When it comes to crushes, there’s the handsome guy that you want to marry, then there is the hot guy that you cheat on your boyfriend with, then there is the sexy creative guy that has tattoos and knows how to play an instrument. And then there is Max Steele — the type of guy that is a little bit of everything but refuses to let himself be categorized as any of them. The skinny cute hipster type that is obviously not from “here” but blends in well enough except when he performs and blows other locals out of the water. The type of guy that makes you want to try any drug he hands you, or the type of guy that will piss you off at one point just so you two can have amazing make up sex.
But what is actually attractive about Max is that everybody that encounters him immediately starts trying to associate labels with him. They try to put him in a box, but none of them fit, so they get mad at him and yet at the same time want to crawl in bed with him. I know I sure as hell have. I also know that I want his bones next to my bones pronto.
He was kind enough to let me interview him as this week’s crush in lieu of the release party for his zine Scorcher. I am hoping that by the end of this interview I will somehow manage to convince him that he is in madly in love with me.
Who would you say you are more of these days — Max, or Billy? Half of each maybe?
I’m Max. I’m her. But you know, everyone’s Billy. Billy’s a verb. Or,
he’s gonna turn into one if we’re lucky.
In JE M’AIME it seems like there is an underlying sense of anger, whereas in BE BILLY it seems the bitch has calmed down a bit. What was going on with Billy back then and how has that changed him into what he is now?
JE M’AIME was a collection of the first two Scorchers and some new stuff. When I started the zine, I had just moved to NYC and felt sort of insignificant and left these dirty angry punk zines out on public to like FEEL REAL or something. Then in the last couple years, I realize that, you know, none of us are real anyway. Or, we’re all equally “real” but everybody just makes it up. That’s more what BE BILLY is about.
I understand the cover of BE BILLY is artwork from East Village Boys where there is some guy drawing images for each of your stories. How did that come about?
Stories from the last Scorcher were serialized for EastVillageBoys.com, and they had Todd Gilmour, from Bowery Studio, do the artwork. I’ve never met him and we’ve never really discussed the illustrations, but they’re amazing. I’m so flattered and honored to have someone work on these stories. I got involved with EVB after
writing them a fan letter, and begging them to let me do stuff for the site. They’re so cool, I’m really excited and lucky to be part of that group. Most good things in my life come from me writing letters, asking people out– articulating, you know? Naming what you want.
You have an opening coming up in June for this issue. What is that going to be like?
Yeah, I’m gonna have a zine release at Envoy Gallery. I’m excited–Envoy shows really wonderful queer artists and hosts really funevents– Joseph Keckler just had a cabaret / opening there, and it’sgonna be a monthly party.
The release party is on June 6th, from 6-8. I’m gonna have the zines for sale (and Birdsongs too). My friend Danielle Rainbow Rosa is going to show her drawings, which is going to be really cool. I’m going to read from the zine, and I’ve got two really great co-readers with me: Tommy Pico (founder of Birdsong Micropress and editrix of the L Magazine’s Poetry section) and Thain Torres, a gorgeous performance artist and sexy witch. It should be a fun night.
I have always wondered — are these guys all real people? Some of them come off as absolute jerks the way you write them and I get so annoyed that Billy is involving himself with them.
That is SO SWEET. Usually the response I get to the writing is more allong the lines of “Why is Billy so mean to these sweet, nice, sexy boys?” Maybe The boys in the newer issue come across as a little less perfect. Yeah, they’re all real. I mean, they’re caricatures but they’re all real.
If you had to pick one song to describe the essence of BE BILLY, which song would it be and why?
When I was writing these, I was listening to a lot of Laura Nyro. So maybe “Captain St. Lucifer”.
If Billy had a weapon, what kind would it be?
Oh god, weapons. I believe a good defense is the best offense. SO maybe some kind of magickal spiked shield or something.
Are there any zines out there besides your own that you like a lot?
DORIS has been my favorite zine since I was 13. It is a constant source of inspiration. Obviously, Birdsong. But that’s cheating since Tommy Pico is my
homegirl from our teen mutant years. Also, FAG SCHOOL by Brontez, my dream date / idol, is a wonderful and important zine.
Your apartment is on fire and you only have time to grab three things in your home to save from destruction. What are those three things?
Some musical instruments, probably. My cello, or probably the ukulele. I’d probably take my zine stuff too. Maybe my copy of Kathy Acker’s “Portrait of an Eye”. I’d probably be too freaked out to think to grab anything from a fire.
I have seen you go-going at QxBxR several times now. I really didn’t take you as the type of person that would be interested in go-go dancing, so what made you decide to do it and why?
I love go-go dancing. I maintain that it is the best application of my Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts (Sarah Lawrence, 2006). It’s a way to participate in the party and also comment on the party. it’s like watching yourself live on teevee. It’s great. I started go-go dancing in 2006, but I’ve never really gone all the way with, like, making it my JOB job, cause most gay bars aren’t that fun to hang out it. QxBxRx is amazing, it’s the queer punk club of my high school fantasies,
where riot grrrl legends smoke joints with you backstage. I love it there.
What are some of your favorite places to go in New York?
My roof. The Strand (bookstores are sexy). This is so dorky– Zabar’s, on the Upper West Side. I can’t really afford anything there, but when I just like it in there. Fanciness, y’know.
Let’s be narcissists! — What is your favorite physical feature on yourself and why?
I don’t really have a favorite part of my body. I guess my favorite physical feature is my voice, does that count? My dialect.
Ok now what is your favorite physical feature on me? :D
Your eyebrows are sexy and expressive. You have such a cute face. You have an impish smile and thin, sexy wrists.
Ah swoon. I admit a weakness to being complimented about superficial things. Thank you, Max. Maybe someday I’ll be one of those lucky jerks Billy gets involved with (wait… did I just wish for… ah fuck it).
