David Kendrick of Gleaming Spires on working with Devo and Sparks, collecting condoms and his enduring ’80s hit “Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?”
If you listened to alternative radio in the 1980s, you know the song “Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?” by Gleaming Spires. And even if you didn’t, there’s a very good chance you know the tune from the classic comedies The Last American Virgin and Revenge of the Nerds. The song was a direct call to action created by David Kendrick and Leslie Bohem, also known as Gleaming Spires. And though it may seem tame now compared to “W.A.P.” and other raunchy contemporary offerings, “Sex Girls” was quite controversial for ’80s radio and MTV.
More than just a one-hit wonder, Gleaming Spires was a band with a pedigree. They were members of the band Sparks first. Gleaming Spires released three brilliant albums, all of which were thankfully reissued on CD in 2021. HUSTLERMagazine.com recently caught up with David Kendrick to discuss the reissues, how he and Leslie ended up in Sparks, his excessive condom collection and what a “Sex Girl” really is.
HUSTLERMagazine.com: Are you okay being interviewed by us?
David Kendrick: I am. Yeah. Back in the ’80s I knew a few writers who worked at the magazine and editors who went on to be screenwriters.
Do you have any history with the magazine or our founder Larry Flynt?
Weirdly, when I was in Devo, Mark Mothersbaugh and I went out to dinner with Larry. Once or twice. He was from Ohio as well. Devo, except for me, were all Ohioans. Here was a Midwest connection. Larry leaned left politically, as did Devo. He was an iconoclastic guy.
