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Vinyl Closet: Gays in the Music Industry
From the introduction, written by Leonard Bernstein right before his death, to the epilogue, Hadleigh provides the reader with another fascinating Hollywoodtype teaser of who has/is/may have done what in the music industry. Filled with tabloid quotes, out of context statements and interviews with the anonymous star and/or executive, people from Piaf to Merman to lang (sic) are painted as stars benefiting from their gay and lesbian followings while hating them as in Merman’s ease, embracing them as did Piaf, or possibly joining in as is suggested in lang’s case.
The author lapses from his music theme by occasionally including actors, actresses, and movie directors. It’s unfortunate as the space could have been used to include more recording artists; Melissa Etheridge comes to mind. As one of the stated goals of the author is to provide a “starting point” of documentation of the roles gay, lesbian, and bisexual artists have played in the music industry, the inclusion of the movie industry seems to be out of place.
However, the book is a lot of fun. Buy a copy and sit it next to Hollywood Babylon or even with one of the author’s previous works, Conversations With My Elders.
The author lapses from his music theme by occasionally including actors, actresses, and movie directors. It’s unfortunate as the space could have been used to include more recording artists; Melissa Etheridge comes to mind. As one of the stated goals of the author is to provide a “starting point” of documentation of the roles gay, lesbian, and bisexual artists have played in the music industry, the inclusion of the movie industry seems to be out of place.
However, the book is a lot of fun. Buy a copy and sit it next to Hollywood Babylon or even with one of the author’s previous works, Conversations With My Elders.
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 1, 2012
Ok, I didn't finish reading it... I was too frustrated to continue.
February 8, 2018
Very trashy/gossipy tone. Definitely comes from the ideology that coming out is critical and a responsibility. Very fun. Kinda biphobic at times.
February 17, 2019
Entiendo que el libro intenta mostrar la hipocresía de la sociedad, respecto al tema homosexual y bisexual, a través de la vida sexual de los músicos conocidos de la época. Pero lo hace con mucho salseo y poca chica, muy caótico y superficial, sin explicar bien el contexto, la lucha o el fondo de la cuestión. Es como si fuera un programa de salsa rosa de Tele5, sobre la orientación sexual de los músicos famosos.
Lo he tenido que abandonar cuando iba por el 30%, no me interesa la vida sexual de la gente y mucho menos, las extravagancias de los famosos.
Lo que sí creo que aporta el libro, es mostrar la hipocresía respecto al tema homosexual y bisexual, e intenta normalizarlo o mostrarlo tal como fue, a través de los músicos más conocidos de aquella época, muchos de los cuales todavía son referencia y todavía sigue siendo un tema controvertido, hipócrita y sin normalizar.
Lo he tenido que abandonar cuando iba por el 30%, no me interesa la vida sexual de la gente y mucho menos, las extravagancias de los famosos.
Lo que sí creo que aporta el libro, es mostrar la hipocresía respecto al tema homosexual y bisexual, e intenta normalizarlo o mostrarlo tal como fue, a través de los músicos más conocidos de aquella época, muchos de los cuales todavía son referencia y todavía sigue siendo un tema controvertido, hipócrita y sin normalizar.
March 17, 2023
Closeted people who live to please heterosexuals and the opposite sex don’t like it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews