In the early ’90s in London, with both Blitz and Taboo now closed the queer club night to be seen at was Kinky Gerlinky. It initially began monthly first at Legends then at Cafe De Paris and it was where clubbing culture met outrageous fashion and ‘out there’ costumes. Whilst mainly a gay club it attracted partygoes of all sexualities as well as genders and races.
Over its four-year history, guests and performers included Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, Bjork, Prince, Amanda Lear, Sinead O’ Connor, Bananarama, Leigh Bowery, Ru Paul, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Boy George, Neneh Cherry, Nina Hagen, MC Kinky and Nick Kamen. Music was routinely provided by DJs Princess Julia, Martin Confusion and Rachel Auburn and the MC/compere was the self-proclaimed gender-illusionist Winston.
The Club’s resident photographer, Dick Jewell, produced a DVD/film, titled Kinky Gerlinky, in 2002 that celebrated the infamous club nights. It premiered in 2003 as part of the Commonwealth Film Festival in Manchester, and again at the same festival in 2007.
It portrayed one virtual night at the club and was gleaned from 21 episodes of the club, that record the evolution of the club and its revelers, the music, fashion and politics via the development of the camera’s relationship with a regular crowd gathering over that period of three years.
The Kinky Gerlinky' is now finally available to rent and stream on Vimeo.Labels: 1990s, 2023, culture clash, documentary, Kinky Gerlinky, London, night club
