Al
Pillay
Humberside’s answer to Sylvester,
Al Pillay went global in the 80s as Lana, the transsexual disco diva. But
despite his eclectic singing career, Al has always had time to support people
living with HIV, as he tells David G Taylor
How has HIV touched your life personally?
Being a theatrical personality, such as one is, so many of my contemporaries
succumbed to it. I’m lucky that I didn’t, as I’ve flattened
an enormous amount of grass in my time, if you get my drift.
What HIV-related charity work have you been involved with over the
years?
You name it, I’ve done it. I’ve made myself available to Body
Positive, Terrence Higgins Trust, the Glitter Ball. I’ve even done buddying.
When we first encountered you, you were transsexual disco diva Lana
Pillay posing nude for The Face magazine and having a Stock, Aitken and Waterman
hit with Pistol In My Pocket.
Lets get this right... OK, I wasn’t fully nude. I don’t like or
agree with nudity or porn, but in my case it was the usual blind and deluded
motivation, a primal scream for attention (and it was only one tit out). Yes,
I was the number one hi-NRG diva all over Europe in the middle 80s. Pete Waterman
produced a massive disco hit for me which also went Top Ten in Australia.
What happened to Lana and the sex change?
As far as a sex change operation, it was not even on the menu. Transsexuality
for me, was more my protest against a macho, posturing gay world, and my subversion
of society’s restrictive gender norms. Some of us have to go right out
on a limb and overboard to find out who we are as people.
Some of your stage costumes were designed by the late Leigh Bowery.
How close were you?
Leigh Bowery and I were enormously close. He made tonnes of my cozzies and
day clothes. I still have all the big Liberace coats and shirts he made me.
We used to laugh a lot. He’d serenade me on piano. He was a wonderful
classical pianist and he’d always be cooking for me, or making me cheese
and cress sandwiches. For a sick bitch he was quite normal with me and we
had a great affection for each other.
Since so many of your contemporaries succumbed to HIV or drug and
alcohol abuse, are you amazed you’re still here?
In the days when we all made up the Taboo [London club] crowd it was total
hedonism: sex, drugs, drink, music and, most important for me, make-up. I
never approved of drugs and still don’t, but I indulged in everything
else. However, I was always the one emptying the ashtrays or washing the glasses,
making sure everyone was fed properly. I’m still like that.
In your experience, what are the downsides of the music biz?
It’s all far too corporate, ageist and cheap. Pop Idol has spoiled it
all.
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
Without a doubt meeting my producer Dr Robert Silman [also Joan Rivers’
producer] and writer and actor Steven Froelich who put me in an off-Broadway
show in 2004 and who have invested a massive amount in me. Meeting my musical
director Nigel Lilley from Sinatra at the London Palladium and my great mate
and director Matt Ryan. Oh, and my vocal coach, who I share with Will Young
and Rachel Stevens, Mary Hammond from the Royal Academy.
What exciting projects do you have coming up in 2006?
I’m doing an intimate cabaret show at the Café de Paris which
will be filmed in early June, Dr Silmam is producing a TV sitcom for me and
I’ll play NYC and Vegas this year with my concert.
• Al Pillay hosts an intimate cabaret at London’s Café
de Paris on 27 June, 8.30-10.15pm. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster,
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
