Stop the death drug cocktails

It's a stereotype but many gay men partake in hedonism, much of which involves dancing, booze, drugs and sex....all of which are perfectly ok but this weekend, yet another gay man died of drug related causes in a sauna in Waterloo. My heart and sympathy goes out to his friends and family but when will this culture of dangerously mixing drugs end?

I'm pro drugs. I've taken plenty of party prescriptions in my time and had a bloody good time on it too (less so these days as the quality of the drugs available are simply awful and with age, the come down is rarely worth the good times). I believe in legalising and regulating drugs. Human beings have enjoyed twisting reality for thousands of years, why else would so many mind altering substances exist in nature? (I'm a firm believer that a lot of the fantastical tales in the Bible are made up from acid trips and stoned visions, making Jesus the first celebrity hippy).

This fatality is unfortunately not an isolated case. There seems to be a plethora of drug deaths currently on the London gay scene, frequently down to mixing up a deathly cocktail of drugs like MDMA, amphetamines, ketamin, alcohol, methadrone, viagra and somewhere in the mix is usually GHB, GBL and possibly crystal meth. Is it because the quality of the drugs are so crap that people feel the need to take more and more, to get that never ending high that keeps them dancing and fucking all weekend long? It's more likely to be because human beings simply aren't capable of taking enough drugs to fell an elephant.

Like I've said, I'm pro drugs but where does this destructive chain of events end? I don't believe the saunas and clubs are specifically to blame. Yes they harbor the activity of getting endlessly trashed and promote an ideal of desire and hedonism but the drug culture that surrounds it would probably still exist without them. The blame lies with ourselves.

There is a thriving scene but very little community. We need to start looking out for each other and look beyond the end of our noses.

If you are taking drugs...don't be daft. Pace them, don't take them all at once and be aware of what doesn't mix well. Be a little geeky about your consumption, look up what you are taking and what not to do with it, the internet isn't just for seeking a casual fumble (shock!). Essentially, learn to love and look after yourself..not just physically but mentally too.

I've heard of too many tales from gay men saying the reason they pump iron while fronting an acceptable face of professionalism during the week to then spend the whole weekend in a drug and sex haze is because they aren't happy with who they are and feel pressure from the media and others. If this is the case, you need to get yourself some new friends honey.

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Leaving Las Facebook

I'm divorcing my most popular profile on facebook and my goodness it feels refreshing.

Aaaah social media..whatever did we do before it came along? Went to the pub and physically spoke to each other, gossiped from behind fences or nosed from behind netting curtains if you're so inclined.

I'm a fan of it. Where else can you get a daily dose of news, current affairs, gossip, politics, music, events, TV commentary, ridiculous pictures and youtube wrongness from people you're familiar with while sitting in your underpants? I find it utterly fascinating, especially how much some people reveal about their personal lives...like millions of mini Tracey Emins seeking an appreciative audience.

After myspace failed to keep up with the kids (poor 'Tom'. He's probably sat in a dark corner, rocking while muttering “I used to be the most popular man on the internet”), everyone moved en-mass to farcebook to mix, mingle and post funny pictures of kittens.

Initially I aimed to keep my facebook profile separate from any 'Holestar' doings but it quickly became the main driving medium for promotion, pop culture opinions and waffle. As they insist on two names for personal profiles, I tried to call myself 'Hole Star' and 'This is Holestar' but a spiteful snitch (who seems to have done the same to other performers) grassed me up. Facebook accused me of using a false profile, insisted I send them a copy of my passport and that to continue to use their service, I had to use my 'real name'. I dug my heels in and managed to get away with being 'Julie Holestar'.

All was fine for a while but it has become messy and I've decided to close Julie Holestar down. There's no shade or stomping off, I've just got a point where I want more of a private and professional division on social media.

I've currently got 3703 'friends', most of whom I don't know or have never met despite my friend request criteria (do we have lots of mutual friends, similar tastes in music, culture etc and will they come to my gigs or buy my music?) and I've asked them to 'like' my Holestar page to keep in contact if they're interested in my future doings. So far, only 154 have. I don't take this personally as there is something more psychologically bonding being friends with someone, than publicly liking them. Facebook is like a mini advertising billboard and admitting you 'like' a weirdo in a wig messes with some peoples public cool factor profile.

Now it may seem silly and somewhat rude to throw away nearly four thousand contacts but it feels utterly refreshing to let go of numerous randoms who have added yet never interacted with me, tranny chasers who haven't read the small print, dull bands who are vying for business and abusive trolls (especially the one who recently threatened me with violence). If those 'friends' are genuinely interested in what I get up to, they can now find me over at www.facebook.com/mxholestar

I'll be spouting the same drivel, its just time to keep business and private self a little separate. And as it seems to be the hip thing to do these days, once the profile hits one thousand likes, I'll be giving away a free track of mine. Because I'm nice like that.

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