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Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 464

Featuring content from the hottest gay and gay-friendly spots in New York, each (free!) issue of Get Out! highlights the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, spas and other businesses throughout NYC’s metropolitan area that the city’s gay a population is interested in.

Featuring content from the hottest gay and gay-friendly spots in New York, each (free!) issue of Get Out! highlights the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, spas and other businesses throughout NYC’s metropolitan area that the city’s gay a population is interested in.

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photos / GET OUT! MAGAZINE >> GETOUTMAG.COM

BILLY PORTER @ PRIDEFESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY BILLY HESS

ISSUE #464

COVER:

EILEEN SHAPIRO

PHOTOGRAPHER:

BILLY HESS

PUBLISHER MICHAEL TODD

MIKE@GETOUTMAG.COM

DESIGN AGOTA CORREA

AGOTA@GETOUTMAG.COM

CONTRIBUTOR IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON

@IANMICHAELINWONDERLAND

CELEBRITY INTERVIEWER EILEEN SHAPIRO

@EILEENSHAPIRO3

NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER WILSONMODELS

JEASO86@HOTMAIL.COM

The publications of MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT, getoutmag.com or any

other related print or Web publications or social media accounts, their images,

quotations or articles should not be construed to be an indication of the sexual

orientation of anyone portrayed therein.

All Content © Copyright 2019

MJT/GOOTH ENTERTAINMENT

25-21 45TH STREET ASTORIA, NY 11103

GET OUT OF THE HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT EST. 2009


Get Out! Magazine wants to give a million

Thanks to these artists for making GET IN

possible. We appreciate the time you donated

to spread your love and joy to all the viewers

watching this show on You Tube around the world. THANK

YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

THE ENSEMBLE

HOST:

HONEY DAVENPORT

ALISON ARNGRIM

ANANDA LEWIS

BRENDA K STARR

CECE PENISTON

CELIA KEENAN-BOL-

GER

CHEYENNE ELLIOTT

CHRIS COX

DANIEL REICHARD

DAVID HERNANDEZ

DIONNE WARWICK

FREDA PAYNE

GIANNA ISABELLA

JACK TRACY

IAN BUCHANAN

IAN GUERIN

JESSICA LYNN

KRISTINE W

KRISTY KAY

LEON

LISETTE MELENDEZ

LOVARI

MARY SETRAKIAN

MATT NAMER OF THE

FMS

MELBA MOORE

MICHELLE BERTING

BRETT

MICKEY BURNS

MIKE RUIZ

NARADA MICHAEL

WALDEN

PIA ZADORA

PRETTY POISON

REINA

SAMANTHA COLE

SAYONNE

SCOTT PAGE

SIR ARI GOLD

SMOOTH B

SOHO JOHNNY

SUE WANG

THEA AUSTIN

TUCK & PATTI

TYM MOSS

VIVIAN REED

WANDA DEE

COMING In June on YOUTUBE / GET OUT MAGAZINE PRESENTS.

100% of the proceeds are going directly to The Ali Forney Center.

You can donate now to The Ali Forney Center:

www.aliforneycenter.org. Raising funds for the homeless LGBTQ youths

who will be supported by the caring and generosity of you and the “Get

In” participants.

“Get IN: Get Out Magazine & Friends For The Ali Forney Center” is a

streamed All-Star program, produced by Jason E. Abrams

(JEA Productions, Inc.), to benefit LGBTQ homeless youths

affected by Covid-19 (via the Ali Forney Center.

Get Out! Magazine has been a leading presence in the LGBTQ and

entertainment communities. During these changing times, Get Out!

Magazine wants to do even more to show support to the LGBTQ

community and keep up the morale. The full original webcast is set to

air as the inaugural program on the newly launched “Get Out! Magazine

Presents” YouTubeChannel:

http://www.tinyurl.com/GetOutMagazinePresents


BY NATHAN JAMES

CELEBRITY JOURNALIST

EILEEN SHAPIRO’S

NEW TELL-ALL IS WHAT

WE’RE ‘WAITING’ FOR

If you’re a habitué of the nightclub

scene in and around New York City,

you’ve probably rubbed elbows with

Eileen Shapiro, the doyenne of nightlife

reporting in the Big Apple. Eileen has

covered her starlit beat for decades,

interviewing luminaries from every

corner of the entertainment industry

while becoming a rock star among

celebrity journalists along the way. Her

work as a publicist with World Star PR,

a top media-relations group, has further

enhanced her bona fides.

Eileen’s knowledge of pop culture and

the glitterati is encyclopedic, and her

engaging prose has earned her a byline

in over 40 entertainment, music, and

LGBTQ+ magazines and websites spanning the globe (including Get

Out). Her ongoing support of LGBTQ+ artists and causes is also wellknown,

far beyond the five boroughs. Over the epic course of all that

reportage and publicizing, Eileen has accumulated plenty of fascinating

tales about her experiences with the famous and infamous, the outgoing

and the outrageous, ranging from iconic R&B/pop diva Diana Ross to the

one and only Adam Ant.

As the title of Eileen’s new book, Waiting For Adam: Interviews

And Obsessions, suggests, it’s a compendium of her talks with and

observations about the notables she’s met and written of throughout her

distinguished career. The tome is not her first literary work, as Eileen’s

bibliography began in 1977 with The Star Trek Medical Reference Manual,

which is still a sci-fi fan classic today. Get Out! had the opportunity

to speak with Eileen about her work, the book, and how her journey

through the nightlife world got started. The interview is slightly edited

for clarity.


INTERVIEW

GET OUT!: What inspired you to

write Waiting For Adam?

Eileen: Originally, the idea came

from Adam (Ant)’s publicist, who

suggested it almost as a joke.

Although things didn’t end well

between us, she was still the one

responsible for me procuring the

interview. In addition to Adam--

whom I pursued an interview with

and became credible enough to

be considered--I was very fortunate

to meet some

of the most

amazing

celebrities

through Get

Out Magazine

(as everyone

wants to have

an LGBTQ fan

base)! I felt that

these superstars

gave me their

time and

deserved to have

further mention. I

also thought that

people might

like to have an

entrance into

fandom all in one

place.

GO: Which

celebrity was the most

memorable?

Eileen: Well, of course, Adam. I

have incredible memories of nearly

all my interviewees. Those that

stand out right away are Brooke

Shields, Rick Springfield, Cyndi

Lauper, Billy Porter, Emma Stone,

Dionne Warwick, CeCe Peniston,

Michael Musto, and OMG....don’t

get me started, we will both be here

all day!

GO: Tell us how you became a

celebrity journalist.

Eileen: When I was in LIU studying

nursing, I became involved in writing

for various Star Trek publications.

My first interview was with Leonard

Nimoy, Mr. Spock. However, years

later, after three kids and a couple

of husbands, Colin Hogan and

I managed to somehow buy an

LGBTQ bar on Long Island. The

publisher from Get Out, Mike Todd,

came in one day asking us to buy

an ad. Instead, I offered to write

an interview with

Amanda Lepore.

After that, I did

some interviews

with RuPaul Drag

Race guests that

I had at my bar.

About a year later,

I started writing

for HuffPost and

Louder Than War.

The rest is history,

some still unwritten,

as I continue to

write conversations

with the coolest

superstars on the

planet.

GO: What has

your experience

with Adam Ant

been like?

Eileen: I actually met Adam

several times in England before I

interviewed him. I was even hugged

by him. It’s always surreal to meet

your idol! Adam is a very kind and

gentle man. He’s an awesome

storyteller and most definitely the

most creative person I’ve ever met.

To date he is still one of the best,

most intelligent interviews I’ve ever

penned. It’s exhilarating when you

actually get to meet your idol and

he is actually a fabulous human.


GO: Does anyone spill some real

tea in Waiting For Adam?

Eileen: Oh yes....love this question!

It includes anecdotes and tales

never divulged and features some

secrets from some very cool people.

So watch out, Billy Hess, and all

of you queens....many of you are

included!

GO: Do you have any artistic

influences?

Eileen: I do. My literary gurus are

Michael Musto and Howard Bloom.

Musically, of course, Adam, but also

Billy Idol and Scott Page from Pink

Floyd, Toto and Supertramp. My

favorite photographer is Billy Hess,

who taught me things you can’t

even imagine. I love creative people

and I’m blessed to be surrounded

by them. I live in the best possible

world. My biggest artistic inspiration

comes from my soulmate

Colin Hogan and my business

partner Jimmy Star.

O’Donnell, Jordan Leslie, Ross

Mathews, Melissa Etheridge, and so

many more.

GO: When will the book come

out, and where can we find it?

Eileen: The U.S. release date is

July 23rd, 2020. It’s now available

for pre-sale on Amazon and

distributed everywhere. There

is a British pre- sale link, The

link is www.waterstones.com/

book/waiting-for-adam/eileenshapiro/9781912587322.

GO: Where can people follow

you on social media?

Eileen: It’s best to find me at

www.eileenshapiro.rocks. I’m

on Facebook as Eileen Shapiro,

and on IG and Twitter as

eileenshapiro3 I’m also on Tik Tok

as eileenshapiro3.

GO: Tell us about the

“Obsessions” part of your

book’s title.

Eileen: I love obsessions.

When passion meets

inspiration, an obsession

is born. There are secret

obsessions all throughout the

book, and a lot of them aren’t

mine.

GO: How many notables

appear in Waiting For

Adam?

Eileen: I haven’t counted,

but they include those I’ve

mentioned above, plus artists

including Diana Ross, Fred

Schneider from the B-52’s,

Mary Wilson, the ladies from

Absolutely Fabulous, Joe

Alwyn, Lizzo, Bianca Del

Rio, Michelle Visage, Rosie

PHOTO CREDIT: BILLY HESS


COCKTAILS

TO GO

$10

SPECIALS

691 Tenth Avenue Off West 47 th Street NYC

Across from Hell’s Kitchen Park

WWW.NANOBARNYC.COM


MONSTER BAR LAUNCHES

MONSTER TO GO-GO TAKEOUT.

WEEKENDS FROM 2PM-6PM

In our 39-year history,

there has never been

a been a reason or an

opportunity to operate

our business by serving

up a menu of food items

and signature cocktails

out of an open window.

Amended rules from

the SLA in these trying

times have paved the

way for this reinvention

of “normal” and entered

the Monster and many

of our neighboring

businesses into this

uncharted territory. We

all face the challenge

of reimagining our

traditional business

models in order to

persevere. And even

when the city grants

permission to reopen,

the bar scene as we

have known it will not

resemble its former self

for many months to

come. In the meantime,

our goal is to keep the

doors open in whatever

altered capacity

allowed by the city,

so the safe spaces for

our community do not

disappear.

We all understand the

strong desire to socialize

and mingle with friends,

but now is not the time

for a street party or to

forget what this city

has endured and the

continued challenges

ahead. The message we

hope to convey to our

customers is a simple

one. Follow the rules

regarding masks and

distancing, respect our

residential neighbors

by keeping noise to a

minimum, and do your

best to be responsible

humans.

We’re hoping you’ll

stop by the bar the

next time you decide

to venture out for some

fresh air. If the weather

is warm, we’ll probably

have a bit of a line, but

it moves fast and the

sidewalks are marked

with distancing guides.

While you wait for your

order, you can peer

into the open windows

and say hello to your

favorite bartenders and

nightlife personalities

from a safe distance.

Enthusiastic waves and

glimmering eyes are

the new substitute for

hugs and smiles-–but

the sentiment remains

the same. We miss all of

you and a friendly hello,

even from afar, goes a

long way these days.

This new normal will

only remain possible

for us and neighboring

businesses if you, our

customers, work hand

in hand with us to

follow some strict, but

manageable guidelines.

The local 6th Precinct

asks that there are

NO GROUPS, NO

CLUSTERS, and NO

PARTIES, so don’t forget

to put the GO in “to go”

and keep moving! (Our

security team will be on

hand if anyone needs a

gentle reminder about

the rules.)

We are encouraging

you to plot out a

neighborhood pub

crawl. Map out a plan to

support the businesses

you love and make an

afternoon out of it.

Visit our local parks

and outdoor spaces.

Walk down a street

you may not have

frequented before.

There may not be an

official Pride parade

this year, but we can

certainly show off the

best of our community

as we walk through

the neighborhood and

support each other. We

are all in this together,

and when the time is

right, we will be here

to welcome you back

through our doors.



BY LARRY OLSEN

JUSTIN UTLEY’S

AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

HIS ACTIVISM IN UTAH

HELPED TO BAN CONVER-

SION THERAPY IN THE STATE.

NOW, JUSTIN UTLEY AND HIS

GUITAR HAVE SIGHTS SET ON

THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

“American Nightmare” is Justin Utley’s

first single release since his activism work

in Utah helped to ban conversion therapy,

the discredited practice that aims to change

a person’s sexual orientation or gender

expression, in the state.

PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN BAKERINK

“The win was not only cathartic, but rewarding and empowering,” he reflects. Utah

is now the 19th state to ban conversion therapy, and once the pandemic has ended,

Utley has plans to take his fight to the other 31 states.

“I’ll take my guitar wherever I need to in order to keep this conversation going and

get this horrific, shame-based sham of therapy banned. It’s unethical, it’s disproven,

and yet so many are caught in its web of lies, inevitable failure, and suicide.”

He blames the lawmakers who blindly follow their party lines and church leaders

instead of the will of the constituents who elected them. “Finding candidates who

will work to unite the country rather than divide us is top priority this election

cycle,” Justin says. “I have my sights set on November when hopefully, this

nightmare will end.”

We spoke with Justin from his home in Utah.

INTERVIEW

It’s ironic that you’re releasing a song

called “American Nightmare” during a

pandemic, wouldn’t you say?

Justin Utley: The timing couldn’t be more

impeccable, for better or worse. Most of

my spring and summer gigs have been

cancelled or postponed, so right now I’m

focusing on getting the additional music

videos released and writing some new

material.

The song is really about conversion

therapy, which unbelievably, is still legal

in 31 states.

Justin Utley: It’s both surprising and notso

when you think of the polarization of

politics and religion that’s been boiling.

Surprising in the sense that submitting

a child to that kind of torture is even

legal would surprise most Americans.

Not-so when you throw in the fanatical

conservative base, who still believe being

gay is a choice, an illness, or something

to be fixed. They’re out there, and their

voices are louder than ever. Conversion

therapy is not only disproven and

fraudulent, it’s abusive and goes against

the oaths and ethics of the medical

profession as a whole.


Tell us about your

experience with

conversion therapy and

the impact it had on your

life.

Justin Utley: I went through

conversion therapy for

two years, both in a group

setting and through oneon-one

talk therapy with a

so-called licensed specialist.

At first it was elating to

know that I was not alone

in my struggle with my

sexuality. But soon, I was

stripped of any identity and

dignity I could have had

as a gay man, and instead,

was told I suffered from an

abnormality, a disorder, and

they treated my actions as

some kind of addiction or

illness. It was one of the

most excruciating times of

my life.

What were some of the

specific methods they

employed in the therapy?

Justin Utley: At one

point, the therapists had

me convinced that I had

been molested as a child

in order to explain how I

“learned” my behavior/

response to the same sex.

They teach that gay is a

verb, and that you are only

gay by action. It put a lot of

pressure on me spiritually

and emotionally. It put my

parents through the ringer

as well, since they were

used as an excuse as to why

I was gay.

What have you done to

reverse the damage?

Justin Utley: It took seeing

a licensed therapist who

was unaffiliated with my

(Mormon) church and

culture to help get me get

onto a path of healing, to

learn how to cope with

what had happened, to

reclaim my identity and

move forward in healthy

relationships and dating.

Do you remain in therapy?

Justin Utley: My music is

definitely a type of therapy

for me. It’s cathartic, it’s

somewhat of a journal, and

it helps me to express my

feelings, thoughts, and

emotions in a way that

reminds me (and those who

listen) that even if you can’t

see a silver lining, you can

make one. I also keep to

a decent workout routine.

That’s been very therapeutic

for me, especially during

this chaotic time in

quarantine.

What’s your relationship

like with your family

today?

Justin Utley: Things

couldn’t be better with

my family now, other than

having to stay at least six

feet apart from them. It took

a while to repair the hurt

and chaos the conversion

therapy had caused. It

took my little brother even

longer. He was pretty upset,

not for religious reasons,

but because he had crushes

on most of my girlfriends,

and he couldn’t believe that

I wasn’t into them the way

he was.

Have you fully woken

up from your “American

Nightmare”?

Justin Utley: No. It’s still

happening now. There are

still many states who have

not banned conversion

therapy, and I’m eager to

help get the issue on the

discussion table however I

can.

Can we apply the same

tactics you used in Utah in

other states like Arizona,

Iowa, North Carolina,

Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,

and Texas, where bills to

ban conversion therapy

on minors have been

introduced?

Justin Utley: We had

overwhelming public

support when the Utah

legislature introduced our

bill. At the last minute, it

was hijacked by a religiously

conservative political group.

The matter was then taken

to the DOPL (Department

of Professional Licensing),

who held a public hearing

on the issue that included

mental health professionals

and survivors of conversion

therapy. I participated in a

lot of outreach, education,

and public awareness

campaigns, and testified

at a number of meetings

and hearings during the

time the matter was being

decided on by DOPL. In

my view, DOPL was the

most appropriate way to

go, since they aren’t held

hostage by legislators and

aren’t subject to religious

lobbyists and political

parties. Using medical

science, they dealt with the

issue directly and made the

appropriate decision to ban

the practice in the state.

Justin Utley’s “American Nightmare” is available on Apple Music, Spotify

and all digital platforms, along with the entire Scars album. Visit Justin

Utley’s website @ Justinutley.com. Follow him on Instagram @ justinutley

and Facebook @ justinutleymusic.


D’EVA

LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2009

REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP

SHINING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used

to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Watch D’Eva’s story at BIKTARVY.com


IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about

BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare

provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side

effects, including:

Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV)

infection. If you have both HIV-1 and

HBV, your HBV may suddenly get

worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY.

Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without

first talking to your healthcare provider,

as they will need to check your health

regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill,

once-a-day prescription medicine

used to treat HIV-1 in adults and

children who weigh at least 55 pounds.

It can either be used in people who

have never taken HIV-1 medicines

before, or people who are replacing

their current HIV-1 medicines and

whose healthcare provider determines

they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take

a medicine that contains:

dofetilide

rifampin

any other medicines to treat HIV-1

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side

effects, including:

Those in the “Most Important Information

About BIKTARVY” section.

Changes in your immune system.

Your immune system may get

stronger and begin to fight infections.

Tell your healthcare provider if you

have any new symptoms after you

start taking BIKTARVY.

Kidney problems, including kidney

failure. Your healthcare provider

should do blood and urine tests to

check your kidneys. If you develop

new or worse kidney problems, they

may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

Too much lactic acid in your blood

(lactic acidosis), which is a serious but

rare medical emergency that can lead

to death. Tell your healthcare provider

right away if you get these symptoms:

weakness or being more tired than usual,

unusual muscle pain, being short of

breath or fast breathing, stomach pain

with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue

hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded,

or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

Severe liver problems, which in rare

cases can lead to death. Tell your

healthcare provider right away if you

get these symptoms: skin or the white

part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “teacolored”

urine, light-colored stools, loss

of appetite for several days or longer,

nausea, or stomach-area pain.

The most common side effects of

BIKTARVY in clinical studies were

diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and

headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects

of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider

right away if you have any new symptoms

while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative

side effects of prescription drugs to the

FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or

call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to

do tests to monitor your health before

and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

Continued on next page.

Please see Important Facts, including important warnings, continued on the

next page and at BIKTARVY.com.


REAL BIKTARVY

PATIENTS

ZACH

D’EVA

HUGO

CHAD

NIKKI

DIMITRI

Meet a few of the extraordinary people who take BIKTARVY.

Watch their stories at BIKTARVY.com

Featured patients compensated by Gilead.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY® (CONTINUED)

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

Have or have had any kidney or liver

problems, including hepatitis infection.

Have any other health problems.

Are pregnant or plan to become

pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY

can harm your unborn baby. Tell your

healthcare provider if you become

pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to

breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can

be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all

the medicines you take:

Keep a list that includes all prescription

and over-the-counter medicines,

antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal

supplements, and show it to your

healthcare provider and pharmacist.

BIKTARVY and other medicines

may affect each other. Ask your

healthcare provider and pharmacist

about medicines that interact with

BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to

take BIKTARVY with all your

other medicines.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or

without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

This is only a brief summary of important

information about BIKTARVY. Talk to

your healthcare provider or pharmacist

to learn more.

Go to BIKTARVY.com or call

1-800-GILEAD-5

If you need help paying for your

medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for

program information.

Please see Important Facts,

including important warnings

above and at BIKTARVY.com.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, KEEP SHINING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD

Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020

© 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0229 04/20



BY PAUL HUTNICK

ROCK OF

AGES

MICHAEL FAIRMAN

SAYS IT’S NEVER TOO

LATE TO ROCK OUT

PHOTO CREDIT: BRIAN KAMINSKI

MICHAEL FAIRMAN IS AFTER WHAT HIS NAME IMPLIES: A FAIR

CHANCE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

“FOR YEARS NOW, I HAVE BEEN TOLD, ‘YOU’RE DOING MUSIC? YOU

SING?’ WHEN WHAT WAS REALLY MEANT WAS ‘GOOD LUCK WITH

THAT, BOOMER. YOU’RE TOO OLD FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY,’” HE

LAMENTS.

IN HIS LATEST SINGLE, “OTHER SIDE,” A TRACK HE WROTE WITH KYLE

MANGELS, FAIRMAN SINGS ABOUT AGEISM, PERSONAL STRUGGLES,

AND FINDING ONE’S INNER STRENGTH TO FACE ADVERSITY AND

ULTIMATELY TRIUMPH. IT’S A SONG FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER FELT

DISCONNECTED OR ALONE OR IS TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH

BREAKING OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP. “IT’S MEANT AS A REMINDER

THAT IT IS OK TO FEEL DOWN, TO HURT AND CRY,” HE EXPLAINS,

“BUT EVENTUALLY, WE ALL NEED TO RISE UP AND FIGHT WHATEVER

LIFE THROWS OUR WAY.” WE SPOKE WITH MICHAEL FAIRMAN FROM

HIS LOS ANGELES HOME.


INTERVIEW

What inspired you to write and

record “Other Side”?

I wanted to write a universal-themed

fight song that says no matter what

you’re going through right now, you

will get through to the other side of

it. It’s important to weather storms--

whether it be someone leaving you

for a younger, slicker model or your

body not doing what it used to do as

you grow older or people telling you

that you will never attain what you

want….I hope my song lifts people

up in their darkest times. Listen, we

need a song like this, especially now,

as we fight to get to the other side

of the coronavirus pandemic that has

changed life as we knew it.

Most people don’t feel like their

chronological age. What age do

you feel like you are?

I feel like I have the mind of someone

in their late twenties. Physically, that’s

another story. I do try to stay in as

good shape as possible, and working

out has always been a part of my life,

but it’s no joke that as you get older,

you feel every ache and pain along

the way.

Are you happy with the man that

you see in the mirror?

You’re talking with someone who is

very hyper-critical of himself, but that

being said, I can look in the mirror

and be happy with the man I am

today. I am learning to embrace my

outward imperfections.

If you could give advice to your

younger self, what would it be?

Don’t let others derail you from your

aspirations and dreams.

You were pursuing a singing

career in your twenties. Was is it a

mistake to give up on it?

Yes, it was. I worked tirelessly and

was single-minded in my efforts in my

teens, twenties and early thirties. It

was exhausting, and I needed a break

to decompress, but I should have

taken a short break, not a several

decades break! Things happened

that drew me towards TV producing

and journalism, and I thought I could

be happy and fulfilled with it all. I was

wrong, because I could not squelch

the desire to sing and write.

What made you decide to go for it

now?

I found the right collaborators to

bring my music and the sound I

wanted to life.

What have been some of your

biggest obstacles along the way?

Getting people who follow me on

my social media platforms to accept

and understand me as an artist. Many

people have told me that due to my

age, I will never stand a chance at

being played on pop radio.

What do you want people to think

when listening to “Other Side”?

“Hey, this guy is really good!”

Beyonce, Billie (Eilish), Barbra

(Streisand)….Who is the real

queen B?

Queen Bey is amazing: her voice,

her beauty, her live performances,

just her. Queen Billie is the youngest

reigning Grammy queen and has

a bright future ahead of her with a

very unique sound. But I would pick

Barbra. When you watch all of what

she has done-–now there’s a star!

Also, one of the greatest nights of my

life was seeing her in concert at the

Staples Center. She has that voice

that is so rare and remarkable in its

range and substance.

What do you say to those who

would have expected you to

answer Barbra?

They were right! Yup! I went with

Babs. And it has nothing to do with

age.


As much as Beyonce has

it all going on, Barbra,

to me, is still the true

reigning all-time queen.

What is something fans

would be surprised to

know about you?

That I am sports junkie

and you can test my

knowledge of NBA, NFL,

MLB, College hoops and

football. Bring it on!

What superstitions do

you believe in?

Every time I see a ladder, I

am afraid to walk under it.

Who is the unlikeliest

person that you follow

on Twitter?

New Orleans Saints

quarterback Drew Brees. I

love Drew. He is a fantastic

quarterback, and look, he

just donated five million

dollars for coronavirus

relief efforts in Louisiana! I

have a crush on him.

What makes you smile?

A great acceptance

speech from anyone who is being

recognized for an achievement they

deserve.

What makes you angry?

When people say something can’t

be done instead of trying to find

solutions to make it work.

Who are your heroes?

When I was nine, I met Reggie

Jackson, the former Oakland A’s and

New York Yankees slugger. He posed

for a photo with me for the Milwaukee

Sentinel and it was that moment where

the person you idolize turns out to be

just as you imagined. Everyone always

says that he was a jerk, but to me, he

was the kindest guy.

Which celebrity would you most like

to slide into your DMs?

Dua Lipa. I love her voice and I would

love to sing a duet with her.

You find a magic genie bottle.

What are your three wishes?

Get my music on the charts and kick

this career into high gear. Second:

Stop the bullying of our LGBTQ youth

and put an end to the murders of trans

people. Third: Rid the world of the

coronavirus so that we can all go back

to our lives.

Michael Fairman’s “Other Side” is

being distributed independently

and is available on all major music

digital platforms. Follow Michael

Fairman on Instagram

@michaelfairmantv.

Visit michaelfairmantv.com





BY IAN-MICHAEL BERGERON

@ianmichaelinwonderland

Simple Summer

A collection of essays from quarantine

March 17 is a date I believe I will remember

for the rest of my life.

It was a Tuesday—I think I’ll remember

that, too. I just looked it up on my phone’s

calendar to be sure I’m correct: March 17

was St. Patrick’s Day. I had no idea until just

now. I don’t remember if I wore green or

not.

My subway ride in to work was different

that day. Maybe the subways had been

different for a while, and I just hadn’t

noticed. I haven’t seen so few people on

public transit in my life, certainly not during

rush hour on a weekday. A group of four

men got onto my car and pulled off their

caps for tips, harmonizing on a barbershop

quartet version of “Over the Rainbow.” I

nearly burst into tears.

March 17 would be my last day of work

for the foreseeable future. I went into the

office, did what accounting needed to

be wrapped up, and went to visit one of

the restaurants I worked for. It would be

their last day too—dining in at restaurants

was already banned, they were just

doing delivery and pickup to get through

inventory. Most of the food in the kitchen

was donated later that evening.

It was such a weird feeling, being out of

work. I’ve worked hard my entire life, always

writing but always having a side hustle. I’d

been working in the restaurant industry

consistently for seven years—I figured if

a restaurant went under or downsized, I

would always find work somewhere else.

The streets were quiet, the people looked

uneasy. It felt like the whole world was

shutting down, maybe because my entire

world was.

I took some food when I left, but I passed

by a homeless man on my way home. I

saw him nearly every day, sitting where he

always did, back against a bright red brick

wall, and he asked—quietly, as he always

did—“Change?” I shook my head no and

kept walking. “It’s OK,” he replied kindly.

How will he eat when there’s no one on the

streets?, I wondered. How will he survive?

I dug through my bag and turned around.

“Would you like some bread?” I asked,

and gave him a six-pack of fresh rolls. He

looked at it like it was solid gold.

When I got home, I wasn’t ready to go

inside. My boyfriend, James, lost his

job the Friday before: we were both

unemployed. I haven’t been unemployed

since I took my first job cleaning the salad

bar at Godfather’s Pizza in Knoxville, Iowa.

I’ve washed dishes, made food, folded

sweaters, cleaned apartments…but I’ve

never been unemployed.

I finally turned my key in the door and went

inside. James was bright eyed and feeling

positive: “I’ve made a list of things I want

to accomplish,” he told me, “books I want

to read and things I want to write down and

online classes I want to take.”

“That’s all great for you,” I said in a low,

hushed voice, “but I don’t get to think

about all the fun, creative things I can do. I

have to figure out a way to support us.”

I don’t know why I said that. I was still in

shock. I felt like I had failed somehow.

“You know we’re in this together,” he said,

“right?” But I didn’t feel like that in the

moment: I felt alone. I felt lost.


Of course, I know I wasn’t really alone. By

April 1st, I could count the number of New

York friends that still had a job on one

hand, all working from home. By May, even

my mother in Iowa would be working from

home.

“This doesn’t feel real,” I kept saying.

Some days, it still doesn’t.

I keep thinking about the “Over the

Rainbow” quartet. Growing up, I loved

The Wizard of Oz more than anything.

Of course, the movie is iconic (as is the

underrated sequel, Return to Oz starring a

young Fairuza Balk), but my love didn’t stop

there. We painted my childhood bedroom

emerald green, the walls lined with framed

pictures from The Patchwork Girl of Oz, a

pair of stuffed stockings donning a pair of

ruby red slippers sticking out from under

my bed. I had a jar filled with broken yellow

bricks–-chunks of broken brick my father

spray-painted yellow, but insisted were real

pieces of THE yellow brick road-–and the

top shelf of my bookshelf held every Oz

book by L. Frank Baum. My most recent

additions to the collection include a set of

graphic novels written by Eric Shanower,

with art by Skottie Young, and a bag from

Coach’s Oz collaboration. It was a gift from

my boyfriend for my 30th birthday.

I was wearing the bag that morning, on

the subway, while the quartet sang. I held

onto the dangling bag charm, a small ruby

red slipper, my lucky rabbit’s foot. “Birds fly

over the rainbow, why then, oh why can’t

I?”

The bag has been hanging on a hook since

March 17.

How long would we be quarantined? When

could we go back to work? Would there be

work to go back to?

James and I didn’t know what to do. The

world bought up all the toilet paper and

pasta. From their mansions, celebrities

urged us to stay inside, losing their sanity

with every Instagram post.

My mother wondered if I wanted to come

home for a while: I saw my fellow New

Yorkers flocking to their humble beginnings

to wait things out. I talked to James about

it, but we wanted to stay in our apartment,

surrounded by books and movies and

clothes and cats and all of the things that

remained unchanged by the outside world.

James and I did the only thing we could

do: figure things out one day at a time. We

stocked up on food, stashed a six-pack of

toilet paper under the bed, and prepared

ourselves for a simple summer.

PHOTO BY STEVE BRENNAN


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