Sommaire pour April 2017 de Attitude Magazine

Our world-exclusive feature with the director and stars of Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast was lined up before I took over at the helm of Attitude. But I was immediately intrigued to find out why so many gay men have fallen in love with what, on the surface, seems to be a very straight love story. I expected to find an example of gay film fans being drawn towards escapist culture and gay filmmakers escaping problems in their own lives through the creative process. I did, but, as you’ll see, there’s more to the story than that... If Beauty and the Beast isn’t your thing, we also have features on RAY BLK, Goldfrapp and Joan Collins. If you’re too young to remember Joan’s heyday as super-bitch Alexis…

“AMAZING IS UP THERE WITH NICE AS AN ADJECTIVE WITH AS MUCH IMPACT AS A B*WITCHED COMEBACK” I HATE “NICE”. It’s an utterly meaningless word. Any statement that carries the word “nice” as an adjective has as much weight behind it as a limp slap from a dead goldfish. It only ever highlights a conversation that’s just going through the motions. (Like when Victoria Beckham gets a call from Geri asking about “the next” Spice Girls’ reunion and would she be a part of it? Um, no, “but it was nice of you to ask.”) It’s the laziest word in the entire English dictionary. Considering our language has evolved over thousands of years from a culture that gave us the plays of Shakespeare, wit of Oscar Wilde, and tweets of…

“FRIENDS OFTEN REMARK UPONTHE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OUR RELATIONSHIP AND THE PLOT LINE OF WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? IT’S NOT CUTE, AND IT AIN’T COSY” REMEMBER THE DAYS of Nokias the size of garlic crushers? When “Storage Almost Full” didn’t flash up on your blower every two seconds, forcing you to frantically delete all the apps and photos you’d like to keep? That’s the problem with humans. When our storage is full, we keep going (stopping to re-evaluate can be scary). It’s a trait I notice in many of my friends. Most notably in the woman I live with: my mum. Picture Johnny Five from the classic Eighties’ sci-fi film Short Circuit; programme him to wash, clean and work and you have my mum. On those rare occasions she finds…

TRUDEAUFILES This month, Trudeau reaffirmed his Canada’s commitment to war refugees, helped the country find strength as it mourned the victims of the terrorist attack in Quebec City, read a story to schoolchildren, met Donald Trump to show him what it’s like to be a decent human being, and put the finishing touches to the Star Wars Lego set he’s been building since Christmas. RICKY WHITTLE From Hollyoaks heartthrob to Hollywood rising star, Whittle’s on an upwards trajectory and is slowly taking over the USA with his brooding looks and acting skills. He’s been in NCIS, been a regular in The 100, and takes on the lead role in American Gods, which launches exclusively on Amazon Prime Video this Spring.…

FRANCES Things I’ve Never Said Berkshire-born Frances has been building a stream of hype for two years. She’s been nominated for the BBC and BRIT awards, written a track for the new Fifty Shades film, and now she releases her debut album. Stand-out track No Matter is a piano-led slice of pop bliss about moving to the big city and chasing your dreams. Say it Again is extra-silky Ellie Goulding territory and there are touching ballads aplenty. Gorgeous. 17 March. 4/5 SLEAFORD MODS English Tapas After eight albums and several EPs, it’s largely business as usual for the post-punk duo with snarling, profanity-filled tirades from frontman James Williamson and insistent loops from keyboardist Andrew Fearn. But in among the bite there’s humour, and wry observations (social media whores are fair…

“FOLLOWING BLANKET MEDIA COVERAGE OF BOTH THE JIMMY SAVILE AND THE FOOTBALL CHILD-ABUSE SCANDALS, MYSTERIOUS SKIN IS TIMELY VIEWING. IT’S AN EXPLORATION OF MEMORY, INNOCENCE AND TRAUMA” MUCH IS MADE of the word “versatile” among gay and bisexual men, but it’s perhaps the best word to describe the films of director Gregg Araki. Prior to 2004, he was best known for his anarchically hipster Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, consisting of the psychedelic Totally F***ed Up, The Doom Generation and Nowhere. So, those unfamiliar with Scott Heim’s novel Mysterious Skin were probably expecting Araki’s adaptation to follow the same hedonistic route. If so, they were in for a rude awakening. Bleak and harrowing, the film details how two young men (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet) react to the same traumatic childhood incident…

Date of Birth: 23 May 1933 Place of Birth: Paddington, London Best known for: Playing Alexis in Dynasty, for which she won a Golden Globe and was paid $120,000 per episode, appearing in The Stud opposite Oliver Tobias and The Bitch a year later, being married five times — four ending in divorce — and being engaged to Warren Beatty. Least known for: Going out with Larry Hagman at the age of 16, only being the fourth choice for her iconic Dynasty role, and almost being sold off to an Arab sheik for £10,000 by first husband Maxwell Read just seven months into the marriage. BGF status: There are few bigger gay icons than Alexis, and as for those shoulder pads…. But she also played the villainous Siren in the…

A WATCH WITH A BANG BOOM WATCHES are all for choice when it comes to watches. Chief executive Niklas Dahlgren wanted not only the strap to be interchangeable, but also the outer case, bevel and inner casing. “Trends are steering towards customised and personalised design,” he said. Bold, strong and tailored to you, the watches, created in Sweden, are about being an individual — exactly what you want from your timepiece. Prices range from ¤150 to ¤200. boomwatches.com FINISH THE LOOK HENRY EXPLORES LONDON HENRY LONDON have taken inspiration from their home town of London. Encouraging you to “wear London your way,” they’ve explored every part of the capital, whether it be a market in Notting Hill or an East End street. Embodying London’s synergy of old and new,…

IT’S THE EARLY HOURS of New Year’s Eve when I first meet Wolfgang Tillmans in Berghain, the Berlin club renowned as the city’s spiritual home for creatures of the night. I’m here to experience Tillmans’ debut DJ set at the mammoth former power station, where he’s playing the main floor. You couldn’t imagine a more typically Berlin crowd: handsome, chiselled, blond boys dance to his tune alongside bearded hipsters and techno Goths. His choice of music fuses techno with innovative sounds that give the usually tough and rough main room a more energised, funked-up edge. The audience offer a deserved round of applause after the set. We meet again the following evening when I pick him up en route for a return visit to Berghain (it’s like that coffee shop…

BXR LONDON The boxing trend steps up a gear with the opening of BXR gym in London’s Marylebone. Backed by heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua (a poster boy for getting in the best shape of your life), this state-of-the-art fitness facility will inspire you to get fit with a team of elite trainers and the latest equipment. There’s an Ibiza-worthy sound system, and you can reward yourself with post-workout shakes and snacks from Joe & The Juice and a session in the luxurious sauna. Membership starts at £1,500/year. bxrlondon.com BEELINE Jump on your bike these days and you might be tempted to rely on apps such as Google Maps or Waze. But Beeline is different. Snap the water-resistant device on to your handlebars and let the compass display point you in…

# 1 INCLINE DUMBELL FLY GRAB a slightly inclined bench, start on your back with your arms outstretched in front of you, shoulders down and back, and a good wide-footing for balance. WITH a slight bend in the elbow, lower your arms out to the sides until your arms are parallel with the floor, or you begin to feel uncomfortable. KEEPING the arms rigid, pull the weights back up to the start position. Do 4-5 sets of around 10-12 reps. # 2 ALTERNATE DUMBELL PRESS THIS is more about activating your core muscles than pressing heavy, so don’t go too crazy with the weight. Get a good wide-footing to stabilise yourself. LIE on your back with arms at 90º, press one dumbbell out and bring back to the start position,…

THE INK HOTEL The 149-room Ink is located in the former offices of the newspaper De Tijd, which inspired the hotel’s name and its identity as a place where you’re encouraged to write — and live — your own story. The service is impeccable, and even though the hotel is situated on one of Amsterdam’s busiest streets — just a few minutes from the central train station — it’s quiet and peaceful. It’s also cool without being intimidating, and the bedrooms are stylish and comfortable. Breakfast is served in the Pressroom restaurant and lounge and there’s an exceptional buffet with the best scrambled eggs in town and a selection of superfoods, fresh juices, organic cereals, artisan breads and Dutch cheeses. While you enjoy breakfast, admire the diversity of the clientele:…

“I’VE HEARD BIG GIRLS GIVE BETTER HEAD BECAUSE THEY’RE ALWAYS HUNGRY” Team Swift or Team Perry? Team Kim Kardashian. What’s your theory behind Trump’s tan? It matches his teeth nicely. If Melania were reincarnated as an animal, what would it be and why? A giraffe in a zoo in Antarctica. It never wanted to be there. What advice would you give RuPaul if he was a contestant on Drag Race? Give us the sickening glamour you brought us when you were a guest judge on Project Runway. What was the biggest behind-the-scenes scandal from your time on Drag Race? Someone peed in the garbage can once because they had to go so bad. Have you ever had sex in drag? Have I ever had sex? What time is “too early”…

DANNY LEE WYNTER, ACTOR AND FOUNDER OF ACT FOR CHANGE Peter Ustinov’s Prince John from Robin Hood made me want to become an actor. Deliciously camp. power-crazed, but an insecure bag of nerves. Much like the men I fall for HUGH SOHN, CHIEF SUB EDITOR I grew up in the Sixties, Disney’s heyday imho, even if back then I didn’t know I was Tinkerbell. So, a special mention goes to the Fab Four vultures in 1967’s Jungle Book, but I’ve gone for Shere Khan and George Sanders’ silky voice. Talk about an iron fist in a velvet glove. Eat your heart out, Idris Elba STEEVE BECKOUET, PHOTOGRAPHER I love Dory from Finding Nemo. She’s so innocent and child-like, and having memory problems means she always has a fresh eye on…

“I ended up doing my university dissertation in five days. I beat the system somehow. I barely did any work and got away with it” Where did you learn to sing? I’d go to church every Sunday and sing in the choir and learnt how to sing there. But most of it was done at home as I would just listen to my mum’s Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston CDs and try to replicate that sound. You wrote My Hood about Catford, at a time when you wanted to leave. Do you still harbour what sounds like resentment towards your home, or have you made peace with it? I wouldn’t say resentment. I just felt it was time to move on and I think I felt…

Michael Blythe TAEKWONDO A group of best mates spend a long, hot (and often naked) summer in a remote country house in this sweet and sexy Argentinian tease. You’ll need one hell of a big knife to cut the sexual tension in this one. Without doubt the hottest film of the year. HANDSOME DEVIL A truly life-affirming, feelgood film, this boarding school-set Irish charmer charts the unlikely friendship between an isolated gay teen and his hunky rugby-playing roommate. Sweet and very funny. PRIA (SHORT) A young man has to face the impending reality of his arranged marriage in this emotionally resonant film from Indonesia, which reminds us of the very real struggles faced by queer people across the globe. I LOVE YOU BOTH In LGBT+ cinema, the B is often…

Should be compulsory viewing. Shocking but beautiful. a stark portrayal of gay abuse and violence. @gaytouristblog I liked the interweaving and balance of the two stories... very moving conclusion. @nickawgomez Masterful, complex, woozy exploration of the ramifications of abuse. @ben1283 Extraordinary, but one of the most upsetting films I’ve seen. Still a masterclass in how to handle traumatic material. @cnlester One of the weirdest wanks I’ve had. @ cstands4awesome GET INVOLVED WITH CULTURE CLUB To have your say on next month’s subject: the Joe Orton biopic, Prick Up Your Ears, tweet us your thoughts @JunoDawson…

STOCKISTS A Alexander McQueen alexandermcqueen.com B Balenciaga balenciaga.com Base London baselondon.com Bobby Abley bobbyabley.co.uk Boom Watches boomwatches.com C Christopher Shannon christophershannon.co.uk Coach coach.com D Daniel Fletcher danielwfletcher.co,uk Diesel Black Gold diesel.com Dior Homme dior.com DSquared2 dsquared2.com E Emporio Armani armani.com F Fendi fendi.com Fendi at Matches Fashion matchesfashion.com G Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci givenchy.com Groomarang amazon.co.uk/groomarang.com H H & Mhm.com Henry London henry-london.com J J W Anderson j-w-anderson.com Jil Sander jilsander.com L Lanvin lanvin.com M Marc Jacobs at MR PORTER…

 THIS YEAR MARKS the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The generation that began life outside the law has grown old. They survived state-sanctioned homophobia, Thatcher, the Aids crisis, the birth of the modern LGBT+ rights movement and same-sex marriage. Their struggle ensured future generations grow up experiencing something resembling equality — in legislation at least, if not wider society. But as they turn to care services in their senior years, many of these gay men find themselves forced back into a closet they escaped long ago. In 1959, at the age of 16, Paul Foss was outed to his father by a neighbour who took issue with the company he was keeping. He left home and quickly met his partner. By November 1963…

How did you end up specialising in reporting on terrorism? I did my degree in Arabic and went to live in Syria as part of that. Then I did a Masters in communication and went back to Syria to do more studies on the country. By the time the war began I’d been back and forth for six or seven years. I thought: “Why don’t I write for the newspapers?” So I contacted The Daily Telegraph and ended up spending a bit of time with the rebels. I gave a talk about having been inside Syria, the BBC were there and they offered me a job. I fell in love with the country, it’s the most beautiful amazing place. You’ve reported on Islamic State as well. How does that feel…

“THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE WHEN I STOPPED THE NEGATIVE SELF-TALK AND STARTED BUILDING MYSELF UP IN MY MIND” MIND OVER (RATHER A LOT OF) MATTER What weight were you at your biggest and what was life like? I was more than 400lb and so ashamed. I’d had an accident at 30 where I injured my left knee, twisted my spine, herniated three discs and fractured a vertebra. I was above 300lb before the injury but gained an extra 95lb in four months while bedridden. It was painful to just try to go through normal day-to-day tasks. I hated myself for being so heavy. Was there a lightbulb moment where you decided to change your life? I was outside mowing the back yard and had to stop after each pass to…

ARIA ALAGHA, 31, MEDIA STRATEGIST “My body hair can be a source of great disgust or arousal to people. I love that it has that power” { HEIGHT } 5 FT 9 IN { WEIGHT } 14 ST 10 LB WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO DO THIS SHOOT? Diversity is important. It’s important for people who look like me to be represented in the gay media as we are, rather than fetishised. WOULD YOU BE PUT OFF BY A PARTNER WHO HAD A BETTER BODY THAN YOU? I used to be afraid of that but as I get older I find younger guys are attracted to me in the way I was attracted to older guys at that age. If there’s chemistry, anything could happen. ARE YOU HAPPY WITH HOW…

LAPS OF LUXURY Breezing through the countryside in an Aston Martin or picking up a date in a Rolls-Royce Phantom does not have be a pipe dream. For those who like the rumbling sound of an engine, car rental specialists Hertz have a Dream Collection of coveted vehicles available in the UK that lets you enjoy the thrills of a super car without the hefty price tag. The fleet of cars includes everything from Bentleys to Ferraris and promises to fulfil any petrolhead’s desire. Pick-up locations include Marble Arch and Bayswater, in London, and Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports. Gentlemen, start your engines... hertz.co.uk DA DO RUM RUM Now you don’t even have to travel to go on a journey because Virgin Holidays have bottled the taste of a holiday.…

{ THEATRE } YANK THE MUSICAL Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, situated in a Grade II listed former cotton mill, will play host to Yank the Musical this spring. The story begins with a young man in present-day San Francisco, who finds an old diary in a junk shop. It tells the story of Stu, a scared Midwestern lad who’s drafted into WWII in1943, and who — like most guys — worries whether he “has what it takes” to make it in the army. But unlike most of the other recruits, Stu falls in love with a fellow soldier. The play runs from 11 March until 8 April. hopemilltheatre.co.uk { GADGET } GROOMARANG Groomarang are simply bristling with ideas when it comes to making your facial hair look its best. It…

ONE OF THE UK’S FINEST ELECTRONIC OUTFITS IS BACK with a new album that encapsulates the evolution of their sound in one addictive collection. Dancing effortlessly between digitised, bass-fuelled stompers and floating ethereal moments, the new album is a reminder of the enduring cool of Goldfrapp, aka Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory. Four years since the release of their sixth album, Alison is ready for Silver Eye to take flight. “I like that feeling when it goes out into the world and it’s not yours any more, it’s everyone else’s. It lives and breathes. You’re holding on to it for that long without knowing where and how it exists. I like it becoming everyone else’s property.” This time Alison has been even more hands-on with the project, shooting the accompanying…

“YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF CROYDON, BUT YOU CAN’T STOP HIM FALLING ASLEEP ON A CLUB TOILET WITH HIS PANTS AROUND HIS ANKLES AND HIS COCK OUT” ONE OF THE THINGS I’ve discovered since moving to Los Angeles is that if you’re British, not only are you given a free pass to drink as much as you like, it’s actually expected of you. Like most of my mates, I have a great repertoire of horrendous drunken mess stories, like the time I jumped over a railing, got my foot caught, fell face first into the pavement and smashed my lip open — but still went for a kebab. A regular Friday night in Croydon, really, but still: mess. Or there’s the time I woke up on Putney Heath…

BOOK OF THE MONTH DAYS WITHOUT END Sebastian Barry/Faber & Faber • Inspired by his son coming out as gay, Sebastian Barry’s story about two soldiers in love in gritty frontier America recently made him the first novelist to win the Costa Book Award twice. Thomas McNulty, a teenager who escapes the Irish famine for America, and his lover John Cole, are hired to fight the brutal battles with Native Americans and then in the Civil War. Thanks to Barry’s incredible writing, you completely enter into the mindset of the young soldiers, feel their camaraderie and apprehension, and see the vast haunting beauty of pioneer America through their eyes. Thomas and John also find themselves working as entertainers in a saloon, dressing as women to comfort miners starved of female…

Joan Collins SHE WAS SO GOOD AS ALEXIS IN DYNASTY THAT SOME PEOPLE COULDN’T TELL WHERE THE CHARACTER ENDED AND THE REAL JOAN BEGAN. BUT HER CAREER HAS SPANNED 60 YEARS AND NOW SHE’S STARRING IN A NEW FILM ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD THE PLEASURE of seeing Dame Joan Collins in her one-woman show will know that she’s lived a somewhat turbulent ife. A survivor to the end, she talks candidly about sexism and the struggle young female actors faced in Hollywood’s Golden Age, her five marriages, and how her career went down a less-salubrious path in the 1970s when she was tagged Queen of Horror for a series of tawdry B-movies. Collins found mainstream success again following roles in the racy film adaptations of her sister Jackie’s books…

“IT was so packed but it was crazy, it was fun.” Sergei Polunin is telling me about the last time he went to a gay club, on a night out with photographer David LaChapelle. Although he enjoyed himself, he was so anxious not to lead people on that he spent most of the night telling people he was straight. “There was actually one funny moment,” he says, “when someone came up to me and was like, ‘What’s your name?’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not gay.’ And they said, ‘Is that your name?’.” Polunin laughs and flashes me an arresting smile. Now 27, the Ukrainian dancer’s looks have caught up with his charisma and he’s grown into his sharp, angular features to become strikingly handsome. He also has an…

 “You did the first hot photoshoot of Daniel Radcliffe,” squeals the usually composed Emma Watson, best known for playing Hermione in the Harry Potter films. “I remember him showing me pictures on the red carpet. It was him topless and with stubble and a waistcoat and I was, like, ‘Woah!’.’’ The stars of Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast are excited. But not because they’re appearing in one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year. No, it’s because they’re being interviewed by Attitude. “Attitude was one of the first magazine shoots I ever did,” jumps in Dan Stevens, the normally cool and collected star of Downton Abbey. “It was when I did a show called The Line of Beauty for the BBC, based on Alan Hollinghurst’s…

MAXIMUSCLE PROMAX BARS Maximuscle Promax bars offer a convenient way to boost the protein content of your diet — never miss an opportunity by keeping one in your gym or work bag. The bars come in 14 great flavours, including chocolate brownie, millionaire’s shortbread, chocolate orange, almond and vanilla, and blueberry smoothie. Incredible taste. Spot on nutrition. MAXIMUSCLE MICELLAR CASEIN Sleep well knowing your nutrition is on target and add Maximuscle’s Micellar Casein to your nutrition routine. This ultra-filtered, spray-dried protein with enhanced solubility is derived from skimmed milk, therefore reducing the lactose and fat content. Micellar Casein comes in two great flavours: chocolate caramel and chocolate mint. MAXIMUSCLE PROMAX LEAN SHAKE This high-protein shake is scientifically formulated to support lean muscle development. Every serving is packed with 25g of…

DAVE HILL, PARALYMPIAN TRIATHLETE What I most love about sport is the attitude it teaches you and the transferable skills you get from it. I’m extremely grateful for my time within elite sport; it’s shaped the person I am today. Triathlon is a great challenge, so if you’ve ticked off other sports, then entering a triathlon is definitely next. I wouldn’t get carried away with expensive equipment, I did my first few with a borrowed tri-suit, wetsuit with holes in and my trusty antique, steel-framed Raleigh bike. You get such a buzz going from swimming to cycling to running. I know I’m biased, but a triathlete has got to be one of the fittest athletes; you need the arms, chest and lats to pull your way through the…

“in the gallery of self-portraits you can look into the eyes of the troubled and charismatic Van Gogh. He had a tremendous capacity for emotion and I defy you not to feel tearful when confronted by his immense talent” rowdy groups of lads rampaging through the red-light district while dope-smoking students enjoy the thrill of being legally stoned in dingy coffee shops. This was my idea of what Amsterdam was like, and for years it put me off visiting. Of course, I always knew there was more to Holland’s biggest city but if I’m being honest, I spent much of my youth struggling against an urge to binge on booze and casual sex and for a long time thought the last thing I needed was to take a trip to…

“I’D FORCE THE PRESS AND POLITICIANS TO STICK TO FACTS AND EVIDENCE. SO MANY PEOPLE DON’T HAVE FORMED OPINIONS, THEY JUST BELIEVE HYSTERICAL HEADLINES” SAM EMM, 26, DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE, LONDON What’s a day like at work? I work for a cosmetic surgery clinic on Harley Street. It really depends on how organised I was the day before! I might come up with a campaign, write a blog or interview a medical professional. And I have to adapt quickly to fresh news, urgent changes or prospective patients messaging on social media. How did you land your job? I was working on the phones booking people in, a vacancy came up internally so I went for it. How would you describe your style? Usually I’m “all black everything” but I try…

“THE WHIFF OF A CHIP PAN FUSED WITH POPPERS GUIDED US INTO THE CLUB. THIS WAS BRADFORD, BUT THAT NIGHT IT FELT LIKE VEGAS” STE SOFTLEY, 38, RADIO PRODUCER, BRADFORD the summer of 1995 is often remembered for Britpop sweeping the nation, but for me it was the year I made my debut on the gay scene, in my home town of Bradford. It was common knowledge that there was a “bent bar” somewhere at the top end of the city centre and everybody knew someone who knew someone who worked with someone who had been “caught” in there, so I had to engineer my first visit carefully to make sure I wouldn’t fall victim to being named in the roll call of shame. I had confided in my best…