QUEERTY INTERVIEW

PHOTOS: The Tattooed Musclemen Of Michael Alago’s “Beautiful Imperfections”

10-Michael_Alago_72A veteran of the music industry, Michael Alago discovered Metallica, signed Nina Simone and produced Cyndi Lauper, but these days you’re more likely to find him behind a camera than a soundboard. Alago revisits the well-muscled territory he explored in previous photo books, Brutal Truth and Rough Gods with his latest offering, Beautiful Imperfections.

Featuring over 120 portraits by Alago, Beautiful Imperfections is the first commercially published book of photography shot entirely with the Hipstimatic iPhone cam app. The photographer will be signing copies this Friday, June 14, at New York queer bookstore, BGSQD, before kicking off a month-long exhibition at Portland, Oregon’s Cock Gallery with a signing on July 31. We caught up with Michael to discuss beauty and the eye that beholds it.

01-Beautiful_Imperfections_Micheal_Alago_COVER_72

02Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Christopher_72

You’re something of a renaissance man — how did you transition from music to photography?

After 25 years in the music business, I felt like I needed a change. The business was changing fast and record sales were dwindling so I thought I had had enough. It had been a great ride. I always loved photographs and loved looking at photo albums as a child. I loved the stories the images told, so at an early age I picked up a Polaroid camera and shot friends and family. As an adult, whenever I traveled, I carried the camera with me, documenting all the “tricks” that I picked up on various boulevards and streets all over the world. The images had a spontaneous snapshot feeling. I just wanted to have a record of the evening.

05-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Marlon_72

04-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Chad_72

What’s your favorite anecdote from your time in the music industry?

There are so many memories. When I was still a booking agent, I worked at The Ritz nightclub in the East Village (119 East 11th Street; now the site of Webster Hall). We had a sold out event one Friday night in May 1981, and the artist cancelled, so as a last minute replacement I booked Public Image Ltd. They decided for the evening they wanted to do a performance art piece and of course the audience was expecting a rock concert. Ever the rebel John Lydon came out with the “band” and starting performing the tune “Flowers of Romance” from their new album and it was all done behind a video screen from behind which they said they were never coming out. The audience was furious and started a riot. It was quite the event, like the shot heard around the world: that evening and the next it was all front-page news from New York to London. From that day forward, I became friends with John Lydon and 31 years later we are still in touch. I feel very dear about him as an artist. He’s the best.

09-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Tim_Dax_72

08-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Aaron_72

What was the inspiration behind Beautiful Imperfections?

It was time for me to put together a new book and I had been experimenting with the Hipstamatic photo app on the iPhone. I liked that you could mix and match different lenses and films and flashes. I shot, and then printed out a few images very large and I really liked the results, so I just went with it. I later spoke to my publisher Michael Taubenheim at Bruno Gmünder publishing in Berlin. I showed him the images, he was impressed and–voila!–a new book was created.

03-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_James_72

How did you find guys to pose for you?

I find men all over the place. I find them on the internet but mostly through word of mouth. I usually walk up to guys, give ‘em a compliment, show them some work I have on my iPhone and it’s off to the races. Plus, I always ask the models that if they enjoyed the experience and have friends with a similar muscular, tattooed, bad-ass look to please recommend me.

07-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Tim_72

06-Micheal_Alago_Beautiful_Imperfections_Patrick_72

What do you have planned next?

Well this book was just released so I am enjoying doing interviews. I have a book signing this Friday evening at BGSQD bookstore on the Lower East Side and in August I have an exhibition at Cock Gallery in Portland, Oregon–where I’ll also be scouting for models. I’ll continue taking pictures. I am traveling to London and Paris in 10 days to go to the theater and see exhibitions and, of course, see what trouble I can get in to.

June 14 NYC
Michael Alago presents
Beautiful Imperfections Exhibtion & Book Signing* with special guest Mina Caputo at BGSQD? bookstore @ Strange Loop Gallery, 27 Orchard Street 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
*Alago will only be signing books purchased at BGSQD and asks that you please support this great new queer indie bookstore.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated