Doris Fish Forever Sluts A-Go-Go Archives

Doris competes in a talent competition to join the proto-punk rock band The Tubes which was looking for oddball acts to compliment their bizarre shows. She won the contest and join Pearl E. Gates and Leila and the Snakes’ Jane Dornacker

Doris Fish performs at a Tubes show, 1976. Photo © Daniel Nicoletta. All rights reserved. Not for distribution.

Doris Fish began to make her name in San Francisco with the help of James Moss, a filmmaker and publisher. She was the star of his film Magazine Movie and a contributor to his magazine San Francisco Gay Life: Where Its At. She formed her own fan club and wrote a semi-autobiographical article in Kalender magazine.

James Moss, organizes a fundraiser to combat the Dade County Anti-Gay Ordinance championed by the notorious homophobe Anita Bryant. The look-alike contest judged by Harvey Milk and other notables crown Miss Leading (Tippi) as the clear winner, naturally.

Doris Fish, and Tippi recruit newcomer Miss X put on a trashy, chaotic, riot of a drag show, the very first performance of the Sluts A Go-Go and the dawn of a new era in San Francisco drag. Dan Nicoletta was there to capture it all!

Doris Fish et al, (first Sluts A go go full show in SF at 330 Grove), Oct. 28, 1979
Photograph © by Daniel Nicoletta
All rights reserved

After their October 1979 debut San Francisco Drag show the Sluts A Go-Go travel to Doris Fish’s homeland of Australia for a wild tour of the Sydney gay nightclub scene. Never before published photos of drag queen Doris Fish, Tippi and Miss X performing at The Stranded nightclub and Syd’s bar. With guest star Jacqueline (Jackie) Hyde.

Michael Wertz Illustration for DorisFish.com! Visit the Giftshop!

The mysterious BRAND X heiress Miss X fronts for the band Calling All Girls, playing September 4, 18, 26 1981 at the Sound of Music 162 Turk Street. Illustration and Design by Doris Fish. Limited Edition T-Shirt!

Newly restored photographs from Daniel Nicoletta and Greg Foss of the 1981 Christmas show by San Francisco Drag Queens Doris Fish and the Sluts A Go-Go: Tippi, Miss X, Ginger Quest, Sara Cecchini, Lori Naslund, and pianist Paul Tortora at Previews.

In September and October of 1982, Doris Fish had a small role as a drag queen in Chuck Solomon’s production of Charles Henrich’s Torn Tulle at Studio Rhino

Jane Dornacker and Timmy Spence join the cast of BLONDE SIN, the re-titled and expanded Sluts A Go-Go: Play with Music in November 1980. The hit show cemented the Sluts A Go-Go as San Francisco drag stars throughout the 1980s. Exclusive, newly restored photographs of Blonde Sin from Danny Nicoletta, as well as rare snapshots from Ginger Quest, and for the first time on the internet: Three complete shows recorded on Betamax video!

The Happy Hour X-Mas Special is an all-star event at Club181, with Freda Lay as Jane Mansfield, Tommy Pace as Betty Davis, and Ginger Quest as Charo joining Doris Fish, Phillip R Ford, Miss X, Tippi and Sandelle Kincaid. Featuring newly discovered photos and an interview with photographer and friend to the Sluts, Gwyn Waters. Plus: A freshly digitized version of the Betamax video!

The final public performance of Doris Fish and Sluts A Go-Go, the All-Star Gang Bang was indeed a star studded affair. Pearl E. Gates reunited onstage with Doris for the first time since their 1976 Tubes run.