John Waters is suffering from a case of “Be careful what you wish for.”
On page 6 of his wonderfully decadent new tome Role Models, America’s own Pope of Trash writes: ‘Readers of this book, if you see me on the street and call me Prince Summerfall Winterspring in a nice tone of voice, I will probably respond.’
When I call Waters in San Francisco and greet him by saying “Hello, Prince Summerfall Winterspring,” he audibly but good-naturedly groans. “Oh my God. I’m already regretting writing that. The book hasn’t even been out a day and already I’m starting to get that from everyone.”
Sorry, John. Won’t happen again. I quickly change the subject and get on with the interview. I don’t want to annoy a guy who is one of MY role models; a man who’s wonderfully subversive, iconoclastic films (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Polyester, and about 14 others) have been providing joy, amusement, and solace to social misfits for more than 40 years.
In Role Models, Waters analyzes and salutes the various individuals who helped influence and shape his wonderfully askew worldview. And what a motley crew it is – crooner Johnny Mathis, Dadaist fashion designer Rei Kawakubo, underground pornographers Bobby Garcia and David Hurles, and Lady Zorro, Baltimore’s Blaze Starr-meets-Johnny Cash lesbian stripper. And that’s just a small sampling.
Toledo City Paper spoke to Waters about his new book, which is at booksellers now. And remember—don’t take him up on his offer on page 6.
You are a role model to many people, myself included. How does that make you feel?
I feel like a filth elder. When I was younger, parents told their kids to stay away from me. Now parents and their kids watch my movies together. Times have certainly changed. But I think it’s very sweet when people tell me I influenced them. I like that I can be a good bad influence on people.
Are there any other role models that you wanted to include in the book but didn’t have room for?
No, not really. I tried to stay away from talking about filmmakers who influenced me—I did all that in Shock Value (Waters’ 1981 autobiography). I mean, Bobby Garcia and David Hurles are in there, but that’s it.
In the book you talk at length about your favorite authors and I know you have an extensive collection of books devoted to Liberace. How do you feel about Michael Douglas playing him in a biopic?
Really? Michael Douglas? I hadn’t heard that. Wow. I think the Liberace story is definitely one that should be told. I met Liberace. He called me after I did a review of his book for Vogue, The Things I Love, which I gave a favorable review to for all the wrong reasons. I didn’t have an assistant then, and I answered the phone and heard this voice go (nasally voice): “Is this John Waters? This is Lee.” He invited me to his concert and to dinner. When I saw him, I knew immediately he had AIDS, and it was real sad. But yes, he was a huge influence on me. It’s amazing; he was not out of the closet. He sued a paper in London that said he was gay and won! And when he died I think his estate gave the money back. I remember going to the concert and it was amazing. He brought out the inner fag hag in all of these blue-haired old ladies who had probably never met a gay man.
So bring us up to date on your other projects. What’s the latest on Fruitcake (Waters’ as-yet-unproduced children’s Christmas movie)?
The latest? There is no latest. I don’t know anybody that can an independent film made these days for $5 million. I’ve started to think up another (film) but I don’t know why because that costs $5 million, too. I mean, I wrote the script and everyone liked it, but all those old movie companies I used to work with are gone. But I’ve got a lot of different careers. I made 17 movies and I just keep going.
How about the latest in your CD series, “Breaking Up With John Waters? I’m dying for some good tearjerking music.
Oh, are you kidding? The music industry is in worse shape than the movie industry. If I could sing those songs, I’d tour and sell my own CDs. “Breaking Up With John Waters” is one I want to do, but I don’t have a lot of faith that it will ever happen. I tour with my one-man-show “This Filthy World,” I do a Christmas spoken word act called “A John Waters Christmas,” I have a lot of art shows; I have one opening tomorrow in San Francisco and I just curated one in New York. I have a lot of different careers, but it’s all one business—I’m just trying to sell my sense of humor.
Role Models is now available from Farrar, Straus and Giroux at booksellers everywhere.
