In this second instalment of my three-part conversation with Bill Smart, we pick up his journey at the turn of the 1980s — a time when fashion, music, and club culture were colliding in exciting, and sometimes challenging, ways.
Bill’s story moves from Manchester’s dancefloors to the unexpected world of high-fashion modelling. A chance encounter with model Vanessa Walker — known for her iconic zebra outfit in Absolute Beginners — led to an introduction to Model Team International. Soon, Bill was travelling to London for “go sees,” portfolio in hand, facing both the glamour and the harsh realities of the industry. From encountering outright racial prejudice to finally landing breakthrough bookings for brands like Kangol, Bill’s persistence paid off, even earning him a place in Vogue and Ebony.
The adventure then shifts to Edinburgh, where Bill swapped photo shoots for the DJ booth at Cinderella Rockefellers. Under the mentorship of John Leslie, Ross King, and Andy Ross, he learned the art of crowd work, charm, and performance. His Edinburgh years also brought him into the world of fashion choreography, where a last-minute crisis at the Royal Albert Hall led him to create a “three-ring circus” themed hair show that brought the house down — and launched a new chapter in his career.
From there, Bill’s work with top hair teams like Irvine Rusk took him to Paris, Switzerland, and the South of France. Along the way, a chance meeting with American salon owner Faye Thompson would change his life again, leading him across the Atlantic to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In the U.S., Bill experienced the thriving gay club scene, working at the Cruise Club and witnessing the Miss Gay USA pageant, as well as discovering iconic Detroit venues like the Menetrean Ballroom and the legendary Taboo — where an unexpected encounter with Madonna’s brother got him past the door staff.
This episode is packed with vivid anecdotes — from living above the Beehive Restaurant in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, to meeting top models and choreographing international hair shows, to the sweaty, soulful energy of clubs like Paradise Garage. Bill’s storytelling captures not only the highs of his career but also the cultural shifts, prejudices, and opportunities that shaped the creative industries in the 1980s.
If you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and watch it first to hear how Bill’s journey began. And stay tuned for Part 3, where his adventures continue into new territories and bigger stages.
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