Not many bands can say people still get excited over their decades-old hit and arm-spell it, but Village People's "YMCA" is inked into the musical lexicon like a tattoo. The sextet, who stormed the scene in the '70s with their flamboyant style and boogie hits, have yet to mimic their disco-era high. But that hasn't stopped them. They, along with dance fave The Trammps, will turn Sound Board at Detroit's MotorCity Casino Hotel into "Disco Party 2010" at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19.
Felipe Rose, "the Indian," spoke with BTL about the enduring power of "YMCA," the band's gay image, and lasting through three decades of Village People.
You've been a part of the band for over 30 years…
Oh god.
Don't remind you?
No, don't.
What does it feel like?
I'm not being corny, but it's a privilege and an honor. You would think that (after) one or two albums I would've moved on with (my) career, but this has become – for the better part of my adult life – a long job.
Did you ever want to do something different?
Well, I'm always doing different things. We just finished a video for the Native American Music Awards. And I'm speaking to you, and I think we're going to… where are we going? Michigan? (Laughs)
Yes, Michigan. When was the last time you were out here in Motown?
I can't remember. Probably – oh my god – a few years ago, I guess? After a while it all blurs together. There are only two guys in the group who can remember hotels and cities – and that's Alex, the solider, and Eric, the biker.
What's it been like to be one of the mainstays in a band that's seen people come and go over the years?
David and Alex are with us, and Ray has been with us since (1980 feature film) "Can't Stop the Music," so it's not that many people. Jeff pretty much replaced Randy in 1980, so he's been with us for a while. And then Eric replaced our beloved Glenn (Hughes, who died in 2001), who in fact we were reminiscing about today. That was a difficult period for us, but Eric's been with us, and true to his professionalism he really fit well – and he's a brother.
What made you reminisce over Glenn?
We were just looking at some old pictures that were hung out in the office and Ray made a comment like, "Oh, man, Glenn sure loved to wear his leather outfit!"
Do you miss those days – the '70s?
Actually, those were a blur, because don't forget, we were putting out two albums a year – where today they do one a year and they try to pull out as many singles as they can. But it was constant, constant, constant, so things didn't really slow down until after the movie "Can't Stop the Music" – and that was because in the United States they didn't quite get it and the music was OK. The critics laid low, and they waited to get us.
The critics haven't always been kind to you.
No, no. But we just finished a tour of Australia and we did the "Can't Stop the Music" tour and the movie was huge there, so we actually put some of the songs in the tour and they loved it. I love Australia; they don't take anything serious – it's all about having a good time.
You think America takes things too seriously?
Oh, Jesus! You know, let's not even start with this. We're such a – I didn't even miss (watching) CNN in Australia. It was like I was in a bubble and only maybe peeked into, like, "The View" and I thought, "Oh, I'm not missing anything. Same old crap."
What do you think of the way music's evolved since the '70s? Are you up on the all current party bands?
Yeah, pretty much – and I think that Lady Gaga has changed the music industry a bit more, along with Pink and one of my favorite bands, Maroon 5. CD sales are back up again, which is pretty good.
Lady Gaga reminds me of Village People in that both of you are outrageous in your own way.
She said that in an interview in London – something about how she just loved us when she was little and she would look at the group in a theatrical sense, with the dressing up and the costumes and everything.
How does it feel when younger artists look up to you?
Oh, it's terrific.
Are you releasing any new music soon?
As a band? No. This is a new show, so we're kind of taking that around the world right now, and no – I mean, not right now.
But maybe down the line?
Possibly! (Laughs)
Let's talk about your gay image: You know what I find funny is that if you guys came out now, that image wouldn't be as big of a deal as it was in the '70s. You know what I mean?
And sadly, when we're traveling and we do press conferences you would think they would come out with something complimentary, but they come right out and they say, "So you guys are homosexuals?" It's so rude to even open the door; it's backward and prehistoric, and we kind of look at them like, "Can we go on to the next question?"
If we had to go out there into the streets and be a rowdy band, we wouldn't be around today. We take our job seriously. We love what we do and pretty much we clock in, clock out and everybody has private lives. Professionally, we meet as a group and as business partners, but outside that everybody has their own family, their own partner and their own world – separately – which is what keeps us going together. Because if we were going at it 24/7, it would get old fast. Come on, you know that.
So being called a gay band bothers you?
No, actually, it's a compliment. I just don't like the way they do it. It's almost insulting in a way. Do gay people run around asking straight people, "Are you straight?" I mean, really, come on.
Why do you take it as a compliment?
I take it as a compliment because any group – or even Madonna, Lady Gaga, Britney – when you have a loyal gay following, you're in. You've got that something that they love, and we're proud to represent and we love it and it's no laughing matter for us. It's out of true respect that the first album (1977's "The Village People") was done as a tribute to the gay locations around the country: San Francisco, "the Village," Fire Island. But then, when things took off, the producers went pop with "Macho Man" and then "YMCA" and then "Go West." But we have a history, and that's a good thing.
I don't want you to think that I'm in any way sitting back and complaining and bitching in this economy. We're lucky to work. Most acts can't right now tour the world, but the rest of it is really monotonous; it's a pain in the ass, and it's really horrible flying and traveling – the glamour is all gone. Really, the perk is when we're on stage. Because for 60, 75 minutes we're enjoying ourselves – and then it's over and back to the hotel to pack it up and go.
What can we expect from the show?
The show's a time capsule of the era, which if you've never seen the group live, it'll give you a sense of what we do and what we did back then – what made us so good in that respect.
Live, what do you find that the audience responds to the most?
Oh, what do you think?
Hmm. Just a hunch – "YMCA"?
If we don't do "YMCA" not only would they be disappointed, but they would probably flip us the bird. (Laughs) Seriously.
Do you ever get sick of performing that song?
Actually, no, because no two audiences are alike. And you have to feel lucky that you have songs that you've recorded that people love so much, which is what keeps you going.
Why do you think "YMCA" has endured after so many years?
I think that it's a good party song, and it gives people something to do – like, when they dance to it, they do the arm thing. It's an American staple and multi-generational.
When did the arm thing start?
That started on Dick Clark's show ("American Bandstand"). They did it, and we thought it was terrific. Then we stole it.
So people do it at the shows, I'm sure.
But then they're doing it backward, because they're looking at us!
Disco Party 2010 Starring Village People and The Trammps
8 p.m. Nov. 19
Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel
$32-$35
http://www.motorcitycasino.com
