Pioneering London gay scene DJ Tallulah dies

Pioneering gay scene DJ Tallulah died this week aged 59, marking the end of a 40-year career during which he DJed at many of London’s seminal clubs and partied alongside the likes of Joe Orton, Kenneth Williams and Leigh Bowery.

A long time resident at Heaven, in more recent years he DJed regularly at Crash, and the Shadow Lounge, and last year became the first person to be inducted into the Homo Hall of Fame, in tribute to his enormous contribution to UK nightlife. Speaking at the time, Tallulah recalled being one of just five known gay DJs in London at the beginning of 70s and recalled an underground scene with minimal media exposure. “There were no flyers – it was mainly word of mouth,” he said, “I think it’s important that younger people look into gay culture a little bit more – it’s so easy to be forgotten, particularly where music’s concerned.”

Tallulah also worked at New York’s Studio 54 in the 70s, before returning to London and becoming a fixture at clubs like Taboo and the Embassy Club, a club he considered ‘the Studio 54 of London.’ “Lemmy from Motorhead would be continually, permanently, on the one-arm bandits (fruit machines),” Tallulah told dance culture historian (and DJ) Bill Brewster in an interview several years ago. “I used to go down there in my mother’s cocktail dresses, with big boots on. I always used to stand next to Lemmy and he used to say, “I hope you’re not taking hard drugs.” “No, I’m just drinking vodka.” “Steer clear of the hard stuff!” he laughed.

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