Upcoming:
RuPaul's LA DragCon
(May 24, 25, 26, 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center)

80's NY Nightlife Exhibition by John Simone Photography

Featuring RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Sister Dimension, Keith Haring, Divine, Leigh Bowery, Michael Musto, James. St. James,
Liza Minnelli, David Bowie, Joan Jett, Joey Arias, Constance Cooper, Larry Tee,
Kenny Kenny, Sinead O'Connor, Nina Hagen and Jayne County,
available as individual artist proofs or poster collages:



Click any photo to enlarge



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



John Simone’s 1980’s RuPaul exhibition and Simone’s appearance on the Herstory of Downtown: Manhattan Nightlife Icons panel
at the inaugural RuPaul’s DragCon Sept. 9th & 10th at the Jacob Javits Center, 11th Avenue, between 35th & 37th, New York.


DragCon, with over 175 exhibitors including many TV stars, drag legends and RuPaul’s Drag Race’s contestants will be
joined by Toronto-born documentary photographer John Simone who brings his vintage 1980's RuPaul gallery editions that reveal
the Emmy Winner's beginnings in NY's Downtown scene.

Who is RuPaul?
She is quintessentially herself, her own invention, an icon of elegance, inspiring generations of
LGBTQ people in their quest end the narrow and oppressive gender identity enforced by mainstream society.

Simone is fascinated by RuPaul because she emanates a fierce confidence and charisma, promoting
her fashion glamour as a vehicle of authentic personal liberation. She is living proof of a creative space
between the extremes of masculine and feminine, a space where everyone can explore the dimensions
of their true selves.

RuPaul expresses her vitality best in her own words: “You’re born naked; everything else is drag.”
- ENDS -

For more information:
Email johnsimonephotography@gmail.com.
Or at 647-247-3421

Notes to editors:
• At RuPaul's NY DragCon John Simone joined the Herstory of Downtown: Manhattan Nightlife Icons
panel with international trans-performer and author Amanda Lepore (Doll Parts)
and original NY celebutante & writer James St. James (Party Monster) with
moderator, scene-chronicler Michael Musto (Tea Room, Javits Hall C - 6pm - Sat. Sept. 9th).

• Simone will also present at the panel some of his 1980’s Downtown NY legends Divine, Leigh Bowery,
Joey Arias, Quentin Crisp and DJ Sister Dimension (star of Pickle Surprise).

• John Simone’s career began in 1987 publishing celebrity and nightlife shots in Stephen Saban’s eponymous
club column in the original Details magazine. He shot Susanne Bartsch’s first parties while also
documenting society, fashion, and the club kids, most notably as chief photographer for
Michael Alig’s Project X magazine.

• Simone presents these images to engage people with issues of gender identity who may find a sense of connection
through exposure to the historical context of drag and how RuPaul and other gender warriors have lead the way
in the ongoing struggle for acceptance by mainstream society.


Background:
Rudolf Piper (impresario of 1980’s NY clubs Danceteria and Tunnel):
“[Simone] managed to portray an era capturing exactly the energy, the craziness and the creativity that made it unique!
In the future, this NY that existed in the eighties will be seen on the same level as Paris in the twenties, Berlin during
the Weimar Republic and Shanghai in the thirties - and [Simone’s] photos will bear witness to that!”

Michael Musto - TheBlot.com:
“Patrick McMullan was a burgeoning young photographer on the scene, as were
Wolfgang Wesener and Ben Buchanan, plus Nelson Sullivan was a regular, filming all the
glam minutiae for epic documentaries that would find their way onto YouTube years later.

Pushing himself into this mix, Simone was always fearless, enthusiastic and game for anything.
The twinkle in his eyes spoke volumes about his love for capturing the ruling class of clubs,
who had the power because they were the most creatively beautiful and culturally daring
ones for miles. He still has that twinkle.”

(Exhibition Note)
John Simone’s work covers a changing of the guard in New York nightlife. Post-Warhol New York
found faith in the full-frontal satirical attack on fashion & culture by Michael Alig’s club kids
who were fleeing suburbia towards nightlife notoriety as full-fledged fabulous nobodies. Alig was
the ersatz Warhol who had an ad hoc Factory force of 400 freaks that he re-christened with
silly club names. They then faithfully followed him onto the front pages of fanzines like
Project X magazine, aptly edited by Alig with provocative photos by John Simone.

In the quise of innocent nerd, Simone infiltrated this Subterranean Society
unimpeded, and recorded the outré masques which actually exposed an aching
vulnerability. His voyeurism validated the aspirations of this manic and
uber-fashion-victim vanguard.

(Curator’s Note)
Simone has embraced, documented and participated in the brave metaphors of persuasive fetish and
style, turning sexuality on its head. While fiercely flashing the 1980’s NY scene, Simone is
bent on validating the existence of self-inventing personae. In the process, he documents
the creation of an untamed fashion world that challenges mainstream culture. Simone’s
influences are clearly seen in the works of Brassai, WeeGee and Arbus:
shots of whores, criminals and freaks.


John Simone's
2017 Nuit Rose festival's exhibition
RuPaul: Evolution of an Icon

Nuit Rose Art Bar - 5six2 Church St.
(until Sunday, June 18th, 8pm.
Cash bar until 2am on Fri/Sat June 16th/17th)

Daniel's Sprectrum - 585 Dundas St. East
(until Thursday, June 29th, 5pm, day-time hours)



Links to John Simone Photography's New York Nightlife Photocyclopedia Feature Content:

Click to view
Leigh Bowery:
Click here to go to Leigh Bowery photos
Click to view:
Miss Perfidia
Click here to go to Miss Perfidia photos
Click to view:
Sister Dimension
Click here to go to Sister Dimension photos
Click to view:
Lady Bunny
Click here to go to Lady Bunny photos
Click to view:
Michael Musto
Click here to go to Michael Musto photos
Click to view
International Chrysis:
Click here to go to 
          International  photos
Click to view
James St.James:
Click here to go to James St. James photos
Click to view
Michael Alig:
Click here to go to Michael Alig photos
Click to view
Denise Stoughton:
Click here to go to Denise Stoughton photos
Click to view:
RuPaul
Click here to go to RuPaul photos
Click to view:
Susanne Bartsch
Click here to go to Susanne Bartsch photos
Click to view:
It Twins
Click here to go to It Twins photos
Click to view:
Nanci Zipkin
Click here to go to  Nanci Zipkin photos
Click to view
Joey Arias:
Click here to go to Joey Arias photos
Click to view
Goldy Loxxx:
Click here to go to Goldy Loxxx photos
Click to view
Tabboo:
Click here to go to Tabboo photos
Click to view
Julie Jewels:
Click here to go to photos
Click to view
File A:
Click here to go to File A photos
Click to view
File B:
Click here to go to File B photos
Click to view
File C:
Click here to go to File C photos
Click to view
File D:
Click here to go to File D photos
Click to view
File EFG:
Click here to go to File EFG photos
Click to view
File HI:
Click here to go to File HI photos
Click to view
File J:
Click here to go to File J photos
Click to view
File K:
Click here to go to File K photos
Click to view
File L:
Click here to go to photos
Click to view
File M:
Click here to go to File M photos
Click to view
File NOPQ:
Click here to go to File NOPQ photos
Click to view
File R:
Click here to go to File R photos
Click to view
File S:
Click here to go to File S photos
Click to view
File TUVWXYZ:
Click here to go to File TUVWXYZ photos
Click to view
Larry Tee:
Click here to go to Larry Tee photos

jetsetjohnny.ca features
John Simone`s exotic-destination travel photography

Follow @johnsimonephoto_travel: Instagram


Simone spent 5 years traveling
to over 80 countries as Senior Photographer
and Photography Teacher on Princess Cruises


These are the first Forty-four cities posted - with more to follow

Click any city to visit on John Simone Photography's jetsetjohnny.ca:

A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Beijing, China
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Bergen, Norway
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Cape Town, South Africa
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Casablanca, Morocco
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Dakar, Senegal
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Dalian, China
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Dubai, UAE
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Chan May, Vietnam
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Funchal, Madeira Islands
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Ganvie, Benin
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Hoi An, Vietnam
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Honfleur, France
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Hong Kong, China
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Hue, Vietnam
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Keelung, Taiwan
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Ko Samui, Thailand
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Kristiansand, Norway
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Lisbon, Portugal
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Lome, Togo
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Luderitz, Namibia
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Maui, Hawaii
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Mindelo, Cape Verde
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Miyajima, Japan
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Mumbai, India
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Muscat, Oman
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Nanortalik, Greenland
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Newport, Rhode Island
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Nosy Be, Madagascar
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Oahu, Hawaii
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Okinawa, Japan
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Rabat, Morocco
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Reykjavik, Iceland
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Saigon, Vietnam
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on St. Pierre et Miquelon, France
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Seoul, South Korea
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Seville, Spain
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Singapore
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Tenerife, Canary Islands
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Tetouan, Morocco
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Thorshvn, Faroe Islands
A photo-essay by John Simone Photography on Yangon, Myanmar

Quick links to all of John Simone's Design and Photography sites: