September, 1975

By JOHN NOSEK

Pulsating with the throbbing power of a stud cut loose among a field of mares, the disco scene is literally mounting the mass entertainment media of America. After ten years, Americans have come full circle, and the masses are storming back to the dance halls. Discos, of course,

We've

HIGH GEAR

DISCOTREKKIN WITH ERIC

management and walked out. I told Twiggy I had a good sound system of my own, and he hired me. From there I drifted to the Shaker and the Bayou. Now I'm at Rikki's and frankly quite satisfied on all fronts, creatively, financially, and personally.

High Gear: In the past year. discos and their music have transformed themselves into a dynamic national trend for straights as well as gays. Do you

edit it, by re-playing a portion and incorporating it into the original song to maintain the dancing. Tapes themselves are an insensitive repetoire for an evening. A good disc jockey will pick up on what the crowd wants to continue the vibrations. The objective is to keep the crowd on the dance floor. Ultimately, the crowd decides what is played.

High Gear: The Bayou Landing and Twiggy's are presently playing disco music that is very N.Y. influenced; latin inflected with lush strings and an upbeat tempo. Your music at Rikki's tends to incorporate the new sound, yet is still quite funky. Do you think there is a trend toward the more latin-styled disco music, and do you think Clevelanders have picked up on it?...

Eric: Yes. Latin is just one style of disco that happens to be in now and perhaps, leaving soon. My music, actually is closer to that of Joe Maistro's at Twiggy's than it is to Joe. Costa's at the Bayou. You know, it's incredible how the Cleveland gay crowd has nearly quadrupled its sensitivity to the music played at any bar. They just won't take anything anymore that's shoved at them. I think this shows a growing sense of sophistication.

High Gear: Gays have often,

one that I must admit I'd love to get my hands on. The lighting really has no effect on the sound, but it does on the overall feeling of an evening. When psychedelia came in six years ago, if you came to experience it, you watched it. Today, the lighting is a participatory function.

High Gear: What do you and the management of Rikki's plan for the future?

Eric: I've just completed the lighting diagrams and atmospheric control system we're bringing in. The indoors of the bar will be made to appear like you're outside. Trees, park benches, etc. will be included. I'm also planning some experiments in producing sub-sonic (inaudible) tones, tones present on tapes or records that even the most expensive system can't pick up. Such tones come more to an individual as vibrations rather than sounds. It's very similiar to the sensuround used in the movie Earthquake. The management of Rikki's is planning dance contests, more gogo boys, and keeping drinks at a minimal price. Our number one go-go boy, Peter, will be featured in a photo layout in The Rapping Paper. Rikki's is going to be a hot bar.

High Gear: What are your impressions of the Cleveland gay scene?

be intimidated any longer, and we're not afraid. This was unheard of fifteen years ago. Personally, I'd like to see a more active gay movement in Cleveland, but perhaps this is not the right time. Gay people are just beginning to truly be happy with themselves. Once that stage is accomplished, we'll feel more comfortable with each other and with the straight world in groups outside of the bar.

While discos are quite prominent in the gay subculture, they have stirred quite a controversey among straights. An established, local entertainment newspaper in Cleveland characterizes disco music as "fabricated garbage fed to plastic people on tinny dance floors." Rolling Stone pretentiously claims, "After years of serious development, sophisticated rock is bumped aside by often the most simpleminded of formula ditties." Gays (and some straights) sit back and smile at the apparent naivete of all these selfrighteous detractors.

Whether one likes it or not, people will always physically respond to music through rhythmic movement. To imply that any form of physical expression is trite shows both ignorance and insensitivity.

Once the disco trend fades

are nothing new to gays and think this revived interest in dan shunned music that is not stric here is growing and from the greater social scene,

been stomping to rhythm and blues as long as the blacks have been producing it. Forced into the shadows of undercover bars, gays for years had found discos their only viable social alternative.

Today, millions of our straight brothers and sisters are joining

cing is tied to the state of the economy and will it be only a short-lived trend.

as

Eric: The disco scene is a national phenemenon perhaps the Beattles were in the sixties. It's definitely a trend, but there's reasons for it More and

tly disco. Do you feel there is a new opening now for rock and middle-of-the-road tunes in the discotheques?

Eric: In gay discos, basically no except that artists like Bowie adapt their songs to disco

requiremonto

Each

gay

The pride factor of the becoming more important to each individual. It shows in the bars. People are bringing straight friends and relatives in with them, and having a great time. It's a much healthier at-

gays will still be swaying to the pulsating beats, and Eric may still be disc jockeying; yet after all is said and done, entertainment history will look back on the disco phenemenon populist movement. No

as a