Linny Raven reminisces
Oh yes I remember the Divine David.
He noticed me in the audience,
spotted my talent
and encouraged my attentions.
He said, "You look rather interesting...would
you
like to join me at the cutting
edge of the avant
garde?"
And - oh yes- because I was interested
in show
business, because I wanted to
meet stars like
Chloe Poems, because I had my
head turned by the
backstage glamour of the Vauxhall
Tavern, I agreed.
Oh yes, I have memories of the
Divine David. It
all seemed beautiful at first.
He would wake up and
say to himself, "Now, David,
what are you going to
create today?" And it might
be a poem, a song, a
painting or even an abstract
shape.
But do you know something? Then
the dark moods
took hold. Dressing Jay with
Xmas tree decorations,
and
Jay looking faintly ridiculous
with bangles, baubles
and shiny things together with
a matching bra
ensemble.
Backstage- The vodka to steady
the nerves, washed down
with a few DF118s, and the sudden
impulses of lust... pouncing
on Jay...being
scratched and pushed off in
terrible fights,
though frequently not before
he had hit home...the
sessions in the toilet coughing
up 'furballs' after
food binges.
Onstage- The sad decline of professionalism
from "25
years in the business" into
purveying malicious gossip
and slander. "Have you heard
what they're saying about
Jay Cloth on the gay scene.
That's right, he's got a
job selling dogfood on Saturdays
at the market on the
North End Road. And Father Cloth?
He's set himself up.
Have you seen the cards? 'New
girl in town TV/TS'."
And making poor Jay perform
in a variety of
humiliating masks...
Offstage - Sending Jay out dressed
as a Romanian
refugee to gather a few coins,
whilst he himself
mixed with stars and celebrities
or visited lap
dancing
clubs. The arranged wedding
for publicity...
Oh yes, I remember the Divine
David...I wonder
what they're saying about him
now on the gay scene?