Worldwide Freaks: Local Celebrity Crazies
Every town has a famous creature of crazy, but these ten have rightfully stepped into the worldwide spotlight. Naked Cowboy, step aside, you’re neither naked, nor a cowboy–these freaks, however, are the real deal and OTP’s new favorite worldwide crazies.
Naked Barcelona Man
Barcelona, Spain
Nobody knows his name, origin, or intention, but anyone who’s taken a trip to Barcelona has probably witnessed this old guy and his foot-long flaccid cockzilla freely flapping around town. He’s permanently “dressed” with an underwear tattoo–a not-so-subtle “fuck you” to public nudity laws. Catch him chatting with cops, sippin’ brews and posing for pictures–Naked Barcelona Man spends his days ramblin’ down Las Ramblas and hanging out.
USA:This closet crazy came out after college by inking his whole body with green scales, splitting his tongue in two, and sharpening his teeth– bringing worldwide fame to the Lizardman name. When he’s not on tour with his band Lizard Skynyrd, or performing sideshow circus acts, like swallowing swords and breathing fire, you’ll find the surprisingly humble Lizardman slithering around town in Austin, Texas.
Australia
Australia’s own Space Cowboy, Chayne Hultgren, is a tough act to swallow. Space Cowboy has set and repeatedly smashed sideshow world records–with swords…in his mouth. This lucky lunatic was born with a defect that has his stomach sitting lower than average, allowing him to shove his swords deeper than any other sword-swallowing magician. You’ll often find him in Edinburgh doing all sorts of crazy shit, like juggling machetes, torches and axes on a 10-foot unicycle–blindfolded. On an off day he’ll just be levitating, bending spoons, throwing knives, or carrying weight from fishhooks attached through his eyelids.
Montreal, Canada
Canadian-born Rick Genest spent three years and over $7,000 covering his body with tattoos to resemble a decaying corpse. Since the completion of his carcass canvas, Zombie Boy’s got the whole world in a trance, including Lady Gaga who used him in a music video. Zombie Boy is popping up all over the fashion world in ads and on the runway. He may look like a corpse, but Zombie Boy’s worldwide popularity is very much un-dead.
Venice Beach, California
Harry Perry, aka Kama Kosmic Krusader, grew up in Michigan, but has been a fixture of the Venice Beach boardwalk since 1973. Famous for his signature red and white bulls eye electric guitar, that he plays while wearing a turban and skating on Landroller skates, Perry might be the biggest celebrity in Los Angeles. The Kosmic Krusader channels the look and sound of Jimi Hendrix, but his lifestyle is definitely cleaner–Kama runs twenty miles a day, practices Kundalini yoga and is a strict vegetarian.
Beijing, China
Zhang Xiufang, aka “Sister Broom,” got a job as a street cleaner to make ends meet after her husband got sick and couldn’t work. Her boredom on the job translated into local stardom when she started getting crazy with the broom. Apparently Sister Broom was once a tai chi expert who liked to practice with a sword. Wielding a broom instead of a deadly weapon, she started twisting and twirling her way into pubic notice–some dude took a video of Xiufang doing her martial arts type routine on the job and it went viral. Sadly, she was later fired, but still dresses up as a street cleaner and sweeps up public attention.
Wellington, New Zealand
Ben Hana, aka “Blanket Man,” is a homeless guy who lives on the streets of Wellington, New Zealand. With dreads down to his bare ass, this devoted follower of the Maori sun god wears as little clothing as possible at all times–usually a loin cloth and his signature purple(ish) blanket. Blanket Man basically just sits on top of his blanket all day and is a lamppost-like fixture of the street. He has his own webpage maintained by loyal fans of his (lack of) movement.
Guildford, England
The Bearded Lady of Guildford’s real name is Brenda and she is not a dude dressed like a lady– she is a lady with a very bushy beard. You can usually peep Bearded Brenda sitting on a bench in the center of town watching the people that watch her– while wearing a leopard print coat, nose-ring and red lipstick.
England
Luminous, a shelter cat, gained international attention and was catapulted to local fame after an unfortunate photo of the cat raising her paw with the caption “Kitler” went viral. Despite the crippling cuteness of this kitten, potential kitty parents were saying “Heil NO!” for over six weeks due to a patch of black hair that bares an uncanny resemblance to Adolf’s signature stache. All markings aside, the kitten appears to be a normal, sweet feline that loves all people and shows no apparent leadership potential, according to the Wood Green Animal Shelter staff.
Azerbaijan, Russia
Asif Mustafayev from Azerbaijan, Russia, is a 31 year-old artist who gained local super-stardom thanks to his “tanned skin,” curly hair and facial structure that looks exactly like Barack Obama. People all over Azerbaijan and beyond seek Asif out to take pictures with him and tell their friends that they’re bros with the President of the United States.
Whether a natural gift, a hard-earned talent or just a ridiculous, public habit, a break from the ordinary is always extraordinary. Ignore what mama taught you, grab your camera and start starin’.
A mind and body traveller who thrives on recollection and anticipation, all the while decorating the crossroads.
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Everywhere has their own local freaks. Thanks for showing me some international freaks!
Very funny! I like the naked Barcelona man – well, not in *that* way of course! But I am fascinated by the minds of people who choose to completely flout all notion of conventionality and go against the norm in such ways!
cool read man, unfortunately ‘Blanket Man’ passed away early in the new year. boo.