Kiki & Herb
Kiki & Herb Interview
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Kiki & Herb Interview (full length) Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman talk about being Kiki & Herb. |
Cabaret Their Way
In the early nineties a duo emerged from the masses of day-glo dancing go-go boys on Castro street that was destined to turn cabaret performance on its ear. During 1992 Pride Week, Kenny Mellman and Justin Bond debuted as Kiki and Herb - Herb (Mellman), an 80 year-old piano player and accompaniest for Kiki (Bond) a crusty old cabaret diva with a mouth like a sailor. The two boozed and cruised their way into the hearts of the Pride audience, which simply adored their angry, campy, gin-soaked routine.
Herb (Kenny Mellman) and Kiki (Justin Bond) explain that in the 1950's cabaret was the most popular form of entertainment. The stars of cabaret were rich and adored but when rock n roll and performers like Elvis made their way into popular culture the cabaret stars' careers died in their prime. Kiki and Herb pay homage to those aborted cabaret stars and honor the lives of their friends who lives were cut short from the AIDS virus.
Bond and Mellman never claim that Kiki and Herb are talented but talent is secondary, perseverance is key. Kiki and Herb refuse to give up the stage or give up the notion that they aren't stars. While their voices may occasionally send a chill down your spine their performances are spot-on. An over-the-top lilt at the end of a song, corny jokes that quickly spin into razor sharp political commentaries and songs that address taboo subjects with complete recklessness and bad taste keep the audience rolling in their seats.
There's something for everyone to take away from a Kiki and Herb performance, despite the wackiness and unapologetic political agenda there are deeper lessons; pursue personal passion despite the odds, open your heart to see what's beyond your eyes and continue to challenge complacency.
In 2006 the smash punk cabaret stars made their way to Broadway to a solid review from The New York Times. They followed up their stint on Broadway with a DVD, KIKI AND HERB: LIVE FROM THE KNITTING FACTORY, released in 2008. Fans can also purchase KIKI AND HERB WILL DIE FOR YOU (LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL) from itunes.
Herb (Kenny Mellman) and Kiki (Justin Bond) explain that in the 1950's cabaret was the most popular form of entertainment. The stars of cabaret were rich and adored but when rock n roll and performers like Elvis made their way into popular culture the cabaret stars' careers died in their prime. Kiki and Herb pay homage to those aborted cabaret stars and honor the lives of their friends who lives were cut short from the AIDS virus.
Bond and Mellman never claim that Kiki and Herb are talented but talent is secondary, perseverance is key. Kiki and Herb refuse to give up the stage or give up the notion that they aren't stars. While their voices may occasionally send a chill down your spine their performances are spot-on. An over-the-top lilt at the end of a song, corny jokes that quickly spin into razor sharp political commentaries and songs that address taboo subjects with complete recklessness and bad taste keep the audience rolling in their seats.
There's something for everyone to take away from a Kiki and Herb performance, despite the wackiness and unapologetic political agenda there are deeper lessons; pursue personal passion despite the odds, open your heart to see what's beyond your eyes and continue to challenge complacency.
In 2006 the smash punk cabaret stars made their way to Broadway to a solid review from The New York Times. They followed up their stint on Broadway with a DVD, KIKI AND HERB: LIVE FROM THE KNITTING FACTORY, released in 2008. Fans can also purchase KIKI AND HERB WILL DIE FOR YOU (LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL) from itunes.
FOCUSWith little regard for appealing to the mainstream Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman have kept their Kiki & Herb cabaret act going for sixteen years. Bond and Mellman toy with comfort levels and blur the line between absurdity and truth. The measure of success for these artists lies not in how full their bank accounts are but in transcending judgmental minds.
BIOSince 1992, Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman have graced stages around the world as the infamous Kiki & Herb. Their credits include the unprecedented soldout concert Kiki & Herb Will Die For You at Carnegie Hall (2004), followed by a two year worldwide tour headlining shows and also sharing the bill with the Grammy®-nominated Scissor Sisters on a smash European tour.
They have appeared at such prestigious venues as The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Past productions include Kiki & Herb: Coup de Théatre (Off-Broadway - 2003), the Obie-winning Kiki & Herb: Jesus Wept and Kiki & Herb: There’s a Stranger in the Manger (Westbeth - 2001), Pardon Our Appearance (Philadelphia’s Wilma Theater - 2002; Washington D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre – 2002, where Bond and Mellman were both nominated for Helen Hayes Awards) and Where Are We Now? (London’s Soho Theatre - 2002). Also in London: Kiki & Herb: There’s a Stranger in the Manger and Kiki & Herb Mount The President (the latter aboard the HMS President in the River Thames).
Favorite performances include the Biennale (Germany), On The Boards (Seattle), the Great American Music Hall (San Francisco), the Knitting Factory L.A. and collaborations with such artists as Debbie Harry, Julian Fleisher, Sandra Bernhard, Mike Patton, Bob Ostertag, Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, the Scissor Sisters and Rufus Wainwright. Kiki & Herb recordings include Kiki & Herb: Do You Hear What We Hear and Kiki & Herb Will Die for You at Carnegie Hall. Most recently, they appeared at Carnegie Hall in Kiki & Herb: The Second Coming – A Christmas Concert and also sold-out appearances at Sheppard’s Bush in the UK (December 2007). In 2008, Kiki & Herb released their first-ever DVD, KIKI & HERB LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY.