Skip to main content
Night Fever

Night Fever

By WOW Podcast Network

Join James St James and co-hosts Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato as they talk to the leading New York nightlife figures of the 1970s, '80s, '90s, and beyond. Featured guests include Dianne Brill, Michael Musto, Peter Gatien, Lisa Edelstein, Moby, and Joey Arias among others. It's campy, it's gossipy, it's jaw-droppingly funny...definitely must-hear podcasting.
Available on
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Miss Guy

Night FeverAug 17, 2023

00:00
48:34
Miss Guy

Miss Guy

Miss Guy joins James, Randy, and Fenton for the season finale of Night Fever. They reminisce on Guy's historic queer rock party Squeeze Box, his friendship with Debbie Harry and Boy George, and fronting the iconic band The Toilet Boys.

Aug 17, 202348:34
Cat Marnell

Cat Marnell

James, Randy, and Fenton chat with 21st century "It Girl" and New York Times best-selling author of How to Murder Your Life, Cat Marnell. They discuss Cat's fashion and beauty career at Condé Nast, her contact with Michael Alig from prison, and her six months sobriety.

Aug 10, 202357:46
Larry Tee

Larry Tee

Superstar DJ, OC (Original Club Kid), and party promoter extraordinaire Larry Tee joins Randy, Fenton, and James to discuss working on his fashion label TZUJI in Berlin, dating an unknown Michael Stripe, and watching a young "RuPaul and the U-Hauls". Inspired by RuPaul's stardom, Larry Tee wrote RuPaul's song "Supermodel (You Better Work)" for him.

Aug 03, 202301:06:53
Domonique Echeverria

Domonique Echeverria

The wonderful Domonique Echeverria joins Randy, Fenton, and James to discuss the seven year anniversary of the subway accident that left her a double amputee. She brings us through the tribulations of the US healthcare system and the inspiring documentation of her healing process.

Jul 28, 202344:21
Eric Goode

Eric Goode

Area club owner, hotel magnate, and TIGER KING Producer/Director Eric Goode joins Randy, Fenton, and James to talk about his iconic '80s nightclubs, Turtle Conservancy, and building an empire.

Jul 20, 202357:09
Cherry Vanilla

Cherry Vanilla

Warhol superstar, punk pioneer, and Bowie PR guru Cherry Vanilla talks about her early days at the Copacabana, LSD trip clubs in the '60s, and being the first woman DJ ever in nightclubs.

Jul 13, 202301:17:10
Man Parrish

Man Parrish

James, Randy and Fenton's longtime friend Man Parish, of "Hip Hop Be Bop (Don't Stop)" fame, reminds us of his role in the rise of electronic/dance music in the '80s. They discuss Man seeing Bette Midler perform at the Continental Baths, briefly dating photographer Christopher Makos, and recording Fenton's favorite song "Six Simple Synthesizers". 

Jul 06, 202301:12:25
Kevin Aviance

Kevin Aviance

Randy, Fenton, and James speak to the indelible Kevin Aviance about finding out Beyoncé sampled his song "Cunty", being an integral part of the South Beach Miami drag community, and overcoming a terrible hate crime in 2006.

Jun 29, 202352:19
Martha Wash

Martha Wash

This week, James St. James, Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey kiki with the iconic Martha Wash. They discuss Martha meeting Izora Armstead and starting The Weather Girls, how Barbara Streisand turned down the vocal part she recorded for "It's Raining Men", and her settlement with RCA that turned into a record deal.

Jun 22, 202349:07
Patricia Field

Patricia Field

For the Season 3 premiere, James St. James and Randy Barbato sit down with Patricia Field. They discuss everything from Patricia's former storefront on Bowery, to her jaw-dropping creations on SEX AND THE CITY, and ultimately her new documentary HAPPY CLOTHES, premiering at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

Jun 15, 202352:19
Richard Boch

Richard Boch

Richard Boch - who as the doorman at the pivotal punk club The Mudd Club joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about the origins of downtown culture and all the fascinating nightlife celebrities he encountered, and his book The Mudd Club.

Oct 17, 202201:05:10
Brian Belovitch

Brian Belovitch

Brian Belovitch - who describes his life as a gender outlier - joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to talk about forgotten ’70s trans-inclusive clubs like The Gilded Grape, his journey from boy to girl to woman to man, and his book Transfigured.

Oct 10, 202201:14:41
Linda Simpson

Linda Simpson

Linda Simpson - photographer, girl about town, and accidental drag historian - joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to gab about gay culture in the ’80s, Boy Bar vs Pyramid, her uber-hip zine My Comrade, and her new book The Drag Explosion.

Oct 03, 202201:06:45
Michelangelo Signorile

Michelangelo Signorile

Michaelangelo Signorile joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to reminisce on walking the runway as Gaultier, Suzy-gate and working in the gossip columns during their heyday of the 1980s, and becoming radicalized with Act Up.

Sep 26, 202201:02:36
Jenny Dembrow aka Jenny Talia

Jenny Dembrow aka Jenny Talia

Jenny Dembrow aka Jenny Talia joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to discuss modeling for Steven Meisel and Calvin Klein, raising hell with the Club Kids, the Girls Center she co-directs, and that one time in Paris with James, Gloria Gaynor, and a bottle of poppers.

Sep 19, 202252:36
Michael Schmidt

Michael Schmidt

Michael Schmidt joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about getting into Area, collaborating with icons like Cher & Tina Turner, his historic 3D dress he made for Dita Von Teese, and other behind-the-seams rock gossip.

Sep 12, 202201:07:09
Connie Fleming

Connie Fleming

Connie Fleming joins James St James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to talk about her early days at Boy Bar, walking for Mugler, working the door at New York’s hottest clubs, and her journey with breast cancer.

Sep 05, 202201:17:43
Nikki Haskell

Nikki Haskell

Nikki Haskell joins James St James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about clubbing in the ‘60s and ‘70s, her pioneering cable tv show, and her close friendships with the likes of Imelda Marcos, and Donald and Ivana Trump.

Aug 29, 202201:07:03
Susanne Bartsch

Susanne Bartsch

Susanne Bartsch joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to gab about her early years in Europe, opening her clothing store in SoHo, and building her club empire in the ’80s like the Copacabana, Bentley’s, Savage, and of course the Love Balls.

Aug 22, 202201:01:34
Jayne County

Jayne County

Jayne County joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to talk about her early days in Atlanta, living and working with Warhol superstars, her iconic music career and the influence she’s had on other artists, and her current obsession with making art.

Aug 15, 202201:09:43
Michelle Visage

Michelle Visage

Michelle Visage joins James St. James, Randy Barbato, and Fenton Bailey to chat about the teen dance club scene in New Jersey of the 1980s, walking in balls with the House of Magnifique, her music career, meeting RuPaul, and her battle with Hashimoto’s disease resulting from her breast implants.

Aug 08, 202201:01:05
Episode 10 - Joey Arias

Episode 10 - Joey Arias

For our Season One finale, Fenton, Randy, and James catch up with the magnificent Joey Arias. An artist and singer extraordinaire, Joey hit the '80s and '90s NYC club scene with a bang, performing with icons like Bowie and Klaus Nomi, befriending Andy Warhol, and more.

Nov 01, 202101:10:36
Episode 9 - Moby

Episode 9 - Moby

This week, Fenton, Randy, and James chat with the legendary, iconic Moby. After getting his start as a DJ at Rudolf Piper's club Mars, Moby quickly spinned into stardom: releasing his hit "Go", transcending rooms of sweaty Club Kids, and ultimately, journeying through sobriety and beyond.

Oct 25, 202101:04:39
Episode 8 - Luis "Xtravaganza" Camacho

Episode 8 - Luis "Xtravaganza" Camacho

Category is, ballroom! The absolutely fabulous Luis "Xtravaganza" Camacho brings juicy stories to this week's episode. He, Randy, Fenton, and James gush about teaching Madonna how to vogue, being in the documentary Strike a Pose, and the six other Madonna dancers who became his family.

Oct 18, 202101:00:12
Episode 7 - Rudolf Piper

Episode 7 - Rudolf Piper

The dynamic Rudolf Piper sits down with Fenton and James all the way from Sao Paulo--"the New York of South America"--to share how he became a legendary night club director. From opening a discotheque in Berlin in the 60s, to running the Palladium and Tunnel in the 80s and 90s, and finally through his transition to restaurant ownership in the 2020s, Rudolf is an unstoppable force for nightlife all over the world.

Oct 11, 202101:10:36
Episode 6 - Waltpaper

Episode 6 - Waltpaper

The famous Waltpaper, also known as Walt Cassidy, spills about his deep friendship with Michael Alig, the rivalry between drag queens and Club Kids, and the development of "Heroin Chic" in the early '90s.

Oct 05, 202154:12
Episode 5 - Ernie Glam

Episode 5 - Ernie Glam

The guys sit down with Ernie Glam, the ultimate Club Kid extraordinaire. Covering everything from Ernie's experience with drugs and eventual sobriety, his relationship with Michael Alig up until Michael's death, and the rise and fall of Clara the Chicken, this episode is a much needed catch-up between old friends.

Sep 27, 202157:55
Episode 4 - Peter Gatien

Episode 4 - Peter Gatien

Peter Gatien tells the riveting story of his rise to Club King of the '80s and '90s, from his purchase of a gay club in south Florida to hosting artists like the Village People, Nas, Lil' Kim, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more at his New York clubs. Ultimately, he brings us through how Rudy Guiliani tried to take him down, and the repercussions that came with it.

Sep 20, 202158:57
Episode 3 – Lisa Edelstein

Episode 3 – Lisa Edelstein

Fenton, Randy, and James St. James sit down with James' partner-in-crime from undergrad at NYU in the '80s, Lisa Edelstein (known also as the legendary "Lisa E."). They discuss Lisa and James' meticulous scheme to take the downtown club scene by storm, a diary that James kept with a detailed record of many parties, and ultimately, a New York Times article that changed Lisa's life.

Sep 13, 202101:08:35
Episode 2 – Michael Musto

Episode 2 – Michael Musto

Episode two is a rollicking talk with iconic New York nightlife journalist Michael Musto, who has had a raaaaaather tumultuous relationship with James St James. Topics include a wild party on a sinking barge in the Hudson River... his memories of Studio 54 and being mentored by Warhol Superstar Sylvia Miles... meeting a very young, very ambitious RuPaul... and of course the tragic death of Angel Melendez at the hands of club kid king Michael Alig.

Sep 06, 202101:04:35
Episode 1 – Dianne Brill

Episode 1 – Dianne Brill

In episode one, we speak to Forever Queen of the Night Dianne Brill about her dazzling ‘80s-era clubland success and how she navigated the sexual politics of the scene. We discuss her favorite looks, favorite parties, and her legendary friendships with Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring. The big takeaway? “Andy had a big penis and he had sex. Not many people know that…”

Aug 30, 202151:07
Night Fever: An Introduction

Night Fever: An Introduction

Join hosts James St James, Fenton Bailey, and Randy Barbato as they talk to the leading New York nightlife figures of the 1970s, '80s, '90s, and beyond. In this introduction episode, the guys break down their new podcast and share some of the upcoming featured guests. Available Mondays on the WOW Podcast Network with the video exclusively available on World of Wonder's official streaming platform, WOW Presents Plus.

Aug 20, 202115:18