Send us a textSpoiler alert!!! - Tomata keeps doin' stuff in this episode. Our deep dive into his life reveals an artist who refused to be defined by any single medium, constantly evolving from drag performer to punk rock icon to folk artist without ever losing his authenticity.When a broken leg temporarily halted Tomata's performance career in 1983, he discovered a children's paint kit in an alley and began creating art. That same year, he received an HIV diagnosis – a death sentence in the 1980s. Yet instead of despair, he saw synchronicity and opportunity, launching an artistic career that would sustain him for the rest of his life. His approach was refreshingly unpretentious: "I always have lots of $20 pieces in the show because I think people should have art." Even in his final interview, just months before his death from AIDS-related cancer, his optimism and self-deprecating humor remained undimmed. For those seeking permission to reinvent themselves creatively, Tomata's story offers not just inspiration, but liberation. Have you been limiting your own creative expression? Perhaps it's time to follow Tomata's lead and simply create without overthinking.Episode Links:Population 1: https://youtu.be/B3QpxnCRtVY?si=b5OZfMaKce75kaNCEva Braun - https://youtu.be/gIdlqWcGn_s?si=OpAI7nSRrS8bRSxZVisual Art journey - https://sandraschulman.medium.com/tomata-du-plenty-from-screamer-to-artist-b5648dd369dJack Rabid Interview - https://bynwr.com/posts/the-screamers-tomata-du-plentyhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/315411162470https://art-for-a-change.com/Punk/psketch5.htmFollow us on...Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamousHere, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.Instagram- @deadandkindoffamousSee us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
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59:57
Let's Do Things: Tomata Du Plenty Part 1
Send us a textAt the intersection of drag theater, punk rock innovation, and fearless artistic evolution stands David Xavier Harrigan - better known to those in-the-know as Tomato DePlenty. From his early days with the revolutionary Cockettes (described by John Waters as "insane hippie drag queens" creating "complete sexual anarchy"), to founding Ze Whiz Kidz in Seattle, to pioneering synthesizer-based punk with The Screamers, Tomato consistently positioned himself at the cutting edge of artistic movements.What makes Tomato's story so compelling isn't just his artistic versatility - it's his uncanny ability to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. He embodied his personal philosophy: "Let's do things" and "Do plenty." Listen in as we uncover the first chapter in the fascinating life of this punk pioneer, theatrical innovator, and boundary-breaking artist who helped shape multiple movements while remaining just outside the spotlight.Links From This Episode:Tomata's Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plentyThe Tupperware's at the TMT show recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyezrW9SNP0The Screamers Target Studios Promo Video: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18803/tomata-du_plentyGary Panter's famous rendering of Tomata: https://obeygiant.com/gary-panter-a-provocateur-print-available-now/The Cockettes Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPxQvN0f1cFollow us on...Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamousHere, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.Instagram- @deadandkindoffamousSee us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
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1:00:56
Punk Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 4
Send us a textWell, here it is. The final installment of our four part series on Maila Nurmi. Maila didn’t get all she deserved in her life and she never really reaped the benefits of her creations. But the life she lived was full of adventure, fascination, excitement and in many ways, love. In this particular episode, we explore her final romances, alleged marriages and marriages of convenience. We also dig into her lasting friendships (including Marlon Brando) and her counterculture grandmother relationship to the punk musicians of the late 70s and 80s. We all need someone to love and care for us, and Maila always found her community, even in her old age. This serves as some consolation for the loss of her intellectual property and her legal battles against her unwelcomed predecessor, Elvira. There's a lot of dirt to dig into here and we DIG.Thank you for listening to this one, and please leave us comments with any tributes or words you’d like to pass along for when we visit Maila’s grave. Links for this episode:Maila and Satan’s Cheerleaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2duQNeim6kFollow us on...Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamousHere, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.Instagram- @deadandkindoffamousSee us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
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1:26:34
Post Vampira: Maila Nurmi Part 3
Send us a textJust when Maila’s career was starting to run out of steam, some luck with Liberace kept her in the spotlight for a time. But this was quickly followed by bad decisions, bad boys and a very bad movie called Plan 9 from Outer Space. Pop in those ear buds, friend. You don’t want to miss this.Links from the show:https://youtu.be/alPPXVJA4Kw?si=K0PQr8H7zHZCKA1x https://youtu.be/wtPgPYwtBhshttps://youtu.be/qsb74pW7goU?si=BdDQ_BQEM72T2pkUFollow us on...Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamousHere, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.Instagram- @deadandkindoffamousSee us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
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1:19:34
We Love You, Los Angeles: Remembering the Victims of the Fires
Send us a textThis podcast is all about making sure that the stories of Hollywood’s dead never die, and after this absolutely horrific week, we need to do just that in our own small way. Thank you to all of the firefighters, volunteers, loving citizens of Los Angeles, and people helping from afar. Humanity is the only thing that can save us in these dark times. Below you’ll find the links to the Los Angeles Times article that we referenced and used as a source for this episode in addition to links to various charities who are doing great work. Thank you so much for listening. We love you, Los Angeles <3The LA Fire Victims: Who they WereDalyce Curry's Funeral Services GoFundMeCharitiesThe American Red CrossBaby2BabyCalifornia Community FoundationCalifornia Fire FoundationLos Angeles Regional Food BankPasadena Humane SocietyWorld Central KitchenFollow us on...Substack- https://substack.com/@deadandkindafamousHere, you can find our episodes, transcripts, relevant images and newsletters.Instagram- @deadandkindoffamousSee us visit the graves of our subjects and pay our respects with lovingly selected offerings.Apple Podcasts and Spotify- Please be a Bon Vivant and leave us a rating and review. It would mean the world!
The podcast where two friends (one who's a nobody and one who's kinda famous) dive into the life stories of dead folks who enjoyed a touch or two of fame in their time and now reside permanently in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
New Zealand