Out (and outrageous) rocker Kevin Cahoon discusses his new album and his stint on Broadway in The Wedding Singer.

By Lawrence Ferber

For a freak, a fag, and a weirdo, Kevin Cahoon has done pretty well for himself. In fact, the openly gay Broadway star's rocking debut album, Doll, opens with a title track that proclaims to his former childhood bullies: "I am the freak/I am the fag/I am the weirdo one you couldn't stand/ so what, I played with dolls." Since those days, Cahoon has become a hot talent thanks to roles in Hedwig And The Angry Inch, The Who's Tommy, The Rocky Horror Show (with Joan Jett and Lea Delaria), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (as the diabolical Childcatcher), and now The Wedding Singer, a musical adaptation of the 1998 Adam Sandler comedy. In the latter production, which opens this month, Cahoon plays George, the Boy George-obsessed keyboardist embodied in the movie by VH-1 The Surreal Life resident Alexis Arquette.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Cahoon moved to New York in 1989 to pursue a life in performance. About five years ago, having made great strides on stage, he formed a band, The Ghetto Cowboy (of which at least two members are queer), and launched into the role of frontman. New Yorkers and queers ravenously supped up their mix of a little glam, a little punk, and a whole lot of power pop melodies (not entirely unlike Hedwig and Rocky Horror), which fuel tracks including "Doll," "Bitch," and an ode to the bi-curious, "Mr. Curious."

To get the scoop on his album, his red state hometown, and what sort of inch(es) he's packing, I spoke with Cahoon just before a The Wedding Singer performance.

How long did it take to put together this first album, Kevin?

It's probably five years I have been working on this project. The reason it's taken so long is it's expensive to do! But I wanted to make a pop rock record and I wanted it to have a sense of humor and be an album of liberation for anyone who felt like they were the nerd or dork or fag growing up or even today.

Is Doll autobiographical?

It was to some extent, but not in a huge, dramatic way. I wrote this song with my and other people's experiences in mind. I didn't actually play with dolls, but I played with puppets. It has dramatic license to it. But I was ribbed and picked on a few times. That's for sure.

Do you play with dolls now?

Absolutely. Send me all your dolls!

What's behind the song "Bitch"?

A lot of this album is me peeking into a certain demographic. Observations I've made. Experiences friends of mine had. The first line is 'Lying in bed just had sex with the president,' and that's because the whole Monica Lewinsky thing was going on. I just used my creativity and thought about a person trying to escape from that and just went from there.

The song "Mr. Curious" seems to be about a straight guy with a girlfriend knocking on your door for a taste of forbidden fruit. Have there really been Mr. Curiouses in your life?

There have been. Like the lyric says, sniffing around my tree. Not actual sniffing but you get the point. We've all met a Mr. Curious at one point or another. I wrote that song like the Ike and Tina Turner Review, because a lot of their songs were like Mr. This or Mr. That. And I thought it was a really interesting spin on that to have a guy singing that to someone else.

Do you feel like a Broadway star gone rocker like Anthony Rapp? Or is it the other way around?

(Laughs) I don't deem myself a star at all, but it's something I've always done and wanted to do. I'm sort of portraying a persona on stage with the band. It's not really me, it's this person I created in my head. So it's very theatrical in its concept and our live shows I try to make as theatrical as possible too.

What is the real Kevin Cahoon like?

Well, I don't wear makeup in my everyday life! Just a T-shirt and jeans, and I'm perfectly content watching my TiVo.

You played Hedwig during its original incarnation.

I did one show a week for John Cameron Mitchell originally and was his understudy. I took over here in NYC and opened the Boston company, did Edinburgh, and did the eight-month run in San Francisco. It's the best role you could possibly have as an actor. You get to do a little stand-up, sing with a rock band, and it's got that great dramatic arc at the end and you get to play all the different characters. It's rich. Rich rich rich, and that's what gave me the guts to start [my own band]. I always have written songs but not had the guts to go through with it. But when I did Hedwig I was like, of course I can do this. I can front a band. So I booked a gig and started writing with my band and here we are.

Do you also have an angry inch? What exactly are you packing?

Well, only few know! It's not an angry inch though, I'll say that.

Which artists are inspirations for your music?

I would say David Bowie. The Scissor Sisters. I listened to a lot of country growing up because I'm from Texas. I was introduced to rock and roll by my mother, who took me to my first concert, Joan Jett, when I was a kid. Those sorts of worlds had come together. I listened to a lot of theater music, too, because I'm an actor. Everybody from Dolly Parton and Charlie Pride to New York Dolls and Bowie. Pour water in and mix.

Offstage, do you have a boyfriend?

Yes, I do. It's been a year and a half. He's a huge fan and loves [the album] so much. So supportive, I'm really lucky, He's a designer.

You were raised in Houston. Did it live up to its reputation as a right-wing, God-fearing, Dubya-lovin' haven?

You know, Texas has shifted. I don't remember it being as red and Republican and right-wing -- militantly right-wing -- as it is now. It used to be Texas is the land of LBJ. It was very Democratic place. I still love Texas and there's no place like it on Earth. But I don't remember it having this sensibility and mentality to it. But I guess things shift and change.

If you could only go in one direction, Broadway star or rock star, which would you choose?

You know, I'm very content with the way things are now. I've got a fantastic balance, fantastic opportunities. As an actor I want to do interesting roles no matter what and they don't come along every day. When they do, you have to grab them. But if the album took off and opened other doors, I guess I should do that while I'm still young.

Did you consult with Alexis Arquette while preparing to play George in The Wedding Singer?

No. I've never met Alexis. I'd love to. I've not even watched The Surreal Life. [But Adam Sandler saw The Wedding Singer and] he had a great time, sent some lovely champagne to everybody and was a real gentleman. Lovely.

Do you ever get tired of the '80s songs or are they always fresh?

They're always fun, always great. But the show has an original score, written in the '80s style, so you won't hear any hits of the '80s when you come.

Would you like to duet with John Cameron Mitchell sometime?

Anytime John wants to join me, absolutely. He's not doing much live performance now, though. He's off being a genius filmmaker.

Yeah he's totally over the Hedwig wig. Did you mind the wig?

No, I didn't mind the wig, and I've got a great wig in The Wedding Singer, too.

For more information, visit www.kevincahoon.com.