“The band never actually split up – we just stopped speaking to each other and went our own separate ways.”

Beethoven had a great look. It was very much about the drama of appearance.

You get older and you suddenly realize the only person you’re in competition with is yourself.

Part of me looks at the gay movement now and worries that we’re losing our individuality.

A lot of people come up to me all the time and say thank you for helping me be who I am. So my thing wasn’t just about sexuality. It was about anyone who felt different; anyone who felt out of place. Being gay was one part of it.

Whenever there’s an interview with me, I might read it, but I don’t read the comments because they’re so hateful sometimes.

And being gay isn’t so easy, either I’ve always said that if anyone ever thought I was straight they must need glasses – but when I finally came out and said, “Yes, I do sleep with men and I’m gay,” yeah, I lost record sales. There’s no question – big, big time.

What a beautiful voice he had and his music will live on as a testament to his talent. I can’t believe he is gone. I hope the Buddha will hold him in his arms. NMRK.

A lot of Donna Summer and things that maybe weren’t trendy anymore or weren’t hip in gay clubs but you’d hear them at Taboo.

Relationship is an art. The dream that two people create is more difficult to master than one.

In writing the autobiography, I can really chuckle when I look at the songs. I was acting out the part. I saw myself as a victim.

On Madonna: She’s a gay man trapped in a woman’s body.

My mother and father were fantastic, very active. I find it difficult to say this, but I’m quite a loving person and I’ve always been loving to my friends. In the long run, that pays off. I’m very interested in other people, and if you are, they’re interested in you.

And it’s taken me the best part of 54 years to reach that point where I’m like, “I’m very lucky, I’m lucky, I’m blessed” – all of those things. I wish I could impart that to other people but I think when you’re young, you just don’t listen.

The idea that gay people have to mimic what obviously doesn’t work for straight people any more… I think is a bit tragic. I am looking forward to gay divorces.

I was about 16 when punk started to happen… It felt like you had this naive idea that you could change things just by wearing something.

For me the most interesting thing about Leigh Bowery was the way he used his body as a style statement. He was a big guy, but, because he was tall and had long legs, he looked in proportion – even sexy – despite being overweight by conventional standards.