561: Living Through The Twists of Life To Be Yourself – Adele Bertei
Episode 561 •
8th March 2023 • Life (UN)Closeted: LGBTQ+ Coming Out Stories & Advice for living out and proud! • Rick Clemons - LGBTQ+ Expert
00:00:00
00:45:20
Shownotes
From troubled upbringing with her mother who suffered from undiagnosed schizophrenia, to foster homes and reform schools, then finding her groove in her own band The Bloods, it's not surprising that this former backup singer for the likes of Culture Club, and Whitney Houston, final made her move to live her queer identity. Three time author, singer, songwriter Adele Bertei joins us to share her life journey of self-acceptance and to talk about her new book Twist: An American Girl.
About Adele
Adele Bertei musical history includes singing back up for Culture Club, Whitney Houston, Sandra Bernhard, and Matthew Sweet among others. She released records as a solo artist with the Geffen and Chrysalis labels and has had international dance and pop hits with Thomas Dolby (“Hyperactive!”) and Jellybean (“Just a Mirage”). She has also written songs for artists as diverse as Sheena Easton, Arthur Baker, Lydia Lunch, and the Pointer Sisters, among others.
In the '70s, Adele fronted the punk band the Wolves in Cleveland, OH with Pere Ubu bandmate Peter Laughner which became the basis of her first book Peter and the Wolves. His sudden death prompted her move to NYC in 1977 where she immersed herself in the counter-culture movement of art, film, music and literature. A founding member of The Contortions (produced by none other than Brian Eno), she dove deep into the underground, having toured the world with her other band The Bloods, America’s first out, queer, all-women-rock band.Why Labelle Matters was also extremely well-received and it was about Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash and how their band Labelle revolutionized how women bands were perceived.
Her second book Why Labelle Matters was also extremely well-received and it was about Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash and how their band Labelle revolutionized how women bands were perceived.
Twist: An American Girl, is a memoir about her troubled upbringing with her mother who suffered from undiagnosed schizophrenia, her subsequent placing in foster homes and reform schools, her discovery of her own queer identity and her appreciation of music.
