefer to quickly come out
to your folks and flatmates by just leaving it on the coffee table. Topics discussed in our interview
include: comedy; identity; coming out to love; Rock Hudson; “outing”; “gaydar”; Donellan; bigotry;
acceptance; dialogue; the “happy homo”
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Sherry Wright, an experienced relationships counsellor with Relationships Australia,
interviewed by John Frame at their Spring Hill, Brisbane premises on 13th March 2001. Relationships Australia is a leading provider
of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.
They aim to support all people in Australia
to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
They are a community-based, not-for-profit Australian
organisation with no religious affiliations. Their services are for all
members of the community, regardless of religious belief, age, gender, sexual
orientation, lifestyle choice, cultural background or economic circumstances.
I expect
that very similar LGBT inclusive relationships counselling services are
available in other countries. In this 3 part interview (a total 40
minutes) we hear Sherry discuss a range of topics which affect us in our
relationships, including:
NB: Each
part is introduced using an appropriate excerpt from one of my favourite
films, “The Opposite Of Sex” (written and directed by Don Roos).
These 3 parts were aired in March 2001 on the Queer Radio program on 4ZZZfm,
and were repeated in January 2003. Send
feedback regarding this interview. |
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Hear
John Frame’s interview with John
Moriarty
author of Liquid
Lover
recorded 26th October 2001 by phone on 26th October
2001, from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Liquid
Lover was published as a paperback in 2001 by world
renowned USA lesbian & gay publishers Alyson
Publications and is described accurately on the cover as "a memoir
of addiction, recovery and hope”. Liquid
Lover is a bare-knuckles recounting of how John came to achieve sobriety
after 27 years of alcohol addiction. He holds nothing back: from his first
alcohol experience at age 10 and rape by an older boy at 11, to discussion of
his alcohol-ruined relationships in adult life. Liquid Lover
celebrates the three years so far of his recovery and offers great hope to
others who can benefit from reading an honest success story. John talks about
his process of recovery – what worked for him and what didn’t.
He doesn’t offer an instant cure, but rather the assurance that the addict
can choose to accept help - when they are ready. Not
at all preachy, with a unique style and very entertaining – and highly
recommended. I gave my promotional copy to my GP’s Stonewall Medical Centre
as a resource for their “GLADS” (gay and lesbian alcohol and drug support)
peer group (which was instrumental in keeping me clean and sober since
January 1994). I bought my own copy, which I apparently permanently loaned
out to a friend. So I am happy to find that a tenth anniversary “eBook”
version has been released in 2011 available from amazon.com
and Barnes
& Noble. I was also lucky to find a good second hand print copy. You
are welcome to choose from two
versions of my interview – the dialogue only (18 minutes) or the 23
minute special which aired on Queer Radio in November 2001 (which includes 3
songs : Maddy Prior “Another Drink”, Dead Kennedys
“Too Drunk To Fuck” and Doris Day “Stepping Out With My Baby”) Hear the 18 minute intervew:
Hear the 23 minute special:
·
“Another Drink”
(Maddy Prior, 1978 Chrysalis Records LP “Changing
Winds”), “Too Drunk To Fuck” (Dead Kennedys, Alternative Tentacles CD “Give
Me Convenience Or Give Me Death”), “Stepping Out With My Baby” (Doris Day,
Columbia CD “Bright And Shiny”). Send
feedback regarding this John Moriarty interview 26th October 2001 |
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David
Brown – www.davidbrownmusic.com, New York songwriter, vocalist and musician chatting
with John Frame (www.queerradio.org)
in Brisbane, Australia - via Skype video - regarding David's newly released
4th independent CD album "This Is My House". David is defiantly and
spiritedly gay and his musical and vocal style is distinctly original. All
his albums have been highly entertaining, empowering and beautifully produced
- and this could well be his best. In this half hour we talk about most of
the tracks (including the "super
gay anthem" "Nothing Taboo"), and more besides. Whether
you're or not you're already a fan, you will gain an insight into David's
persona and music, and you will be able to buy the “This Is My House” album
as either a CD or mp3 download from cdbaby.com (or Amazon etc) with total
confidence. This is my third interview with David, but the first for both of
us using Skype - and it was recorded via Supertintin
software. There are only a few glitches in the video, and a minute or two
where I’m out slightly of focus (a blessing for some!) – but
I’m very happy with how this turned out. If you like it please
send feedback.
Or Watch the video (recorded via Skype and SuperTintin software):
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Hear John
Frame’s interview with Robert
Urban
recorded 28th June 2003 by phone from New York City, combined with
the music from his 2003 independent release CD album “Rock Widow” as a
special which aired on the Queer Radio program (4ZZZfm Brisbane) in 2 parts,
on 9th and 16th July 2003. Songs
included, in order: “Compulsion”, “The Cage”, “You
Don’t Wanna Know”, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”,
“Waiting For Rome To Burn”, “Ode To Central Park”, “No Love In Sight” and
“Deserted Cities Of The Heart”. Robert Urban is an energetic, empowered, broadly
informed, talented and very well practised guitar exponent, trained operatic
tenor, keyboard artist, composer, songwriter, music teacher, producer (as
Urban Productions) and journalist (for www.afterelton.com
). He’s also a devoted community activist. Read his bio, hear audio samples
and watch some YouTube video of his performances via Robert’s website www.roberturban.com
Rock Widow was his fourth, and remains his most recent CD album.
All four CDs are available for online purchase from independent music
specialist CDbaby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RobertUrban
. Rock Widow is proof positive of Robert’s skills as both a musician and
producer, and is guaranteed to give your HiFi
system a damn good work out. Robert Urban supervises the Gay Guitarists
Worldwide Yahoo Group: “the
world's leading international internet networking group for gay - lesbian -
bi - transgender electric & acoustic guitarists, glbt
bassists and glbt players of all akin stringed
instruments. GLBT - friendly players & fans are also welcome.” Hear the complete 70 minute special:
Send
feedback regarding this Robert Urban interview 28th June 2003 |
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Hear John
Frame’s interview with David
Graham
(“Farmer
Dave”)
recorded 1st December 2006, by the
Brisbane River in New Farm Park (see my photo above). David
became a national celebrity in 2006, aged 27, as an openly gay contestant on
Australian Big Brother – resident for 99 days and coming within a whisker of
winning, mostly due to his honesty and warm, compassionate personality. He’s
a born and raised passionate, well educated and dedicated farmer from the
Goondiwindi region in South-East Queensland. David made full use of the Big
Brother profile to actively highlight issues such as the impact of depression
and suicide on rural men in particular, and also gay hate violence. In early
2006 in Brisbane’s gay ghetto Fortitude Valley, David was savagely bashed and
left for dead by a gang who had committed a series of cowardly ambush attacks
on lone gay men. In a late
2006 bio on his website David wrote:”Truth is, I was
bashed by a hate-filled gang earlier in the year and left for dead. As well
as having a lifetime of self denial due to societal conformity, atop a fear
that too many Australians had a negative view of those who didn’t ‘fit in’.
So I had waited long enough for someone to show Australia that it isn’t
necessary to ‘fit in’, that living your own life happily is what is truly
important. I left my happiness to share it with Australia by way of a show
that takes the lives of a select few into the homes of millions.” David emerged from Big Brother to learn that the farm
was crippled with drought, his house had been burgled, and that his favourite
dog had died. He concludes his bio by writing: “The fact is, however, I’ve met thousands of people whose
lives I was able to touch and dozens who say I made theirs liveable, and that
was beyond my expectation and far outweighs the pain of being separated from
my happiness here on the farm with Sherif and my
family.” Since then David has aggressively and creatively
pursued marketing opportunities to keep his farm viable – and has engaged in
celebrity programs such as “Dancing With The Stars”. He donated the prize
from winning a celebrity quiz show to help fund the “Long Reach For Outreach”
project by Brisbane Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays – which
distributed comprehensive information packs to all schools and community
health centres in Queensland. On the day of our interview, 1st December
2006, David Graham was in Brisbane as a guest of the Queensland Association
for Healthy Communities, to host the World AIDS Day event in Queens Park
later that evening. David Graham is the worthy subject of an “Australian Story” half hour
documentary feature which airs on ABC1
TV on Monday 18th October 2010 at 8pm. Topics discussed in our
interview: Openly
gay celebrities / myths and stereotypes / happy being gay / value of drying
and talking / gay telephone counselling / seeking help / family / beauty /
Big Brother. Hear the interview:
Send
feedback regarding this David Graham interview 1st December 2006 |
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Hear John
Frame’s interview with Peter Tatchell recorded 28th August 2001, by
phone from London. Australian
born British queer activist Peter Tatchell, of non-violent
direct action group OUTRAGE talks about his upcoming trip to Brisbane in
October 2001 where he proposed the arrest of visiting Zimbabwe president
Robert Mugabe. Peter also talks about the importance of seeing the Queer
Agenda as encompassing all human rights issues – and about coping with the
hostile repercussions of his open activism. Topics discussed: Part 1 (12m 11s): The British Commonwealth
Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as an opportunity to highlight Mugabe’s
abuse of power / Mugabe’s use of gay-hate to deflect attention away from more
serious political and human rights concerns in Zimbabwe / Peter’s role in
Zimbabwe’s fight for freedom from white minority rule and Mugabe’s turnaround
since he gained power / The Mugabe regime’s abuse of rights – extending well
beyond gay-hate / What is Mugabe so afraid of with regard to homosexuality? /
The anti-gay laws in most British Commonwealth nations are a direct legacy of
past British rule. Part 2 (10m 49s):
Why Australia has a moral and legal obligation to arrest Mugabe / How
Peter copes with the repercussions of his direct actions / The March 2001
attempted arrest of Mugabe in Brussels and its resultant benefits / Peter
suggests that the Queer Agenda should include all human rights issues. Peter Tatchell’s official website: www.petertatchell.net Hear the interview:
Send
feedback regarding this Peter Tatchell interview 28th
August 2001 |
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Hear John Frame’s voxpop
recordings from the “Love-In
For Love Equality” picnic rally on a
perfect Saturday afternoon, 13th February 2005, at The rally was attended by local community
groups and individuals as well as by a busload of outspoken and proud youth
from the Toowoomba region. I spoke with youth and other men and women about
the need for an equal age of consent:
Send
feedback regarding these Love-In For Love Equality voxpops |
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Stan
Ridgway at Brisbane Tavern 23rd February 1997, about to send his
manager, Jackie "Teak" Lazar, off crowd-surfing. Jackie eventually
returned safely, but without his pants. (Photo
by John Frame) 3 interviews (1996, 1997 and 2002) recorded by John Frame with the
USA’s duly acclaimed singer/songwriter Stan Ridgway, Plus a chat with 3 musicians in his ’97 touring band –
drummer Joe Berardi, guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist David Sutton: (1)
A luxury length – 35 minute – relaxed chat with Stan Ridgway recorded 20th
September 1996
by phone from Sydney (recorded in the 4ZZZ Newsbooth).
Stan was in Australia to promote his new album Black Diamond and to finalise a local distribution deal for the
Birdcage label with TWA Records. This was before my experience of the internet,
but Stan was already well established in the media and aware of its capacity
for disseminating disinformation. We don’t quite talk about “life, the
universe and everything”, but we go close – and it’s all good: (2)
A face to face interview with Stan
Ridgway recorded 23rd February
1997
in the Brisbane Tavern after the show (see the photo above and more links to
photos further below) (Recorded using a mono Sennheiser
MKE40 mic to a Sony Walkman cassette). I was not surpised
to find that Stan Ridgway is just as personable in person. He talks about the
difficulty in getting record company sponsorship to come here (since
Australia is only 3% of the global music market) / starting his own label /
the “Film Songs” Australian Tour e.p. / working
with Mitchell Froome / the separation (with no
animosity) from Wall Of Voodoo / how recovering from the ‘flu affected the
show’s set list: A chat with 3 world renowned musicians from
Stan’s band – drummer Joe Berardi, guitarist Marc Ribot and
bassist David Sutton, recorded in the Brisbane Tavern after the 23rd
February 1997 show. They all say what a joy it is to work and to tour with
Stan. The closing comment is by Ken from “Mr Blonde” (the opening act for the
tour):
View full size jpg files of the three
photos that I took at
Stan’s 23rd February 1997 show at the Brisbane Tavern, using a little
Ricoh automatic 35mm and 400ASA black and white film: (1) www.queerradio.org/Stan_Ridgway_Brisbane_Tavern_23rdFebruary1997_x_John_Frame_1of3.jpg (~2mb) (2) www.queerradio.org/Stan_Ridgway_Brisbane_Tavern_23rdFebruary1997_x_John_Frame_2of3.jpg (~2mb) (3) www.queerradio.org/Stan_Ridgway_Brisbane_Tavern_23rdFebruary1997_x_John_Frame_3of3.jpg (~2mb) (3)
Hear John Frame’s 12th August 2002 interview with Stan Ridgway.
Recorded
by phone from Los Angeles. I spoke with Stan at the time of the release of
his album “Holiday In Dirt” – which he says is a compilation of “new, rare
and unreleased” material – all of it meeting Stan’s high standard of
excellence. Stan Ridgway lives in Los
Angeles with Pietra Wexstun,
his bandmate, musical collaborator and charming
wife. Stan has toured twice to Australia with his band, playing the
Queensland University Refectory on 27th February 1987, and the
Brisbane Tavern on 23rd February 1997. The 1993 re-release of his
first solo CD “The Big Heat” includes the bonus track “Don’t Stop The Show”, which was recorded live, direct from the
desk to tape, at Queensland University and is an accurate example of that
astounding show (among my top five live performance favourites). Topics discussed: - Stan shares the
bone crunching story behind “Bing
Can’t Walk”, made for Mitchell Froom’s
soundtrack to the film “Slam Dance” / David
Sutton – one of the cutest and most talented bassists on the planet (my
words) / the wonderful story of how Stan met and fell in love with Pietra Wexstun /
the secret to their enduring love of life / Stan’s album of stylish lounge
songs “The Way I Feel Today” which
he made especially for his mother (true story) / the CD “Live! 1989 The Ancient Town of Frankfurt” a superb performance
from Stan’s “Mosquitos” tour, made from a fan’s
donated bootleg cassette recording / needing a “music nurse” to keep the archives effectively organised / singing
“Don’t Drop The Soap*”
especially for the soundtrack to John
Waters film “Pecker” which Stan says is “a highlight of my career” / Stan
praises the Portland Oregon online indie music specialist www.cdbaby.com
from where most of his CD’s are available (some exclusively) / Stan’s station ID’s
for 4ZZZfm – including a great failed first effort, and perfect second
take. NB:
I love listening back to this recording made in my kitchen at home. I love it
in part because I can hear the life in action of dogs I loved (Dax, Wombat and Basil) and of my older brother Paul, who
have all since passed on and their memories are cherished. I love it also
because Stan is a one off, always genuine, and great
fun to chat with – both by phone and in person (my Brisbane 1997 face to face
interview is yet to be transferred from cassette). *“Don’t Drop The Soap” (vocals by Stan Ridgway, music and production by
Stewart Copeland, lyrics by John Waters) is available via iTunes in the USA
from the “Pecker” soundtrack album – however on iTunes they’ve misspelled
Stan’s surname as “Ridgeway”. Send
feedback regarding any of these Stan Ridgway interviews Visit Stan’s site http://www.stanridgway.com/ and join his email list. In August 2010 Stan released his
newest album “Neon Mirage” and began to tour
in support
– read his detailed notes about “Neon Mirage” and hear the whole album as
streamed audio. Buy “Neon Mirage” and most of Stan’s past releases, including
complete live concerts, via
http://www.stanridgway.com/purchase/index.html
. In February 2011 Stan also made a complete recording of his 25th February
1987 show at Byron Bay, Australia available for mp3 purchase through CDbaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/StanRidgway
. In March 2011 Pietra Wexstun
released the mp3 single “Take It Away” from her upcoming Hecate’s Angels
album “All That Glitters”: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pietrawexstunhecatesange |
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Hear John Frame’s interview with Gareth
first contacted me in early 1999 offering free CD-R copies of his excellent
gay related audio documentaries for use as a resource on Queer Radio. On the
CD covers he described himself as “a twenty-six year old independent producer living in In this
interview Gareth talks about his audio work in particular. Visit his site http://www.gareth-watkins.com/
(Gareth can be commissioned for portrait photography, sound production, sound
“snapshots” and digital storytelling.
Send
feedback regarding this Gareth Watkins interview 26th July 1999 |
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Hear John Frame’s interview with In this
special, which aired 14th February 2001 on Queer Radio, we hear
the interview combined with related music from Matt Yee’s 1999 independent
release CD album “Every Facet Of My Heart”. Matt is a charming and
refreshingly honest man, with a great voice and the spirit of Oscar Petersen
at his fingertips. Visit his homepage at www.mattyee.com In our interview we discuss: love,
identity, cultural heritage, self-image – and music (featured tracks: Mary Tyler Moore medley,
Every Facet Of My Heart, I’ll Reinvent Myself, Me Too, In The Arms Of My
Beloved, You’re Still The One, Auntie’s Aloha, Can’t Help Lovin’
Dat Man, and Kaleohano.)
Send
feedback regarding this Matt Yee interview 30th January 2001 |
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Hear John Frame’s interview with In our interview we discuss: Paul Capsis’ AFI “Best Supporting Actor” nominated role in the
1998 film “Head On” (based on “Loaded” by Christos Tsiolkas)
/ big decisions on career directions / how his openness as gay has affected
his opportunities / Paul’s youthful obsession with Australian queen of pop
Marcia Hines / complete song “(Without) You” (2001
Groovescooter Records compilation “Refashioned”) /
co-hosting the SBS 2001 Eurovision Song Contest coverage / his new project
with Barrie Kosky / the Brecht piece as Marlene
Dietrich with Gerry Connolly / being “married to the stage” (his Mum’s words
from our ’94 interview) / Paul’s joyous 2 year relationship / the complete
song “Feel The Beat Of My Heart” (with Libby
Gore) from the ABC TV 1998 McFeast Mardi Gras
Special (this song originated in the Australian musical “The Emerald
Room”).
Read the transcript of this
interview here (html file 22k) Send
feedback regarding this Paul Capsis interview and
music 31st May 2001 |
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Hear John Frame’s interview with In this interview special we hear
specifically related songs from “Want Two” and
also “Goodnight Sweetheart” from the “McGarrigle Hour” CD and discuss: “The Art Teacher” / introduction and
welcome / the Leonard Cohen tribute shows / The McGarrigles
/ family background / “Goodnight Sweetheart” (Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Rufus and Martha Wainwright)
/ sister Martha and what it’s like
singing with his family / how Rufus feels about his own voice / openness
about his sexuality / “Little Sister” / his style of intricacy in musical
arrangement and production / “Waiting For A Dream” / Elton John’s praise and
support as trusted friend / having led a very full life and knowing what he
wants / “Crumb
By Crumb” (excerpt) / queer
readings of his lyrics / “The One You Love” / the song Peach Tree is a
bout combating loneliness with fantasy – it’s about waiting / “Peach Trees” / the song Gay Messiah explained as a real prayer
for deliverance / “Gay Messiah” /
talk about Montreal and Canada / “Hometown Waltz” / talk re 5th Feb
2005 Tivoli show with the McGarrigle Family /
potential for a solo tour in the future to include Brisbane? / farewell and close. I’m not kidding at all in saying that Rufus is a beautiful
man – inside and out. In September 2009 a live CD and
DVD (and CD+DVD) “Milwaukee At Last!” were released – this performance
is from the same “Release The Stars” tour which we saw at The Tivoli in
Brisbane on 27th January 2008. Definitely one of the most dynamic
and enjoyable shows I’ve ever been blessed to attend, and with Rufus and his
band relaxed and faultless throughout. I couldn’t believe our good fortune
that such an extravagant show was happening in such a modest sized (and
priced) venue. Send
feedback regarding this Rufus Wainwright interview and music special 8th
January 2005 |
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Hear John Frame’s interview with Canadian
born and raised, American journalist, author and humourist
David Rakoff. Recorded (while I was calmly drowning in his
eyes) on 28th August 2008 in his suite at Hotel Rendezvous,
Brisbane. David was a guest of the Brisbane Writers Festival and was touring
to support his 2008 novel "Don't Get Too Comfortable" (published
in Australia by Scribe). David
was one of a triumvirate of great gay USA authors on the Writers Festival
circuit in Australia at the time (in company with his friend David Sedaris
and Augusten Burroughs). He appeared at Avid Reader
later this day. David’s writing is superb entertainment and he’s just as
lovely to chat with. Note added 14th August
2012: David Rakoff
died, aged 47, in New York on Thursday 9th August 2012 (see
the New York Times obituary). May he rest in peace.
I had no idea until very recently that
David had been a long term survivor of cancer (initially treated at 22 for Hodgkins Lymphoma, and symptom free for two decades). It
was in an ABC Radio National broadcast of "This American Life" that
I heard him sounding very weak, but being totally upfront about how he
terribly he was losing that battle. David Rakoff
leaves of legacy of uniquely insightful humour and a warm glow in the heart
of anyone who was privileged to meet him.
Send
feedback regarding this David Rakoff interview 28th
August 2008 |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with Canadian author and memoirist Wayson Choy. Recorded 11th
September 2009 in Wayson's room at the Mantra
Hotel, I spoke with Wayson regarding "Not Yet - a memoir of living and almost dying", published in Australia by Scribe http://www.scribepublications.com.au/book/notyet, which they describe as “Framed by Wayson Choy’s two brushes with death, Not Yet is an intimate and insightful study of one man’s reasons for living.” Wayson says it's really a love story - celebrating the love of his extended families who helped him to survive and recover. He defines family as being those who love you and he explains why. Wayson says that for gay men in particular it was important in the worst of the AIDS crisis that people knew those who loved and supported them were indeed family. Wayson tells us that he
had relationships with a few women when he was young and was influenced by
the Freudian view that homosexual attraction can be a passing phase, but he
soon realised he was gay and says that at 70 he's still firmly attracted
to men and happy about it. Wayson speaks about
his first journey to China, to the birth town of Confucius, and yet finding
no impulse to link to that culture, saying he feels instead that he
is "in between" - being Canadian, Chinese and
gay - bridging cultures. Wayson affirms the right
of anyone to be who they are and he celebrates "fusion" in
multiculturalism in Wayson jokes that he
encourages others to indulge in the good things of life, especially food -
but admits that overindulgence is almost certainly what had caused his
own heart problems. Wayson is clearly looking after
himself – he’s a very handsome picture of health.
Send
feedback regarding this Wayson Choy interview 11th
September 2009 |
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Hear John Frame and Scott Grimmett presenting 4ZZZ’s Stonewall Day Queer Radio Special 28th June 1998
(6-9pm). This is a mono recording of the broadcast
(4ZZZfm’s stereo signal was very weak and noisy at that time) which was
sourced from an AIWA deck and stored on VHS HiFi
tape. Part 1 of
2:
Pansy Division “Breakin’ The Law”; Stephen Fry
“Homophobia” (from “Moab Is My Washpot”); Klaus
Nomi "Lightning Strikes"; Chumbawamba
“Outsider”; Wayne County “Toilet Love”; Boy George “Funtime”;
Falling Joys “Universal Mind”; Scott Silverman (stand up comic from “Out
There 2” TV special); Billy Bragg “Sexuality”; Li’l
Fi and the Delta Rhythm Kings “Love Me Like A Man”;
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Chorus “Moon River”; Jesse Hultberg
“My Friend Wants A Baby”; Sam Phillips “These Boots Are Made For Walking”;
Stephen Fry “Music” (from “Moab Is My Washpot”);
Fred Schneider “Monster” Part 2 of
2:
Sparks “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of
Us”; Jimmy Somerville “Love Thing”; Steve Cohen “Silent Too Long”; John
Forster “In The Closet”; Isis “Best Boyfriend”; Spandau Ballet “To Cut A Long
Story Short”; William Burroughs and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
"Words Of Advice For Young People"; The Flirtations "Something
To Talk About"; Bloodhound Gang “I Wish I Was Queer So I Could Get
Chicks”; David Byrne “Now I’m Your Mom”; Sandpit “Greater Expectations”; Pansy
Division “Ring Of Joy”; Dave Hall “Can’t Get Enough Of You”; Wally Gunn
“Tongue Tied”; Kirsty MacColl
"Angel"; Jesse Hultberg “Constant Thing”;
Mischa Spaliansky
“Masculine – Feminine”. Send
feedback regarding this Stonewall Radio special 28th June 1998 |
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Hear John Frame’s
11th July 1994 recording of the Queer Radio interview with David Stevens –
playwright and screenwriter of “The Sum Of Us”. This is the first celebrity
interview I was involved with, and while I’m happy to take full credit for
the recording, I only ask a couple of minor questions - the interview was
expertly prepared and conducted by Queer Radio’s Ian Grey and by Shane
McConnell. Recorded in the Brisbane Hilton to cassette tape using the Sennheiser MKE2002 binaural stereo microphone
system, on the dummy head. This system gives genuine surround sound when using non-enclosed headphones – you
will be sitting in a close circle, with me to your left, David left of
centre, Shane right of centre and Ian to the right. David Stevens is an acclaimed
multi-talented actor/writer/director with a wealth of life experience. He
spent many years in The Sum Of Us was groundbreaking in that it achieved
what its writer hoped, in being a financially successful bigger-budget film
in which the audience (whether straight or gay) decidedly "wants the boy
to get the boy". David tells us about the background for the father
character, Harry: Read my
two Internet Movie Data Base
review comments here
and here Read my
comparison of the 2 Australian DVD versions with the superior 2003 MGM
Send
feedback regarding this David Stevens interview 11th July 1994 |
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Hear John Frame’s 6th January 1999 interview with Elliott Smith (August 6,
1969 – October 21, 2003) - recorded in the
4ZZZ newsbooth by phone from Elliott was touring Elliott is just about the most laid back
person I’ve ever interviewed – equal parts humble and genuinely sweet. I went
to this interview just assuming that, as one of the two leading members in a
queer-core band, Elliott would be gay. You’ll hear that some way into this
interview I ask Elliott whether his openness about his queer identity has
affected his ability to function as an artist? He
responds calmly, but a little surprised, “MY queer identity??” …”I’m not gay.
Neil Gust from Heatmiser is gay - I’m straight. I
might be a lot happier if I was gay but!” I apologise, and he says “Almost
half of my friends are gay. It’s not an insult in the least.” While I had personal reservations about the
music from Quasi in their own set, they were fantastic in backing Elliott for
his. The world lost one of its most gifted musicians and songsmiths
when Elliott died in 2003 – see Wikipedia.
Send
feedback regarding this Elliott Smith 6th January 1999 interview |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with
Send
feedback regarding this Nancy Lambert interview 28th November 1999 |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with “Get Real” screenwriter/playwight Patrick Wilde. Recorded
by phone from Patrick Wilde wrote “Get Real” for the
screen, based on his 1992 play “What’s Wrong With Angry” – which was written
at a time when the age of consent for sex between males was 21 in the We hear Patrick discuss: Get Real / Queer
As Folk / actors in gay roles / encouraging awareness of gay youth / the
film’s big budget look (on a comparatively low budget) / ensuring realistic
reactions from the characters / homophobia at home / it’s about love, not
just sex / Get Real’s value as a cinema experience / being happy with the
film / Patrick’s upcoming projects.
Send
feedback regarding this Patrick Wilde 17th February 2000 interview |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with Jonathan is disarmingly handsome and charming
– and very honest. We hear him discuss many aspects of the film, as well as
its translation from the play, and he discusses his own experiences -
including being gay and a school teacher. The DVD release of the film did not
include a commentary track – but this is the ideal substitute. Jonathan
continues to write for stage, most recently "Canary"(2010), and to
great acclaim and success for televison with the
savagely hilarious "Gimme Gimme
Gimme" (3 series - 1999, 2000, 2001) and the
wildly entertaining and unique "Beautiful People" (2 series - 2008
& 2009) see Wikipedia
for details.
Send
feedback regarding this Jonathan Harvey interview 2nd August 1996 |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with We hear the following songs (in this
order): “Breathing”, “In November”, “Fairytales” (live at The Healer), “Tug O
War”, “Treehouse”, “The Wind”, “Some Company” and
“Anywhere”. "Some Company" is Skott’s third album of original music – following
"Swimming Afer Dark" (1999) and
"Anything Worth Mentioning" (2001). In June 2009 his fourth
original album “The Cottage Sessions” was released in download format (from
various distributors). All his recordings are available from iTunes and most
as CDs or downloads from www.cdbaby.com His own website is www.skottfreedman.com
Send
feedback regarding this Skott Freedman 5th
February 2003 special |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with Australian composer and actor David Page. This interview was recorded 24th
May 2004 at The Bowery in “David Page is best known as one of the
Page family’s extraordinary sons – composer, actor, drag artiste, and a
senior collaborator with Bangarra Dance Theatre. Little Davy Page was an
all-singing, all-dancing sensation; at the tender age of 13 he appeared on
Countdown and The Paul Hogan Show and in 1975 he became the only Australian
artist to be signed to the Atlantic record label alongside greats such as
Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. David Page is outrageous, cheeky and a
wellspring of beautiful energy.” For a good brief biography go to the
indigenous pride site “Share Our Pride” David
discusses: family and music; his show “Page 8”; gayness and family
Send
feedback regarding this David Page 24th May 2004 interview |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with veteran gay media activist Greg Gordon from This Way Out. Greg is the Coordinating Producer of “This
Way Out” the weekly half hour lesbian and gay community radio magazine which
is produced in Los Angeles and distributed to 175 local community radio
stations around the world. This interview was recorded 16th
June 2006 from In our
thoroughly enjoyable half hour chat Greg discusses: his
earliest local radio experience in 1974 on KPFK (the “IMRU” show);
establishing “Inside Out”: which became “This Way Out”; the value of queer specific community/public radio;
satisfaction as the key reward and motivation; expressing self-confidence in
shows; perceived progress since the mid-seventies; collective vs anchor options for presenting queer programming; his
career highlights (including the 1979 March On Washington for Lesbian and Gay
Rights); love in his life – especially for pets (including his late loved
corgi Fox); being scared shitless of the future (the effect of financial
concerns for TWO); the future need for queer specific and presented shows;
his dream to die at the editing table (hopefully a very long time from now).
Send
feedback regarding this Greg Gordon 16th June 2006 interview |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with Chris
Freeman from Pansy Division. Chris is the band’s co-founder, co-writer,
co-vocalist, bass guitarist. Recorded midday 11th July 2009
by speakerphone from In our 27 minute relaxed chat we hear Chris
talk about how he’s seen the world change these last 20 years; stereotyping;
the band’s sometimes confronting lyrics; their love songs; the fact that he
really tried to be straight as a young man; the reality of ongoing homophobia
in the world; the need for vigilance in activism and to acknowledge the
progress that’s been made; guitarist Joel Reader as a great contributing
asset to the band; and finally the “Jonah”
series of YouTube webisodes (for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE7lR90UacA )
which Chris co-created with Michael Carmona to promote the new album.
Send
feedback regarding this Chris Freeman 11th July 2009 interview |
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Hear John Frame’s
interview with John
Marsden openly
gay lawyer and internationally acclaimed equal rights activist from
Campbelltown, New South Wales. Recorded 30th November 2001. I
spoke with John Marsden when he was guest speaker at a dinner by John
Marsden (3rd January
1942 to 17th May 2006) had, by the time of
this interview, been fighting for 7 gruelling years and had spent millions of dollars
in his defamation law suit against the SEVEN television network. In 1994, at
the time of The Wood Royal Commission, New South Wales Parliamentarians
Franca Arena and Deidre Grusovin notoriously
grossly abused “Parliamentary Privilege” to air unsubstantiated accusations
of paedophilia. John Marsden tells us that those accusations led directly to
at least 27 deaths by suicide – including Judge Yeldham.
John had the courage to fight back, even when the SEVEN network aired
material claiming that he was paedophile. John’s legal action was upheld in
2001, but SEVEN appealed, claiming that since he was a promiscuous
homosexual, Marsden did not have a reputation which could be defamed. As per Wikipedia :” In 2002, the NSW Court of Appeal ruled
that the compensation payout should have included consideration for hurt
feelings, and ordered a new trial on damages,] Marsden and
Seven subsequently came to a confidential out-of-court settlement, estimated
by various parties as anywhere from $6 million to $9 million”. The
physical and emotional stress of the ordeal ruined his health (he died in May
2006 from stomach cancer). It injured his family. There was verbal abuse and
vandalism. Many people in the lesbian and gay community turned their backs.
It cost him his savings, some friends, many clients, and most devastatingly
the love of his life, who walked out. John tells us
that he was not fighting to clear his own name, but to ensure that other high
profile gay men and lesbians were not easy targets for similar attacks by
homophobic media. John encourages lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgenders to be high-profile, well organised
and supportive – especially for the sake of youth, who deserve to know
without a doubt that it will be OK if they are gay. John Marsden was a lovely
man and will be remembered as one of
(intro and outro music
“Enough Is Enough’ by Chumbawamba from their
“Anarchy” CD) Send
feedback regarding this John Marsden 30th Nov 2001 interview |
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Hear our interview
with Tory Dobrin artistic
director of The Trocks (Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo) recorded 16th September 2002 by
John Frame for Queer Radio, Tory
and I sat in the Plaza of the Queensland Performing Arts Complex – The Trocks performed at QPAC’s
Lyric Theatre from 25th to 29th September. It was their
first visit to Topics
discussed (in order): Who the show appeals to / what’s on offer
/ hamming it up vs parody / audience response /
protocol and comedy / the machismo of “Mythologia”
and the masculinity of The Trocks / freedom of
personal expression / music / the mid ‘70s “Gary McDonald Show” and its comic
sketch of the Australian Ballet in the USSR performing “Cocky Lake” / young
men seeing The Trocks as their dance company of
choice / the film “Billy Elliott” – acting on your dream / the “out and
proud” heterosexual dancer / Emmanuel’s parents and the ’87 Paris show /
surviving the Stonewall era / the legitimacy of The Trocks
/ ballet technique is not gender-specific, the difference between male and
female styles / individual joy in performance and as part of the troupe / a
family experience. They returned to
Brisbane in November 2005 and again in November 2009. Send
feedback regarding this Tory Dobrin of The Trocks Sept 2002 interview |
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Hear my interview
with This hour in company with Stephen Fry was an exceptional
privilege, and a pure joy. Stephen is completely friendly, charming and
honest. Our complete edited interview is posted here for your convenience as a
complete single mp3 file or in four parts (which is how it was aired over 4
weeks on Queer Radio). There’s a list of the topics discussed in each part.
I’ve heard many interviews with Stephen, and quite humbly I believe this is
the best of them – especially because he is speaking with full confidence to
an audience which is 100% queer friendly. Big thanks to the Bonzo Dog Band for
the music “Tubas In The Moonlight”. I highly recommend the 2006 live concert
DVD “Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - 40th Anniversary Celebrations”
(available from Amazon etc) – in which Stephen does a fantastic job of
standing in for the late Vivian Stanshall on
several of their classics – most notably “Rhinocratic
Oaths” (watch their
promo video on YouTube). On 31st October 2011 when Stephen was performing at
Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre in the “QI Live” show, I was very fortunate to be
seated front row, right of centre, and I took the above acceptable photo
using only the very bright existing light (via a Fuji W3 3D camera). Love you
Stephen. You can
hear the interview as either one complete carefully edited 55 minute
mp3 (which includes our brief preliminary chat) or as 4 equally carefully
edited parts:
“Word
Power”; Wilde and the miners; altruistic morality; Professor Trefusis (from “Paperweight”)
National
Coming Out Day in the UK (“Star Trek” Quote - “please help me”); hosting the
BAFTA Awards & acknowledging partners publicly; the film “Billy Elliott” (which
won best film In 2001); “Wilde” on DVD; Vanessa Redgrave’s normal family
life; Stephen’s family is proud of him; the value of being publicly accepted
as openly gay; thanks & farewell. Read the ABRIDGED TRANSCRIPT - 2,400 words, 34k html file: http://www.queerradio.org/FryQueerRadio4ZZZ.htm Send
feedback regarding this Stephen Fry interview |
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Queer Radio’s 1st birthday show –
as aired 29th September 1993 (That was a few months before I started
with the show) Presenters were Gai Lemon, Michael Carden, Jeff Ward and Ej Scott, who all took turns at panel operation,
plus Ian Grey. Studio guests this night were Fr Theo, from the Anglican
parish of Hear the whole show in
2 parts of 1 hour 20 minutes each (as 64kps mono 28mb mp3 files):
This
program includes the following mini autobiographies (each
available below as 64kps mono, ~ 5mb mp3 files): The Jeff Ward Story, The Fr Theo Story, The Ej
Scott Story, The Michael Carden Story and
The Gai Lemon Story. |
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Hear our studio
interview with Margret RoadKnight live to air 10th June 1998 by John Frame for Queer
Radio on 4ZZZfm, For 20 years I knew we shared a music teacher, Harry Lebler, but I met Margret for the first time at the Labor Day Fair at Albert Park and invited her to be a
guest on the show.
Margret was immediately pleased to accept – but declined the invitation to
perform, knowing that such situations are always compromised in some way.
Instead she wanted to bring in some of her music on CD and enjoy a relaxed
chat. In these 36 minutes we get to know Margret and enjoy three excellent
tracks “Beat Out That Rhythm On A Drum” and “Disposable Society” from the 1993 CD “Fringe Benefits” and also
“Raluph Through The Looking Glass” from the 1994 CD
of childrens songs by John Shortis
“Acappella Cinderella”. Please note: In this stereo
recording of the broadcast - from a portable ghetto blaster to HiFi VHS tape - we hear how remarkably clear and dynamic
4ZZZ’s signal was at that time. These days the “loudness wars” have seen 4ZZZ
applying heavy compression and limiting in order to compete in pure volume
with the commercial stations. The vitality of voices and splendour in music
has now gone from radio and it will never be the same again.
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Hear our interview
with Judith
Lucy 21st May 2009 by John Frame for Queer Radio on 4ZZZfm, I
recorded the interview at home using a speakerphone (the scrabbling and
puffing sounds in the background are our two dogs wrestling on the veranda).
We hear Judith speak with her trademarked candid humour on a range of topics
and she gets duly serious about the ongoing men’s football team culture of
using and abusing women. We find that Judith is an old friend of Lea DeLaria and a big fan of David Sedaris (see their
interviews further below). This is probably the fifth time I’ve interviewed
Judith since 1995 – always a pleasure and delight, just as her shows are
always hilarious.
Send
feedback regarding this Judith Lucy interview |
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Hear our interview
with Lea DeLaria 27th September 2008 by John
Frame for Queer Radio, I
spoke with Lea from Lea
was accompanied on piano by her life partner and brilliant musical director, Janette
Mason. They employed the talents of two local lads on bass and drums and they
worked so incredibly well as a band you’d swear they had years rather than
hours together. Lea Delaria has a stunning voice,
but what impresses most is her indelible gift of the ability to swing – and
the fact that she’s a master of show.
Send
feedback regarding this Lea DeLaria interview |
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Brian Kennedy - Ireland’s much loved and highly acclaimed
vocalist, musician, producer, novelist and musicologist. He has several top
selling CD albums and has produced and presented two 6 part BBC TV series of
“Brian Kennedy On Song” (a history of Irish music). I have been honoured to record four interviews
with Brian Kennedy- - two by phone, one “face to face” over lunch in a
restaurant beside the Brisbane River (where I took the above photo), and the
other as a studio guest with Queer Radio at 4ZZZfm. I present all of these
for your pleasure: Send
feedback regarding these Brian Kennedy interviews. |
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Hear John Frame’s two interviews with Jimmy Somerville. The
first was on 10th February 1998 for Queer Radio and 4ZZZfm and the
second on 21st December 2005 for Queer Radio and for Los
Angeles-based This Way Out: (1) recorded in the
4ZZZ newsbooth
10th February
1998 by phone from
(2) recorded (at home using a mix of Skype and a separate
lapel mic) 21st December 2005 by phone from Jimmy’s
home in Topics
discussed include: coming to Australia, the Sydney Mardi Gras dance party
and the Gay Gaymes opening, the “Evolve” shows, Bob
Downe as show host and associate, Mark Trevorrow as gay (not just when in character as Bob Downe), Brokeback Mountain, self-awareness of his own
persona, same-sex civil unions in the UK, “thank god I’m an atheist”, Jimmy
as a sexually active 16 year old, age of consent and the Queensland sodomy
law, early videos – especially “Smalltown Boy”,
Bart Fischer’s video for “Here I Am”, working with Paul Mac on “It’s So Good”,
problems with BMG over the “Home Again” CD, making a living in Europe, the
value of loyal supporters, Colin Tait, gay music artists coming out – or
being forced out. Music used (in
full): “This Must Be Love”, “”I Believe”, “Here I Am”, “It’s So Good” and “Ain’t No
Mountain High Enough”.
Read the full
interview transcript here (html file – 76k) Send
feedback regarding these Jimmy Somerville interviews |
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Chris
Turner, his husband Armistead Maupin and their good friend Patrick Gale – at the Hear our relaxed
interviews with Armistead
Maupin and with Patrick Gale as
recorded during this Festival by John Frame (at the Saville Apartments)
:
Armistead
includes reference to his latest novel “Michael Tolliver Lives”
Patrick
includes reference to his latest novel “Notes From An Exhibition” Send
feedback regarding the interview with Armistead Maupin or Patrick Gale. |
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David
Sedaris, at Hear our interview
with David
Sedaris as recorded 20th
August 2008 by John Frame (at the Hotel Grand Chancellor dining
room). David is a multiple Best Selling author of humour – the vast majority
being based on his own life experience (with suitable embellishments). This
was his first time in Brisbane, and he was touring One
of the joys in speaking with David is that you find the interview experience
is mutual. We’re now both over 50
– one of the topics in our 15 minute chat:
Send
feedback regarding this interview with David Sedaris. |
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Augusten
Burroughs, at the Dendy Portside Cinema, Hear our interview
with Augusten Burroughs as
recorded 28th August 2008 by John Frame (at the ABC
Studios, Toowong). Auguesten is a multiple Best
Selling author of dramatic humour – and, again, with the vast majority being
based on his own life experience. Augusten was
touring Augusten is a passionate
powerhouse of unflinching honesty. In this recording he says that he has too
often been misrepresented regarding his attitude to being proud to be gay –
so we hear him set the record straight.
Send
feedback regarding this interview with Augusten
Burroughs. |
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Hear
the half hour studio visit by 2QT2BSTR8’s Teena and
Hannah (youth), James and Olivia (co-convenors) on Wednesday 28th
May 2008 from 9:10pm:
(song
“Dick and Jane” is by 2QT 2B
STR8
( Too cute to be straight
is a support, social and information group in the Logan and Beenleigh area
for young people aged 16 to 19 who may just be questioning or identify as a
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or intersexed
person. Young people who
are interested in finding out more about 2QT2BSTR8 can call on (07) 3826
1500, or email 2qt2bstr8@yfs.org.au MySpace
site: http://www.myspace.com/2qt2bstr8group |
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Hear John Frame’s interview with Sue-Ann
Post -
We met
up with Sue-Ann in the Brisbane Powerhouse Turbine Hall after her 12th
July 2001 show, and asked if we could record her reading her empowering and true coming out story
"My Queer Old Life" (from the 1999 Bookman Press, Melbourne,
Erin Shale edited collection “Inside Out”). Enjoy!.
Send
feedback regarding Sue-Ann Post’s interview or reading |
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Bishop John Shelby Spong –
retired United States Episcopalian Bishop, equal rights activist and prolific
author. Recorded 24th June 2001 before Sunday Service at Read the full transcript of the interview here (html
file)
Send
feedback regarding this interview with Bishop John Shelby Spong. |
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Video: |
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On 3rd October
2007 Californian based songsmith Mark Weigle visited
Brisbane and
performed four songs (3 brand new, 1 cover) live in the 4ZZZ
studio for Queer Radio - click
here for links to our MySpace videos (in stereo) of those four songs. |
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ShitStickers – A Case In Song for Sodomy Law Reform in Queensland” by SubTranzMutation (John Frame & uber
talented musician/producer friend J. R.). With words spoken by Stephen Fry
and Julian Clary - retaining their original context. Julian suggests that
homophobes are overly concerned with the mechanics of anal intercourse, while
Stephen suggests they covertly fear the reality of same sex true love. Added
text explains how Queensland's unequal age of consent impacts negatively on
all youth, but severely affects gay & bisexual youth in particular.
Upbeat, factual, informative, entertaining - and not a genital in sight! Hear a
6mb (192kps stereo) mp3 of ShitStickers : www.queerradio.org/SubTranzMutation_ShitStickers.mp3 |
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NSW Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service This
brilliantly effective Community Service Announcement aired on ABC TV
immediately following their 5th March 1995 special coverage of the preceding
night's Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. I love the way this
coolly takes advantage of what people have come to expect to see of youth
getting excited about an impending date. It should have won an award. Watch
the 1 minute video via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhI3Z5yXUY
(remastered new transfer October 2011) |
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Jacob Diefenbach
interviewed at 4ZZZ during Queer Radio Watch
the 7 minute video via YouTube: |
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Other
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Sons Of
Bee Gees –
Brisbane’s epically proportioned disco tribute band playing live at *The
Roxy as special guests of the Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival’s
“Feast” Dance Party. In this incarnation the 9 band members are Doug Hutson (vox, keys, guitar), Robyn Hendersen (vox, keys), Lynne Eisentrager (vox), Mark Herbert (guitar), Glenn Bell (bass), Greg
Jackson (drums), Michael Bouwman (sax), Chris
Coulter (trombone) and John Frame (congas, percussion, synsonics).
Recorded direct from the desk to DAT tape – no added EQ. Live mix by our long
term friend and collaborator Barrie Beattie.
The set list is I Love The Nightlife / Love
Is The Drug / Boogie Fever / We Are Family / Funky Music / Ring My Bell /
Lady Bump / Lady Marmalade / Yessir I Can Boogie /
Bump No More.
*The Roxy
was in recent years known as “The Arena” but the venue closed forever in
March 2009. It was a special honour to
have performed from the same stage as other bands I’d enjoyed there-
including Pansy Division, Midnight Oil, They Might Be Giants and The Cramps. Send
feedback re Sons Of Bee Gees live at The Roxy Brisbane 8th July
1995 |
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Pat
Parker – the late Black Lesbian Feminist Poet reading her powerful and
inspiring “Where
Will You Be When They Come?” Recorded,
by persons unknown, at the Third World Conference sponsored Kick-Off Rally
for the 14th October 1979 (first) National March On Washington for Lesbian
and Gay Rights. This audio is from a “cartridge” tape which was in the
library of 4ZZZfm In September 2009 I decided to do some
digital restoration, removing the high end tape noise and trimming off the
musical intro and spoken outro – leaving just Pat
Parker’s voice. I’ve used 256kps stereo to ensure a high quality mp3: |
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David Tomlinson – the late
star of many British movies was happily married with children. He impressed
me mightily as a child with his beautiful and articulate diction. One of my
favourite records, made some time in the 50’s, was “When We Were Very Young”
– featuring him reading and singing verse by A. A. Milne. On the page linked
to the URL below there are jpg images of the record cover as well as full
sleeve text, a sample song (as a 2mb mp3) and an invite to request the whole
recording as a 128kps mono mp3 – as well as the same for the next record in
the series, Australian Dick
Bentley superbly singing and reading “Hans Christian Andersen”: www.queerradio.org/David_Tomlinson_When_We_Were_Very_Young.htm |
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Images: |
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Queer Radio printable business
card (80k jpg) “The Smart
State Needs Smart Arses” animated gif
(67k) T-shirt
design “Blatant Not Latent” (90k jpg) T-shirt
design “Card Carrying Homosexual” (80k jpg) T-shirt
design “Queensland’s Sexual Activity Maths” (40k jpg) Equal
Love Now! Logo (30k jpg) |
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Text: |
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Submission by the University
of Queensland’s CAMPUS
CAMP in June 1975 to the Australian Royal
Commission on Human Relationships (which eventually reported in
1977, recommending the decriminalisation of homosexuality). At that time only
South Australia had decriminalised male to male sex. This document is assumed
to have been mainly authored by journalist and health activist Martyn Goddard, but with input from other local queer
activists of the time. Contains many poignant comments and suggestions which
deserved much more prompt attention from all state and federal governments. One
notable recommendation was that the national radio broadcaster (the ABC)
should schedule a one hour weekly program devoted to LGBT people and issues. This
text has been carefully scanned and proofed by me, John Frame, from the
original printed document which was given to me by 4ZZZ’s Tony Kneipp in the mid ‘90s. CLICK
HERE to download the 155K pdf file. |
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