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With her sell-out Kiss My Brass tour, Bette Midler has unleashed her bawdy stage persona once again and she's bringing at Down Under. She spoke to Andrew Creagh about her gay old days and flung a little mud at a couple of pop princesses.
DNA: Is performing live your very favourite thing to do?Bette Midler: It really is. It's like a big party. It took two years to put this show together and I have a great band and it's a really beautiful show. People cry. And laugh.A fan on an internet chat forum described it as "Mother-fucking fabulous!"That's nice.Why has it been so long between tours?I got busy. I was making back-to-back movies. And I had to finish the job of bringing up my daughter. She's going to college now.So it was "Hurrah! She's gone. Get me back on stage?"Yes! [Laughs]. No. Empty nest and all that.
There's a whole generation of Bette fans who know you as a movie actor rather than a stage performer.Yes. They might be in for a bit of a shock with the show. I hope so.Considering the song list, you could have called the tour Show Us Your Hits.I really appreciate that. I don't feel like I've had a lot of hits.
I'm not exactly Bob Dylan.He couldn't wear a sequined sailor suit or a mermaid costume.No, I'm much more glamorous!
Janet, Britney and Christina - will mud be flung during the show?I've done a lot of mud flinging, thank you for reminding me. I think it's fun to be able to have some fun with these people. Britney and Christina are so trashy. And do you think I get a thank you note? I was trashy before they were born.
Would you ever fling mud at fellow gay icons like Barbra, Madonna or Cher?
I've flung a lot of mud at Cher and she's flung it right back.
Madonna is impervious. She's teflon.
Barbra - she's in her own parallel universe.
You know, we all just get on and do what we do.
Last year, via the internet, we saw A Letter To Bush on the subject of same-sex marriage. It was attributed to you but you didn't write it.
Did you see it? What did you think?It was brilliant. Whoever wrote it put a lot of thought and commitment into it. I agreed with a lot of the sentiments.
Were you as surprised as everyone else when Bush was re-elected?Yes. It's so dreadful. There doesn't seem to be any rational explanation. For the last four years it seems like we've been in a state of constant confusion. To me it's like we haven't been told what's really going on, like we don't deserve to know or we're too stupid to be told the truth. The political Right has a way of frightening the electorate.Fear seems to be a standard election tactic these days.Yes. But what can you do? I felt like going from church to church and saying to those people, "You've got it wrong! People who live in big cities aren't as bad you think they are!" They say people get the government they deserve. That's bullshit. It certainly doesn't apply to people in the developing world. But to find that it's happening in a country like America...
We know about your early career performing at The Continental Bathhouse [a gay sauna] in New York. Times have changed - AIDS, neo-conservatism - what are your memories of those days?I can't speak for those gay men who were there, but it looked like one big party. At the time, I was very ambitious and keen to get myself heard so I was just working very hard, but it looked like a lot of fun. The atmosphere was very lively. This was before the spectre of AIDS and before the drugs were as deadly as they are now. People weren't on crack or heroine or even coke. There was just dope and pills so it wasn't as edgy as it is now. People weren't walking such a fine line, you know? It was wholesome. It was the late '60s, early '70s and people were loved-up and sweet. It was completely non-threatening. It felt good.
I really feel that in the last 30 years things have darkened. People's darkest nature has emerged and you see it published on-line. Perhaps the internet has just allows these things to surface.
Kiss My Brass goes for two-and-a-half hours, there are over 40 songs, comedy sketches, costume changes: how do you physically prepare for that?I run laps, I sing with my tapes, I watch my food. It's hard. I live like a recluse. But I have to. It's how I make my living. It's been quite hard on my husband. Still, I'm glad I took this career path rather than nursing. Or data entry.
You were last in Australia in 1979. What were your impressions?It was fantastic. It felt like a land where there was real hope, real promise. The light in Australia is so amazing - so clear. It makes you look like hell! The scenery and the animals are just extraordinary. I have some great photos from the trip. Sadly, the friend who took those pictures has since died from AIDS. I also remember there were some fabulous, hilarious comedy writers. But I haven't kept in touch.
I'm terrible at keeping in touch.What has been your favourite movie role?Hocus Pocus. Are you surprised? The movie didn't do as well as it should have but I was very happy with my performance. I was hilarious.
Was there any truth to the rumour that you'd be performing at this year's Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras Party?No. I didn't even know you had one. Honestly. [After some explaining] It sounds great. I love a good party.Kiss My Brass has had sensational reviews. It's described as the best of Bette. That must be very satisfying.People seem to be enjoying it. It is very satisfying to look out and see all the heads bobbing along, yes.
Thank you
