There isn’t much that David Hodge hasn’t seen or done on the gay scene. Come to think of it, he is pretty much the first ‘Lady’ of London. The thing is, you all probably know him as Dusty O, his fabulous gender-bending alter ego. For years David has applied the maquillage, pulled on the designer threads, teetered in heels and hair sprayed the wigs to transform himself into colourful Dusty for fun, work and play. At 15-years-old David bought Dusty to life. Living in Birmingham at the time, he hit the gay scene with a thump and quickly received job offers. This was the 80s – the era of experimentation, punk and makeup – perfect for a young queen to really make his mark. When David eventually decided to make the move down to London, he naturally bought with him Dusty’s never ending wardrobe and proved his weight in gay-scene gold to become one of the best loved drag DJ’s around. His unforgettable image, infectious personality and ability to mix a good set has bought with it dedicated followers to his past and present nights, including the wildly successful Trannyshack on a Wednesday at Madame Jo Jos. Dusty brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘dress to impress’. Usually clad in a Vivienne Westwood creation, it’s hard to know whether to dance to his music or look at the vision that is. In this exclusive interview, David talks fashion, gays and Boy George…
The Very: What do you get out of dressing up? Is it a disguise, an armour for you? Or is it just a job?
Dusty: All of the above, and also something I have just "DONE" all my life. It’s as natural to me as going to the loo. I just "do" it. I don’t really think about it much. I get up, if I go to work I put my face on, if not I sit in bed and watch TV and eat skittles.
The Very: How has the scene changed from when you first entered into it? Has clubbing got better or worse?
Dusty: Oh it’s the same. Old bags always make out it was better. What tosh. They were just younger. Variety is always there. As you get older you get less inclined to look for it that’s all. Old clubbers are the biggest bores. Enjoy now. Kinky f*cking Gerlinky and Taboo are dead. Get over it.
The Very: Talk me through your style. I know you're an avid Vivienne Westwood wearer, but beyond labels, what is fashion to you?
Dusty: I love Vivienne Westwood, yes. I loved it before faux queens claimed it for their own after one line of editorial and one minute on the catwalk. Some of us were wearing it when it was relevant and not a status symbol; when it was street and not Essex aspirational, when it was day wear and not night time transvestite couture. The thing about Westwood is that it’s easy to quote her manifesto and pretend it’s your own thoughts but its far more difficult to LIVE the lifestyle and believe in it. My style is my own.
The Very: With all the drag queens coming onto the scene now, what would be your best piece of advice?
Dusty: Give up. You are destined to a miserable existence and you probably deserve one too you freaks.
The Very: You've obviously seen so much in your time, from the clubbing scene of old Brummy then moving down here, and you've obviously had a lot of fun doing it, but what have been the toughest moments for David, not Dusty?
Dusty: Getting a flat. I had to kill someone to get mine, according to disco legend anyway. Housing is the hardest thing here I think. Then finding a niche. I suppose it helps if you can actually "do" something. I get emails from boys dressed as Lady Ga Ga telling me how amazing they are all the time. Get real. I have survived through a sheer triumph of bravado over talent. Bravado is a wonderful thing.
The Very: And talking of David, do you ever get tired of dressing up, do you ever feel like hanging up your heels? And if so, when's the closest you've been to doing it?
Dusty: No. It’s how I live my life. Its what I have done since I was 15. I will never stop. Opinion is unimportant to me. My nan once said "I thought you would grow out of it, you grew INTO it". That was the last intelligent thing she said. I have no intention or desire to stop. Why would I ?
The Very: What is your biggest regret to date, if you have one?
Dusty: Lee Riley.
The Very: What are least proud of (be honest!) and what are you most proud of?
Dusty: Least proud ...bad eyebrows circa 1987. Most proud of .... great eyebrows circa 2009. I don’t really think about things like that and I don’t intend to start now.
The Very: When you're old and grey, what will you tell the grand kids?
Dusty: I am sterile and will never pass on my genes. Thank god! I may tell my nephews kids (if he invites me to know them, which is unlikely) that I once took two big cocks up the ass at the same time in a whore house in Barcelona and loved every minute of it.
The Very: Are you single at the moment? And if you are, and if you were looking for a man, would you want him to fancy Dusty and David? Or just David?
Dusty: The two are the same. One just wears more make up.
The Very: Boy George is one of your best friends, and apart from causing havoc and having a laaarf, what do you get from your friendship with him? Has he taught you anything in particular?
Dusty: He taught me the value of great eyebrows and how to say "fuck off you twat" in a polite way ...oh and how to chain a ho to the radiator!
The Very: How much do you think you have spent on makeup?
Dusty: £10 a week for 20 years .....yuk !
A few quick fire questions:
Heels or flats? ...heelz
Gold or silver?...gold
Screaming queen or muscle mary?....not fussed, they both repulse me.
Big cock small brain or big brain small cock?....big cock and small brain ..... i am shallow
Blackberry of iPhone? ...Tesco mobile
