Jeremy Atherton Lin James Greig speaks to Jeremy Atherton Lin about his new book Gay Bar, the cyclical nature of nostalgia, the benefits of dark rooms, and the pathologising of sex and drugs March 03, 2021 We’re now almost a year into a situation where bars and clubs are banned, which is either an unfortunate or brilliant time to publish a book about nightlife. On the one hand, reading about all the fun we’re not having is a tempting form of nostalgic escapism. On the other, being immersed in a world that was already endangered – and risks being lost entirely – could well prove a painful experience. With real-life sociality restricted, many of us have retreated ever further into the internet, where the “queer community” (something which, to my mind, does not exist as a coherent entity and least of all online) descends into rancorous and sanctimonious debates, of an intensity which is only really possible when you can’t see the person you’re shouting at. Many more have surrendered to the mundane comforts of takeaways, streaming platforms, and subscription services: I myself have been wearing the same grey hoodie-and-trackies combo for the past six months, feeling ever further removed from the possibility of glamour. At the moment it’s been made impossible, it’s never been clearer that real-life gay sociality is important.