All these shots were taken at the monthly rockabilly club night Virginia Creepers in London (where I am the resident photographer) unless otherwise noted. It's not a burlesque night, but the promoter Marilyn Coleman frequently spices things up with a bit of 50s-style tease-o-rama on special occasions. The performers in the order they appear: Cherry Shakewell, Honey Lulu, Slinky Sparkles (photographed at faux vintage lingerie emporium What Katie Did), Millie Dollar, Devillia de Dallas, Marianne Cheesecake, Cherry Shakewell again, Miss Kitty Baby (at Viva Las Vegas Burlesque Contest 2007), unknown Marilyn Monroe lookalike (also at Viva Las Vegas 07. Ive forgotten her name but shes too beautiful not to include) and finally Scarlette OHarlotte. The soundtrack: rather than typical bump'n'grind stripper music I decided to choose something a bit moodier and downbeat. The song "Striptease" comes from an obscure 1963 French film about a ballerina-turned-stripper starring Nico -- yes, that Nico, the German chanteuse long before she became an Andy Warhol Superstar and joined the Velvet Underground. The song is written by the great Serge Gainsbourg. In what would have been her recording debut, Nico originally sang the films title track but her version was rejected and it was re-recorded by the more famous Existentialist / beatnik diva Juliette Greco. I've included both interpretations: Nico's first, then Greco's. Both are beautiful. And I think Gainsbourg would have approved of me ...
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