DEANGELA
SHANNON The Woman Behind the “Show” NEW!
FLAME FITNESS
TABATA!
DOROTHY CHECKS OUT:
WARM BODIES
COCKTAIL CHATTER:
ThE RUSTY NAIL
PUBLISHER Peter Rayes
peter@flame-mag.com
ART DIRECTOR Kyle Johnson
kyle@flame-mag.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN KRESJ Graphics PR Solutions
COPY EDITOR Dana Haddrill
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kyle Johnson Peter Rayes
advertising@flame-mag.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS Murray Grondin Klider Hakim Emil Harpe Tony Lowe Al Shimmary
CONTRIBUTORS
Robert Bruno Alysha Calamia Kelly Garcia Richard Klaiss John LoPorto Steven Palmer Ed Sikov Jai Sky Dorothy “Joan” Stevenson
WEB DEVELOPMENT PR Solutions facebook.com/prsolutions
429 Livernois Street, Second Floor, Ferndale, MI 48220
editor@flame-mag.com
Copyright © 2013. Flame, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. No part of Flame Magazine, including stories, artwork, advertising, or photos may be reproduced in any form by any means without prior written consent from Flame, LLC. Flame Magazine is published monthly by Flame, LLC. Flame Magazine willl not accept advertising which is found to violate local, state or federal law. The presence of the name, likeness, photograph, or other representation of an organization, business, or person(s) in Flame Magazine is not an indication of sexual orientation.
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ConTEnTS
February 2013
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READY, SET, TABATA! FLAME Fitness
On December 14, 2012, a senseless shooting occurred in a Connecticut school. In this shooting, twenty children - twenty innocents - were murdered. I did not want to write about this; I wish beyond everything I didn’t have to write about this. But I cannot keep silent and be an observer anymore …
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DEAngElA ShAnnon
The Woman Behind the “Show” The music starts and the voice of the emcee announces the next entertainer to the stage. The curtain opens and there, before the crowd, stands a single, attention-demanding figure: the living legend herself, the one and only, DeAngela “Show” Shannon …
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WARM BoDIES At the Movies with Dorothy
“Warm Bodies” takes love at first sight to an all new level - love at first fright. From the beginning, we learn that R (Nicholas Hoult) is not your typical zombie, but rather your typical niceguy hipster, who just also happens to be a walking corpse. He is unable to remember…
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ThE RUSTY nAIl Cocktail Chatter
I’m still on a chestnut-colored drink kick, long past the restoration of power after Hurricane Sandy made it possible for us to drink cocktails on the rocks again. Dan and I had been forced by circumstance to imbibe our drinks neat; we had no choice, given that we had no ice. (Nor electricity, nor running water.) Since vodka and gin tend to …
DeAngela “Show” Shannon | Photos by: Tony Lowe
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FlAME/ FLAME Fitness
Written by Kimo Frederiksen
Ready, Set, tabata!
M
any of us are looking for that fast and effective workout that will keep us in prime shape while fitting into our busy schedules. We have heard so many infomercials through our life ranging from 5-minute abs to the clever shake weight. Considering most men use that motion almost every day, how effective can these homoerotic tools be? There are some things out there that are backed by science. This one won me over mostly because it does not sell a product, supplement, or even a video. HIIT, high intensity interval training, has become more and more popular in the past few years to the general population. This more sports-specific training has been proven to be more effective for weight loss, strength, and endurance. To be more specific, scientist Izumi Tabata created his own HIIT training using intervals of 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest for the duration
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of 4 minutes. During his testing, he had people doing these intervals on spin bikes. They would push as hard as they could for 20 seconds and he would hit the break for 10 seconds, repeating this rude torture 8 times total in the 4 minutes. He compared the results after doing the routine 5 days a week for 6 weeks with a group that did moderate cardio for 60 minutes. So let’s recap, one group worked out for an intense 4 minutes and the other group worked out for a moderate 60 minutes. After six weeks the now-named Tabata sets showed not only a higher gain in their endurance but they actually showed a gain in their muscular strength as well. Those in the group that worked out moderately for 60 minutes showed no gain in strength at all. Importantly, another factor, directly linked to weight loss, those in the Tabata group showed a heightened metabolic effect that lasted up to 24 hours after the activity. So not only do they burn the calories during the
activity, but they also burn more calories than usual for up to 24 more hours! I am not telling you to stop working out and just do 4 minutes a day! Tabata sets are great to add into any routine to bring the muscles to failure and also to add in cardio to your strength routines. You can do a Tabata set with anything - bicep curls, push-ups, dips, and even planks. True Tabata is meant for more high intensity stuff like squat jumps, but is effective for full body. For every workout this month, just add in one Tabata set for whatever muscle group you are working. I promise you will find it effective! If you are not active at all, try to do one Tabata set a day for this next month. Squats, Alternating Lunges, Push-ups (from knees if needed), Superman, Planks, Dips, and Crunches are all bodyweight exercises that can be done from your own home. Download a free Tabata timer app and let’s give it a try!
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Kimo Frederiksen is the owner and head trainer of True Body Fitness in Detroit. Find TBF on facebook.com/ truebodyfitness or email Kimo directly at kimof@truebodydetroit.com
DEANGELA
SHANNON The Woman Behind the “Show” Written by: Peter Rayes Photos by: Tony Lowe
T
he music starts and the voice of the emcee announces the next entertainer to the stage. The curtain opens and there, before the crowd, stands a single, attention-demanding figure: the living legend herself, the one and only, DeAngela “Show” Shannon. This Michigan native’s middle name isn’t “Show” by mere coincidence! Dubbed one of the most hardworking people in show business, DeAngela has performed in several states and countries around the world, including Windsor and Toronto, Canada, Guadalajara, Mexico, and The Bahamas. She’s been entertaining in lavish venues such as MGM Grand’s Studio 54 of Las Vegas, MGM Grand‘s Club V of Detroit, The Apollo Theatre of New York City, and RA at Luxor of Las Vegas. After 23 years of performing internationally, DeAngela indubitably has some experience under her belt. And a story to boot! Most of us are familiar with drag performers being female impersonators. What happens when we introduce the aspect of a transgender member of our community being an integral part of the drag scene? I sat down with DeAngela Shannon at Gigi’s to shine some light on this unique individual, particularly with her experiences in, and commitments to our local LGBT community.
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How old were you when come out as a gay man? I only lived my life as a gay male for about 8 months. I came out in 1989, while still in high school at Cass Tech. I always looked, sounded, and was built like a female. My teachers mistook me for a girl, so it was easy in high school, because it was a given. Only the new people that came in were confused. After the cackling, they got over it, and I always stayed popular, while enjoying enjoyed swimming and studying Business Administration. I never got hackled because the guys loved to be around me! The girls were always around me, so I was a sort of way in to the girls for them. I had the sports teams and everybody always sticking up for me. High school was easy for me, especially coming from a supportive family who knew I was gay and was supportive of it. I was so scholastic
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and focused so much on school that nothing else really mattered. It was interesting to me because while I was accepted, there were kids in school that did get bullied, whom I had stood up for.
What was your initial motivation to get involved in the drag scene? Do you have any drag inspirations? I always was a dancer - all my life. I love music. I did not really know of any queens when I first started. The only so-to-say queen I knew was my [drag] mother Coco Chanel, who took me under her wings. She taught me how to live as a girl, as she also was transgender. I was introduced to Fantasia Dior through Coco, who taught me how to walk in my first pair of heels, and taught me everything I know about drag and pageantry.
When and where was your first gig performing drag? What name did you perform under? My first gig was at The Glass House, which is now part of the building that houses Menjos in Detroit. Ken Collier noticed me performing on the dance floor, as a girl. He introduced me to his after hours club, Heavens, and booked me for a show there. Ken gave me my drag name, “Miss D.” Heavens was an alternative club, named by a national entertainment magazine as one of the Top 10 After Hours Clubs in the world. Ken held the first “Miss Heavens” pageant, which I won in 1992. That same year I went on to conquer “Miss Michigan Continental.”
How many titles have you held in your career?
Oh my God! I think I’m on 72 titles.
How long have you performing drag for?
been
I’ve been performing since 1990, so 23 years.
How did you choose your drag name, DeAngela “Show” Shannon? Everyone called me Miss D, because of Ken and my first performance at Heavens. I became very popular within the community as Miss D, but always wanted my female name to be Angela, so to keep the notoriety while following my dreams, I incorporated the two and came up with DeAngela. “Show” was given to me by Nickki Stevens, whom I had just recently met and befriended. Shannon came from my second performance in drag, when I performed “Let the Music Play” by Shannon.
Regarding gender, how do you identify today? I’m transgender.
When did you realize or understand that you were transgender? Was it a transition that was evolving from birth, or was it a process you had to plan and execute? Absolutely from birth. My hair was always long, I’ve always had a soft, female voice. Even before any augmentation, I always looked like my mom. I’ve always been attracted to men; never to a female sexually. I didn’t have sex until I was 19. At the time, transgender wasn’t a word...so I was me, but there wasn’t a word for it.
I’ve heard you called a “living legend” as you were being introduced onto stage in the past. Tell us about the legacy you’re actively creating with the Shannon family name. I’ve always tried to be a positive role model to whomever I’ve called my gay son or daughter. More so than just showmanship, or on stage, it’s always been important to me to emphasize to them morals, education,
and making something out of their lives, be it on stage, in the community, or in their dayto-day lives. That’s what I think stands out about me as a drag mother. It’s not just for the limelight - I want them to be a success at life in whatever they decide to do. The irony in that is that I’ve even had heterosexuals whom I “mothered,” who now have children of their own. And trust me, it was no walk in the park, I’ve been there as far as sheltering, to nurturing, to supporting, and to encouraging all of them to become successes in life. To this day, I’ve had somewhat of a relationship with most of their biological parents who thank me. But with life, you know, some you grow apart from, wish the best to, and hope you instilled something to keep them succeeding, and some are still very close to me, whom I talk to daily. I have kids all over the United States of America!
It’s no secret that you’ve experienced a lot in your career, both good and bad. Do you have any advice you would give young DeAngela to help her through her development? Take your time with any and every decision you make, be it to live transgender, to augment your body, or to perform. Be true to yourself, and don’t get so caught up in the limelight, because remember, just like the Law of Gravity, what goes up must come down. Stay humble, and you’ll be loved and will work for a lifetime. If you be cocky, you’ll be forgotten, and work only for a day. Don’t give so much of you away that there’s nothing left for you.
Do you regret any of the decisions you’ve made in your life and career? I have no regrets because every decision I have made has gotten me here. Would I have done things differently? Yes. We have to remember that when I started, a lot of the resources that were afforded to the community now, were most definitely not afforded to me, or even available to me.
Would you say you’re stronger than the new girls and performers because of that?
I won’t say I’m stronger, but I will say that I’ve broken ground for the new and upcoming transgender girls. It’s sad that the youth now have a “know it all” attitude, and no matter the advice I give to try to save them, by expressing the trials I’ve experienced to make it easier for them, they don’t listen, and I’ve seen them hurt because of it. Thankfully, I continue to try to teach. And as I teach, I continue to learn.
What could someone do now to get help that you couldn’t? The resources now are almost limitless. Ground has been broken - find a support system! There is a support system out here for the transgender youth. That wasn’t the case when I started. I was fortunate to have that in my biological family. There are all kinds of community groups, national groups, and government funded groups that are out there just to be supportive of our youth. Equality Michigan, Affirmations, Gigi’s, and me, DeAngela; I will always be there for the youth.
As a Michigan native, which of your fondest memories do you hold dearest to your heart? One of my fondest memories that I hold dearest to my heart was working at Studio 54 at MGM Grand Las Vegas, where Diva and I were in negotiations for a weekly show to be flown to Vegas with our promoters, Peter Hendrickson and Murray Hodgson. My fondest memory was walking into MGM Grand, where there were people flying on trapezes in the club. It was a surreal experience, and as we walked in to head toward the VIP area they had sectioned off just for us, the lights hit me and Diva, and everything stopped. With all of the entertainment going on, all eyes were on us. It was amazing. I’m still friends with Diva, and will always be friends with her.
And finally, DeAngela, if you were to retire today, how would you want to be remembered?
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I would want to be remembered as someone who cared about her community as much as she cared about her performance
february 2013
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FlAME/ At The Movies With Dorothy Written by Richard Klaiss
waRm bodieS 4 / 5 stars Nicholas Hoult as R. Teresa Palmer as Julie Analeigh Tipton as Nora Rob Corddry as M. Dave Franco as Perry
oUT In ThEATERS FEBRUARY 1, 2013
W
arm Bodies takes love at first sight to an all new level - love at first fright. From the beginning, we learn that R (Nicholas Hoult) is not your typical zombie, but rather your typical nice-guy hipster, who just also happens to be a walking corpse. He is unable to remember the rest of his name, which is the sort of thing that happens when you’re a
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zombie #ZombieProblems. One day, R and his grunt-buddy M, (Rob Corddry) along with a group of hungry zombies venture out in search of food; they happen to come across a group of humans that are led by Julie (Teresa Palmer) and her boyfriend, Perry (Dave Franco). While Julie, Perry, and their crew
are gathering supplies to take back into town, the zombies in search of food of their own enter the storage facility, where a bloodbath ensues. In the midst of killing Perry, R notices Julie blasting away his fellow crew and something inside him stirs, leaving him wonderstruck; after all, every great thing starts out a little bit scary.
camera does a great “job...the of lingering over Nicholas
Hoult’s perfectly disheveled cheekbones so often that you’ll forget to care whether he is actually eating anyone’s brains....
„
In order to protect Julie, R takes her back to his place which just so happens to be an abandoned airplane where he collects tons of various items, including a large selection of older records. These records include songs such as John Eaite’s “Missing You” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart,” which gives these songs an all new and interesting meaning. One of R’s biggest obstacles that he is trying to overcome is something any normal human guy would have; expressing himself to a significant other. But on the other hand, Julie also comes to realize that maybe the humans have the wrong idea about the zombies, who seem to be slowly coming back to life; but how is this possible? Julie seems unfazed by Perry’s death and as they continue to hang out you really start to notice that awkwardness of young love. R’s vocabulary relaxes to the point that they can almost fully communicate with each other. This is the “Romeo and Juliet” of zombie movies. Since
there seems to be no reason these two lovers should not be joined together, the only challenge that remains would be convincing humans to join forces with the zombies against those nasty Bonies – zombies who have given up and feast on anything with a heartbeat, including other corpses. Ingesting brains of a human allows zombies to absorb their victims’ memories, which gives R glimpses into happier, pre-apocalyptic times when he noshes on pieces of Perry. Julie’s best friend, Nora (Analeigh Tipton) does give R an awesome human makeover. Even at the outset, R doesn’t appear too frightening at all, and the more time that he spends around humans, the less dead he looks. This is a must see, even if you aren’t into this typical type of movie; the camera does a great job of lingering over Nicholas Hoult’s perfectly disheveled cheekbones so often that you’ll forget to care whether he is actually eating anyone’s brains
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FlAME/ Cocktail Chatter Written by Ed Sikov
The rusty nail
I
’m still on a chestnut-colored drink kick, long past the restoration of power after Hurricane Sandy made it possible for us to drink cocktails on the rocks again. Dan and I had been forced by circumstance to imbibe our drinks neat; we had no choice, given that we had no ice. (Nor electricity, nor running water.) Since vodka and gin tend to lose a little something when served at room temperature, we’d stuck with Scotch, Jameson Irish whiskey and finally cognac as we grew increasingly filthy and piggish in our safe, dry, but hygienecompromised apartment. It’s just as well nobody climbed the 12 flights of emergency-exit stairs to visit us during our confinement. We’d have sent them reeling with our reek (unless of course they were into piggy stuff, in which case we’d have been fragrant sexual superstars). In any case, once we were able to shower, shave and shop, I brought back to the apartment a bottle of Chivas Regal and a bottle of Drambuie, a liqueur made
from Scotch. Drambuie has a sweetish, resinous quality to it. It’s unctuous in the best sense of the word. But a little goes a long way, which is why the Rusty Nail is such a delightful cocktail. You get the best of Scotch – peaty, smoky, and strong – and the best of a good complementary liqueur all in one wee glass. Or not so wee, as the case may be. Rusty Nails are a 9 to 5 drink, meaning not the raucous Dolly Parton song of that name but the proportions: 9 parts Scotch to 5 parts Drambuie, or so a popular website advises. Oh, gimme a friggin’ break! Who on earth either mixes such a vast Rusty Nail or calculates the math for a normal-size cocktail? For you sticklers out there, that’s 1.8 parts Scotch to 1 part Drambuie. Phooey! To top it all off, this inane proportion makes a far too cloying cocktail. If you want to sip a bonnie Drambuie, do. But if you want a good Rusty Nail, I advise a smaller proportion of liqueur to Scotch. In fact, I make my Rusty Nails by pouring a
healthy amount of Scotch into a glass full of ice (or, if you’re making a round for a crowd, into an icy cocktail shaker) and adding just a thimble full of Drambuie for each drink. One of the side benefits of the Rusty Nail is that you don’t need to invest in a top shelf Scotch. Let’s face it: You’re adulterating the Scotch by adding a liqueur, albeit one made of Scotch. So there’s no reason at all to splurge on a fine single malt only to kill its well-crafted flavor notes with a foreign substance, however delicious that substance may be. I chose Chivas, because I didn’t plan to use the whole bottle on Rusty Nails. But if I were you, I’d just as soon go with a good, drinkable blended Scotch like Ballantine
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The rusty nail (classic version) 1.8 parts Blended Scotch 1 part Drambuie (my variation) 2 parts Scotch 1/4 part Drambuie Pour both ingredients into either a glass full of ice and stir; or, for a crowd, pour the contents into a cocktail shaker full of ice and shake, then decant into Martini glasses.
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