Some would say that timing is everything. Others argue that it's never when, it's how. And still another school of thought, my own, knows that when you are fierce you are always right on time.
Enter the Diva of divas, the Glamazonian warrior, the singularly unique and devastatingly talented RuPaul. In AND out of face, he has turned our world inside out and truly achieved legendary status among us.
After stepping out of the limelight for four years, he is poised to go right back to his roots and bring us a record that promises only one thing; This is RuPaul Red Hot!
Jumping at the chance to interview him, we had a quick chat the other day. It went a little something like this:
Peter Mavrik: Four years ago you sort of went underground. What made you do that? Why was it time to step away?
RuPaul: When George Bush was elected I thought to myself; You know what? I am going to roll with this. I've always been an intuitive person and it was the perfect time for me to take a step back.The pendulum had swung so far to the right (but I think it's preparing to go to the left) and what I do has always been thought of as subversive. In that particular climate, poltically and socially, there was just no way.
PM: And what has brought you back?
Ru: I sensed it was time. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time reconnecting with my family, my friends, and myself. It was something that needed to be done. But what really brought me back was my need to create things; to be a part of the world.
PM: We've seen you on television, in films, in print, AND on the radio. Why did you choose to head back to the recording studio for another record instead of something else?
Ru: My music has always been square one. In fact the title of the album comes from an old advertising campaign I did many years ago in Atlanta. I used to poster Midtown to promote myself. One of the slogans was "RuPaul is Red Hot" and it was very popular, in fact people from back then still remember that. I thought in a way I'm sort of starting over again, so why not go back and call the record "RuPaul Red Hot" ? I wanted to start from the beginning again, which is my music.
That's all for now kids. I couldn't bring myself to edit the interview down to a single page. Tune in next week for the final installment of my interview with RuPaul.
Always with you in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
petermavrik@hotmail.com