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Richard Bugs Burnett 🇨🇦

@bugsburnett

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⚾ Writer, journalist, editor, columnist ★ “Mr. Montreal.” – CBC Arts 👠 Divas, baseball & cocktails🍸

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June is Pride month. Vintage pinbacks. A reminder of where we come from and that we must all remain vigilant ✊🏽🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

#Pride #pridemonth #lgbtq🌈 #lgbthistory #HappyPride taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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2 years ago

Poolside at the majestic old-school Hotel Caribe in Cartagena, Colombia⁠—on a day so smoking hot my skin was glistening⁠—exactly 10 years ago, in January 2013 🇨🇴

#cartagena #colombia @hotelcaribe @colombia.travel @cartagena.travel_ #wanderlust #millionwattsmile #cartagenadeindias taken in Cartagena De Indias, Colombia by @bugsburnett

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4 years ago

Matchbooks for 4 legendary establishments when Montreal’s Gay Village was centred on downtown Stanley Street in the 70s.

Montreal’s famed Limelight disco was founded by Yvon Lafrance in Sept 1973, & welcomed everybody from Freddie Mercury to Elton John. Performers included Grace Jones (a regular), The Trammps, James Brown (5 nights in May 1977) & Montreal’s very own Queen of Disco France Joli. My late friend, DJ Robert Ouimet was principal house deejay at the Limelight from 1973 to 1981.

One night after a David Bowie concert at the Montreal Forum, Robert brought Bowie & Iggy Pop back to the Limelight to see Gloria Gaynor perform. “I absolutely remember that!” Ms. Gaynor told me in 2023. “I was honoured they came to see me perform!”

My friend, drag legend Manny, was a regular. And before my Mom’s life partner Paul Nakis owned the building & iconic disco beginning in 1983, I snuck in via the rear 3rd-floor fire escape!

Next door was Hollywood, a notorious hustler bar where my BFF Puelo (we were pushing 18) used to hustle.

Up the street was Le Mystique where our late friend John Banks – Marlene Dietrich’s executive assistant for 12 years – used to bartend.

Upstairs from Le Mystique was Truxx, the leather cruising bar that Montreal cops raided on October 22, 1977, charging 146 men with being found-ins in a common bawdyhouse, the largest mass arrest in Canada since the October Crisis of 1970.

In 1978, Conrad Black asked his friend & my mentor, legendary Montreal newspaperman & boulevardier Nick Auf der Maur, out for a drink.

“I know just the place,” Nick replied, then mischievously led Black to Truxx.

“Are you taking me to Sodom & Gomorrah?” Black snapped. “Let’s go to the Ritz!”

Just then a bouncer slid open the peephole & eyed Black in his pinstripe suit. “You can’t come in here,” the bouncer spat.

Nick laughed. “Then Conrad slipped into civil libertarian mode & said, ‘What do you mean I can’t come in here!’ So I pulled out my city councillor card & got us in,” Nick told me.

“After a drink I offered to go to the Ritz, but Conrad said, ‘No! Let’s have another drink here.’ He hates it when I tell that story!”

#Montreal #WestVillage #disco #lgbtq🌈 taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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a year ago

Mad about the Boy

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Some of my favourite images, photographers unknown except:

Photo 1 by Patrick Donovan

Photo 6 - “Chambre d’Hotel de la Sud, 1986” by French photographer Yves Paradis.

Photo 8 by Igor Mattio - Miguel and Julian 2024

Photo 9 - Danny and Shane under the wolf tone bridge in Galway, Ireland, 2014

Photo 10 by Crawford Wayne Barton, San Francisco 1977

Photo 11 by Danny Nicoletta: Harmodius and Hoti, Castro Street Fair, San Francisco, August 1975.

Photo 12 - Charles Ryder (Jeremy Irons), Lord Sebastian Flyte (Anthony Andrews) and Aloysius (Sebastian’s teddy bear) in the 1981 TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 novel “Brideshead Revisited”

Photo 13 - Screenshot of Alec Secăreanu and Josh O’Connor in God’s Own Country (2017)

Photo 14 - screenshot of the first Hollywood on-screen same-sex kiss, with actors Richard Arlen and Charles “Buddy” Rogers in a scene from 1927’s silent war film ‘Wings’, also the first-ever Best Picture winner at the Oscars.

#DinahWashington #Crush #boyfriends lgbtq by @bugsburnett

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19 hours ago

Thrilled to see country-folk-rock icon Lucinda Williams — a songwriter revered by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt — I last saw her in Montreal in 2008. Though she stood still onstage all night — her massive stroke in 2020 changed her life — Williams (now 73) raised the roof tonight at the sold-out Théâtre Beanfield (a.k.a. historic Corona Theatre). Williams sprinkled her set with some glorious covers, notably Bob Marley’s “So Much Trouble in the World”, a song she told us she wished she had written, and performed as a balm for our turbulent times. Before leaving the stage, Lucinda said about USA vs Canada, “We’re on your side.”

#LucindaWilliams @lucinda_williams #Montreal taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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3 days ago

From the vaults:

1) With drag icon Mado Lamotte @fringemtl 2014 Drag Race where she renamed me “Richie Bitch” (I’ve been a Drag Race judge for 20+ years!) 💋

2) With painter @kentmonkman @museemccordstewart 2014

3) With playwright @jordan.tannahill at Monument National after our lunch at Montreal Pool Room 2016 🌭

4) With NDG actor Jay Baruchel @segalcentre where he was playing Sherlock Holmes 2016

5) Lunch with 80s pop icon Luba @bonapartemtl 2011. I set up Lu’s final concert @FierteMontreal 2015

6) In Philly 2019 with Yannick @nezetseguin now in his 15th season with @philorch

7) With Montreal's androgynous Glamour Twins Plastik Patrick & Joffrey Frigid @easternblocmtl Warhol Factory Project 2008

8-9) At Zilon’s 2010 Jazz Noir vernissage with Francine Grimaldi whom I call Peaches + backstage with Peaches @casinomontreal with pop icon Tony Bennett 2015.

10) With Montreal soul-funk legends Sarah MK, Alan Prater, Kim Richardson and Slim Williams @fredyvmusic & @bandfoundation album launch @phi.officiel 2018

11) @conseilquebecoislgbt Prix Arc-en-Ciel @olympiamontreal green room 2014

12) Montreal alt-weekly vets with PR goddess Leisa Lee at 2013 launch of @pitchfest Photo by @susanmossphotography

13) With former leader of the Rhinocéros Party of Canada and HOUR “Senior Political Correspondent” Charlie McKenzie, 2007 at the Copa dive bar on The Main, second home for HOUR staffers. Charlie always encouraged me to run for office, even offered to run my campaign 🗳️

14) Canadian political legend L Ian MacDonald regaling Bert & I over cocktails @royalmontrealcurlingclub 2022 🍸

15) With Kid in the Hall Scott Thompson @thecomedynest dressing room 2016

16) I adore Montreal stand-up comic George Hamilton Braithwaite! 2018

17) With BFF Marita @thecoalhole pub in London UK 2017 🍹

18) Cocktails with BFF Kevin @sat_montreal 2016 🍸

19) Diamond Lil & I chatting with trumpeter @terence_blanchard couple days before 2019 Oscars where Blanchard was nominated for Best Original Score for his soundtrack of BlacKkKlansman

20) With family & friends on red carpet @the519 Patti Lupone benefit organized by Salah Bachir in 2019 🎙️

#Friends #Family #Montreal taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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3 days ago

Montreal rock legend Sass Jordan has left us (23 December 1960 – 2 October 2026). She died peacefully, surrounded by her family. She was 65.

Born in Birmingham, England, Sass moved to Montreal age 3 when her Dad got a job as a Professor at Concordia University. Her first-ever rock concert was David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs Tour, and her late-1970s band The Pinups – named after Bowie’s 1973 album Pin Ups – played in local bars like The Moustache across the street from the Montreal Forum, and The Maples Inn in Pointe Claire.

The narrative arc of her storied career is well-known: Sass became a backing vocalist for The Box, her breakout solo hit “Tell Somebody” charted in 1988, she won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989, was named Rock’s Top Female Artist for 1992 by Billboard magazine, portrayed Janis Joplin Off-Broadway in 2001, recorded the duet “Trust in Me” with Joe Cocker for The Bodyguard motion picture, and served as a judge on Canadian Idol for six seasons.

I first met Sass at the 2002 opening bash of the Nelligan Hotel in Old Montreal after too many glasses of Moët & Chandon champagne. We sat together on a sofa, I kept yakking away while Sass took off her shoes and told me, “My feet are f***ing killing me!”

I’d interview Sass a couple times over the next few years, she was always incredibly candid and very kind to me.

The last time I saw Sass perform live was at Le Studio TD in January 2018. That night Sass and her band raised the roof with their killer interpretation of Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed”, but a version straight out of The Faces playbook.

She met my friend Ilgin and I after that show (photo 6). But my fave photo with Sass is the cover shot, after a memorable lunch in Montreal in November 2006.

A proud Montrealer, Sass was one of the great belters of her generation, with a huge voice and charisma to burn.

My heartfelt sympathies to her bandmates, friends and family. RIP Sass 🤍🤍🤍

#SassJordan @sass.jordan #Montreal taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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10 days ago

Awesome send-off for legendary Montreal rock photographer Susan Moss at her packed Celebration of Life at the Biftek on The Main last Friday evening.

Everybody was there! Though I snapped just a few photos, including one of Alex who arrived with Susan’s black nail polish and painted a few middle nails, including mine!

On the walls there also hung a ton of photos of Susan with her family and friends. In one photo in the top left-corner you can spot a photo I snapped of Susan with her mom Rhona at an Usine C exhibition of Susan’s photos in 2014 (photos 6-7).

It was a joyous gathering, and Susan’s family were deeply moved by the outpouring of love for Susan.

The cover photo is of the HOUR Boys reunion at the Bif, and I also included a few photos of Susan with the HOUR crew over the years.

We love you Susan! Rock n Roll! 🖕🏾🎸🍻

📷 Photo 6 by @natashaaimeehall

#rockphotographer #SusanMoss @susanmossphotography @evenko #Montreal by @bugsburnett

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16 days ago

🍃 Grand Summer Finale! Summer 2026 Photo Dump No 3 🍂

1) Statler & Waldorf! Dinner with Diamond Lil @zante.mtl 🇬🇷

2) With my friend, ACT UP Montreal co-founder and NYC-based design consultant Blane Charles (formerly Mosely) at the must-see exhibition “Active Grieving: The Aesthetic Activism of ACT UP Montréal” which runs at The MEM to February 14, 2027. Free admission ✊🏽 @memmtl

3) 10 am brunch with theatre legend Sky Gilbert, at our usual downtown diner🍸🍳

4) With the Boys @le_normandie_mtl taverne terrasse after the @fiertemontreal Pride Parade 🌈

5-6) Statler & Waldorf in the 2nd-floor cabaret of Montreal’s fabled Café Cléopâtre strip joint on The Main, with proprietor Johnny Zoumbalakis. Also pictured with Gay Line historian Gregg Blachford, Archives gaies du Québec co-founder Ross Higgins, AIDS and gay-film historian Thomas Waugh 🌈

7) With Jonas Tomalty, James Flood and Puelo at the wonderful private industry Celebration of Life of legendary Montreal impresario and concert promoter Donald K. Donald — a.k.a. Donald Tarlton who passed away in April at age 82 @clubsodamtl

8) Gave my friends John and Mike from Nashville a mini-tour of Old Montreal before dinner @maggieoakesmtl

9) Arzine & I at the phenomenal @alabama_shakes concert @mtelusmontreal

10) Ilgin & I attend vernissage of the @worldpressphoto exhibition at Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal

11-15) Friends & family at my Champagne-soaked Oyster party at my Shaughnessy Village home to mark the end of Meteorological Summer on August 31 🍾

16) Labour Day Weekend chez Louis & Buck at their Ile Perrot home 🍃🍂

17) Statler & Waldorf! Dinner @reubensmtl at our fave corner seats at the bar, after visiting the excellent Quebec Gay Archives exhibition “Armand Monroe, John Banks et les Glitterati de Montréal” about queer pioneers Monroe (1935–2023) and Banks (1943–2024). We knew John & Armand over several decades, they were joined at the hip, much like Puelo & I. History repeating 🌈

18-19) Celebrating Jennifer’s BDay at @zante.mtl 🇬🇷

20) Sonny Boy & I attend opening night of @thelionking Musical at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier 🦁 @placedesarts

#Friends #Family #Montreal taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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22 days ago

Wonderful private industry Celebration of Life of legendary Montreal impresario and concert promoter Donald K. Donald — a.k.a. Donald Tarlton who passed away in April at age 82 — yesterday afternoon at Club Soda which was filled with DKD’s colleagues, friends and family, many of whom called him “Deke.”

There were heartfelt speeches by such heavy hitters as Michael Cohl and Bruce Allen, and terrific performances by Jonas Tomalty, Kevin Parent and reunited classic April Wine lineup — Brian Greenway, Jerry Mercer and Gary Moffet who had not performed onstage together since 1985.

The reunited April Wine opened DKD’s Celebration of Life with their classic hit “Rock n’ Roll is a Vicious Game” 🎸

Couple brief clips of the performances posted here.

Check out the Donald K. Donald Tribute Wall at https://dkd.com.

#DKD #DonaldKDonald #Montreal by @bugsburnett

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23 days ago

Alabama Shakes! Guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, out lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, with their killer touring band and three backing vocalists, raised the roof of sold-out MTELUS last night. Short clip of “This Feeling”, a real crowd-pleaser and my fave track of the night 🎸

#AlabamaShakes @alabama_shakes @mtelusmontreal #Montreal taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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a month ago

From the vaults:

1) MacDonald Cartier Memorial High School, Class of 82

2) MCMHS Class of 82

3) Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, with Audrey, 1986.

4) Rockefeller Center with Seb, 2015.

5) Boy George snaps our selfie with Murray Head bassist Jennifer Maidman, 2018.

6) MIKA snapped our selfie, 2015

7) With Sister Helen Prejean during rehearsals for Opéra de Montréal 2013 staging of Dead Man Walking. “You got any vodka?” she asked me, whereupon I pulled out a flask!

8 ) 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from Quebec Gay Chamber of Commerce

9) 2025 “Canada’s Inspiring Person of the Year Award” honouring LGBTQ Canadians. INSPIRE Awards recipients include kd lang, Carole Pope, Peaches, & Rick Mercer.

10) With soul legend Lisa Fischer, 2016.

11) With pop icon Martha Wash, 2014.

12) Aboard “Nightwinds” yacht of Dick Foley & his wife Evita Perron, after I nominated Mr Foley for induction into Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. First Canadian to compete in Daytona 500, Mr. Foley was inducted in 2011.

13) With my mentor, legendary journalist & boulevardier Nick Auf der Maur, at Ziggy’s Pub, 1997.

14) Lip Sync contest judge at Madhatter, circa 2016. My pal Lyle calls this photo “The Ghost of Nick.”

15) Black Theatre Workshop Gala red carpet with champion boxer Otis Grant, 2016.

16) Arzine & I with rock legend Garland Jeffreys after his final concert ever, 2019.

17) With legendary rock photographer Susan Moss, don’t remember show or venue.

18) The Three Stooges! With radio icons TooTall & Terry DiMonte in the CHOM studio, 2017.

19) Terry interviewed Diamond Lil on his CHOM morning show in 2018, after Mom returned from Mauritius where as “Marraine” of first-ever Indian Ocean Pride in Port Louis she stopped the PM from cancelling Pride. Terry had us on his show many times over the years, he always put Mom at ease & treated her like a queen. Forever grateful, Terry, thank you!

20) Montreal Casino dressing room of Gino Vannelli, 2015, a few weeks after I introduced his Mom to showbiz icon Herb Alpert who signed Gino to A&M in 1973. I snapped a photo of Mr Alpert & Mrs Vannelli together. When Gino & I met, he greeted me warmly with a big smile: “You’re infamous!” taken in Montreal, Quebec by @bugsburnett

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a month ago