EDINBURGH FRINGE

THE BEST IN LGBT PERFORMANCE AT THIS YEAR’S EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL

Words: Cliff Joannou and Ben Kelly

QUEERING THE FRINGE

The world’s largest arts festival returns this August, with over 3,000 events taking place in the beautiful Scottish capital. Here, Attitude takes a look at the LGBT performances shaping the festival.edfringe.com

TRANSFORMER

Cabaret legend Jonny Woo explains why he’s giving a unique performance of Lou Reed’s classic album Transformer at Edinburgh this year...

People are familiar with the album's hits Walk on the Wild Side and Perfect Day, but Transformer is full of great rock songs, the type from a time when rock music made you get up out of your chair and dance. It is in many ways an acidic love letter to the wild days of the late 60s and early 70s NYC underground scene and one nightspot, Max's Kansas City, where Lou Reed spent much of his time, and where the Warhol superstars mixed with the movie stars, rock stars and artists of the day. Back then, it wasn't about who was fucking who. Everyone fucked everybody in a glorious boozey, druggy haze. Our live tribute to this seminal album takes you back to that time where, as Warhol said, ‘Pop Art met Pop Life’.

5 REASONS WHY 'TRANSFORMER' IS THE QUEEREST ROCK ALBUM OF ALL TIME

1 The album was co-produced by the UK's icon of queer rock music, David Bowie, and you can hear his backing vocals throughout. Check out the super high notes on Satellite Of Love.

2 While the pop charts were filled with songs about love, Lou was writing songs about hate. But in a very queer way. “Vicious, you hit me with a flower.” It was Warhol's idea.

3 Lou Reed, King of the NYC rock'n'roll underground, was essentially a poet and took inspiration from the greats including T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land for Goodnight Ladies. Deep!

4 Three of the songs were originally written for a musical to be produced by Andy Warhol and Yves Saint Laurent on Broadway. It was never made, but THAT'S camp.