I think I'm safe in stating that David Bowie is, without a doubt, birthday girl Heklina's favorite artist, of any kind. So is it safe to assume via association that Bowie is also Trannyshack's number one influence? When it comes to the superstar name-dropping influences (i.e. Bjork, Nina Hagen, Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux, Deborah Harry, etc.), Bowie is certainly the front-runner. However, outside of the world of pop, punk, rock, soul, cult cinema, MTV, Old Hollywood, ad infinitum, I'd like to think that the performers themselves have all been one another's primary influence over the years; no, this is not some wishy-washy half-joke either. But in the world of Trannyshack idol-worship, David Bowie's impact and inspiration cannot be over-stated. Whether it's as an overly cerebral post-hippie; a spaced-out, folky Warholite; a lightning-struck, rock 'n' roll alien; a proto-punk pirate cum circus freak; a pseudo-fascist, doped-up lounge singer; or all these at once, the often-maddening, mercurial faces of Bowie have been more than just that – they've been completely different states of mind and being. And then there's the consistently visual aspect of Bowie's music, a ripe field for many-a-rock 'n' roll queen. His lyrics are always more than just trite, rerun narratives or obscene declarations of banal emotion, and they lend themselves beautifully to performance, their ambiguity making it all right for a tranny to interpret them however she or he chooses. All this considered, perhaps there is no better queen to co-host tonight's show than our own multi-faceted, multi-talented, Glameleon par excellence – Kiddie!
First performing on the Trannyshack stage back in March '04 (on the now legendary Avant-Tarde Night no less), Kiddie quickly positioned herself as a fierce-to-be-reckoned with, and there's been no questioning it ever since. I recall her first number (to David Gray's "Other Side") as a high-art cross between a Goth girl's clothesline cum maypole and the climax of Hellraiser; needless to say, there was nothing "tarde" about it, unlike mine and Metal P.'s number from the same evening. She's hosted some of the best nights of Trannyshack's last four years, including RHPS vs. Hedwig, Mondo N.Y., It Came From Outer Space!, and Beware the Ides of March (an evening of assassinations). Despite her, to some extent, predisposition towards the dark, the dire and the dirge, Kiddie is actually (like the best trannys at the Shack) an incredibly versatile performer, equally comfortable serving you the high-brow drama or the low-down farce, the solo old school lip-sync or the big 'here's art in your eye' concept numbers. Highlights for me include her re-enactment of the attempted assassination of Gerald Ford (portraying Squeaky Fromme of course) to Bauhaus' "Who Killed Mr. Moonlight?"; her accusatory, vengeful and harrowing zombie born out of Pink Floyd's "Mother"; the stark, raving, yet beautiful cuckoo's nest that was her rendition of Bowie's "Five Years"; and her petrifyingly perfect impersonation of cinematic serial killer 'Buffalo Bill'. And if you haven't seen Kiddie's performance from the '04 pageant (it's on YouTube) then you're only missing out on what is arguably the greatest lip-sync ever recorded.
Besides attending tonight's show for your love of Bowie, and to give Heklina that expensive present you've been saving your hard earned cash for all year (actually… gift cards to Bed, Bath & Beyond are her favorite), come down to help us all in thanking Kiddie for all her years of wonderful drag. Her artistry, diligence, originality and, yes, humor have made for many glitter-ridden yet life-long memories.
- Bobby Barber