Night Fever

In this episode, Drag Race legend Raja discusses her earliest experiences in the LA club scene of the '90s at places like Ripples, Peanuts, Arena, and Circus. From her teen years experimenting with Club Kid looks to running her own club and working with Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Model, we've watched her style evolve to the regal queen we know today.

This week, James, Fenton, and Randy sit down with the undisputed king and queen of the underground, Chi Chi Valenti & Johnny Dynell. From the grit of the Mudd club to the glamorous theater of Jackie 60 and beyond, this iconic duo has spent four decades shaping the soundtrack and style of New York City nightlife. Tune in as they share wild, never-before-told stories from the DJ booth, the dance floor, and the creative trenches of the city's most legendary subcultures.

On this episode of Night Fever, hosts James St. James and Fenton Bailey sit down with legendary nightlife figure Christina Visca. Tune in as they dive deep into the campy, glamorous, and wild history of running NYC's biggest clubs in the late 80s and early 90s, her friendship and partnership with world famous DJ Junior Vasquez, Halloween '89 with Grace Jones at the Sound Factory (peep the poster in the video), and what she's doing now.

Night Fever season six starts with an extra special guest who really needs no introduction - James St. James himself! James chats with WOW co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato about his childhood, moving to New York City, and making it big!

Supericonic downtown sister act Tish & Snooky recall their days as backup singers for Debbie Harry, their own band The Sick Fucks, opening the first punk boutique in America, and creating their game changing hair color product Manic Panic.

The undisputed Queen of House Music, Screamin’ Rachel, talks about recording the first house music song, her early days in the Chicago warehouse scene, and her friendships with Frankie Knuckles and Marshall Jefferson.

Former It-girl April Palmieri discusses Club 57, her time in the band Pulsallama (once described as “13 girls fighting over a cowbell”), and singing backup as a Bodacious TaTa for her best friend, John Sex.

It’s a special two-part episode as we catch up with a couple of former clubkids and give them back their 15 minutes of fame. First up: Christopher Comp on working for Michael Alig as well as his favorite parties and lewks. Then Really Denise discuses the early days of the Tunnel and the ‘80s versus ‘90s club scenes.

Photographer and artist Christopher Makos talks about the ‘70s and ‘80s nightlife scene, his legendary tenure at Interview magazine and being besties with Andy Warhol.

Male model turned bestselling author Brad Gooch talks about Warhol, Mapplethorpe, his former life in the fast lane, and his new biography of Keith Haring, Radiant: The Life and Lines of Keith Haring.

Legendary graphic artist Nick Egan recounts his early days in the ‘70s punk rock scene, collaborating with Malcom McClaren and Vivienne Westwood, creating iconic album covers for Bow Wow Wow, Culture Club, The Clash, and Deee-Lite, as well as directing some of the most memorable music videos of all time.

Trans icon and global superstar Amanda Lepore describes her early days as a dominatrix and original clubkid as well as becoming a muse for photographer David Lachapelle and designer Richie Rich.

The UK’s busiest drag queen, Jodie Harsh, recalls nightclubbing in the early 2000s, the life of a celebrity DJ, and her upcoming memoir, 'You Had to Be There'.

Rocky Horror legend and ‘80-era Queen of the Night Nell Campbell discusses her early days in London, the show that launched her to superstardom, and her oh-so-chic eponymous nightclub.

Actress/Performance Artist/Singer/Downtown Icon Ann Magnuson talks with Randy and James about growing up in Appalachia, moving to New York City in the ‘70s, and operating the legendary Club 57. We also discuss her roles on the big screen in The Hunger opposite David Bowie, Making Mr. Right, and on television’s Anything But Love with Jamie Lee Curtis & Richard Lewis.

Director Susan Seidelman sits down with Randy, Fenton, and James to discuss her underground ’80s punk classic Smithereens, working with Madonna on Desperately Seeking Susan, and her new book Desperately Seeking Something.

Original Club Kid turned high-end fashion designer Richie Rich relives his early days in the San Francisco club scene and being in the Ice Capades with Kristy Yamaguchi and Rudy Galindo. He also discusses his iconic fashion line Heatherette and collaborations with Boy George, David Lachapelle and Pamela Anderson. And, of course, Michael Alig and the Club Kids.

Party promoter, editor, nightlife photographer, and longtime friend of WOW, Trey Speegle recalls life in the early ‘80s East Village scene, creating Straight to Hell magazine, and his iconic Bad Boys parties at Danceteria.

Fashion icon/cable TV pioneer Lauren Ezersky gives Fenton, Randy, and James the lowdown on her long-running series "Behind the Velvet Ropes" which ran from 1989 until 2012. The timeless beauty with the voice of a velvet foghorn spills the tea about interviews with Alexander McQueen, Halston, Karl Lagerfeld and more!

Fenton, Randy, and James talk to longtime fashion/pop culture/ and scene photographer Dustin Pittman about his early days documenting Warhol's Factory, Max's Kansas City and Studio 54, right up until today (and the new book of photographs coming out this Fall). From hippies to Disco Dollies to punks to skater boyz to '90s rock stars and beyond, Dustin has seen it all and partied with the best!

Model, muse, designer, and former club kid Zaldy sits with James, Randy and Fenton to chat about his longtime style collaboration with RuPaul, working and living personally and professionally with mastermind Mathu Andersen, getting his nails done with Patty Hearst & Tippi Hedren, and working with pop icons like DeeLite, Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, and Britney Spears.

Model, muse, and ‘70s rock chick Bebe Buell chats with James and Fenton about her high profile relationships with rock stars like Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren, Jimmy Page, and Elvis Costello as well as raising her daughter Liv with Aerosmith’s frontman Steven Tyler.

Director of Special Projects at PAPER Magazine and Creative Director of Playgirl, Mickey Boardman AKA Mr. Mickey talks about breaking the internet with Kim Kardashian and THAT picture, overcoming drug addiction, and his current battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Heiress, fashion icon and musician Daphne Guinness joins the boys to discuss her latest album, her friendships with the late Alexander McQueen & Isabella Blow, and growing up in the South of Spain with neighbor and family friend Salvador Dali.

On this very special BONUS Pride episode - drag historian Elyssa Maxx Goodman talks to James, Randy and Fenton about 19th century and early 20th century drag kings and drag queens like Bert Savoy, Julian Eltinge, Gladys Bentley, Annie Hindle, and the Pansy craze of the 1920s.

Miss Guy joins James, Randy, and Fenton for the season finale of Night Fever. They reminisce on Guy's historic queer rock party Squeeze Box, his friendship with Debbie Harry and Boy George, and fronting the iconic band The Toilet Boys.

James, Randy, and Fenton chat with 21st century "It Girl" and New York Times best-selling author of How to Murder Your Life, Cat Marnell. They discuss Cat's fashion and beauty career at Condé Nast, her contact with Michael Alig from prison, and her six months sobriety.

Superstar DJ, OC (Original Club Kid), and party promoter extraordinaire Larry Tee joins Randy, Fenton, and James to discuss working on his fashion label TZUJI in Berlin, dating an unknown Michael Stripe, and watching a young "RuPaul and the U-Hauls". Inspired by RuPaul's stardom, Larry Tee wrote RuPaul's song "Supermodel (You Better Work)" for him.

The wonderful Domonique Echeverria joins Randy, Fenton, and James to discuss the seven year anniversary of the subway accident that left her a double amputee. She brings us through the tribulations of the US healthcare system and the inspiring documentation of her healing process.

Area club owner, hotel magnate, and TIGER KING Producer/Director Eric Goode joins Randy, Fenton, and James to talk about his iconic '80s nightclubs, Turtle Conservancy, and building an empire.

Warhol superstar, punk pioneer, and Bowie PR guru Cherry Vanilla talks about her early days at the Copacabana, LSD trip clubs in the '60s, and being the first woman DJ ever in nightclubs.

James, Randy and Fenton's longtime friend Man Parish, of "Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop)" fame, reminds us of his role in the rise of electronic/dance music in the '80s. They discuss Man seeing Bette Midler perform at the Continental Baths, briefly dating photographer Christopher Makos, and recording Fenton's favorite song "Six Simple Synthesizers". 

Randy, Fenton, and James speak to the indelible Kevin Aviance about finding out Beyoncé sampled his song "Cunty", being an integral part of the South Beach Miami drag community, and overcoming a terrible hate crime in 2006.

This week, James St. James, Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey kiki with the iconic Martha Wash. They discuss Martha meeting Izora Armstead and starting The Weather Girls, how Barbara Streisand turned down the vocal part she recorded for "It's Raining Men", and her settlement with RCA that turned into a record deal.

For the Season 3 premiere, James St. James and Randy Barbato sit down with Patricia Field. They discuss everything from Patricia's former storefront on Bowery, to her jaw-dropping creations on SEX AND THE CITY, and ultimately her new documentary HAPPY CLOTHES, premiering at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

Richard Boch - who as the doorman at the pivotal punk club The Mudd Club joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about the origins of downtown culture and all the fascinating nightlife celebrities he encountered, and his book The Mudd Club.

Brian Belovitch - who describes his life as a gender outlier - joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to talk about forgotten ’70s trans-inclusive clubs like The Gilded Grape, his journey from boy to girl to woman to man, and his book Transfigured.

Linda Simpson -photographer, girl about town, and accidental drag historian - joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to gab about gay culture in the ’80s, Boy Bar vs Pyramid, her uber-hip zine My Comrade, and her new book The Drag Explosion.

Michaelangelo Signorile joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to reminisce on walking the runway as Gaultier, Suzy-gate and working in the gossip columns during their heyday of the 1980s, and becoming radicalized with Act Up.

Jenny Dembrow aka Jenny Talia joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to discuss modeling for Steven Meisel and Calvin Klein, raising hell with the Club Kids, the Girls Center she co-directs, and that one time in Paris with James, Gloria Gaynor, and a bottle of poppers.

Michael Schmidt joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about getting into Area, collaborating with icons like Cher & Tina Turner, his historic 3D dress he made for Dita Von Teese, and other behind-the-seams rock gossip.

Connie Fleming joins James St James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to talk about her early days at Boy Bar, walking for Mugler, working the door at New York’s hottest clubs, and her journey with breast cancer.

Nikki Haskell joins James St James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about clubbing in the ‘60s and ‘70s, her pioneering cable tv show, and her close friendships with the likes of Imelda Marcos, and Donald and Ivana Trump.

Susanne Bartsch joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to gab about her early years in Europe, opening her clothing store in SoHo, and building her club empire in the ’80s like the Copacabana, Bentley’s, Savage, and of course the Love Balls.

Jayne County joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to talk about her early days in Atlanta, living and working with Warhol superstars, her iconic music career and the influence she’s had on other artists, and her current obsession with making art.

Michelle Visage joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about the teen dance club scene in New Jersey of the 1980s, walking in balls with the House of Magnifique, her music career, meeting RuPaul, and her battle with Hashimoto’s disease resulting from her breast implants.

For our Season One finale, Fenton, Randy, and James catch up with the magnificent Joey Arias. An artist and singer extraordinaire, Joey hit the '80s and '90s NYC club scene with a bang, performing with icons like Bowie and Klaus Nomi, befriending Andy Warhol, and more.

This week, Fenton, Randy, and James chat with the legendary, iconic Moby. After getting his start as a DJ at Rudolf Piper's club Mars, Moby quickly spinned into stardom: releasing his hit "Go", transcending rooms of sweaty Club Kids, and ultimately, journeying through sobriety and beyond.

Category is, ballroom! The absolutely fabulous Luis "Xtravaganza" Camacho brings juicy stories to this week's episode. He, Randy, Fenton, and James gush about teaching Madonna how to vogue, being in the documentary Strike a Pose, and the six other Madonna dancers who became his family.

The dynamic Rudolf Piper sits down with Fenton and James all the way from Sao Paulo--"the New York of South America"--to share how he became a legendary night club director. From opening a discotheque in Berlin in the 60s, to running the Palladium and Tunnel in the 80s and 90s, and finally through his transition to restaurant ownership in the 2020s, Rudolf is an unstoppable force for nightlife all over the world.

The famous Waltpaper, also known as Walt Cassidy, spills about his deep friendship with Michael Alig, the rivalry between drag queens and Club Kids, and the development of "Heroin Chic" in the early '90s.

The guys sit down with Ernie Glam, the ultimate Club Kid extraordinaire. Covering everything from Ernie's experience with drugs and eventual sobriety, his relationship with Michael Alig up until Michael's death, and the rise and fall of Clara the Chicken, this episode is a much needed catch-up between old friends.

Peter Gatien tells the riveting story of his rise to Club King of the '80s and '90s, from his purchase of a gay club in south Florida to hosting artists like the Village People, Nas, Lil' Kim, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more at his New York clubs. Ultimately, he brings us through how Rudy Guiliani tried to take him down, and the repercussions that came with it.

Fenton, Randy, and James St. James sit down with James' partner-in-crime from undergrad at NYU in the '80s, Lisa Edelstein (known also as the legendary "Lisa E."). They discuss Lisa and James' meticulous scheme to take the downtown club scene by storm, a diary that James kept with a detailed record of many parties, and ultimately, a New York Times article that changed Lisa's life.

Episode two is a rollicking talk with iconic New York nightlife journalist Michael Musto, who has had a raaaaaather tumultuous relationship with James St James. Topics include a wild party on a sinking barge in the Hudson River... his memories of Studio 54 and being mentored by Warhol Superstar Sylvia Miles... meeting a very young, very ambitious RuPaul... and of course the tragic death of Angel Melendez at the hands of club kid king Michael Alig.

In episode one, we speak to Forever Queen of the Night Dianne Brill about her dazzling ‘80s-era clubland success and how she navigated the sexual politics of the scene. We discuss her favorite looks, favorite parties, and her legendary friendships with Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring. The big takeaway? “Andy had a big penis and he had sex. Not many people know that…”

Join hosts James St James, Fenton Bailey, and Randy Barbato as they talk to the leading New York nightlife figures of the 1970s, '80s, '90s, and beyond. In this introduction episode, the guys break down their new podcast and share some of the upcoming featured guests. Available Mondays on the WOW Podcast Network with the video exclusively available on World of Wonder's official streaming platform, WOW Presents Plus.