A John Waters Christmas

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Greg Gorman

A close-up of John Waters.

John Waters

Writer, film director and genially outrageous raconteur John Waters clearly needs little introduction for Madison audiences, if the quick sellout of his Christmas tour stop is any indication. Waters' oeuvre over the decades retains its ability to shock (despite the overall tone of culture in American catching up in many ways) and remains funny because there’s a lot of heart behind the filth. And hearing Waters speak in person is an unforgettable experience.

Group Therapy VIP Tickets: $125 – Includes first entry to the venue, a signed show poster, a selfie from distance, and a small group post show Group Therapy Session with John Water

GA Seats: $50ADV / $55DOS

media release:  Filmmaker, author, comedian, and cultural icon extraordinaire, John Waters, 79, returns with his second Christmas parody single (and third holiday single with Sub Pop), “John Waters covers ‘Little Cindy,’” produced again by his longtime friend and colleague, Grammy-winner, Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Parchman Prison Project, The Good Ones [Rwanda], Ramblin’ Jack Elliott).   

Waters says, “In the tradition of novelty records, which I’ve always loved, this year I pay tribute to one of my favorite hymns that was once included in my ‘John Waters Christmas’ album – sung by the ever-holy child vocalist Little Cindy. I have never been in drag professionally, but with this little sticks-and-stones gift record to bad children everywhere, I channel Little Cindy’s voice and aura, even stumbling over the exact words she did on the original 45rpm version. Little Cindy is beyond saintly in my opinion, a minor miracle, a human spiritual sacrament who brings her devoted sanctity to this psalm of southern sentimentality. For a few vinyl minutes, I hope listeners will agree: John Waters IS Little Cindy.  

“Side B is beyond the valley of gimmicks, over the top of parody and underneath the mountain of linguistics, recorded in Pig Latin – a secret dialect my mother taught me in the ‘50s. I don’t take easily to learning a new language but this maddeningly ugly way of speaking is a tongue I eventually licked. I even used Pig Latin in ‘Pink Flamingos’ where Divine’s family skipped, happily chanting, 'We Are The Filthiest People Alive.’ What better way to remind my public of this lunatic way of communication (even the Three Stooges spoke it in some of their 1930s movies) than to translate this beloved poem into a consonantly confused vernacular? ‘A Visit from St. Nick?’ As-tway E-thay Ight-nay Efore-bay Istmas-kray! See? I’m speaking in tongues! Want to clear your house of holiday party guests who have overstayed their welcome? Just play the flipside of this record, and they’ll run like they’ve just been teargassed! Ig-pay Atin-lay! Learn it, you little devils!”

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On Friday, November 8, Sub Pop will continue its expansion into the hot holiday single market with the release John Waters’ new Christmas parody single “John Waters Covers ‘Little Cindy’” b/w “A Pig Latin Visit From St. Nicholas,” available worldwide on 7” vinyl and on all streaming services.  

The Pope of Trash’s annual “A John Waters Christmas” comedy tour begins Sunday, November, 30th in San Francisco, CA, at Great American Music Hall and ends Tuesday, December 23rd in Baltimore, MD, at SoundStage. A full list of dates are below. For more information on tickets please visit https://johnwaterstour.com.