SmartShanghai | Interview: Leather Locklear

Interview: Leather Locklear

By Morgan Short, Jul 14th, 2011 | In Nightlife

There’s absolutely nothing of serious note or merit going on in Shanghai for Saturday night besides this: the triumphant return of Melbourne DJ Leather Locklear to Glamour Bar. Jubilation, we say. Celebration. Confetti and streamers raining from the heavens and wonderful free things for everyone.

Locklear was last in town way back in 2009 for ShanghaiPRIDE, also at the Glamour Bar, keeping glamour red-lined for the night, playing a selection of pop, and RnB, ‘80s, ‘90s, maybe some older punk rock, some ‘50s tunes, some party jams -- basically just a bunch of shit, you know. It’s not so important.

Coming to us in Shanghai from some club or bar or something called Danceteria in Melbourne, the mission is dancefloor bosterism for Saturday night at Glamour Bar. Going to make the rich folk sweat, sweat, sweat. 'Twill be a show!

SmartShanghai caught up with Ms. Locklear via email for some witty and ephemeral back-and-forth.

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SmSh: Maybe you could introduce yourself -- who is Leather Locklear?

LL: Leather Locklear likes water sports.

SmSh: What sorts of musicks do you play? Feel free to name drop ad nauseum. And what sorts of par-tays and events and lovely things do you host in Melbourne?

LL: I'm hitting the 90's a lot at the mo. Pop kinda dance like Black Box and early classic House styles. I can't stop playing “Passion” by Gat Decor and I have a guilty penchant for “Played Alive”. That makes me feel so guilty -- it's so fluffy leg warmers.

Not that it takes much for a recovering Catholic to feel guilty but I'm half between thinking to myself "these songs are shit" and "this track is fully sick bro"... ya know?

I'm very conflicted these days. I adore Stevie Nicks and throwing out random good old fashioned songs in the middle of a heated dance floor busting out to Snap!. ...(By the way I know you don't put a full stop after punctuation but the band’s name has the exclamation point in it so technically, I must. I'm compelled.). (Ok now I'm not sure about that full stop just there at all. Where do I go from here now?...). [sic]

Oh but, ALWAYS Madonna. ALWAYS.

SmSh: We hear you “reign over the queer scene” in Melbourne. What do your stately duties involve? Lots of diplomatic work and such? Lots of ribbon cuttings?

LL:Tea and vodka. But never at the same time. NEVER. And your spelling is wrong. I "rain" over Melbourne. With tea and vodka.

Like I said, not at the same time.

SmSh: You’re being billed as DJ and “STAR PERFORMER”. What that second one all about? Describe these star performances.

LL: Yes, yes. That was a cause for great concern for me, to tell the truth. You see last time I was here, I'm unsure if perhaps I got a bit naked while djing. Can you be a bit naked? Anyway, I thought I just drank three bottles of bubbly and ate a burger so I have a bit of anxiety regarding the expectation the crowd may have of me. I'm trying to lay off the burgers.

SmSh: We heard you recently opened up for JD Samson of MEN and Le Tigre fame in Australia. How was that? How’s her DJing skillz?

LL: Yeah, JD was fab. We DJ a similar set so I asked her if she wanted us (I was doing a duo set with DJ Whiskey Houston) to lay off any particular songs. She was very sweet and cool and just said maybe if we could not play “100%” by Crystal Waters but she didn't mind if we did. So we did. Nah, we didn't. 'Course.

SmSh: Maybe you could pick a few other career highlights and tell us about them. Feel free to ramble on about yourself in a general way. Take a meandering stroll through your C.V. and discuss your various achievements.

LL: Well, I currently run a party in Melbourne called Danceteria with my mate Whiskey and we are teaming up with Grouse Party for Midsumma/Melbourne Pride to a do a lil big something I think. Katy Perry actually turned up to a Grouse Party a few months ago and the girls went ape. I was convinced she was an impersonator and wouldn't hear otherwise. I was wrong. Again.

SmSh: How do you like the Glamour Bar? It’s a classy place, huh? They serve chicken that is the exact KFC recipe. The secret, fabled KFC chicken recipe has been leaked and now Glamour is all over that shit, slinging KFC chicken with total impunity. Comments?

LL: You know, I'm in Amsterdam at the moment and they still call it “Kentucky Fried Chicken” here. That's great. Tell it like it is. Avoiding the word "fried" is like not looking at your drug problem with a 5 dollar bill up your nose. Stop fukin’ about with salads.

Yeah, and while I'm here, bring back the two piece box. As if that's not a great enticing name?! No, I don't mean the 'two piece feed' or the 'two piece meal'. THE TWO PIECE BOX. It comes with 2 pieces and coleslaw and potato and gravy and chips and a drink... and a roll but who cares about that?

What an innocent world it was back then... I'm very passionate about my Kentucky. So, let me just say that Glamour Bar’s chicken better be up to standards.

SmSh: How did the Glamour Bar take to Ms. Locklear at Pride week in 2009? Was that a good one? Are you bringing new tricks and tracks and stuff this time around?

LL: Ah yeah! It was amazing. It was a really successful event, or so it seemed to me. It was impressive how many came out for the first Pride I thought. All the people were so friendly and fun, it was a great day and night. I totally, really, love Shanghai. I really love dumplings so the city is culinary heaven for me

SmSh: Completely unrelated question: have you seen the new Melrose Place remake or reboot or whatever?

LL: No, I haven't seen the new Melrose Place. What's wrong with the world? There are children starving and they keep trying to remake Aaron Spelling classics. Just stop it.

Ok, over and out homo's xxxxxxxxx

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Don’t miss Leather Locklear -- white-hot DJing and dancing action this Saturday at Glamour Bar. No entry fee. Starts at like 9pm or 10pm or whatever. Use your best judgment.

Tagged: Glamour Bar Interviews Event Previews