The Unsinkable Bambi Lake

I've finally got round to reading, 'The Unsinkable Bambi Lake: A Fairy Tale Containing the Dish on Cockettes, Punks and Angels', a sort of autoboigraphy of Bambi co-written by Alvin Orloff. There's not really that much to the book and it's a a bit disappointing in that respect. No real narrative, chronology, discussion or self-analysis. In part, I've been left wondering who is Bambi Lake?

The book is full of anecdotes, gossip, name-dropping and short paragraphs about people she knew (or didn't know but simply mentioned people on the scene at the time, it's not very clear). It reads like a stereotype queen talking and talking and talking, not so much to impart information but rather to remain the centre of attention and to make sure that no-one else can get a word in edgeways.

For example, page 36, chosen at random, contains four paragraphs, each starting by naming someone and talking about them but the only link is that Bambi knew them and all this tells us about her is that she knew a lot of strange people. None (from memory) are referred to again in the book.

"Ruby called himself Greta Garbage. He was a cute young hippie boy who liked intentionally tacky drag...."

"Jenny was a tiny brunette hippie waif. She'd always be taking off her clothes and dancing..."

"Mary and Arthur were the adopted children of the man who invented the Kellogg snack pack. I called them the Kellogg twins..."

"Paul Dahling showed up one day with a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand. He would never say where he came from..."

Bambi starts off life as Johnny Purcell and somewhere along the line becomes Bambi Lake, courtesy of theatre and drag acts, the Angels of Light, sexual politics, vast quantities of drugs, Berlin and hormone injections, breast implants, prostitution, singing, 'tragic' love affairs, spending nights in jail, travelling between the West Coast of America and Europe, working as a stripper, nights on Hampstead Heath with skinheads, hooking on Polk Street and being a club hostess on Broadway in San Fransisco. And, oh so much more. She remains a pre-op transexual.

Bambi also likes name-dropping more recognisably famous people. Meeting Bowie and Iggy Pop in Berlin, Siouxsie Sioux in San Franscisco, going on tour opening for the Stranglers, the Warhol and Waters sets are mentioned several times, even Gene October gets a mention.

I think I started reading the book with the wrong mind-set. Rather than thinking I was embarking on the autobiography of a fascinating twilight character I should have thought of it as an afternoon chat over a cup of tea with someone whose world I will never understand but can, in any case, enjoy the throwaway lines and anecdotes. Read from that perspective it starts making sense as a glimpse into a world that no longer exists.

The book also includes some of her poems or lyrics, including the full version of 'The Golden Age of Hustlers' which is amended and much shortened for the song. It's about time on the street in the mid-70s, glamourised for us poor non-glamourous people who will never see that world except for the safe glimpses she gives us. I love that song but the only version I have is on her one CD, a poorly recorded live version. It deserves better. And so does she.

The CD, 'My Glamourous Life as a Broadway Hostess' is available from the delightful CD Baby. Go to Baby's site to hear short clips of the songs.

So. Who is Bambi Lake? The short answer is that I still have no idea. I now know a lot more about her, at least the bits she shares, but that's about it. I'll watch this space...