A queer archive of Northern England in the ‘90s

Out & About — Photographer Stuart Linden Rhodes recalls capturing the North’s diverse LGBTQ+ clubbing scene, and the vibrant characters who filled the dance floors.

In spring 2020, Stuart Linden Rhodes began excavating his attic. It was a decision induced by the first lockdown, but his findings furnished the photographer with a new project that would extend well beyond the initial rise of Covid-19. Rhodes discovered an untouched treasure trove of queer history under his rafters; thousands upon thousands of undeveloped negatives from his youth were tucked away, each picture snapped in Northern gay bars and clubs across the ‘90s. 

The Halifax-raised Rhodes’ extensive collection of photos offers a euphoric deep dive into a thriving queer night life – from fetish gear-clad dancers staring down his lens to mingling torsos slicked with sweat to a rouged Lily Savage captured in full emcee mode. Naturally, in an era that has imperilled queer night life, Rhodes’ photography takes on a greater resonance, the clarity of his images capturing a candid, uninhibited joy that feels increasingly distant. 

“I’ve always had an interest in photography,” says Rhodes. “And back in the ‘90s, a friend of mine, Terry George, was starting APN [All Points North], a free gay magazine that went into all the bars and clubs.” Rhodes was soon asked if he wanted to become the magazine’s scene reviewer and photographer. “I thought, ‘Oh, free night out? Why not!’. It started as all expenses paid and a bit of pocket money. I’d get into the car with a few of my friends and off we’d go around the clubs taking pictures.”

At this point Rhodes was working in colleges, teaching business and hospitality management. “In the midst of this I had Clause 28 [a legislative designation for series of laws across Britain that prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality’] on my back,” he says. “So, when I wrote for APN, I used my middle name – the column was ‘Out & About with Linden’. Everybody at work knew what I was doing but I did it to avoid that conflict, just to make life simpler for everybody.” 

Rim Birmingham, 1992

Lily Savage, 1994

The decision to digitise the photos in 2020 was mostly motivated by “absolute boredom in lockdown,” Rhodes says. After the year-long process of scanning the 35mm film, the photographer decided to upload them to the Instagram account @linden_archives. “I thought a few people might like to see them,” he says. “And now it’s got thousands of followers. I’ve had a lot of feedback from people going ‘Oh my goodness, what was I wearing? What was I thinking? Look at my hair!’. I’ve also had poignant comments about people who have since died, thanking me for sharing pictures of them.”

Rhodes mentions the popularity of It’s a Sin  the Channel 4 drama that provided a rare look at the reality of the AIDS epidemic in the UK during the ‘80s and early ‘90s. “I noticed a spike in interest in the Instagram account after it aired,” says Rhodes. “It’s a Sin was set mostly in the 80s so [the Instagram] is like, ‘This was life after It’s a Sin’.” 

Manchester Paradise

Calls for a physical book started to grow louder from Rhodes’ followers, and the project eventually began to take shape after he was interviewed by producer, director and writer Joe Ingham. Rhodes raised the possibility of a book and an enthusiastic Ingham boarded the project as editor. They spoke to various publishers, but the pair were keen on staying true to the feel of the Instagram and ensuring creative control. A Kickstarter was created to crowdsource costs for Out & About with Linden: A Queer Archive of the North, which publishes next spring. 

“Between us, we’ve spent another year editing thousands and thousands of images to condense them for the book,” he says. “And in the process, we kept coming across all these ’90s celebrities, from Boy George, Heather Small, Julian Clary to a very young Mel B before she became a Spice Girl.”

Using Ingham’s contacts, the pair connected with those same ‘90s icons as well as a host of others, and they have each contributed affectionate written captions. “The book is about the photographs; photographs of the people who were out then, but I like to think it’s more of a celebration of that period of gay life. It’s lovely that it’s now peppered with memories from the people who were kicking around at the time.”

Rim Birmingham, 1992

Rim Birmingham, 1992

Rim Birmingham, 1992

York Milk & Honey

Find out more about Stuart Linden Rhodes and Joe Ingham’s Kickstarter here.

Follow Patrick Sproull on Twitter.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram


You might like

Large crowd of protesters marching with placards and banners, in front of a classical building with columns.
Activism

Transphobia is the main reason why people ‘detransition’, according to new survey

Transphobia’s toll — The largest ever survey of its kind found that just 9% of respondents had "gone back to living as their sex assigned at birth at least for a little while at some point in their lives”, with the biggest reason being discrimination, harassment and being shunned by friends and families.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Rustic footbridge across a river, with people crossing it on a sunny day. Warm tones and shadows suggest an outdoor, natural setting.
Sport

In Medellín’s alleys and side streets, football’s founding spirit shines

Street Spirit — Granted two weeks of unfettered access, photographer Tom Ringsby captures the warmth and DIY essence of the Colombian city’s grassroots street football scene.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Smiling people enjoying a night out, one person wearing a red hat and jacket.
Music

Huck teams up with Eastern Margins for a special SXSW London showcase

From Shibuya to Shoreditch — Taking place at Village Underground on Monday, performances will come from MONO, Nina Utashiro, Ena Mori, Jianbo, LVRA & Soda Plains.

Written by: Isaac Muk

A person wearing a black cap and holding a sign that says "What made me"
Music

Tony Njoku: ‘I wanted to see Black artists living my dream’

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s avant-garde electronic and classical music hybridist Tony Njoku.

Written by: Tony Njoku

Huck 79

We are all Mia Khalifa

How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.

Written by: Alya Mooro

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.