March 08 - The Loverboy Racers Issue
We have a blockbuster of an issue for you this month. Thrills, spills, fast cars, exotic creatures from outer space and young love thwarted, it's all here.
I'm deeply proud to publish a letter between two schoolboys in 1994 (p 66). It's pregnant with adolescent confusion compounded by homophobia: a love letter, but also a statement of impossibility. It could have come from any time in history, from many different cultures, but to me, it represents a line in the sand: while a single gay child is left hurting, lonely or bullied because of sexuality, there's work to be done. It was compulsive reading Rupert Smith's interview with the recipient about his feelings a decade on, now coloured by an adult perspective. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this article, and also any similar stories that you can share with us. I'd like this to be the start of something, though exactly what, I'm not sure yet. Please e-mail me directly at joseph@gaytimes.co.uk.
I had the pleasure of driving a car on Silverstone racetrack this month at our uber-gorgeous Dsquared2 shoot. I'd like to say I was like Steve McQueen in Bullitt, but I was driving a Passat and stalled in front of crew, models, photographer and stylist. Shame. However, I'm flush happy with how the shoot turned out (check out GT Eye, p 124).
I've also worked with one of my heroes this month, the legendary and lovely Jill Furmanovsky. She's taken some of my favourite images: The Stones, Jeff Buckley, Tom Robinson, Dylan, need I go on? and she's taken great shots of The B-52s to illustrate Richard Smith's cracking interview, and the pictures that go with 'How We Met', featuring another legend, Paul Gambaccini, and Noughties Rock God, Dan from The Feeling.
Lastly, in the 18 months at the helm here, I've received quite a few letters and e-mails saying that the magazine's text is too small. So, in a demonstration of People Power, as of next month we'll increase the size of the general fonts to help keep down the level of squinting in the nation's gay male population.
I thank you all. Now, scrub up and get to my tent!