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David Gest on ice cream, hair and Michael Jackson
DAVID Gest has been a lot of things in his time – a top musical producer, an I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! survivor and, latterly, the star of his own prime-time TV show.
We talked to him about soul music, ice cream, his hairdo and his friendship with the late Michael Jackson.
The first thing you notice when meeting David Gest is how startled he looks.
His look of constant surprise might be down to the amount of reconstructive facial surgery he had done in the 1980s.
Or maybe it's because he still can't understand why he's so popular on this side of the Atlantic.
Over in his native America, he's still best known for being Liza Minnelli's ex-husband.
Meeting at the Vermont Hotel in Newcastle, where he was promoting a charity night and concert in the city, he was initially at pains to make me and a colleague as comfortable as possible.
"Get them some tea and biscuits," he said to one of the hotel's staff.
Some 25 minutes later, we were ushered into his presence in the hotel's restaurant, where he sat with rictus grin.
Seemingly belying his reputation for being a tricky interviewee, he was sweetness itself as he listed the line-up of stars he's gathered together for David Gest ... My Life! A Musical Concert Extravaganza! on Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2, at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle.
Including such music legends as Percy Sledge, The Temptations review, The New Stylistics, Peabo Bryson and Jimmy Ruffin, the bill reads like a who's who of soul music.
Ever the opportunist, Gest has also arranged for the stars to attend a party at the Vermont Hotel on Wednesday, September 30.
"My mate Rob Lee, the former Newcastle United player, and I are hosting a party night before the show with all the artists," he told me.
"We are raising money for children in need of prosthetic limbs. One of the things in the silent auction will be a cheque signed by Michael Jackson. There will be lots of really rare items."
When asked how he'd managed to entice such a plethora of musical talent along, he replied: "They are all my friends.
"I got on the phone and said 'I want you to do this show,' and they all said yes.
"I want people to come away and say 'Wow, that was something special'."
It probably will be, and Gest is certainly a man who knows how to get things done.
Having behaved so far and answered all my questions, Gest proceeded to try to live up to his eccentric image by telling a host of increasingly ribald stories presumably intended to shock.
About 10 minutes later, though, he returned to the topic of why he was actually there and started to make sense again.
"The dinner, party and jam costs 50 and raises money for the variety club of Newcastle. I'm petrified before, but once I'm up on stage I come alive," he said.
"I sing my theme song – "UK, UK. I want to be a part of it, UK". It's my version of New York, New York."
Yes, thank you. We got that.
"I'm an eccentric. I love the people of the UK more than the US," he added.
"I'm giving up my citizenship of the US, and I'm going to become a British citizen.
"The people of this country made me. I am very fortunate to have had three prime-time TV series on in the UK."
Not wanting to be ungallant, I didn't mention that all three – This Is David Gest, Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word – were cancelled due to low ratings. I was more interested in what makes him tick.
"I'm a whippersnapper going through puberty with dyed red hair at 56," he laughed.
"I hang out with Amy Winehouse, Liam Gallagher and Phil Doherty. I love people, and I don't want to forget what it's like to feel young again."
He was also eager to extol the virtues of North East England.
"I've been here many times," he revealed. "I love the people here.
"I'm coming to South Shields in the next two weeks, so look out. I may pop down to an ice cream store there. I love ice cream."
Any South Tynesiders contemplating getting too close to Gest can think again, though. He's not yet so 'British' that he can walk around without a bodyguard.
"I don't like it when people touch my hair," he said. Quite who'd want to finger this strange burgundy thatch is beyond me, but I suppose it takes all sorts.
We then moved on to the death of pop star Michael Jackson, whom he regarded as his best friend.
He said: "I cried. I couldn't believe it was real. I spoke to his mother two nights ago, and we said it's unreal that he has gone.
"I miss him tremendously. He taught me how to produce shows.
"He couldn't believe that I became a TV star. He loved This Is David Gest."
Asked if the 'Wacko Jacko' image of the star portrayed in the media was anything like the man he knew, he replied: "He wasn't the Michael Jackson you know.
"He was a wonderful person. He was my best friend. He has finally found peace."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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