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 Volume 1: Issue 5 |
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Volume 1: Issue 5 |
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| It takes a village Livingston has long been used to seeing celebrities in town. Even the big and glamorous ones like Donald Rumsfeld. Some major players from the big and little screens even live here part of the year and can be seen on town streets during Art Walk. Most people pay little attention to them because of the town's live and let live attitude and its shortage of glitz weasels. But nothing has prepared the town for its newest arrivals and residents. Members of The Village People have purchased an undisclosed amount of land south of Livingston where they plan to build luxury homes and recording studios. The group's manager reports that, "These guys are nearing retirement and they wanted to be someplace where they would fit in and not be hassled by fans. They're just people, village people, in fact, and Livingston is just the village for them." Since Livingston has a long standing ordinance limiting the playing of disco music to two hours in any calendar year, it is unlikely that the boys will be hassled by fans; and since cowboys, Native Americans, men in leather, and construction workers are a part of our daily lives, fit in they will. Local Village People fans will not find the move here surprising. In fact, both of them say it was ordained in the VPs hit song, "Go West": (Go West) Life is
peaceful there
(Go West) In the open air There where the air is free We'll be (We'll be) what we want to be (Aah aah aah aah) (I know that) There are many ways (To live there) In the sun or shade (Together) We will find a place (To settle) Where there's so much space (Without rush) And the pace back east (The hustling) Rustling just to feed (I know I'm) Ready to leave too (So that's what) We are gonna do Some Livingston residents are a little unnerved by the group's reputation. The original "cop" figure in the group, Victor Willis, was arrested by real police last month in Daly City, California on drug possession charges. But he had long ago been replaced and "the connection made in the press to the current Village People does the group a disservice, " said their manager. But what's worse are the ties to the disco scene and the subtle gay themes, say some who voted to ban gay marriage in Montana. Those ties might be no more meaningful than those attributed to Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, and Judy Garland, and that leaves some who would welcome the group wondering, "If Barry Manilow wanted to move here, would anyone object?" In an interview with Rolling Stone, the late Glenn Hughes who was the group's "leatherman" at one time explained the group this way: “We’re six very energetic, positive male symbols. We are definitely gonna have a gay following, but we’re not gonna let them label us a gay group.” Group leader Victor Willis, in his former role, and well before his arrest on drug charges, concurred: “The group performs a masculine show. It’s a male-image show. Gay people like us, straight people like us. But we’re not a gay group.” In a surprising reversal of their previous position, the property rights group Concerned Citizens, fearing noise, crowds, and hordes of men in costumes, have asked the County Planning Board to accelerate the growth plan and are urging commissioners to enact stronger zoning laws. They have especially requested new regulations against new home building by very energetic, positive male symbols and have asked that zoning laws prohibit male-image shows from being performed on properties within 100 miles of the Livingston donut. |
 Above:
"Macho Man" (1978) album cover. The hit album "Go West" was recorded in
the following year.
Below: During an earlier visit to Livingston, the group mugged for the camera on 2nd Street.  [continued
from previous column]
For most residents, the arrival of the stars is business as usual. The Chamber of Commerce is hoping to line up the boys to guest host their annual "Evening with the Stars," and the now defunct Calamity Jane Productions committee is re-thinking its strategies for promoting live action tourism events on Main Street. Most likely residents will treat Felipe (Native American), Alex (soldier), David (construction worker), Ray (cop), Jeff (cowboy), and Eric (biker) just as they would any newcomers. "We're all village people," said one downtown businessman. |
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