Jobriath the “Theatrical Event”

Here is Jobriath, the American record company response to David Bowie. Apparently there was a billboard in Times Square and a massive publicity campaign behind Jobriath but he never took off.

I can see why. The introduction to his performance promises “[a]n unusual and exciting theatrical event” which fails to materialize. He seems to be wearing springs and at one point he does flying leaps around the stage. The voice is also second rate Bowie derivative. This isn’t exactly Width of a Circle.

I would imagine the biggest obstacle to Jobriath’s success is that he got to the patent office second (or 72nd considering glam was already waning when his first release came out). Strangely he shares a given name with actor Bruce Campbell.