Chez Romy Haag was a famous cabaret and nightclub in Berlin, known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and performances.
Romy Haag, a Dutch transgender woman, made her way to Schöneberg after spending time in Paris and New York. According to Romy’s autobiography, she crossed paths with David Bowie at a concert held at the Deutschlandhalle on April 10, 1976.
It must have been the same concert that Christiane F. attended with her junkie friends.
– Romy Haag, Eine Frau und mehr [A Woman and More], 1999
He belonged there. The first time he went, he was like [jaw drops]. It was so outrageous, it was so Ziggy Stardust. I think, in his eyes, it was like looking into a mirror. The club reflected his music.
– Romy Haag, Exberliner, 2014
The nightclub played a pivotal role in Bowie’s exploration of Berlin’s vibrant subcultures. On his thirtieth birthday, January 8, 1977, Bowie selected Romy’s club as the place to celebrate.
In one of her memoirs, Angela Bowie, former wife of David Bowie, recalls one of her visits to Chez Romy Haag during the time he lived in Berlin.
Walking into that place was like going back decades, to the Berlin of Christopher Isherwood, the glory days of avant cabaret before Adolf, the Soviets and the Americans turned underground Berlin into little more than an anything-goes meat rack. Romy was very wild and very sophisticated.
– Angela Bowie, Backstage Passes, 1993
External links
- View on Google Maps
- Romy Haag: Queen of the underground In: exberliner.com
- Romy Haag: Bowie’s Berlin Sweetheart In: rocksoffmag.com
- Romy Haag discusses her relationship with David Bowie In: youtube.com