ANTEBELLUM T-SHIRTS

finally.... at long last.... here they are-

ANTEBELLUM T-SHIRTS!

for all the antebelliums out there...

get yours now-

very limited edition availble in M, L, XL
$40.00

reserve one with your credit card or paypal to-

antebellum@earthlink.net

STEAMPUNK

posting courtesy- lupin dolci- brescia/antebellum corespondent

PEJAZZLE!

PEJAZZLING is logically Vajazzling for men.

You can practically hear worldwide gay blog traffic quadrupling.
Now you can treat your penis like it’s the diamond encrusted totem pole you’ve always known it to be,
and don’t even get me started on those disco balls of yours.
‘Men wear diamond watches and bling earrings – this is no different,’ says self-confessed Pejazzler, Mark Wright.
He advises users shave the hair before applying the crystals, or for the ‘very hairy’, a judicious waxing or laser session could be necessary.

Any good looking bloke can wear Pejazzles,’ he continues.
Prince William perhaps?
Yeah, he could definitely wear them,’ Mark says, looking thoughtful for a moment before continuing earnestly:
‘But I’m not sure Prince William is the Pejazzling type.’

Will YOU be Pejazzling?

TOMATA DU PLENTY

TOMATA DU PLENTY, (May 28, 1948 – August 21, 2000) the singer of the late 1970s Los Angeles synthpunk band The Screamers. He was also founder of Seattle's counterculture troupe Ze Whiz Kidz.


Tomata du Plenty (his stage name was a play on "DePonty", specifically DePonty, friend and fellow founding member of Ze Whiz Kids) was born in New York, of Irish immigrant parents. His family moved to Montebello, California, when he was 9 years old, and Tomata ran away to Hollywood at the age of 15 to discover the wild life.
In 1968 he hitch-hiked to San Francisco where he met members of the Cockettes.

Tomata led Ze Whiz Kids, a Seattle troupe that blended counterculture comedy with drag theater from 1969–1972.
The group staged nearly a hundred musical revues with a cast that featured performers like Satin Sheets, Co Co Ritz, Daily Flo, Benny Whiplash, Michael Hautepants (costume designer Michael Murphy), Leah Vigeah and real females Valerie Allthetime DePonty (Valerie DePonty), Louise Lovely (Di Linge) and Cha Cha Samoa (Cha Davis.

From 1972–74 Tomata joined friends Gorilla Rose and Fayette Hauser in New York City to bring guerrilla comedy to CBGB's
and other East Village clubs, working with then-unknown bands like the Ramones. "I used to do Pat Suzuki between their sets", he said.



Returning to Seattle in 1975, Tomata formed a band called The Tupperwares with Melba Toast (later Tommy Gear).
The band re-formed in Los Angeles in 1976, picking up drummer K.K. Barrett and keyboardist David Brown, and a new name, THE SCREAMERS.



Brown was later replaced by Paul Roessler. As much theater as rock band, The Screamers eschewed guitars and featured two keyboards, one drummer and assaultive lyrics mostly written and sung by Tomata.[4] Their sound anticipated the techno rock of the early '80s. Their look—foot-high hair and ripped clothes—was achieved with the help of hair sprays, gels and a full-time stylist (Chloe Pappas).



From 1977-81 The Screamers were L.A.'s leading punk band, and one of the city's leading club draws. They played consecutive sold-out performances at L.A.'s top music venues, including the Whisky, the Starwood and the Roxy, but despite several offers never signed a record deal.





The band's last performance, without keyboardist Gear, was at the Whisky-A-Go Go in 1981. Two years before MTV,
it incorporated music video with live performances by Tomata, K.K., Paul Ambrose, Shari Penquin and the Fabulous Sheela. Much of the film was later used in a full-length feature, Population: 1, produced and directed by Dutch filmmaker Rene Daalder and featuring a cast of L.A. musicians and scene-makers, including a preschool Beck Hansen, (AND ME- RICK CASTRO!).



POPULATION: 1 was screened in 1986 at the Cannes and Seattle film festivals.
In 1987 it was screened at the Chicago Film Festival and was later released in Europe and Japan. In October 2008, Population: 1 was released on DVD in the United States and Canada.

Tomata was a prolific stage producer, playwright and lyricist who wrote scores of songs, plays, sketches, and musicales. He was fond of quoting an old review by Rex Reed, "No talent is not enough," but hundreds of avid fans disagreed. In 1985 he wrote and performed The Weird Live Show, a series of unconventional shows at the Anti-Club and LACE Gallery in Los Angeles.
In the late 1980s he directed a series of short films with Los Angeles filmmaker Kevin Kierer, including Mr. Baby, featuring Styles Caldwell, and Pick Up on Olivera Street, featuring Juan Garza.
He coaxed 50s TV horror-movie hostess Vampira out of retirement, and featured her in several performances and films.

Tomata began his art career in 1983 with a one-man exhibit of watercolor portraits at the Zero One Gallery in Hollywood.

Three years later his first paintings on canvas were exhibited at L.A.'s Cheap Racist Gallery at a show called "Whores, Sluts and Tramps" (at the opening party, guests appeared dressed as their favorite low-life heroes). In 1987, he won the L.A. Weekly's Best Set Design Award for his work on John Fleck's one-man stage show, I Got the He-Be She-Be's.

Tomata continued his painting career after moving to Miami's South Beach in 1989. His exhibits—in bars, restaurants and small galleries around the country—were often arranged around a single theme, saluting his favorite poets, TV stars, country/western singers and boxers. Tomata painted people he admired, from historical figures to friends from the punk world, in a style that was emotional, provocative and accessible. He was proud of his status as an outsider artist; he once observed he would rather sell 100 pictures for $25 than one picture for $2,500. In the mid-1990s he moved his studio to New Orleans.




Several times a year he would hit the road for exhibits in California, New York and Florida.
In January 1999 he appeared in a CNN interview, along with series of paintings featuring Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley and other pop-culture icons.

In 2000, while in San Francisco, Tomata died of cancer at the age of 52.

I FONDLY REMEMBER TOMATA DU PLENTLY & THE SREAMERS. he had the creative engery of an army and changed the face of punk rock & art in los angeles.

RIP MY DEAR, RIP

PLEASE STOP BY ANTEBELLUM~ TODAY~ MAY 28TH~ AND HAVE A CUPPA TEA TO HONOR WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN HIS
63RD BIRTHDAY~ 1PM TIL 7PM

TOMATA's ashes rest in a niche @ HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY. his niche is decorated colorfully and lovingly by his freinds.

give him a visit in person, or view his hollywood forever
"LIFESTORY"- HERE-

KINKY PARTY GONE WRONG

BONDAGE FOR TODAY

SAD~ MARY SURRATT

This is a photo of Mary Surratt, but I think there's another one after she's been hanged.

Adjusting the Ropes, Execution of Lincoln Conspirators, Courtyard, Old Arsenal Prison
Date: July 7, 1865
Artist: Alexander Gardner
American, 1821-1882
Medium: Albumen print

Description: This is a photograph of the Old Arsenal Prison.
There are many guards lined up on the high wall in the background. In the center there is a wooden platform set up for an execution. This photo shows the prisoners being tied and looped with a noose, the execution of Lincoln Conspirators.

After Abraham Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, eight people were tried on conspiracy charges by a military commission. Four of them were sentenced to death by hanging: Lewis Powell, (sometimes known as Lewis Payne), David Herold, George Atzerodt, and Mary Surratt. During their trial, the conspirators were confined to the Old Arsenal Prison.

After a seven-week trial, they were convicted on July 5th, and hanged two days later. Alexander Gardner, with assistance from Timothy O'Sullivan, was the exclusive photographer for this dramatic event. To document the sequence they used two cameras, a large format and a stereo. The photographs were published, as woodcut engravings, in the July 22, 1865 issue of Harper's Weekly. This series of images is one of the earliest examples of photojournalism.

The conspirators were ordered to stand, as cloth hoods were placed over their heads and nooses looped around their necks.
The woman is Mary Surratt, the first female to be executed, (besides witches) by the united states federal government.

MELANCHOLY

photos courtesy- Ole Thomas- norway/antebellum corespondent

WILL'S TREE

The memorial tree dedicated to the late/great- WILL MUNRO is up in Trinity-Bellwoods Park, toronto, canada.
HONORING THE HEART OF WILL MUNRO

photo courtesy- cece

"Will" Munro (February 11, 1975 – May 21, 2010)
was a Toronto artist, club promoter, and restaurateur known for his work as a community builder among disparate Toronto groups.
As a visual artist, he was known for fashioning artistic works out of underwear; as a club promoter, he was best known for his long-running Toronto queer club night, Vazaleen.
Born in Australia, Munro grew up mostly in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and moved to nearby Toronto to study at the Ontario College of Art, graduating in 2000. Influenced by such artists as General Idea and the queercore movement, he received critical attention for his work with men's underwear, a medium he used eventually to create collages of colourful performers he admired such as Klaus Nomi and Leigh Bowery. He created silkscreen posters to advertise Vazaleen—his monthly nightclub party that was unusual for being a queer event where punk and other rock music was prominently played, and for being one of the first to exist beyond the confines of the gay ghetto. The party was known for attracting a diverse crowd, and at its peak brought in such performers as Nina Hagen; international "best-of" nightclub lists took notice.
I had the honor of photographing will's one-of-a-kind underwear for an editorial called-
BRIEF STORY- 2005 and BONDAGE & BRIEFS- 2006. i displayed will's artworks often @ antebellum.

Despite his involvement in nightclub events, Munro did not consume alcohol or recreational drugs.
He was a vegan from a young age. For many years, he volunteered as a peer counsellor at the Toronto Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line, where an annual award was established in his honour after his death.

Munro was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent surgery to remove a tumour in 2008. A second surgery was performed in October 2009. He entered into palliative care in April 2010, and died on May 21, 2010.

HONORING THE HEART OF WILL MUNRO

ALFREDITO

I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF MY PERSONAL FAMILY HISTORY.


RECENTLY I FOUND THIS PHOTOGRAPH I TOOK OF MY SECOND COUSIN-ALFREDITO.
I BELIEVE IT WAS SHOT BACK IN 1989??, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 7 YEARS OLD.
I REMEMBER THE DAY VERY WELL.. HE TOOK ME TO ALL THE MUSEUMS IN ZACATECAS, MEXICO WHERE HE LIVED..
JUST HIM & I WALKED THE ENTIRE CITY...
HE KNEW EVERYWHERE TO GO.
IT WAS ONE OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES.

ALFREDITO GREW UP TO BE A HOT LITTLE STUD WITH A FOXY GIRLFRIEND.
HE WAS AN AVID MOTORBIKE RIDER AND WOULD ENTER RACES.
HE PASSED @ AGE 20 IN AN ACCIDENT BACK IN 2001.

CUTE AS A BUTTON!

NO MONEY-NO HONEY

CLASSIC BITCHES....
WOW.... i remember like it was yesterday.. my longtime doll of a friend GLEN MEADMORE, vaginal davis & rupaul, (as back up singer) @ the infamous- PYRAMID CLUB on avenue A, in the east village- nyc, circa 1987?
i remember..... like it was yesterday......


AND HERE IS BACKSTAGE-

GLEN MEADMORE
VAGINAL DAVIS
GEORGE BYRON, AKA MOMMIE
SANTIAGO GARZA- AKA HAG
LARRY T
HAPPI PHACE
DAVID ELKU
RUPAUL
DAVID LA CHAPPELLE

FILMED BY EAST VILLAGE LEGEND- NELSON SULLIVAN

BLANK CITY

To celebrate the opening of BLANK CITY in Los Angeles, my doll of a friend from nyc via paree- CELINE DANHLER invited me to a special screening of her film- BLANK CITY at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA):

BLANK CITY tells the long-overdue tale of a disparate crew of renegade filmmakers who emerged from a moment in New York history. From the late 1970's through the mid 80's, when the city was still a wasteland of cheap rent and cheap drugs, these directors crafted daring works that would go on to profoundly influence the development of independent film as we know it today.


Directed by French newcomer Céline Danhier, BLANK CITY weaves together an oral history of the “No Wave Cinema” and “Cinema of Transgression” movements through compelling interviews with the luminaries who began it all. Featured players include directors Jim Jarmusch and John Waters, actor-writer-director Steve Buscemi, Blondie’s Debbie Harry, hip-hop legend Fab 5 Freddy, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, photographer Richard Kern as well as Amos Poe, James Nares, Eric Mitchell,
Susan Seidelman, Beth B, Scott B, Charlie Ahearn and Nick Zedd. Fittingly, the soundtrack includes: Patti Smith, Television, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, The Contortions, The Bush Tetras, Sonic Youth and many more.

blank city opens @ the nuart theater on may 27th.

EVERYTHING ABOUT TONY

here's an interview i did for TONYWARD.COM way back in 2007.


and here's some pics i took opening night @ WARD OF THE STATE: TONY WARD-ARTIST MUSE @
RIVERA & RIVERA gallery- may 21st, ( rapture day)

TODD TOMORROW- RIP

RIP VIP

(photo courtesy- Michael James O'Brien)

I'm sad to say that we lost Boy Bar / Jackie 60 legend Todd Tomarrow (aka Lulu) yesterday.
Todd died suddenly from blood poisoning. He lived in San Francisco with his partner David for the last few years.

Frank Joseph Santangelo I will always love Todd!

Michael James O'Brien Very sad news...RIP Indeed!

Jay Davidson Oh shame.

Johnny Dynell Such an amazing picture Michael.

Brian Butterick I am devastated. Lulu was a brilliant performer and a wonderful, caring friend.
May she rest in peace, joy, and beauty.

Rob Roth Really sad news. Todd was so amazing.

Webster Giles Smith A Beautiful Picture of a Beautiful Person....Truly!
He will be missed

Richard Alvarez Prayers are sent to his loved ones such a loss RIP VIP

Linda Simpson Todd was such a sweetheart. Lulu was lovely. Sad, sad, sad...

Jonah Falcon Hadn't seen him in a long while.

Luis Galan We've lost a great talent and an even greater soul. Thanks for all the memories Todd.

Kenny Kenny cant belive ,RIP TODD ♥

Timothy McKlusky very sad... he was always so sweet

Steven Perfidia Kirkham the saddest day of my life. i loved him so much
4
Sweetie Nyc Such sad news. The world has lost a visionary and immense creative force.

Summer Raquel Very Very Sad

Corvette Hunt Love Lulu!!!

Michael Gorman I can't belive it but i had not see him an a long time.

August Costa boy bar and jackie 60 were like no others, just like Todd!!

respost by lurleen pine- nyc/antebellum corespondent