AIDS: The Lost Voices

AIDS: The Lost Voices · 2025-06-21

As an artist, performer, model, TV personality, club promoter, fashion designer, and musician, Leigh Bowery defied conventional boundaries at every turn. Emerging from the vibrant nightlife of 1980s London, Bowery cultivated a provocative and unapologetically bold presence that spanned underground clubs, galleries, theatres, and the urban streetscape.

His radical approach transformed clothing and makeup into living art forms—akin to painting and sculpture in motion—challenging and expanding traditional perceptions of aesthetics, sexuality, and gender. In a bid to solidify his legacy, Bowery devoted himself to his band Minty, which quickly became notorious for its shocking headlines and uncompromising style.

However, this chapter was tragically cut short when Leigh Bowery passed away in 1994 from AIDS-related complications at London’s Middlesex Hospital, leaving behind an indelible impact on contemporary art and culture.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - LEIGH BOWERY

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Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

Background Quick Fire Questions - 'Escape' by Aries Beat LISTEN

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LEIGH BOWERY LINKS -

BBC The Clothes Show 1986 WATCH HERE

'South of Watford' LWT/ITV Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

'Useless Man' by Minty [LIVE] clip YOU TUBE

Leigh Bowery at TATE Modern VIDEO & Exhibition [Ends 31 August 2025]

Book: Leigh Bowery Life and Times of an Icon by Sue Tilley in all good bookshops & AMAZON

Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast.

In "AIDS: The Lost Voices," hosts William Hampson and Gloria take a profound look back at the often overlooked narratives of individuals affected by the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s.

They navigate through the archives of British newspapers, shedding light on the lived experiences that were overshadowed by sensationalist headlines. Hampson, drawing from his own harrowing experiences as detailed in his book 'The Lost Boys of Soho', highlights the personal toll of the pandemic, revealing how stigma and fear shaped the lives of countless individuals within the gay community.

Together, they aim to honour the voices that were lost amidst the chaos, providing a platform for understanding the human stories that contributed to the history of AIDS in Britain.

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